GetOFFmyDot

Yeah - getting that draw two nights in a row is weird. Can anyone explain why the Mandarins are going on before 3 corps they scored higher than last season?

If there are people who claim to be drum corps fans choose not to attend because what a corps wears... well, I question how sincere their love of drum corps is/was to begin with. Things change, times change. The quality of today's drum corps is light years ahead of corps even 15 years ago. There are corps that are SO GOOD this year that won't even make finals, but that same show would be a top 6 finisher 20 years ago. Almost EVERY thing you complain about happening to drum corps has happened to every youth activity. Do you think football is the same as it was 20 years ago? Cheerleading? Boy Scouts? Church youth groups? Soccer? Lacrosse? (How many folks even knew what Lacrosse was 20 years ago)? Have you been any drum corps rehearsals lately? If not, do it. I have never felt better about the future of society than watching young people meet the challenging demands that modern day drum corps throws at them. The glass isn't half empty. It's so full, it's running over.

It will be interesting to see how Mandarins score, giving they are performing two lower scoring corps.

The Mandarins are one of the most financially stable drum corps in the activity. They have a very strong alumni base and have deep ties to Sacramento (including local funders). The Mandarins are one of the best fed corps while touring (seriously - their menus are rather impressive!). Their scores on the field are finally rising to the level of strength off the field!

Totally agree. I really enjoyed the show! I predict SCVC will win Open Class this year.

I had Vanguard over BD tonight, but... I'm not a judge. Will be fun to watch this battle all season. Also, WOW. Mandarins 0.6 behind Blue Knights! Wow!!

BD just finished. This a great show and I love how they recreate the painting during the show. It’s fantastic. There are some great moments but I feel like the show is lacking some cohesion. I kinda find the amount of unfinished guard work a little unacceptable. (That’s a little too strong, but you know I mean... hopefully) i think this show can win it all, but it isn’t far from a lock. I enjoyed the show (something I can’t say for every BD shownthe past few years). One last thought on BD. I kinda feel like they set the tone in terms of innovation the past few years. Now, as other corps start copying/honoring/building on whatnot they’ve done, the shows don’t feel as fresh as they used to. I’m not sure if that is a bad thing. Just something to think about.

Blue Knights just finished. They sounded great, but didn’t offer a ton visually. Also, I’m not sure if it’s their uniforms/costumes, the props, staging/drill, and or something else but they looked really small on the field. The person next to me said they looked like a bus didn’t make it to the show. Lol i usually really like BK and their cool, super-future-isric shows, but this season’s show left me a little flat. So much talent! I’ll really look forward to see how they grow this show over the summer.

Mandarins just finished. Wow. This show is absolutely crazy good. Im struggling to see a way that this show does not make finals. One minor point of concern: the massive rotating stage in the center of the field is a BEAST to load in, assemble, and load out. They isn’t much room for error before time penalties might be a concern. I know they are working hard on working out all of the kinks, which is good.

Having watched a few a few videos and talking with folks I marched with who have seen them in person, if they don't drastically improve their guard - they will be on the outside looking in on finals night. The talent level is not where it needs to be. Coupled with awkward work and bad design, well.... it makes for a hard product. They can fix this - if the powers that be ACTUALLY listen AND (very importantly) staff are willing to stick it out. It's a hard place to offer feedback.

Yeah, the circular stage in the middle rotates. It is pretty incredible. And there is more coming. Things that have never been seen in Drum Corps. They have stated from the beginning of the year that they not only want to make finals, they want to be a top 10 Corps. This show is fantastic. I can’t wait to see how it grows over the season!!!

EXACTLY. It's been done SO. MANY. TIMES. There are SO MANY props out there, so something with them!

Blue Stars design meeting, October 2017. A dimly lit party room in the back of an Italian family eatery. A small group of dudes are sitting around a table. Designer A: I think we should try to make the corps look as frumpy as possible Designer B: Totally. Frumpy is totally in right now Designer A: We can put accessories around the stomach to make everyone look bigger. And we can have them wear faux rain boots because, why not! Corps Director: Um, guys, I don't know Designer A: We will throw in some Carpenter songs Corps Director (and life long Carpenters fan): OMG, YES. WE HAVE OUR 2018 SHOW DESIGN!!!

Haha! Two points exactly!! Called it! Phantom 64 Blue Stars 62

Was expecting a lot more from the Blue Stars. Underwhelming is right. Phantom Regiment will be about 2 points above them. Those uniforms make them look so sloppy! They need some tailoring ASAP.

What I would love (I am only doing World Class Corps) 1. Crown 2. Santa Clara Vanguard 3. Bluecoats 4. Blue Devils 5. Boston Crusdaders 6. The Cavaliers 7. The Cadets 8. Blue Knights 9. Phantom Regiment 10. Crossmen 11. Mandarins 12. The Academy 13. Blue Stars 14. Madison Scouts 15. Colts 16. Troopers 17. Genesis 18. Pacific Crest 19. Spirit 20. Crusaders 21. Cascades 22. Jersey Surf 23. Pioneer 24. Music City

Oh my - I’m always a little surprised when people read so much into so little. I used ‘!?!’ in my post because I was surprised she would work for SCV. While drum corps is totally incestuous, I was surprised that she would work with anyone other than The Cadets, due to her family connection - not because she isn’t qualified (Katie is clearly beyond qualified - in addition to everything everyone has already mentioned, she has a degree in dance from Columbia Chicago). Someone mentioned she still works for YEA? I always feel awful for kids who parents do bad/illegal things. They often pay the price for things they had nothing to do with. I feel that same way for Katie. I’m sorry if my post somehow inferred anything bad or mean towards her.

I was talking with a few folks online about what G.H. is doing now (i refuse to write his name, but he used to be part of The Cadets) and someone mentioned that Katie, his daughter, is on staff with SCV and is working with their guard. Is that true?!?! I looked on SCV's website, and a Katie Hopkins is listed, but perhaps the name is a coincidence? Does anyone know? Update: Please do not read into the "?!?" as being anything other than shock - there is no judgement intended or implied. (Read the entire thread for clarification).

I went to the Mandarin family day show yesterday and.... wow. This is, by every measure possible, the most difficult show the Mandarins have ever attempted. I think that it is designed brilliantly in that this show will challenge the corps all season, meaning they will have ample room to grow score wise. The design is mature and complex, yet still accessible. Key take-always: Brass: WOW. I am not a brass person but was blown away by their performance. The high brass feature sounded incredible. The trombones add such a great sound. Guard: The wind was CRAZY last night and I felt so bad for the guard. However, they still did a good job. Can’t wait to see them in full costume and with less wind. They were really selling the story. As a guard nerd, I will be shocked if this guard does not end the season in the top 10. They are phenomenal. Percussion/Pit: Great things, especially from the pit. The show features a large, rotating platform in the middle of the field: it really is impressive! I can’t wait to see this show when the corps is in full uniform. Needless to say, this is the best Mandarins show I have ever seen. If this show doesn’t make finals, well... I just can’t see that happen. Finally, the corps feels hungry - I think they really, really want to make finals. They have been given a vehicle that can take them there, now they just need to continue the amazing job they are doing.

When it comes to gender issues, there are MASSIVE generational differences. Traditional gender roles (and to a lesser extent, even the concept of gender), mean dramatically less to younger (read: future members) than older folks (read: alumni). Look at how many previously gender-segregated things are no longer the "default": many colleges have coed dorms (some even coed bathrooms and rooms), fraternity/sorority numbers are at the lowest rates in history, etc.... Choosing to remain single-sex is choosing to become irrelevant. I know many will disagree, but gender (as we have known it) is rapidly changing. Relatedly, I really hated the all-female Phantom Regiment color guard and VERY glad they are now co-ed again.

Deleted, I don't want to hijack the thread. I will never apologize for protecting children. YEA has had MONTHS. Their inability to handle this situation is not reason enough for me change my morals. This is on their hands.

We need to believe and honor the bravery of the women who have come forward with their stories. YEA better do the right thing. If not, I am prepared to spend my summer contacting the schools The Cadets are scheduled to stay at notifying them of this situation. It is completely unacceptable. I will help lead protests at DCI events. I will do everything in my power to bring attention to this situation. George should never be allowed to be in a position of power again.

They were very clear that one of their main goals this year is to make the top 10 in 2018 I have never seen so much talent in the Mandarins. With absolutely no disrespect to alums, the performance I heard from this past weekend's bass camp was stronger than the performance put out by some of the previous Mandarins brass lines during finals week. They have members coming from all over - Texas, Arizona, Washington, Utah... People are EXCITED to be marching Mandarins. They will be very interesting to keep an eye on during the off-season. I wish them nothing but the best! Edit - I also very much agree with the previous comment about having accessible music. It was part of the success of 2017 and I am very much hoping that they follow the same path in 2018.

I don't think most people understand how competitive TBDBITL (The Best #### Band in the Land) is; it is unlike every college marching band that I am familiar with. Hundreds audition for the marching band. In fact, people who are selected as alternates learn every show. AT ANY TIME they can challenge any member of the band for their spot. If they perform music and drill better, the alternate gets his or her spot. Most college marching bands I know are more of a "everyone is welcome" environment. OSU is in an completely different league. I think the folks at Ohio State will be supportive, but it's important to know the reality of the OSU marching band.

Last year, I believe I was the first person to predict that The Academy would make finals. I made another bold prediction this year: Mandarins will make finals. It won't be an easy path, but I think it can and should happen. I hope I am correct! They are adding so many layers into the show - and the guard, oh my heavens. They keep increasing the difficulty of the work! This isn't out of the blue - Mandarins has been on a slow and steady pace of progress for the past 4-5 years. They have a very large, supportive group of volunteers in the Sacramento area. Outside the top 4-5 corps, they are probably one of the most financially secure corps out there. They have a long history and it is great that the new group of members not only learn about it, but are honored to carry it forward. Keep pushing, Mandarins - you have so many people rooting for you!!