mjoakes

Thanks for the guard numbers update, @Rudy18. Thus, the few guys near me with medical face masks. FWIW, I am enthusiastic about what I saw and heard and anxious to see it come together in Muncie. Also always impressed at Scouts camp with the professionalism of the members and staff in rehearsals. (Or in what little of rehearsals that I can see.) Hope you are having a great experience so far and with a great tour ahead.

Saw some of the evening ensemble work tonight at Franklin High School, the Scouts having taken a day away from their woodsy camp in Trafalgar. Some good potential in the music to my ears, though that isn't saying much (about my ears, not their music). They've only been together two weeks, and I've no idea what they should be sounding like at this point. Happy to see there isn't one of those gratuitous, 90-second, tip-toe quiet openings. I counted 24 in the guard.

Helpful DCI response reminded me that all seats at Casper are general admission. But at least I get into a separate section for having paid a few extra Bucks.

Looking forward to seeing the Troopers in Casper this summer, my first time in Wyoming. I sported a Casper Troopers T-shirt in my leaving-for-college photo in August, 1976. Received my premium section ticket showing no row and seat 0. So there's that to look forward to, also.

I liked the 2017 outfits. The show didn’t live up to them. Music was from someone’s doctoral dissertation.

I'm a little surprised to hear Elvord speak so explicitly about a return to what Madison is all about. I know a lot of alumni and fans want that. But in context, it's sort of also saying: you know, not that stuff we've done the past couple of years. The plans are plenty okay with me. I'm just surprised to hear so open a dig at those past decisions.

If space is genuinely an issue, I like this idea. Maybe a single plaque with plates can still document historical accomplishments.

Where do the trophies and awards go?

Got a call back to change Friends seats. Maybe an easy thing for DCI to do since I'm buying just one set of tickets. Now in back row of 140. Closest I've been to 50 yard line. So will be great to see SCV take first again. Followed closely by Cavies, Madison, and Phantom!

No theme sounds good to me. But then again, I don’t get most of the themes underlying the shows. So maybe it doesn’t matter.

Had tickets for the past two years and also had events come up that have kept me from attending. While everyone is loving it this year I will be judging case study presentations.

Did Katy and San Antonio last year, flying into Houston, driving to SA and back. Katy show was one of my least favorite all year. Hot, not great seating. I love a good show outdoors. I love even more being comfortable and cool.

Saw this after a rare visit to the DCI page. I like the confidence from the Scouts this suggests. Of putting their show out there ahead of others and talking about some of these details - khaki unit? - kind of nonchalantly. https://youtu.be/TnVjX9LN71 Also liked hearing the contra guy imply that the general title allows for playing great music, maybe without a heavy-handed theme and story that has to be beaten to death.

My Friends seat last year was section 239, row 2, aisle seat 1. It's a level 2 obstruction, but was a great seat. After a few minutes, the plexiglass didn't bother me. Nearly everything I watched was over the barrier, not through it. Two big benefits for me: (1) The staff at LOS paid good attention to keeping stragglers from entering the Friends section, and (2) 200 sections are up a few steps, and I had a clear view of the field with no one in front of me obstructing it. I would have taken that seat again, but it wasn't available. Instead, I was offered 239, row 2, seat 16, aisle on the end of 239 closer to the 50. I turned that down in part because I think the barrier is more prominent there (plexiglass + a handrail) and also in part because I just wanted to try section 100 to get closer to the field and sound. Understand the OP's frustration, but I think it won't be as bad as you imagine right now. You'll enjoy good shows and have a nice perspective on drill. You know, for those precious few moments when a DCI show features real drill.😁

I spoke with them on Monday and settled on seats. Moving to 100 level this year for the sound. Really like the 200 level, I’m still peasant enough to warrant that glass barrier cutting my view in half.

Thanks for the info and all the best for you and your sion this summer. (Welcome to DCP, too.) I'm looking at Scouts with high expectations for a great show.

After a few viewing of the DVDs the past several weeks, I kept thinking that Babylon had the feel of an older show. There were big moments, some beautiful music that I can recall and follow even without a graduate degree in music, good synchronized movement, and even a moment of older-style drill near the end. All this was coherent and memorable. Many other shows are much more fuzzy in memory. I recall only a kind of mishmash of things.

Always had a preference for high cam, but multi cam for Vanguard and Cavies is outstanding. Very entertaining.

Just watched Vanguard on digital download. I had forgotten so much about that show!

That’s a good idea. I’d like to have something like that.

Yes. Invited others to form their own corps, but no one is going to touch Pioneer.

So exhausted (and weirdly fascinated) by the postings on the top threads right now, thought it would be refreshing to remember there's a tour starting up in a few months. Anyone anxious to catch The Cavaliers out West in June? I'll be at Stanford. Maybe Clovis because I'd like to say I visited a place called Clovis.

Did he also imply that complaints and problems should be handled in-house?

Good point. As someone around many 18-21 year olds on a university campus, I can support that most are wonderful. Some are not.

You're right, @Spatzzz. Membership fees through 2017 activities were $26,260. All other things - a mix of contributions, gifts, etc. - were $30,584. Some of that could be from Lutz. He may also have used personal funds to just pay various things that didn't make it on their books.