mjoakes
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Posts posted by mjoakes
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33 minutes ago, 1corpsfan said:
I was watching the series "On Demand" but when I went to watch the last episode, my cable company removed the 'Fuse' channel. I never got to see the last episode. I'll have to find someone who recorded it so I can see it. Heard it was decent.
I watched it via iTunes. I think you can get single episodes, too.
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I just completed the survey, and agree with gabe21. It's bad enough to warrant a posting here. I am mostly surprised by the poor quality. Not totally surprised since I have thought for some time that the DCI web site is an awkward, rough experience.
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17 hours ago, Northern Thunder said:
Thanks for the post to the story! (Haven't come across a website requiring Flash in quite a while.)
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I got the DVD of Scouts Honor for Christmas.
If you don't know,its a movie about the 2012 Scouts.
This movie shows what COTC could have been been,had the producers not only understood the activity,but also had a passion for it,
Agree. I highly recommend the film. It has a few gushy, Madison-specific moments (just as you would expect), but it's overall a nice look at drum corps and people who are part of it. More effective than COTC (even though I am still not sure what the purpose of COTC was).
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Yes, a start up group called Ignition drum corps from Indianapolis who wasn't approved for open class in 2016 but performed as a Soundsport unit over last summer. There taken 2017 off. Hope they have a bright future. Indiana needs a drum corps. Great high school marching bands within the state.
Hey, thanks for that info about an Indiana corps. Tough name. But here is the link with a short message about not fielding a corps in 2017 due to some financial re-thinking (I think).
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A more interesting question for me: Is there competitive space for a group to start a new drum corps based in Indiana?
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Seat hoppers aren't much of a problem for me. If there are empty seats for a corps, and if some corps members who worked hard all summer can grab a seat and watch a show, great.
BUT: For The Academy's show at finals this year, a mother of one of the members hopped/grabbed a seat in front of me and held her phone high for video. It was a big phone, and she used both hands to capture the show. It was annoying at first, and as it continued once the show started, of course it was rude. Some fans behind me asked her to put the phone down. She didn't. Then the fans got snarky. The Academy is performing this wonderful show, and yet I am very distracted looking through and around her arms. A fan or two got angry with their comments, but the mother kept on blocking our view. At one point, she turned and said she had a son marching and she wasn't going to miss getting this on video. She seemed indignant that the small group of fans behind her wouldn't let her block their view without complaint.
Once The Academy wrapped, a fan down the row from me who did not have his view blocked by the camera-mother scolded the fans behind me for talking during a show.
This was a nasty moment in an otherwise nice three days of finals shows in my section of seats.
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You can take any kind of show concept and design it well or design it poorly. I'm also taking for granted that the judges reward shows that are designed well and performed well, and know better than most of us what constitutes a good show.
There is nothing wrong with with the idea itself of adding props in a show - props can be done poorly, or they can be done well. You can't just make a blanket statement that says "all props are bad" and expect it to be the truth. The Blue Stars, for example, are known for their use of props. Most of the time they are done very well. Sometimes they aren't - I think the Side Show show was probably a poor use of props - not that the idea wasn't good - it was just not well integrated. Their Houdini show, the props were done VERY well. Very well integrated in the show.
Sometimes The Cadets use props poorly. Sometimes the Blue Devils use them poorly. The white colored minimalist type poles they've used 2010-2013, some years they were used well, the Re-Rite of Spring I think they were poorly used.
It's not the props, or the electronics, or woodwinds or strings or WHATEVER is used, that makes a show good or bad, it's how they are used.
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A good point here from BoyWonder1911. For me, the props can be annoying, but if I think better about this it isn't because I oppose props. Rather, it's because some props really are not done well. In the context above, it means, I guess, the overall design, including the props, is not done well.
And "done well" is subjective. The reaction of the audience overall matters to me and usually prompts me to think again if I discover I don't agree with it. Regardless, this is all quite subjective and preference-oriented. I thought the props in the Cadets and Blue Stars 2016 shows were silly and distracting. But plenty of people seemed to like those shows. (Same for Blue Stars 2015 show, those really cheesy-looking circus props that I didn't think added anything of value. Or how about the 2015 Scouts guys dancing with those silhouettes? To me in the seats, that was creepy. Others must have been fine with it.)
I was happy that Crown and SCV scored well with great shows that were not prop-messy. Yes, the stagecoach was a major, dominating prop, but overall, the field was free for attention to great drill and music. Same for SCV. So I am not convinced that all designers are compelled to throw junk on the field in order to please the audience or be competitive.
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I was wondering if the forums would wind down (even more) as the year-end comes into view. Maybe not quite yet.
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Prediction 12/11/16
I will probably be wrong, and I’ll make a few more predictions throughout the season, only doing rankings because it will be more fun to see how wrong I was.
1 - Blue Devils - They do not like losing enough said.
2 - Bluecoats - They will have a good show with good talent, will almost definitely medal.
3 - Cavaliers - They will have a strong show and medal (or get really close) or they will fall back where they were before.
1 - I know what you mean. But then the motivation for their first three-peat didn't pull them through in 2016.
2 - Maybe. After viewing the finals video, I am still delighted by their show overall but not as impressed with their execution.
3 - This is what's fun about reading the predictions: (i) Of course, it's a silly thing to try to predict based on such limited info right now (and also to try to argue with one another about such predictions); (ii) No matter the silliness, I am trying to apply a little critical thinking to your #1 and #2; and (iii) But then, who cares, I think you're absolutely right about #3 just because I like the Cavies and hope they grab a medal in August.
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And a case study like Madison is a perfect example of how there is almost always something else going on besides instructional staff. I would venture a guess that most of the time, it is something like the administrative staff. What many people don't realize is the value and importance of a solid, cohesive, and well put together, well organized, and supportive administrative staff. Other factors could be not seeing a huge jump after two years, only the first year. Could be the media/recruiting side of things (that ultimately comes back to admin, somewhat in conjunction with instructional staff...but mainly admin). Could be something with the contracted members and the numbers that are able to move in on time, especially with more and more schools getting out late, not letting kids off for finals, etc etc...just some thoughts.
Good comments (and from tesmusic, too). Like college athletics, pro sports, small businesses, large corporations, governments, etc., it's just really hard to put together the total package that leads to genuine excellence. Hard to do it for just a short while. Really, really tough to do it consistently over the long-term. Should make us all appreciate what the Blue Devils organization does. I'm never all that excited or inspired by their shows, but here's to them on maintaining excellence year after year.
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As holiday gift unwrapping draws closer, you have this to look forward to:
- Best use of trombones: Blue Devils
- Most effective use of long hair in the guard: Blue Devils
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I appreciate your comments. I have only watched those shows one time, on the Finals live stream. In regards to your comments about Bluecoats (and everyone), I think a show like that is meant to mostly be a one-time consumption: as are most shows, I suspect. I know the judging community would see their show several times over the summer, and fans that live more central to the DCI Tour or who travel a lot will see more nuance or whatnot. But I think in general these shows might not be meant to be scrutinized after-the-fact, and are designed more to be a visceral, in-the-moment type of performance experience. Obvious and incredible design and performance will hold up splendidly, but I think in general these things are mostly best to enjoy live and not to over-analyze too much (unless, say, you're actively attempting to look for nuance, or seek explanations to subtle design bits, etc).
Good point on the Bluecoats's show. That perspective might explain a lot about how I am responding after view it a few times.
This is surely true of other shows, but I don't know about "most" shows. There are a lot of good field shows that hold up well over time and after multiple viewings. Good drill, music, overall visuals and GE. You seem to say that, too, I think. So again, thanks for the different perspective to consider.
And to make sure it's clear: I still really like watching and listening to the Bluecoats's show. But sure, if I get very analytical about it, I see some messiness now that I didn't earlier. Especially compared to #s 2, 3, and 4.
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We wanted to preserve as much of the introduction in The Academy's show as possible so we had to make a pretty hard leap to avoid the material Tim Burton wouldn't license. Musically, it's not bad. With Cavaliers, we were lucky in that the corps placed their speakers perfectly so we could control the volume of the amplified sounds. Been working with the corps for years now, trying to getting better placement of speakers relative to our mics. We were able to close some mics and the jingles went away with no edited loss of show coverage or content! Thanks to The Cavaliers for working with us!
The edits were done well. And the overall product is really great. Thanks to all involved.
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A brief edit in The Academy's opener and the jingles in The Cavaliers' closer are muted. Check out TRBlair's post in the Pre-order thread for more details, but the edits aren't too bad.
I agree. Given the constraints, I think the team behind the finals videos did an excellent job. More generally, there are a few choices I would prefer they have made differently when editing the multi-cam versions. But that's not a complaint. Overall, it's a very good product.
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It's not so much the shows as much as it is how poorly run some of them are around here. Uncomfortable venues, interminable lines for concessions (I need water. I become dehydrated), bathrooms not open...I'm 59 years old. My tolerance for the hassle it's become in some venues is limited. The show I'm going to in Lisle, Illinois is a very well run show and that's why I'm going to it. And very comfortable with individual seats at Illinois Benedictine university. Hats off to the Cavaliers.
A friend of mine in Naperville said that BU was a great venue and show. I think I'll hit Muncie the day before with the same corps.
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I watched most of the 12 again and apparently don't mind the mild narcissism of posting mostly to myself:
- Great to have available both the multi-cam and high cam versions. I like both, but prefer the high cam.
- Just in case show designers out there are looking to me for last-minute tips: I never get excited by the solo guard member off on their own doing a ballet dancing thing. Actually, it's not lack of excitement. I just don't understand it. I need that to be very poignant - not just in way that is academically correct to the theme, but to the show itself.
- Keep enjoying Crown and SCV more and more. Still enjoy the Bluecoats show and admire what they did. But it's also beginning to look sloppy in places to me.
- For me, as just a lowly amateur and fan, I get a little weary when I have to use Wikipedia to try to connect the theme with what I'm seeing on the field. (But I now know that Steve Wynn put his elbow through a Picasso.) I might just be a doofus, but what value was added by that lady in the lampshade costume?
- Really appreciate Phantom's music and the work of the featured horns. Wish the show had been more memorable overall.
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I can't wait for this next season's BK corps. I can't wait for them to announce their next show program. I hope it will happen very soon.
But seriously, I know a lot of people didn't really get the show, there was a lot going on on the field for much of the program, but I the mood they created really did it for me. The music was excellent. I just wish that they ended the show on a high note, instead of what a lot of corps end up doing, dwindling it down at the end for some kind of artistic nonsense. I really hate that. I like shows that end with a climax. The climax in the finale of this show was good, but I kept wishing for more. I was on the verge of crying, teardrops did start to fall, but it was right on that edge of being "great". Still my favorite show of the year.
I hope this next season they go all out and bring us something very special.
I discovered I liked BK's music much better on the finals BluRay than what I remember seeing them live a few times. Good music played well. I'm anxious to pay more attention to them at San Antonio live this year.
As for the "artistic nonsense" for the end, I agree. Or it just didn't work for me with BK, anyway. SCV did something similar more effectively, I thought. And, sort-of-but-not-entirely related were Cavies in 2012, their "15 Minutes of Fame" show. That was more obviously connected to the theme and, well, the Cavies could pull it off.
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Ahhh screw it... I'll play. Based nothing more on staff changes, recent trends and gut feelings... For all I know, any corps could come out with an absolute stinker of a book and all bets are off, but just for fun...
1... Blue Devils (Should have won last year IMHO, by a wide margin at that)
2... Santa Clara (this corps is on the rise back to their glory days.. mark my words)
3... Cavaliers (same as Santa Clara)
4... Carolina Crown (will take brass, but the visual design, and guard staff departures will be tough to replace)
Like the top 4, anyway. As I watch the shows on BluRay, I keep feeling like Crown was noticeably sharper than Bluecoats. Still fascinated with the Bluecoats' show. But the better overall performance for me was Crown.
I am anyway happy to see someone dissenting about Bluecoats.
Back to predictions, I wouldn't mind predicting BD in 4th and the others move up a notch. But thanks for posting something interesting to think about.
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Muncie looks like a pretty big show early in the tour. Five of the 12 finalists (up from 3 in 2016). Plus Scouts. Anyone know if this has been a well-attended show in the past?
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Too be consistent, don't you think you should have the same thoughts about the violin player?
Good point. I was annoyed by that, too. But also wondered if she would be considered more like a member of the pit, and so remaining stationary might be more acceptable.
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Maybe some of you have interest in sharing reflections, thoughts, or reactions to viewing the DCI Finals performances on your recently acquired DVD or BluRays?
I attended shows at the Tour Premier in Indy, San Antonio, and all three days during Finals week. After a viewing of the shows on video (both multi-cam and high cam), here are a few of my early thoughts. Obviously, this is FWIW:
- The top five shows are all really wonderful and different. Five different corps’ personalities.
- Except for The Academy, shows six and below blur together a bit.
- I am disappointed, a little sad, and then also somewhat guilty that I still can't find much memorable about Phantom's show. Oh, right, some good featured horn players.
- Hey, thanks to Fuse, I know that girl in the BD guard and that guy in the Cadets guard!
- Bluecoats were stunning and Blue Devils were their usual quality executioners. For me, Crown had the winning show.
- I didn’t think that about Crown late on Finals night in LOS.
- But also: those featured horns in Bluecoats!
- Liked the Blue Knights music much more than I remember from seeing them live.
- Liked The Academy music, but didn’t hear it as well played on video as I thought it was live. I even remember in Indy thinking the group ought to have scored higher on music than it did. Now not so much. (Though, I’ve nothing special in terms of audio playback.)
- I think many shows use props unproductively, and so ineffectively. The Cadets, Crossmen, Blue Stars. Just wasted time and effort with many of those props. I don’t buy the need to simply stage stuff - those mannequins and lamps.
- I am not anti-props. Crown, Bluecoats, The Academy, Cavies used props genuinely effectively; the props were integral to the show. (To the show, not just the theme.)
- I got kind of irrationally annoyed that the horn statue for the Cadets stayed on that wedding cake all show instead of getting down and doing some drill.
- I wondered whether the judges weren’t compelled to ask, WT* do we do now? at Bluecoats and parts of Cavies show. If they did, I liked their answers.
- Missed the Scouts.
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Threads like this are the reason why drum corps planet is held in such universal disdain by the rest of the drum corps community.
Does that imply there are other drum corps forums better than at DCP?
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Fair enough... I mistook the shitposting thread for the actual announcement thread.
My bad.
You weren't the only one confused by the title.
DCI Orlando show tickets
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
No idea when Orlando tickets might be available. Pretty sure San Antonio tickets went on sale in April last year. And I believe I ordered mine through Madison's VIP offering and was able to do so before the ticket link was open on DCI. Other corps also let you buy tickets via their web sites. VIP at Madison didn't mean anything special, just some good tickets in a Madison section.