mjoakes

Thanks for *noting* this. Stupid typist.

You're right, and I agree. (At least assuming the basics in skill, talent, proper planning, etc, are all in place.) Even though I asked the question about emotion, leadership, and other factors. To some extent, show design - whether it inspires the 19-20 year olds executing it - probably also plays a role in influencing those various intangibles.

Thanks for nothing this. Would like to have heard how someone arranged the Green Day pieces.

It can seem like that at times. But as is the case when commenting on students at high tuition universities or colleges, it just isn't helpful to generalize. Many kids have little trouble footing drum corps tuition and other expenses (and giving up the opportunity to work or intern during the summer). Many kids struggle and work hard to afford to do what they love in drum corps. If you've got a favorite corps with a scholarship program, and you also have a few bucks to donate, please do.

Maybe he just meant the age of camera winking soloists.

I mentioned these pieces in another forum, and thought it worth putting them out here as well: Selections from Green Day's American Idiot. Have always thought this could work, though now the Cavies 2016 show has some of that same AI feel and attitude. Have always liked the melodies and drama that make up Billy Elliot. (The musical, not the movie.) It's a touching, well focused story that might translate to the field. An operative word in there is that it has melodies.

Yes, for the Pearl Fishers duet.

I am still not finding an Episode 3. Not on iTunes and not on FuseTV. Am I messing up somehow or is everyone else using an app of Hulu?

Noting available for download on iTunes yet. Episodes 1 and 2 were ready right away last week.

Agree. Plenty of emotion showing on the field at finals, too. Are there similarities to 1988 Scouts?

Thanks for the post. All potentially reasonable, and I like the connections to some issues for the corps based on staff changes. Always much discussion about staff expertise and corps talent relative to the specific skills and potential scores. That's great. But also: How much of the outcomes throughout the summer, especially during Finals week, comes from the very tough to measure things: teamwork, leadership, esprit de corps, motivation, the drive from an emotional commitment (hunger?) to the show and performance, etc.? Among the top corps, there is some (but not perfect) parity in talent, and at least a handful of shows worthy of top finishes. So how much do these other factors contribute on the margin to Bluecoats > Blue Devils by 0.400? Or Cavies over Cadets? And then back to the predictions (and assuming those factors above matter at least somewhat): What corps will come into 2017 season or finals likely topping others on teamwork, motivation, hunger?

I agree it was a really beautiful show. Thoughtful. And no props. Crown that year also had a good show with no props. Both corps relied on interesting drill and beautiful music. The guard for Phantom: flags that just did wonderful flag things.

I agree about not trying to recreate something so iconic on stage or film. It won't stop me from suggesting something based on the labor movement theme in Billy Elliot and making use of that good music. First part (mostly) of one piece: https://youtu.be/BXOThP61JBg Second part of the same number: https://youtu.be/oLTO7qMr_3g And if you have absolutely nothing else to do, go to about 1:50 min. in this: https://youtu.be/874mADUXGJw It may be a bit derivative now of the Cavies Propaganda, but how about something built around Green Day's American Idiot?

Speaking of Indy hotels and (I hope) bars, has there ever been an attempt to have a DCP Forums cocktail hour some place during finals? I'm really new to the forum, so I wouldn't know if that's been tried or done.

I have stayed at both hotels, Omni for 2015, JWM for 2016. The walk to LOS seemed about the same. JWM is of course newer and overall less worn. But Omni isn't bad. Using the indoor bridges over streets, I walked to Izzy and Harry's from JWM while it was raining outside. JWM was filled with drum corps people, which made for a pretty lively lobby and bar. More so than what I remember at the Omni. But I also missed being around the restaurants and bars near the Omni. Plus, Georgia Street is right outside the Omni, if you're interested in the activities there. JWM is a bit isolated. 2017? I like both. Might see what rates through DCI are like. Have a feeling I'll try Omni again. Will hate to give up the much better fitness center at JWM.

I booked a room at the JW Marriott for this year's 2016 finals. It's one of the premium hotels in Indy. The booking was done through Visit Indy, and I clicked to them from a promotional link on the DCI website. My rate was $177. Not cheap, but also a terrific rate for JW on a Fri-Sat. That was done on October 19 last year.

Some semantics at confusing play here. Just watched Madison '95, and it didn't seem like anyone seeing it live "underrated" it at all. (Here is the Michael Boo "Spotlight" feature from 2013.) But hey, the thread lists are still cool to read. Some great shows to go back to.

I've been mapping many of the suggestions in the "underrated shows" thread to my DVD collection. Watching those sparingly (unlike how I approach pizza) will, uh, eat up some time.

Cool video, and thanks for the link. I know the guards today are just fantastic. Hugely talented and expressive. Still, there's something about seeing those old guards - stiff, high marching, uniform, aiming for universal precision, dressed to match the rest of the corps, smile-less. Yes, it's nostalgic. Looks good, though, if for no other reason than it is something noticeably different from what's common today. And for some reason - maybe deep psychological problems I don't understand – I just cringe at so much Broadway smiling in guards today.

Indy is a convenient venue for several often-mentioned reasons. As a frequent academic conference attendee, I think it's tough to beat being able to hotel park, and then spend 2-4 days walking to the venue, restaurants, and other hotels. ("Tough" to beat, but not impossible to beat. San Antonio isn't bad, but I'm not big on the holiday shopping-like crowds on the canals.) I've driven and flown to Indy, and both approaches have fewer headaches than many other cities. I'm sure logistics matter much, and gaining operational experience with a venue is important to both DCI staff and corps staff. That's an outsider's comment. Truth is, like the shows themselves, this is an issue for which individual preferences (as well as past experiences and corps loyalties) matter much, and debate will never cease. Everything drum corps seems to have something of a traditionalist vs. evolution or change dichotomy. Not a bad thing. Just a frequent framework shaping discussions.

While acknowledging how risky it can be to revisit such an iconic piece - and as someone else noted, also with all the added pressure of the 50th. - me, too. Clowns would make a terrific closure for all of us to look forward to at each performance. BTW, I appear to be a much less sophisticated fan than most of you here. So take this observation with that in mind: I've been binging through the 2014 and 2015 finals, and I often catch myself unable to identify just when I might be seeing a closure. Another reason why Clowns would work for me.

Topping 2017 results will be: 1. Corps with soloist with best combined wink, smirk and nod to the camera. 2. Corps with second best... 3. Corps with soloist that fist bumps the first row fans in LOS.

And they won't need to play a note. The entire show will consist of some guy narrating awkwardly and recordings of JFK.

Numbers are interesting. Thanks for posting. And I realize others might argue about how to count what people doing which things. Somewhat important is keep focused on outcomes not inputs. They're related, of course. But it doesn't have to be that the quality of outcomes is directly associated with the number of inputs.

And those double flags. So cool when those first appeared.