One n Done

Hey, let’s say this is “hypothetical”. How would such news make you feel?

....you learned that a top 6 drum corps had wireless mic’s on over 30 of it’s brass players? What about tempo remotely broadcast to in-ear units on performers in the field?

Agreed. Still a time of transition for YEA and the Cadets. Careful and measured change makes sense.

The addition of Darcie and Adam is big. The latter will likely bring some experienced teachers with him. Teachers with experiences outside the Cadets. And just as important, new networks to tap into for talent. Big picture, both will bring important conversations about concept, show design, prop design and use. It should be a benefit to Bobby, obviously-but I think too that input from experienced and highly creative designers will positively impact musical design as well. For a while, even back to Sacktig’s last few year’s with the Cadets, show concept and visual integration of all three captions have been lacking. Nebulous concepts, poor prop design, too much brass over here, drums over here, and guard over there. Hopefully in ‘19 we get a more defined and compelling concept, with a more varied and textured visual package.

By “new music”, I mean seeing the group perform repertoire they have not previously performed. Playing sections and quotes from historic Cadet programs of old was appropriate for 2018. A smart and compassionate programming choice to unite alumni and fans. That having been done, I want the design team to look outside past rep and compositional techniques. It’s good to push the walls back of the box that the audience thinks you live in and explore a greater variety of musical content and effect.

To be clear, in my previous post, I was not trying to be doom and gloom. Just realistic and suggesting patience while they continue to right the ship. You don’t do things fairly wrong for a number of years and expect a quick turnaround. I’d guess the 2018 outcome was a very pleasant surprise for many.

More groups are JUST NOW beginning to get the electronic and amplification game right. Let’s stick with the adults running that aspect.

Job 1 will be for YEA to seriously assess what it can reasonably raise and fund. Staff needs to be paid on time and they have to travel better. You can’t attract and retain good instructors without the accommodations the other top corps have. Design (music, drill, choreography, props, electronics) are winning DCI right now...all these things come down to dollars. Can YEA provide this for the Cadets AND support a DCA corps and other programs? Hard questions must be asked within YEA. Priorities must be set and decisions made. Personally, I do not think they can fund a top 5 corps AND continue their other offerings with the fundraising apparatus currently in place. Some achievable needs in the short term: 1. Program design coordinator. 2. Improved guard design and staging. 3. Improved design and teaching of non traditional movement. Similarly, smarter use of run and gun. If it’s gonna be hard, it should be great. 4. New music must be explored. 5. Stick with a costume vs. a wholesale return to the traditional uni. Retain nods to the old with use of color and pattern. As much as our highly competitive friend Tekk may not like to hear it, I think it’ll be a 3-5 year journey for the corps to medal again. And, that’s WITH good decisions and increased funding. As awesome as this season was, the administration of the corps and YEA are (understandingly) still getting their feet beneath them. The most important moves for the Cadets in 2019 will be ones that none of us see and few of us hear about. This season was a short term miracle ( thank you kids and staff). Now it’s time for the long term grind towards sustainability and competitive relevance. It will not bother me much to see the corps in 6th/7th the next couple years, so long as they make the much needed improvements off the field. FHNSAB

We’re not “moving” towards GE having more weight....we are fully there. Less visual demand. Less musical demand. Especially less of both occurring simultaneously. The musical clarity and passion this year from SCV, for example, is amazing. The cost? Very limited movement and environmental/special demands. This is no accident on the part of their designers, and the judges buy it. Many fans too. I dig ‘em. Effect rules, this is not new. I think what IS new, is that we’re starting to see a limited bandwidth from evaluators as to WHAT is effective: Absolute clarity and volume at all costs and programs that are obvious to the point of not requiring or challenging the audience to interpret and derive meaning. Is this all bad? All good? What I don’t want to see is a Finals where 12 groups wind up being nearly indistinguishable in their use of field and variety of content.

You gotta be a bit of a billy goat to enjoy Allentown. Whether it’s the stadium or surrounding area, you will be climbing some hills. The park/lot is magical here. Best of the summer. The stadium herself is a ruthless #$&@* for corps unprepared. Nothing covered up, everything exposed. J. Barney tells the truth on every group.

Questions and ramblings... 1. Should there be a minimum required show attendance number? What ticket buyer doesn’t want to see another corps on that night they are able to attend a show? Certain corps don’t need the appearance fees, but by the same logic should also be able to afford to travel and perform a few more shows than they currently chose to. Argument: Choice matters and a corps ability to choose what they want for their members is their right. 2. Should appearance payout be altered for corps outside the top 6-8 to to receive a higher percentage? Rehearsal days are a big benefit-more instruction and floor time, to list just a couple. Corps that depend on gate fees have to travel more, equaling less rehearsal and rest. With a higher percentage of the gate, at each show, maybe those groups with fewer financial resources might be able to afford 2-3 more rehearsal days over the course of a summer. Related: Corps outside the top 6 typically go on earlier at any given show, which already means less rehearsal on show days, and over the summer, unless that corps wakes up earlier (meaning less rest). Yes, they can attempt to get out of the lot sooner after a show....this plan doesn’t logistically work out all the time. Argument: Would a higher percentage of gate incentivize corps with less money to not strengthen their own finances? And, why should those corps with stronger finances be penalized? Eagerly awaiting other takes on this.

I saw BD live this week. Very impressed. Not my favorite Devils program, but they are refining in a hurry. They could come in 1st or 3rd, but I wouldn’t bet my paycheck against them.

I will try not to sound argumentative, as that’s not my intention. 1. Prop use-They aren’t going away. Use them and incorporate them effectively. To not do so will greatly hinder a unit scoring TODAY. 2. Guard integration. It has been lacking for some time. Too much BAND over here, GUARD over there in the staging. Again, this won’t win friends and influence people TODAY. 3. Improved non-conventional movement design and training. This is also here to stay. Again, the corps above the Cadets ALL exceed them in these areas. I love marching and playing. It is VERY hard to do well and also be musically effective. With overall effect being king in what gets comp numbers TODAY, we see less risk and demand in the drill from the overwhelming majority of units. The 2018 Cadets are at the opposite end of this trend. By today’s standards, these kids are running. While I feel a perverse sense of pride in this, I can also admit the uneven field this puts them on given evaluation trends currently in place. I don’t like that kids hauling the mail isn’t being rewarded, but I can put aside my preferences to see this reality. I don’t want to see the corps not run and gun. I would like to see improvement in the areas mentioned above, as well as more calculated use of physically demanding drill. If it’s HARD, it should be GREAT. Even though I prefer “drill”, I see a bit too much of the former vs. the latter in this year’s program. A program with portions that I like, but is also scoring where it should be.

This is a great point. I don’t think anyone is moving (traditionally) as much as the Cadets. But, I also don’t think this drill is always effective. Yes, there are moments that very much are. I think of late, musical clarity is HUGE for judges. And effect is absolutely EVERYTHING. Much easier to do both NOT on the move. Drill seems not to be credited in composition unless it is generating effect. Demand isn’t necessarily effective. I think a lot of groups, based on trends in evaluation, are smartly picking their spots to move and play. And when they do, it’s a calculated and effective risk. To FTNK’s point, I think we are seeing the answer. The drill is tough and it is being achieved well at this point. And that gets you 7th place. I’m guessing the future for the group will include more effective prop use, better visual integration of guard, and development of stronger non-marching movement skills. It kinda has to.

The 2018 show itself is placing where it should. Portions of it are very solid and compelling. Portions are not. Everything between the end of Sensemaya and the start of the ballad is a swing and miss for me. The multi-minute drum feature, while performed well, derails the flow and feel of the program. It highlights a couple things the corps doesn’t do very well: Front ensemble design/electronics sound design. My highlights for this Cadets program: 1. THEY MOVE-It’s nice to see a corps challenged with marching and playing. Nothing in the activity is harder to do well. 2. The ballad, musically, is very well done. While I find the guard contribution lacking, it’s still very moving. 3. Use of space-So many groups crowding the front sideline or stuck hovering on or near props this year. The Cadets touch each corner of the field. As a result there is good variety to the visual density/texture. It’s refreshing. Many groups are attempting reduced field, indoor productions outside-and indeed are being well rewarded for it. The Cadets use the whole stage and also explore the environmental demands this presents. I hope more groups do this going forward. The best part of 2018 for the Cadets, is the corps itself: Their tenacity to hang tough when events in April exploded. A new director, new board, guard caption head gone...the doubt that must have been in so many young minds is hard to imagine. While this show isn’t “great”, this group of kids and instructional staff certainly ARE.

No fanboy, believe me. And, please don’t call me friend. It’s nothing more than an insincere nicety on your part. Nobody wants to see GH’s face. Hopefully after finals, all in the office can catch their breath, grab some sleep, and make the final purge of GH from remaining media formats. In the meantime, thank them for picking up the pieces from the bomb that went off in April. It’s a small miracle that corps is on the field.

So, you first contacted the corps about this prior to the post above? Hmmm?

Regretting my flo subscription. Even just signing up for a month. Not enough shows broadcast and poor to middling camera work. Oh well, good luck to all the groups performing.

Get rid of “previous seasons” and regenerate. There is too much change year to year in staff, design, membership, finances, tour schedule, judging, for the model above to most accurately predict results for THIS year. Even then, readers here will be viewing those results ASSUMING objectivity and completeness in the data you include to produce this.

No stone throwing. I’d be quite obvious if that was my intent, believe me. That VA score comes from the judge referred to early in my previous post. Same person dumped them in effect the night before in Katy, when he was on effect. He obviously doesn’t care for the Cadets visual choices. Which is fine-the question is whether or not he is being objective and ranking/rating the group fairly. 9th? Sure. 12th? Nope. Boston and the Cadets are both having very good, while very different, seasons. If neither of them place any higher, both groups have PLENTY to celebrate. For Boston, staying top 6 may be more impressive than getting there in the first place. They are better this year. So too are Bloo, Cavies, and SCV. Some may say BD and Crown are off. I’d like to be that kind of off. Both have crazy talent and instruction-across the captions. If Boston passes nobody, they are still a better corps. They will see more talent next year and can challenge them more. Cadets are also better this year, so are others above them (including BAC). Their placement, given the turmoil surrounding the corps this spring and in recent years, is kinda remarkable. Alumni have rallied in support of a great group of kids that believed in the corps and each other. If they pass nobody, they too are an improved unit. They have a lot to do after this season, but are very committed. The comment likening BAC and SCV in scoring doesn’t make sense. SCV is the cream of the crop this year. They’re total score is over 90 with 3 weeks left and with just 7.5 points left until they hit the ceiling of 100. Vanguard IS in that place where content and achievement must begin to level out. They and a couple others are simply that darned good. Being below 90 and being level or upside down in content and achievement in multiple captions is a clear message: “You are doing great...now, please do more!”

The guy’s numbers are the reason we all fear the loose cannon vis judge. The one who has to make a point and reacts so severely that he “calls the show”. But, I don’t think this judge will matter in the end for BAC or the Cadets. I get the feeling that Boston and Allentown are both on islands at this point. A 6th place island for the former, 7th for the latter. BAC’s rise last year bought them a lot of capital. BUT, look at last night’s recap and the number of captions in which the Crusaders are already judged higher in achievement than content. Boston designed very smart, but they will struggle to climb higher-despite a very good guard and strong performance corps wide. The Cadets have room for growth between their content and achievement numbers. Compared to those above them, they lag in visual and musical clarity. They can clean, and with that content scores can also benefit. Their design is one where, quite often, excellence IS the effect. That’s a tough way to score points-one that lacks in vocabulary and variety of effect.

True. Can they make the right decisions? Even without GH, that isn’t easy. And, CAN, they clean what they have? Also, not easy. I thought the corps was plenty clean in ‘12-‘14. Concept and design simply wasn’t there. Concept has been kinda hit or miss for them from ‘99 on, IMO.

This corps moves a lot. For the most part, this is reflected in the discrepancy between comp and achievement numbers. Not just in visual captions, either. I don’t know if they can catch anyone above them, but they still have HUGE room to improve simply through execution. I wanna see this group make only smart, NECESSARY changes from here out. So far this year, they have done so. Let the kids, staff, and fans have a clean Cadet corps for the first time in a few years.

Sorry for the lengthy post, BTW

Maybe DCI could put out a light-hearted/comedic video about fan behavior. Show it prior to the show and at intermission as well. Perhaps also a written guide to fan behavior in programs. It IS an educational activity, which means teaching audience etiquette as well. We want great crowd reactions-the kind that follow something truly moving. Supporting every guard catch with a loud shriek as if it’s a programmed, Pavlonian response is perhaps not appropriate. Now, if a soloist at a dramatic moment nails a 6, then yeah-that’s a moment for a squeal. Weapon feature-again a correct moment to let the performer know about it. I once saw “the 10 commandments of audience etiquette” in a concert program. It was written humorously, while also informing attendees about what to expect and was expected FROM them. Most folks DON’T understand audience etiquette. Buying a ticket isn’t a license for personal behavior that sours the experience for other paying customers. We want more fans and as we get them, need to educate them. DCI should lead this. As fans, perhaps an offending nearby attendee could be kindly spoken to between groups by other fans. Harsh looks or comments probably won’t accomplish much and may be every bit as offensive to surrounding fans. If you politely address a fellow fan and they get belligerent, or continue the poor behavior-take the problem to an usher.