Everyone always mentions the need for GE and thus adding electronic elements, but ironically it is the old bread and butter moments that always get the best crowd response: LOUD beautiful chords as only corps hornlines can provide, fast drill, great drums, high tosses and dynamic musical moments. T the Hamilton, OH show I sat along with my 11 year-old son, lots of HS band kids, fellow corps alumni, and retirement-aged fans. What did they all respond to most and like best about the shows... Loud beautiful chords (Crown opening statement), cool drum licks, high tosses, and dynamic musical moments. Old school drum corps. The electronic stuff could have been left out entirely and I don't think anyone would have cared. The huge props didn't really seem to enhance much, either. The one thing everyone seemed to universally not like- singing. The horns were fantastic and needed no amplified support- seems like a waste of money and effort hauling all that stuff around all summer haha...
If GE is related to audience excitement and "wow factor", amplifying the horns doesn't seem to accomplish anything other than tear at the authenticity of the human-powered experience. Anyone can buy big amps and blow the stands down, nothing impressive about that.