queenanne_1536

I also think Regiment can be tossed in the mix, but I think they made a poor choice re: uniforms. With everything coming out being so modern, Regiment might look oldish in comparison. But the show is great and the visual design is a HUGE step forward.

1999 was the great year. 2000 was the year that sucked. Joking, of course. Your 1999 show further illustrates my point. The design wasn't as good as Cadets shows normally are, and placement suffered as a result. Was the 1999 corps less talented than the 1998 or 2000 corps? I don't know, but the 1999 design certainly didn't help you. 2000, on the other hand, must have been such a fun year to march. I could watch that show endlessly. Masterpiece.

It not only impacts both scores, it impacts the entire corps. One year I marched we had a great design and it was just a thrilling and exciting season, and we just took off. Another year, we had a subpar design and the season sucked. Not only from a competitive standpoint, but from a morale standpoint. It was just a long season and I couldn't wait for it to end. I thought the subpar design year had a more talented corps than the great design year, and the competitive results absolutely did not reflect that - because of the design.

I am over the moon about Blue Knights uniforms. I absolutely love them. I think they are going to be great from the stands.

Exactly. I mean that man was brilliant throughout his career. THAT cannot be denied. He had a direct hand in countless Cadets programs that were just marvels. I think that can happen to anyone who has been doing something for a very very long time. It's hard to stay fresh and current, while learning new things and perhaps forgetting (or at least letting rest) things you once knew.

Why are you being rude? I was joking in the BAC (and making a joke about myself, I didn't attack anyone). Yes, I know where Boston finished in relation to the Cadets. Everything hinges on show design, everything. A less talented line can beat a more talented line based on show design alone. I know from first hand experience. When you have a great show design, and both the audience and judges are responding so well to it, all it does is elevate you (on all levels). When it's the opposite, it's deflating (on all levels). I have been on both sides of the coin when I marched.

BLUE KNIGHTS

***

Well, to be far, many on the predictions thread have them medalling. Personally, I think it will be tough for them to make top 5, but hey, I thought placing 10th last year was going to be a stretch for them, so basically I don't know what I'm talking about.

That's hot.

I could see that the Cadets aren't drawing members who want to march in a championship caliber corps anymore, but is BAC?

Who resent these reports? Just kidding. What recent reports?

I don't know. No one will ever be able to convince me that the 2017 Boston Crusaders were as talented as the 2017 Cadets. If feel the same way about the Cavies and Cadets in 2016. What the 2016 Cavaliers and 2017 Boston Crusaders had, that the Cadets didn't, was a great show design. Heck, the Cadets didn't even have a good show design in 2016 or 2017. When you have a great show design off the bat, and aren't spending weaks making changes, it is a huge benefit. And, when the fans and judges are reacting so positively towards your show, it just creates unstoppable momentum, because you start to see great results competitively and it just fuels you and excites you. It drives you. You are able to exceed expectations, both from an entertainment perspective and a competitive perspective. In 2016 and 2017, the Cadets design staff killed them before they even took their first steps! When you lose to a corps you haven't lost to since 1980 it deflates you. When you are making constant changes it deflates you. When the judges aren't reacting positively to your show it deflates you. When you have someone playing in the design sandbox who has no clue what he's doing it deflates you. I mean no disrespect towards the Cavaliers or BAC. The Cavies finished 9th in 2015 to the Cadets 4th (and the Cadets could have won in 2015) and Boston finished 12th in 2016 and the Cadets 6th. So hence my talent argument. So, at the end of the day, I think it will really come down to show design for the Cadets. Are their 2018 members as, or more talented, than BACs? I don't know. But, if the Cadets have a great show design, I don't think it's out of the rhelm of possibility at all that they could finish 6th or higher. Whether they are 3rd to 10th I think this is a new dawn for the Cadets and their future is a lot brighter now that GH is gone.

I'll let you know - I think I'm going to head out to their ensemble tonight.

No, we cannot use last year's scores to determine this year's success. I was just illustrating that they were almost 6th last year and not too far from fourth, so it wouldn't be entirely shocking at all if they finished 4th - 6th this year. I agree, if GH had stayed I would have had them lower myself. Last year's show, IMO, had potential in the beginning of the season, but it was destroyed by all the changes, the cheap useless props, and the beating us over the head with the theme. I felt the same in 2015 - completely destroyed when they went to the black uniforms. The show came off so much better with the maroon uniforms. GH had lost his touch.

The best thing to do is tweet them. I tweeted BD to see if their rehearsal tonight was open to the public and they replied right back saying to join them.

I don't know how anyone in their right mind can think the Cadets could finish top 6 this year. They were a whopping 1.2875 from 6th place, and a massive 3.525 from 4th place last year. <sarcasm off>

I think this will be pretty spot on.

Have you heard to see anything about Madison? Just curious.

About a week or two after finals in 2003, I was walking past my old apartment building in Seattle and saw two guys outside tossing rifles. Turns out they marched BD. I congratulated them on their win, and being a Regiment fan, I mentioned that I couldn't wait to get the DVD to see them. Back then we didn't have streaming. I said, "it seems like they were pretty good this year." One replied, "They were pretty #### good" and they went on and on about how much they loved Regiment's show.

I'll play: 1. Crown 2. Cavies 3. Bluecoats 4. Boston 5. Regiment 6. Blue Stars

To me, Regiment seems to always have to continually work on their final minute or so. I'm not worried. I thought the show was meh after watching the concert standstill. After seeing the video my opinion of it has totally changed. Great vehicle. They should have a good season.

Exactly. They're not any where near clean right now. Nice guard book, but they (like everyone else) have a lot of work to do.

I would never expect them not to make finals.