lawdn
-
Posts
1,294 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Posts posted by lawdn
-
-
1 hour ago, Vuitton said:
My understanding is they had a young corps in 2022. So if then retain membership from 2022, those members would be in their third year of experience. I have no idea though what their membership is and the experience of that membership.
I think they need a much stronger design than 2022 to compete for top 4. I think their 2022 design was better than any of the 5th place and lower designs last year. Regiment, IMO, has one of the best designed shows of the year, but it lacked complexity to compete with the top 6 down the road, which held them back IMO. To me, assuming they build on next year and are better, they are the ones who have the best shot at keeping SCV out of the top 5. We'll see though.
Fair enough. I’m not sleeping on Mandarins, though, and will be watching to see if they can keep strengthening their performance captions.
-
2
-
-
15 hours ago, corps8294 said:
Every time the Blue Stars have a really successful season and put themselves in a position to move up in the standings; they fall back, sometimes significantly, the following year. I haven't seen or heard anything that gives me hope that they will be challenging the likes of the Cavaliers, Phantom Regiments, SCV (who is still an unknown, this year, in terms of competitive strength), and the Mandarins. I'm sure the Colts and the Troopers had a fantastic off season because of their placements last year and will be a competitive challenge for the Blue Stars, too. In all honesty, I see the Blue Stars as a corps in competitive decline and if they have a season like they did last year, they will find themselves outside of the Top 12 in 2025. Depending on how good the Blue Knights and Pacific Crest are; it could happen this year.
Yes, it has been a frustrating pattern! However, they have come back strong usually after their drops, and I hope they do it again.
-
1
-
-
11 hours ago, Vuitton said:
I've seen it since they've annouced their comeback on various threads. Not everyone is saying that, of course, but I've seen a few and A LOT of people having them place in the bottom 4 of the top 12, which is just not going to happen.
I think I did a prediction just after it was confirmed SCV would compete that put them in 9-12 range. I have since changed my mind and see them in 5-8 with a better chance of 5 or 6 but it really is a wild card in my mind. As much as I liked them in 2022, they need a much stronger show design if the MMs are younger in order to place well.
-
5 minutes ago, Terri Schehr said:
Horn? I’m sure we would have been public enemy number one. 😂
I met up with a high school friend, a horn player and the best musician in our band. She married another horn player she met in the community orchestra. I said, “Oh, that must be nice to have that common.” She replied, “Why would I ever wish the French horn on someone I love?”
-
2
-
-
1 hour ago, Terri Schehr said:
Wow. I had some taskmaster types but I wasn’t ducking stuff like the director was Bobby Knight. Plus, I played Horn so I’d be a target in the middle 🎯
IIRC he was usually ###### off at brass or percussion, so I’m not sure you would have been safe 🤣
-
1
-
-
4 hours ago, NewArpege said:
Come to think of it, I don’t know if I’ve seen that many shows prior to the 90s. Our percussion teacher would talk about how shows changed over time, and that the race to have a power packed, fast-moving ending wasn’t always the case. He would joke that many corps during his time would close with a ballad and play something like Oh Danny Boy, and that would get the standing ovation. Good man, except when he’d get so mad he’d throw chairs across the room. Ha. None of that would happen today. Gen Z missing out. Ha.
I had a band director who threw chairs, batons, pencils, etc., but he was more a woodwinds guy, so it wasn’t just the percussionists! Completely inexcusable, and perfectionists should probably not be teaching middle school band!
-
2
-
-
Seems like the competition will be really tough this year. I still see 2023 top 4 continuing to be alone in that grouping, and can’t say more at this point other than BD being the favorite until they are not but wow Bloo looks to have a great music book, again. After that, PR and Mandarins should stay strong and keep pushing after last year‘s momentum, and Cavies have a chance to build off their percussion if they can get some of the 2016-2019 caption strength back in other places. Hoping Colts and Troop keep getting stronger and that Blue Stars cone back strong - so much talent in that corps. SCV a bit of a wild card but a solid bet for finals and very good shot at 5-8 range. I am not counting out Blue Knights, Pacific Crest, Crossmen, or Spirit, but it will take a stellar show design and hitting on nearly all performance captions to crack top 12. And finally, hoping for good progress from other corps - they all showed a lot to like in 2023.
-
2
-
-
-
5 minutes ago, jwillis35 said:
Ok, change of opinion...I think the Madison Scouts are going to take it all this year. That's right! My inner 80s/90s enthusiasm is showing today. Score prediction...100! 🙂
Looking forward to seeing all the corps...and yes I do love me some Madison Scouts.
It would be great to see Scouts have a strong season!
-
1
-
-
5 hours ago, Chief Guns said:
Exactly. And I will take it a step further. Even if someone does manage to knock it off BD this year (And it could very well happen) can that same corps or someone else comeback and beat BD again in 2025?
Because even if BD loses this year, we know what happens the following year, place your bets for BD to comeback and molly whop the competition in 2025.
Sure, someone will take brass, drums, or even take GE from the Devils, and good for them. Deserved and earned.
But until we see it otherwise on a consistent basis, BD is the favorite to win it all every year, and they are in a tier of their own, whether people like it or want to accept it or not.
As I read the recaps, in this era you may not have to beat BD in Visual but it sure helps, and you probably have to take at least one visual subcaption to keep it close. Then you have to close the deal by beating them in GE and Music in aggregate.
-
1
-
1
-
-
33 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
Re SCV - ‘Brand’ should have NOTHING to do with placement. What should matter is the product on the field. Nothing else. The design and performance is what should determine where SCV places. They have top-notch staff. The question I have is what level of talent there is. I can see them placing anywhere from 14th-7th. But wherever they end up, it should be based on the performance on the field, not ‘Brand’.
<<rant off>>
I read the reference to SCV having a strong “brand” as meaning they are capable of good staff retention (which seems to be the case) and robust recruitment. I agree that if these and strong show design and execution lead to strong performances, that would be the only valid basis for strong placement.
-
2
-
-
6 minutes ago, NewArpege said:
Thank goodness they did it first this year. An absolute unexpected treat! Kudos to Bluecoats leadership for that surprise. 👍👍👍👍👍
I love having more reasons to get psyched for Bloo's 2024 show!
-
4
-
-
Bloo won’t announce any details about their show until five seconds before they step off at their first show.-
1
-
-
16 minutes ago, Metalbinky said:
Thanks Chief. I’m looking forward to another epic season of drum corps and I anxiously await for all the corps to unveil their shows.
Congrats to your son on coming back for another year, and may this be a great journey for him and all your family!
-
3
-
-
2 hours ago, crownisking said:
With all due respect to the Mandarins organization, I highly doubt BD is sweating them at this time. I believe this was most likely a scheduled post that coincidently fell on the same day.
Without a doubt, Mandarins are getting better every year. But as long as BD continues to attract top talent and keeps the nucleus of their staff in place, the Founders Trophy will call Concord home more often than not.
I appreciate the respect for BD and understand this is not a diss on the Mandarins. I do expect that while BD’s staff depth and stability and reputation led to a very strong recovery post-pandemic, Crown, Bloo, and BAC will continue to close the gap and one of them will capture the Founders’ Trophy soon, with the others not far behind. But BD will get their share. And I am looking forward to Cavies, Mandarins, and PR upping their game as well, as well as hoping for a strong reentry from SCV.
-
4
-
-
I saw too few Cadets shows in person so will limit my comments to those.
1987: impeccable. For me, still one of the touchstones of drum corps. I saw it live only at semis. The brilliance of their relatively minimalist visual paired with rich intricate music. It set up a contrast with a superb SCV show I also loved. I don’t know how anyone could pick a winner, but I was fine with this one winning.
2013: my reintroduction to Cadets with terrific music and drill and such impressive technical fundamentals.
2015: at San Antonio they had put in the near-final closer and finished 1st IIRC. I thought they would win at that point. I think they changed unis after that. By finals week it was clear they had been passed up but I was a huge fan of their drill and music.
2018: so emotional, and after all they had been through, it was so impressive that they didn’t water down their technical demand, even if they couldn’t get it all clean. So glad I saw it live.
2023: thrilling to see Cadets coming out to take on the challenge of rising back to the top. One of my favorite shows of a great summer. It makes it sadder that this was the final Cadets show but at least they were The Cadets all the way to the finish.
I have loved other shows I have seen in the recordings but in my experience, the Cadets’ shows, like most corps’, can’t be fully appreciated other than live.
P.S. based on other posts here I am going to dig up all the recordings of 90s Cadets shows I can.
-
3
-
-
1 hour ago, Terri Schehr said:
Snagged a ladies polo. I’ll be at several shows this summer and I’ll wear it as often as I can.
Good on you! But fair warning to anyone sitting near you - that shirt is gonna be awfully ripe by the end of the summer! 🤣
-
1
-
4
-
-
24 minutes ago, ranintothedoor said:
In the abusers' case, the artists used the art to abuse. Used us all.
You have made a profound observation, one that goes to the core of why this is so disturbing and awful, even as the abuse on its own is a tragedy.
-
1
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, HockeyDad said:
I see comparisons to a tragic Shakespearean figure or a Greek tragedy to be glamorizing. Maybe that’s just me. I see a snake oil salesman who finally got caught.
I didn’t intend to glamorize him. I was long-winded and unclear to you, and you were succinct. I agree with you. I wish they’d caught him sooner, before he attacked more people. Secondarily, maybe then this corps would have a future.
-
1
-
-
14 hours ago, Hook'emCavies said:
There were a couple of coworkers that asked me what was going on with The Cadets..... I gave them the cliff notes and they were upset.
In a way, this is like a Shakespeare story. Hopkins is responsible for pushing show design to high levels, winning championships, and folding arguably one of the greatest corps.
I honestly have complete understanding for the ladies that were affected by this and don't blame them.
As I matured, I grew to like this corps..... I think it's important to still remember the great times. It just stinks that this happened....
But I have to ask.... just why though? In my eyes Hopkin lived my dream. Why would someone do such a horrible thing and create such chaos?
I think you touch on something important when you allude to this being like a Shakespeare story, and I don’t mean to glorify anyone in saying that. My disclaimer is that I didn’t start to follow DCI politics in any way until 2013 and by that time GH struck me only as a narcissist whose “artistic” input only damaged the shows and who took credit for the work of amazing staff and MMs. Be that as it may, he was in senior management when the Cadets blossomed spectacularly and led an enduring revolution in drum corps, and I have got to believe he was an important contributor in some way to that. Unfortunately, he was using that position of power to abuse people directly and indirectly, it seems. It would take a treating psychologist to diagnose any specific pathology here, so you and we will never get the real answer to why.
Going back to Greek tragedy and Arthurian legend, tragic protagonists like Oedipus and Arthur fell due to transgressions that were either unknown to them or of a magnitude far greater than could be known to them at the time they committed them. That is not at all what we are looking at here.
We see so many contemporary examples of people who do great things and lead lives of service who are brought down by character flaws, often doing great harm through those flaws. And art through history, as with Shakespeare, has explored that theme.
Here’s the thing though - in a situation like the Cadets, the evil was never necessary to the artistic and competitive greatness (and wouldn’t be defensible even if it did!). It never is necessary, and very arguably, the evil is ALWAYS working against the positive things a drum corps can achieve. The evil-doers must be separated from the activity and their actual and potential victims. What works against this is that power structures are often (nearly always?) structured to protect their power over all else, intentionally or unintentionally. For me, the history of this corps (and others) on the administrative and governance side demonstrates so clearly the critical role of oversight on compliance, and that oversight needs to be vigilant, independent, and feel at least a bit intrusive and uncomfortable to the overseen organization, at least until the compliance mindset is so integral to the organization that they welcome oversight as a means to better maintain compliance.
Sorry for the rambling. I struggle to make sense of it all. This is a horrible tragedy for those who were directly abused by some Cadets leadership and staff, including this plaintiff, those who spoke up, and those who remained silent, and for those who suffer as a consequence, including the countless alumni and staff who brought us so many glorious performances on the field over the decades and those who might have been The Cadets of the future.
-
1
-
4
-
-
11 hours ago, DAYGO said:
So many iconic shows in their history that will live on forever, but for selfish reasons, my favorite was 2023. I followed them closely all summer and got to see my son on the field in his rookie DCI season. When the last formation hit on Final night in Indy as a large part of the crowd erupted, there he stood. Right on the 50 yard line. Nobody knew at the time that it would be the last brass release of one of the most storied corps in the history of the activity. It brings a tear to my eye now just thinking about it. Yesterday was a very tough/emotional day for my son and our family. We'll all move on but as I told my son, he'll always have last summer and those memories. I'm eternally grateful that he had that opportunity. Thank you, Cadets.
FHNSAB
I liked 2023 so much. One of my favorites in a strong summer. Your son and you should be proud for being part of it.
-
4
-
1
-
-
Thank you, Cadets, for the wonderful shows and performances you brought to drum corps fans for so many decades. I will always remember you for the high standards you set on the field. My heart goes out to the countless alumni and staff and supporters who brought us this positive legacy of education and excellence. My heart goes out as well to those who suffered abuses within the corps.
Let us hope and work for the dsy when the drum corps can be experienced and enjoyed without the fear of suffering of any MMs or staff or volunteers.
Peace to all.-
8
-
-
1 hour ago, Vuitton said:
I was at Stanford in 2018. I was at that show sitting in the Vanguard section. It was wonderful seeing all the happy alumni after them beating BD for the first time since 2007. Such a long draught. I knew that night they were going to be champions. That show was unbeatable.
I happened to be staying in what I think was the SCV hotel, unofficial or official, in 2018, and happy doesn’t begin to describe the alum in the hotel bar after finals. They had made such a strong charge in 2017, and it was wonderful to see that corps and the show in 2018 recognized with a gold medal. It was pretty undeniable out of the gate at Stanford, even if BD won a few early season matchups. I got to see them twice in Texas that summer and it was pretty clear by then no one was catching SCV.
I really appreciate this thread. I hadn’t known “Pathways”, and it is great to discover it belatedly and hear and read the perspectives of those inside and outside of the show. Thanks to all!
-
1
-
-
10 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
but i wasn't alone. I remember in 2010, more people than i ever remember leaving before the victory run. Sure, BD perfofmed great. But people didn't like the show.
and you're pretty cool too!
You weren’t in Indy in 2013 IIRC. My first finals experience. I was pretty stunned by the dislike for BD, but I guess it was manifested by silence instead of booing so that’s a win for civility? Of course, a dark, edgy, jazz-based show performed at a high level was right up my alley even if it had some clear design flaws.There were a number of shows I didn’t care for that year but I was jazzed to be there and stood and cheered after every show. To each their own. I do geek out on trying to understand and embrace the concept of each show on its own terms. I almost always get there but not always.
And both you and @Chief Guns are cool 😎, but he is a phenomenon of cool 😂
-
1
-
1
-
Pre-Spring Move Ins Predictions
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
And it will stir up controversy as well but hopefully that it is part of the preseason fun.