greg_orangecounty

I think the lot thing as opposed to sitting in the stands to watch and support the smaller corps is more about being seen, than seeing. Lot's of preening and look at my corps jacket. I would do it too, honestly, but my corps jacket doesn't.......fit.

It's ironic to me that Silicon Valley Bank is headquartered in..........Santa Clara.

No Anaheim Kingsmen......😒? I hope we at least make the NIT.

1969 in a small VFW sponsored corps in Los Angeles. We knew two songs; America the Beautiful & Sweet Caroline. It was enough to keep the drunk post members happy. From there, Anaheim Kingsmen 1971 - 1974.

If they haven't already, SCV should inquire if Daniel Fong (Mandarins) might be interested in making a move. He would be a "home run hire."

Thanks to FLO, I watched more Drum Corps this past year than the past 30 combined. Signed up mid-June and cancelled the day after Finals. It was great! But this is Drum Corps and we like to cut our noses off to spite our faces.

They need a home run hire in order to pull themselves out of this.

No, not anymore. We both were there and saw the same thing, but I thought they reacted because they played Firebird too in 07. I don't know how/why I thought that but I have for the past 16 years.

Him? Figures 🙄 And a big "YES" to only having a 50-yard line marked. Harder than it might sound even with a symmetrical drill.

Hashmark? We don't need no stink'in hashmarks. I was there but don't remember this. Can you or someone refresh my memory? What I remember about Garfield is seeing their corps flip out and applaud when we played Firebird. I didn't realize at the time it was because they played it too that year. Thought it was for us 😬

Garfield forming a peace sign at the height of the Vietnam War in 1971 was very controversial at the time. 1974 Kingsmen received some criticism for doing a "dark show" and the rifle line for briefly mimicking the demon possessed. What is "1980s-style moral panic"? Did I miss something fun?

Yup. 1975 was a painful year. A corp that finished 3rd, 6th, and 1st the three years prior didn't make it on the field. And it had nothing to do with "mismanagement" which I've read here is the "cause" of all corps folding.

I love the Troopers and they were a P.I.T.A. to beat BITD. So glad they're still around in 2023.

or worse, cymbals 😞 (PTSD)

For bass drums it was the early 1960's.

I looked at your profile and apparently you're a new fan of the activity? Welcome!!! We need you. Ignore me as I turn into a curmudgeon when this topic comes up. Join either corps. You'll be glad you did for the rest of your life.

And we're off 🙂..... Allowing woodwinds in Drum Corps other than in the context of a pit, will not "save" Drum Corps. It will kill it because then Drum Corps turns into a common marching band and the power and beauty of the all brass ensemble disappears. That's what made Drum Corps unique and special. Adding woodwinds to the field will not lower the skyrocketing cost of housing, food, insurance, transportation, medical care, etc. That is what's harming the prospects of its long term survival - not the absence of woodwinds marching on the field. This may also sound harsh: if a woodwind player wants to march in Drum Corps learn how to play a brass horn (or drum, or guard). I had to in order to march in my chosen corps, and there's nothing stopping anyone else from doing the same except for a sense of entitlement.

There's already a place for woodwinds; either sitting in the stands, or in the context of a pit. That's quite enough.

They did? When? VFW? I'm a Garfield fan and wish them the best, just didn't know this.

Probably the best year of the early DCI era. Finals that night was electric.

It was a wonderful time and life experience. I made many friends that are still dear friends 50 years later. It looks and sounds different, thank goodness, and I hope it survives for the next generation so they can experience the joy of Drum Corps too.

High School Band Directors used to not like Drum Corps at all. Most of the dislike centered on an old stereotype – somewhat based in reality – that all Drum Corps do is BLAST and don’t care about musicianship, or least of all intonation. They didn’t encourage it all. I assume it’s all changed now as I can’t tell the difference between a Drum Corps and marching band except for the presence of (ack!) woodwinds.

The "only" "pervasive cultural-legacy problem" that exists in Drum Corps is in the context of sexual abuse towards marching members, not competition. I don't agree with much of what you say, but I'm glad you speak up especially as a Santa Clara alumna. Wish someone would have 50 years ago.

I only agree with you that some instructors can be "toxic" (abusive?) in their pursuit of performance excellence. That should never happen.

I can only speak for myself but I had a fantastic learning experience in Drum Corps and it was because of competition, not in spite of it. The idea of competition particularly in a creative atmosphere has always been there. If it's not acknowledged we do ourselves and the activity a disservice.