greg_orangecounty

I'm with you Keith! Bring back cadets, English riding boots, and knee length skirts on the color guard for a year. ........and cleanly caught rifle tosses.

There has been dancing for decades, but not to the scope and scale there is today. Especially color guards.

Some things are meant to be done on a field. That’s why Arena Football went belly-up. Get rid of the props, stop changing uniforms every year, cut down on the number of instructors (would anyone notice?), hire “drill writers” instead of “show designers”, and do crowd pleasing as opposed to designer pleasing shows. Changing venues and quadrupling down on all the decorations is not the answer.

Fantastic! Keep'em over there.

AMEN!!! Thank you, Directors!!! (btw, after this NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE amplification, mega pits, trombones, props, over production, emoting, et. all. don't seem so bad anymore)

Happy Xmas - War is Over! If you want it.

I'm always surprised at the amount of people that don't realize this.

"Sounds like the vote wan't even close." I have no first hand or "insider knowledge" if this is fact. I'm repeating hearsay/rumor from other Drum Corps friends.

Great News! Sounds like the vote wasn't even close. I know it will come up again, but tonight time to celebrate with a few Manhattans and blasting 1974 Kingsmen!

I went to a Pacific Crest Drum Corps show many years ago, so I'm on their mailing list. I give them money once a year because they're the only viable Drum Corps in Southern California. That will stop if they turn into a marching band.

Zero to the public-at-large who don't see any difference between Drum Crops and Marching Band anyway. That's not the people I'm referring to. And this maybe just anecdotal...........I marched in the Anaheim Kingsmen. When we folded the first time (1975) many of us went to other corps across the country; B.D., SCV, Freelancers, Bridgemen, etc. Out of the two-dozen + I have maintained freindship with over the years, not ONE person hopes WW are allowed and (roughly) 3/4 plan to no longer follow/support Drum Corps if they are introduced. Too small a sampling size...? Maybe, maybe not.

I think they're dumb to add woodwinds, but not so dumb to change the name of the activity.

A woke civil rights attorney (from the Forestry Service) is now the Board chair for DCI, but does anyone on the Board have at least a bachelors degree in Business from an accredited university??? What business model supports throwing away brand recognition to become like their lessor-common competitor, and thus risk alienating a substantial percentage of their customer base?

But once the camel gets it's nose under the tent............

She did. In the Guardsmen. And her DCI bio also states: "Upon accepting Morrison’s resignation, the board elected New Mexico lawyer Kathy Black as its new chair. She is an attorney for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, representing the U.S. Forest Service in civil rights matters" That's all I need to know.

“Opening the drum corps activity to young musicians currently excluded is consistent with the DCI mission to bring the life-enriching benefits and enjoyment of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide.” Who is this lady!? I hope her proposal looses and her spin is complete ########. No one is "excluded" but the instrument they play may be. And if that's the case, go learn how to play one that fits what a Drum and Bugle Corps is without destroying the activity.

I don't know who the movers and shakers of DCI are these days, but if there's anyone left with an ounce of business acumen they won't do it. But maybe they think they can replace us with piccolo parents.

Which Corps Directors are asking for this (woodwind players incorporated in the drill)? Do you know? (I'm not doubting you, just curious)

For the life of me I can't understand how this is an issue whatsoever. Who wants this!? I know no one that does.

Yes, they did. It was an 12-count upper body and arm turn toward the audience with a scary-hissing facial expression to imitate Linda Blair's character. "Emoting" before its time so-to-speak. BTW, those girls are all still gorgeous.

And then we shall blast some 1974 (one of Drum Corps best years) KINGSMEN, especially the push during Symphonie Fantastique

Ditch the emoting and cut way down on the interpretive dancing. Play music the crowd knows and the less props the better. And bring back National Squads while you're at it.

I played snare since I was 6 or 7 and I wanted to be in the Anaheim Kingsmen. The problem was they already had snares at the caliber of Tom Float!!!! I wasn't even good enough to be bass drum or a tympani, I didn't want to be a cymbal, so I learned how to play baritone and had the time of my life. All of these woodwind players that are (allegedly) clamoring to be in Drum Corps can do the same. The argument they are somehow being "discriminated" is complete B.S.

Glenn, How do you know those opposed to woodwinds in Drum Corps are a minority? Has there been polling done? Also, can't woodwind players "Achieve greatness" in marching band now? Some of us had to learn a new instrument in order to participate and we didn't feel "alienated". If I want to be on the swim team I have to learn how to swim. Does this requirement "alienate" non-swimmers? Lastly, your comment: "as opposed to having to recycle old themes and song choices".......your argument implies the lack of woodwinds causes this. I don't buy it.

The virus infected the host long ago and death now seems imminent. The autopsy report will read cause of death due to lack of creativity and narcissistic ego-thirsty “show designers” leading to flamboyant over-decoration and over-produced shows that take ten years to “appreciate.” A funeral would be appropriate, and it would give closure. Maybe show up at Lucas in our old uniforms (mine still fits) with black armbands, NATIONAL SQUADS, and play New Orleans jazz funeral dirges around a casket with “Drum and Bugle Corps” written on it. I’m teary-eyed already.