Boss Anova

Yes. absurdity.. I don't what gets into us social media Drum Corps fans. Its seems like every preseason starting almost without fail on April 1st we're .. Constantly Risking Absurdity .😉

Once I read/ heard in the Fall that The Cadets pretty much sold off every asset they owned, ie including transportation and kitchen vehicles, and all the way down to printers, fax machines, office furniture, office supplies, Corps sales merchandise, etc..it seemed clear to me that this was not the actions of a temporary suspension for a season, but likely the end for this Iconic, Drum Corps. Later on I saw their name removed from the DCI website. It had been scrubbed, and without any public notice that I'm aware of regarding the Corps being stripped of DCI membership. So the end for the Cadets seemed complete when I saw that removal. Nevertheless, its still hard for me to have this fully sink in yet. I wish the victim a sense of justice and most importantly healing for her moving forward . I have no idea how the plaintiffs lawyers will be paid. I assume they took on the case Pro Bono. But unless they can settle something financially with DCI, its a mystery at present to me from where that pay for their services will come from. As for the Cadets, I am very saddened for all the alums, volunteers, instructors, marchers, sponsors, etc that were with this Corps over the decades and had no knowledge of these unsavory things going on. My guess, thats a lot of very good, decent and honorable people since the Corps founding in 1934. that came through their ranks. 90 years worth. So its hard to lose something that has been pretty much a standard fixture for all our lives in our memories if we think about it. And it was for the most part, happy memories, great shows, entertaining us on the field with performances that will now have to last us our lifetimes. Lots of great shows over the decades to replay again and to enjoy. But not now. Not yet. This will take some time to get over the supreme sadness of learning the finality of this with this Iconic Drum Corps.

I think this is a good service. It helps interested potential marchers to see what op3enings exist for those corps participating in it and looking for marchers. By filling in some basic , non intrusive info ( they're not asking for SSN, bank account #, etc ) the site can direct you to corps... even geographically.... that has openings you might be interested in. For many potential marchers, this is their first exposure to the activity and many don't know who, what, & where. The service is free and has only been available for a couple of years now. I think it provides a good service.

Not sure . Jeff seems to believe they do however .

Yes, this includes Open Class too. As mentioned above, Guards are still being auditioned with many Corps ( including World Class ), and this is typical for them as WGI season is in full force at the moment ( also mentioned above ). So all in all, these opening numbers at this stage seem about normal and typical of most seasons now.

Maybe, but who knows. In my view, so long as high school and college marching band rooms are empty and their doors locked for the summer, something should fill the void where instruction for students in playing an instrument and marching with that instrument will find a large pool still of willing students, and instructors available in the summer to teach. The format might have to change to adapt to the times, but I see the summer void filled in some capacity or other. Corps just came thru a multiple years of a pandemic where many were shuttered. Then when Corps returned, inflation, gas, housing, etc all became further unexpected obstacles. But while growth of Corps in numbers did not take place, the vast majority ol corps came thru these unprecedented times, and survived.. So lets see what happens now that this Covid is seemingly behind us, and see where the activity goes once the economy picks up.DCI also has a new Executive Director. Lets see what he has up his sleeve to move the activity forward post Covid.

Also, a " throwback Thursday " ( 1980 ). 27th Lancers ( Revere, Ma.) were lead performers for the Opening of the Winter Olympics, and for Closing Ceremony. Later that 1980 season they finished 3 tenths behind the Blue Devils at DCI Championships. And who can forget this pre game motivation remarks to his his USA Ice Hockey Team : If we played them ( USSR ) 10 times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight we skate with them. Tonite we shut them down, because we can. Tonight, we are the greatest hockey team in the world " Herb Brooks, USA Olympic Ice Hockey, Head Coach.... 44 years ago this past Thurs.

The loss of DCI membership at the DCI Januals was the final nail in the coffin for the Cadets sadly. DCI likely did not want to go bigtime public with this DCI membership revocation for legal reasons.... understandably.

If only foolishness was confined to April 1st Terri.

...... givin' some the Blues.... Southern style.

The Madison Scouts are clearly in a transition stage. It took a lot of " you know whats " to go from a Male Identified Drum Corps for 80 years to a Co- ed inclusive Drum Corps in 2018. It divided the Alum base at a time when they were already struggling a bit on the competition field. It could have folded the Corps. But it didnt. Their transition from a Male ID'd Drum Corps to a Co-ed inclusive Drum Corps took place just a short time before Covid too its toll on Corps too. They came through that stage and at a time when DCI was also losing, either temporarily, or permanently, 2 Founding Member, Charter Drum Corps in DCI. But the Madison Scouts are still with us. They still produce entertaining shows for many in the audience as they go forth in their rebranding. I applaud the organization for the boldness and courage it took to do what they did knowing it would not be greeted with universal acceptance when announced. But has its fundamental mission it has had for over 80 years changed ? I don't think so. It still serves youth well to help make them strong, self confident individuals. The placement improvements might take some time. They can figure that out in 2024 and in the coming years. They'll get there. It would be helpful if some of the older Madison Scouts alums would love their current Corps as much as many of the current Madison Scouts love them. But thats up to them I suppose. In any event, I wish the Madison Scouts the very best this summer and beyond.

Came across this posted on youtube a couple of weeks back...

Boston's non show performance short piece " Red's Rhumba " is pretty cool, imo. ( 2021 year version )

Sadly, I agree. If the Cadets BOD had any desire to regain DCI 's membership lost in January, we would have likely expected a press released by the Corps by now. The BOD would have selected their new Corps Director, and have had regular, perhaps weekly, BOD neetings to come up with a workable plan to return, and with how they intended to retire debt, and plausible fund raising endeavors to make the return realistic . But to my knowledge, none of these things have happened since August. I Dont believe the BOD is even meeting to discuss such efforts. My guess, their pending lawsuit is now their focus of their monthly meetings. ( if they are even holding monthly meetings anymore ). The people I talk too that are or were connected to the Cadets are not talking about the Cadets in the present tense nor the future tense. They are talking about them in the past tense. Such a bummer.

Got it... thats a bummer.

Did not know that. Why ? Copyright not secured or what ?

I've enjoyed what the Bluecoats have brought activity the last few years in pushing the envelope and trying new things. Good luck, success ,and enjoyment to them this season.

For singers, just for the heck of it, I'd ask DCP'ers here to listen to Boston's 2015 singer at the 7:10 clip of the practice clip.... then... fast forward to 10:37 mark to the end. I think she was the best and most talented singer soloist we've heard in Drum Corps ( just my opinion )

Its still early, but I'm pretty sure you're gonna win the DCP internet today😊

'Heard these things as well. Sounds beyond dire now. This hurts. 'Didn't know the few bad apples there well that brought shame to the organization, but Ido know some decent and very nice people that came through that organization over the years in one capacity or another, and I feel their pain with this and it saddens me.😒

Ok, first impressions...I can readily understand now why he won over the DCI Board in his interview. He's bright, has a good background in business and PR. He soaks up new info like a sponge, seems energetic and seems driven to take on the challenges he has already identified that we here know exist, and seems committed to solving those challenges. He knows we need to grow the activity, find new sponsors, bring new eyeballs to the live stream, find enhanced revenue streams, provide for housing at negotiated rates, provide for improvements in marcher safety, overall experience, and a way to get a handle on these increasing costs to march.... and so much more . These are daunting challenges in these times. But he seems like a good hire to me at the moment. I wish him well. We all want him to succeed. If he is successful, its to everyone's benefit.

I wasnt there in 2008 when Phantom Regiment pulled off the BD upset on Finals Night, but those that were there tell me their performance, then the score read ,was electrifying.

7 weeks after this was posted on DCP, Tom Brady went down to a knee injury in the opening game of the season for New England, had surgery and was out for the rest of the season. Patriots were coming off a 19-1 season in 2007 . Some noted NFL TV football analysts opined at the time that Brady's injury was serious enough to likely end his career . (But Brady came back in 2009, played 14 more seasons, won 4 more Super Bowls, and was the NFL's MVP 3 more times ) 2008 was also the season that Phantom Regiment came on strong a few weeks after this DCP post, and caught the Blue Devils on Finals Night to win themselves a DCI Title .

I wish them success and fun in front of their Corps this season. Its quite an honor to be selected as a Drum Major for a Corps.👍

Yes … it’s a new poster to DCP and who knows , could be trolling , but I’d give the poster the benefit of the doubt here in the beginning . The issue has to do with safety and we can never have too much discussion on what needs to be done to maintain and improve on that moving forward in my opinion .