euphonium96

ON THE NOSE ! -TGB

I make mine out of clay... Small Hand built Ocarina Wheel-thrown Ocarina Ocarina can has Face? "Danse Macabre" Ocarina I also make side hole potdrums... maybe you front line/pit would like to try them? More musical wares HERE ...Scroll down to see other clay instruments! -TGB

Heh... I love when that picture comes up... Seems to do so in every uniform thread... I continue to stand by my earlier statement concerning the fan-friendliness... While the beloved picture linked above is based on that mid-80's look, the new design goes a little further back... Drum corps fans, start your drooling! Anywho... By all accounts from the production floor and having seen a pic of one of the prototypes, those aforementioned designs are coming along nicely... Except a certain corps has decided to produce their "accessories" independently... Their choice... Just FYI: For those awaiting something new: For a number of reasons, and most notably, I want to the community to see 'em, I've posted my "rejected" designs - the ones that corps have not used, just in case someone happens to utilize that work in the future - that way there's then a somewhat public record of my credit towards the design. ENJOY!!! BTW - To throw my "shako" into the earlier "discussion" ... someone inquired about Star of Indiana's 1989-1994 uniform. In looking through some Stanbury archives last month, I happened across their 1990 catalog, which shows a beautiful photograph of Star right on the cover! Kind of cool that Stanbury has been "in the game" for so long... -TGB

So... something like the Predator in the movies? Where it "bends light" to "blend in" disappear or camouflage? I'll put that on my wish list along with inexpensive levitating devices that would cause entire formations to lift and become "3D" linear formations. Perhaps something with magnets... hmm... I know this is slightly OT, but have you ever seen/heard of a band from Pennsylvania called North Penn. Cool royal blue and black front and the entire back side of the uniform is all white! really cool visual impact. -TGB

You know... The same thing happened during the scoring of the first Pirates of The Caribbean movie - and look at how well-received that turned out to be! Design by committee is a challenge. You simply can't please everyone all the time - but the results can be enjoyable... BTW No offense is taken... I'm just glad people noticed it and talked about it. That's just good art (not saying that the design itself is good - rather that people talking and discussing the work is a positive thing.) If everyone loved the design and sent me roses, I'd be a little be worried. I'm also glad people stopped worrying so much about buckles (or lack thereof) and instead debate the effects of the design. That's a positive for DCP or any forum these days... Larry (Tubawarrior) has the info right though: My first truly "original" design - one that I developed from start to sample - will be donned by Cap Sound. Huntington Mallets: Do you think X-Men need new uniforms? Again... I really, REALLY wish I could share all my drawings with you... This little hobby of mine has really taken off into a "job", thanks largely to the great feedback from folks here in the community. Admittedly, this has limited my ability to do "fantasy" work, but I guess that's the price of working in "reality". So... Thanks again for all the commentary folks. But, you're gonna have to wait until the next Stanbury catalog or click HERE to see what I've been up to! Enjoy... -TGB

Uniforms are nice. http://becorps.deviantart.com/journal/ ...I'll go back to my studio now... -TGB

ROCK! Thanks to all who replied... mod-type folks, you may close as needed. THANKS!

Greetings all, I'm involved in a sculpture project and I want to use a very specific photo as a reference. Description: Color photo of a Cadet (CBC/Garfield, etc.) horn player suspended in mid air; running to drill spot Year: uncertain, possibly mid-late 90's??? Other thoughts: It may have been used for the Cadets "silhouette" logo - again, not sure... There is a similar photo of a Regiment soprano in a very similar pose from 1993 - That, I have and it will probably work as the left-facing reference (FYI/For those who wonder: Sculpture is three-dimensional and requires multiple vantage-points...) Anyhow... If you find the image, have any idea of what I'm talking about, or have a link to it, please PM or e-mail me. Until then, -TGB

Next five to ten years... Well, speaking with something of an "industry insider" view, the next wave borrows a lot from runway fashion - Not extravagant "fashion student" crazy stuff, but "high" (costly, celebrity) fashion. That is not to say that the cost of uniforms will be going up... Unless you want to look like Spirit... As far as things that will stay, things that will come and things that will go, here are my "top ten" predictions: 10) "Wings" (shoulder caps and canopies) and gauntlets AS WE KNOW THEM are on the endangered species list - They won't disappear completely, but they are evolving as we speak... 9) Slowly replacing the caps and gauntlet are new forms epaulets, or "shoulder straps", continuing to appear in unexpected places and used in unique ways for body definition. Also, watch out for fresh new takes on the sleeve and collar areas! 8) The "suit coat" look will be hot, complete with fedora hat - fresh-to-death and classy as hell! New materials and construction techniques will give this "throwback" look a clean and uniform appearance. 7) "Subtle stripes", meaning, pant stripes made of satin or similar material on pant legs - and not always on the side! 6) "Subtle two-tone" Two or more shades of the same hue - for #'s 6 and 7, look at Bluecoats, but ONLY FOR COLOR and PANTS - not the "cut" or design. 5) That "gradient thing" used by Spirit (officially known as "Sublimation") is a fad. I give it a shelf life of five years max. It's cute, but cost prohibitive. 4) Oh, the same goes for the Broken Arrow look. Trendy... for now. (Yes, I get the irony of that statement, having perpetrated said trend visa-vis the Blue Stars... personally, I think it was pretty sweet, but again, trendy.) 3) New forms of headgear. Perhaps not as clean as the beloved standard shako, but interesting none the less. Tall shakos in particular, will be hip (ala Guardsmen in the late 70's) <Fast fact: did you know that there are people who have a tactile aversion to plumes! Seriously! The feel of plume feathers recalls that of a dead bird and they can't bring themselves to touch, let alone wear, the device.> 2) Color, in general, will rule! You guys are dead on: The cuts and styles wont be that different, folks. What we will see though is less of the formulaic "black bibber/predominantly white top and color or metallic accent" so common to marching units nationwide. Also, dark colors, aside from black, will play well as the new pant color of choice. New colors and their respective tints and shades will be used to great effect by designers in the 2010's and beyond. 1) By 2015, kids will be asking, "Michael Cesari-who?" :) BTW, I'm truly amazed at the accuracy of some of your predictions, folks... Sounds like this board has many well-informed visual minds on it - or just very observant people who make good guesses! -TGB

Hello - Designer checking in here... A few reflections on this particular uniform from my on-line journal: "FOR THE RECORD: The uniform is essentially an abstraction of the “classic” look – the beloved straps were simply rotated and extruded – which, conveniently enough, resembled a four-pointed star – which was an image associated with the corps (to the best of my history knowledge) in the 70’s. These stars appeared in drill formations (1972, I believe ) and as a graphic/logo representation as well. Red… Red, red, red… We (Blue Stars Design Team, leadership, et. Al. ) worked very hard to incorporate a splash of red – if not in the plume, then somewhere (See the early design proposals in my gallery! ) … Oh well… Maybe next year! " After seeing several corps out west, I've realized that the straps and buckles have been picked up and are being worn by Impulse's guard. Recycle, reuse, reduce! "...this isn’t change for the sake of change alone. A ton of thought, planning, and preparation went into the design – and that was just on my end of the drawing board. I can’t even imagine the debating, the logistics, and the sheer mental gymnastics performed by the corps’ leadership in getting that uniform on the field. This is not some happy-go-fun random metamorphosis to appease esoteric, hi-brow adjudicators; nor was it intended to offend the alums and old-timers. It’s a uniform… and yes, it is very different... I’m really not in to loose-fitting, free-swinging straps, cords, braids and that some-such… the corps looks smashingly athletic, tremendously tall and, well… like a highly competitive division I drum corps…" I wholeheartedly encourage everyone with questions, comments, or concerns about this or any of my unifomrs to read more by clicking HERE. You can also PM me with your thoughts as well. In response to some of the things I've read since: Call it creator's blindness, but I fail to see how this uniform looks like "everyone else"... Yes, they look like BAHS - but that's intentional. Again, there are no "traditional" uniforms elements here aside from the helmet. However, unfortunately for me (and the timing of this design) free-swinging loose-fitting accessories are "in" back East (Glassmen's cord; Crown's "sash", Cadet's retro re-fit, et Al.) while minimal seems to be on the way out. <sigh> If anything, this experience, including the feedback from fans, has made me more eager than ever to continue cranking out new designs. Originality, by the by, is a moot point. Seven years of higher education has informed me that there is nothing new under the sun.... That does not mean that we give up and stop striving for uniqueness or brilliance of concept. As I've stated on my journal, I'd love to share the drawings and concepts competed over the last 6 months, but alas, due to certain contractual obligations, that won't be possible until the uniforms are made or images are published. If you're really hungry for more of my work, scan through the DCPi forum... I've been "active" in there since late spring. Again, I encourage all interested parties to read the "BLOG" and I thank you for all your feedback. Feel free to PM with other questions not addressed herein. -B

A short while ago, back in the summer of 19!@#$yadda-yadda something, something... I was playing with matches and various propellants in the back yard. Mom caught me as I set fire to certain things, including a sandbox. Keep in mind that this story takes place in the 20th century, a time in which children were actually punished for their wrongdoing… Well, to make a long story short, I was "forced" in to the local drum corps - a well-known unit from Schaumburg, IL, which was only a ghost of its former glory by the time I marched. I was "going through the motions", so to speak. (It was punishment, after all...) I came to rehearsals when my mom remembered to take me; practiced as much as I did for band – (which was NEVER); and I even made it to performances from time to time. Then came our “big” trip to DCM in Toledo. (Mom made sure I caught the bus that time…) We did our prelim bit, came nowhere near making finals, and then I decided that, since there was little else for a twelve-year old to do in Toledo, I should watch what those other units – the ones we kept losing to – were doing. About midway through the Division I finals, I was pretty bored and decided to go wander the souvie area. Part way up the stands, I hear this corps called Phantom Regiment take the field playing Songs form 1812 (Hey! I know that music!) So, intrigued at last, I stayed to watch. I’ve been watching ever since. Yeah, I continued to march juniors for four more years in three different corps, then life (college, work, and women) got in the way. I did three years in senior corps – and I’m looking to do more… soon… along the way, started designing uniforms and that’s my “experience”. Thanks, mom.

The original concept called for Vans - I spent a bit of time in the Vans Outlet here in Vegas figuring out details of the overall outfit, etc. In my wildest dreams, the entire uniform would come from there - possibly Dickies for the shorts - but name brand "everything" would have been hella-expensive!

Gracias! -B

Rumor confirmed! Sorry I didn't respond earlier... I kind of forgot about that uniform - It was set up so long ago and all... Gald to see that it made it to the field. Plus... I've been way out of town the last week... I'm actually sad that I missed seeing them live. Glad you enjoyed it... Also... You can learn more about the process behind this new look by clicking the links in my signature. -B

Any chance you got a front view of Hawthorne Gold's DM uni? (I had a hand in that one as well...) -B

Stanbury Uniforms' Regional Sales Manager (California and Las Vegas) and Artist Relations Manager Pat Seidling (a former drum corps director also!) forwarded this to me to share with you all: Stanbury is excited to enter it's 5th year as a corporate sponsor of Drum Corps International and is honored to have 12 active drum corps - in both DCI and DCA - wearing Stanbury-produced uniforms. Each corps' unique identity and needs are reflected through a partnership that engages Stanbury production and design experts with the corps' own accomplished designers and artists, creating a look that reflects the personality and goals of the individual organizations. For the 2007 DCI and DCA season, Stanbury is proud to be associated with the following organizations and designers: Phantom Regiment = New accessories added to the white corps uniform. Design and concept by Phantom Regiment, production by Stanbury. Bluecoats = New uniform for 2007. Design by the Bluecoats and Bradley Sexton Designs, production by Stanbury. Madison Scouts = New uniform for 2007. Design by Madison Scouts, production by Stanbury. Blue Stars = New uniform for 2007. Design by Becorps First Impression Design/Brent Becker and Blue Stars, production by Stanbury. Troopers = New uniform for 2007. Design by the Troopers, production by Stanbury. Southwind = New uniform for 2007. Design by Southwind, production by Stanbury. The Academy = Design by The Academy, production by Stanbury. Reading Buccaneers Sr. = Design by Reading Buccaneers, production by Stanbury. Teal Sound = Design by Teal Sound, production by Stanbury. Oregon Crusaders = Design by Oregon Crusaders, production by Stanbury. Blue Saints = Design by Blue Saints, production by Stanbury. Capital Sound = New accessories for 2007 produced by Stanbury. Stanbury Uniforms wishes safe and successful journey's for all drum corps this summer.

I'll get right on that! :P

Please CLICK HERE to see it with a red plume... Judge it for yourself after you've seen it... THEN... Try it under the lights... CLICK HERE Check the snares & tenors! - I realize that the massive arms of low brass horn players "block" it, but there is a lot more definition in this shot than in the others. Now... For the imaging geeks out there: Keep in mind that were are looking at an image from a point-and-shoot digital camera - Not an SLR - from the looks of the image data. The Cannon Power Shot is NOT a shoddy camera by any stretch of the imagination - just thinking that the image would be more crisp, defined, and showing more light-based subtleties with a digital SLR. -B PS - Not trying to blame the camera - light was the point of concern.

Could have been a horse head - Oh wait - That was last year (Godfather- Part Blue)

Thanks - I'm kinda digging what S-Dub has right now. Compared with what I saw on paper as the original concept drawing, their new uni turned out pretty sharp. Depending on how and where things go in the future, I might be able to share those designs as well... Again, thanks! -B

I bet that if they get a later performance time - when the sun is further down and stadium lights have more impact - that the star will shine brighter. Right now, in the yellow-orange light of sunset, the uni looks a little cream and black, when it is in fact a stark white and navy. It'll probably pop out more when you see it (and I :sshh: cringe when I say this) in a dome under indoor lighting... Just a thought or three... -B BTW - The star is made from highly reflective Mylar. One of the original "prototypes" had the star in a silver lame (That's pronounced "luh-may", not "lame") no pop or sparkle what-so-ever...

Contact STANBURY UNIFORMS B) - They made the uniforms (I just made the drawings)... -B

Yes! Click that link - Get the "Behind the scenes scoop / making of" and other juicy tidbits about the new uniform... After many, many months of development, it feels good to finaly share these with the community... :) ENJOY!!! -B

See my profile... -B

Check out the University of Oregon's (Nike) Marching Band Uniform (And please don't kill me for writing the "B" word...) B)