xmenjeffb

When i did the colts and crossmen so 1990 -2001 - We felt there was problem if we were under 75 percent return of available members. Means not counting age-outs or others that might have already committed to the military or something. When students do not return it can be any combo of the things you mentioned . Today another factor is some students know going in they are only going to march one summer . That being due enlarge to cost and them needing to work or take summer classes.

Point of reference. When you mention that a show needs more "meat " or a drill needs more demand or complexity , I would undertsand your points better if you pointed out where. Are you talking programming choices ? Are you talking about the final product? And if it is the final product ... Where in the final product would you have increased these things and why ?

Unless something has changed it comes out on wednesday evening of nats week . But if you look at atlanta , SA and allentown recaps i bet you get a real good idea of who is going in.

Crown was not a member of YEA but did use YEA to consult for a short time around 2000. I was in the meetings / Seminar with Kevin and some of his admin at the time. Also add in that Jim Coates was the director for crossmen for a while and worked in the YEA office around the same time with business side .

Congrats to all the Crown People a corps that worked its way up and this is a huge day in the history book for them . But , will this wake the sleeping bear ? Can they stay ahead ? Can they open a spread ? Would you love to be a fly on the wall in critique tonight ? Oh stayed tuned as a another chapter of " As the corps Tour " unfolds . Ohhhh The Drama !!!!!

Fay , I was not there was getting call from stadium . The review i got on Bones was just ok . reliable drum corps guys and i trust the opinions. better than last year but the program does not hold up and performance issues. Now that said it was not "hold up" to making finals, but a solid group . 3 and a hlf weeks to go but lots of travelling in front of them. Looks like it would hard to make up lots of ground.

Crown did beat Cadets from the stadium

DCI does have at large members from the outside world . These members do vote on rule changes. Before a rule change gets to the board it must clear the caucus of instructors of all the corps( world and open ) that send instructors to the meeting . Rules changes are always posted online on dci.org prior to the meeting and usually discussed here at length. I know many people do write directors and express support for or against changes . I have been out for about 4 years now but i do not think it has changed much in the process. Changes are debated ,argued , and often adjusted during the week end of meetings . The process does not happen in a vaccum and the result of the vote i believe, is usually posted on dci.org as well. I have sat in all of those meetings from 1984 thru 2002. The big changes were debated with passion from all sides of all issues . Each as strong as the other about what they believed was best for the activity for the present and well into the future. As far as reversing a change . Some one mentioned in earlier post you may see a rule adjusted but not reversed. Nothing comes to mind other than some judging things have changed and been changed again for a variety of reasons. But when it comes to things like G to B flat or any key ..Not going back to G only it is bad business for the corps and the companies. Pandoras Box is open on electronics by allowing amps ....Look for more not less. i would bet large they will not drop numbers back to 128 . Hope this helps .

I can speak to the rise of the Colts. 1989--Big corps , but nothing really clicked .SO after season Greg knew he needed to make changes. He had a great business plan in place a strong fundamental organization and lacked the staff to pull the corps together on the field. 1990- Chuck Naffier comes back to corps and Greg Hires me in march to teach marching. Out of the kids that could return from 89 only 11 of 52 brass returned and 3 of 22 guard. Battery return was bigger.We had a rough year but kids had a great season in that they started to feel like a corps , play like a horn line and march like they might have a clue. Going into 91 we had a better than 80% in returning members to build on . 1991--We did have a big change in percussion , but continued to improve and while placement was still low the members grew in knowledge.We set up 92 with another high rate of return around 75 to 80% .Changed guard staff added more brass and visual staff that Chuck and i knew and or had worked with in the past. Colt Cadets were sending up young local talent. 1992 - Chuck explores more as an arranger and i take over design of show.Corps Could have been 18 to 21 but we were finally competeing well against other Div 1 corps. So we go into 93 planning, thinking, now we can actually make a run at semi finals.Many Florida wave guys from my past come on board to teach one was Dean Musson. Added Depth to visual staff. and strengthened percussion staff.Biggest grow was retention rate stayed high. Now many of those members from 90 and 91 are seasoned vets, older more mature and ready to compete. 1993- Making finals--the possibility came clear in Ypsi. Our score didnt climb so much but other corps in front us would get scored lower when head to head with us. Still going into semi finals we had not beat VK .So we all went knowing lay it out on the line as this could be the last one for a great year . Seemed poised to mark the highest finish of any Iowa corps at DCI even if we didnt make finals. SO retention of members, building a great instructional team, great management like Greg and Floyd Stegall getting us down the road on time and keep us moving and repaired. Dean ,Brett, Ron , Slim , Darren, Ann Marie ,Leah ,Jed, Jerry , KT , Mike , cory, Beth and many more .Staff and members buying into a system , philosophy and each other . Incredible parent support at camps and on tour . All of it was needed to break into the top 12. While most of us are not teaching corps now many of our students are .And it was about making the Colts a viable corps that could compete for many years at a level to be a finalist. 15 years later i would say that the path we paved has been a solid one. Building on family , members first and finding an identity for the corps .Hope that gives a little insight .

5 man panels to save money until july 5th.

SOme those facs look very familar . Jeff

That is funny and it was also known as the Olympic style system. I never liked it . All i am saying is if the outcome is the same with this odd 5 man go all the way give the saved cash to corps for gas and have fun .

I knew about the 5 going in , but never knew Percussion would be the lone section to get 20 points!!!! It simply should have been the brass which is the largest section on the field in most cases.Whith this system percussion is equal to Entire effect captions as well as music and visual ensemble. So numbers, spreads and placing could shift heavily later . If it all stays the same i say save ALOT of money and use 3 judges doing overall 100 points each average them and get the same outcome.

Well Congrats to a GREAT star last night . Good luck tonight .

I hope all do as well . But i have heard they are younger with more new members . However reliable sources tell me the show musically is exciting and entertaining. Numbers are a random guess at best and remember No field judges for first few weeks so , any numbers will be off any way . Very Possible numders will be higher until the field judges return in July .

1-Cavies-75.8 2-Crown-73.1 3-Phantom-71.4 4-Blue Stars-65.8 5-Madison-63.2 6-Colts-62.5

1- Cadets--74.8 2-Bluecoats-72.3 3-Glassmen-64.1 4-Boston-63.9 5-Crossmen 61.5 6- Troopers-60.4 7-Pioneer 55.4 Give the Edge to Glassmen early due to home show and comfort in stadium. All in fun . Good luck to all .

88 sky

Cavies Cadets BD Phantom Crown Bluecoats SCV Glassmen Blue Knights Boston Blue Stars Spirit Madison Colts Academy Just for fun. battle for 11-12 should be one of the best shows to watch all season . 5 maybe 6 corps for 2 spots. Can anyone really break the top 3 ?? I doubt it . Not for lack of trying or quality but i just dont see a drop off in the big 3.

As i posted in another place. This has nothin to do with " hearing brass solo's" !! This is the opening to adding woodwind voices in the near future .That is what will have to be amped up to hear .With this in place 5 or 6 woodwinds can add a whole new color to the sound and arranngements. IMO it is the next logoical move for the creative voices in the activity .

Oh my friends keep your eyes on the ball ! What is the next logical addition to all this ?? Woodwind voices, of course !! Now that instruments can be miked, watch for the addition of woodwind voices to be added. Now this can be done without adding more bodies . 5 or 6 multi-reed players that can be miked would be able to add new colors and voices to arrangements. Most talented woodwind players can play all the woodwinds. No doubt in my mind tha this will be the next creative addition .

I am stunned and shocked ! Harvey was one of the true gentlemen in our activity. Always a kind word or firm handshake for everyone. I have seen him in so many settinsgs of drum corps ,band and winter guard and never has he been anything but kind and helpful. My heart goes out to his wonderful wife. He used to bring me bottles of Harvey wingo wing sauce when i would see him on tour or at WGI, of course he would never let me pay him for them.A kinder man i have never known and i will miss Harvey dearly. Jeff

Frank is dead on and his opinions come from such a solid background in this field that he is more than worth the time to read. I have one major issue with voice and amplification and that is the way it is not judged . His point on this is well taken and accurate. Using voice and not paying attention to balance and clarity should be judged like any other instrument. Imagine a trumpet soloist standing on the front sideline and just playing high and loud for much of the show for no real reason. Just because he can ??? Trumpet players would like it ( LOL ) but the rest of audience might just question what he is doing . Then to make it worse one is on back sideline doing the same thing but we cant make out what he is even playing as he does his own thing facing away and it is unclear . The outcome is what was that ????Why did they do that i could not make out what the rest of the group was playing most of the time. Was that trumpet voice supposed to cover up the other lines ?? But wow he could play high and loud !!!! Too bad the drum line didnt cover him up in the feature !! I am all for voice , amps, and actually any voice or color that makes a show better in the eyes of the designers . Want to use an oboe or alto sax or basson and amplify it ?? Go for it !! but it will be judged as music and as coordination in effect.

Don is as incredible a person as he is an arranger and composer . He is also a lfe long cubs and bears fan !! And anyone that can pull for the cubs as long as he has , YOU know is a great person. I wish Glassmen and Don the very best !!!!

I thought Dennis was great and dead on !! He is paid for his insight and opinions, He did his job and was upfront in his comments to all.