Chris Scott

Expect to find the "haunted" school (was Dubuque or Rock Island for me) Expect to play the game. A LOT. Expect push back from people who don't want to play the game. Expect to play the game with things that you're not sure what they are. Expect to be a connoisseur of a gym by the smell of the varnish on the floor. Expect to have nights where the bus is too cold, and the gym is too hot. Expect 20 years later to have a moment that takes you back to a crystal clear moment in time on tour. Expect to love the words "stadium lights" and hate the words "Good Morning"... Expect after show leftovers. Expect to determine which corps have better after show leftovers than yours and befriend one of their members. :) Expect to get home after tour and not be able to sleep in your bed, no matter how comfortable it is. Expect to learn to appreciate the 5 minutes that the calcium lights (in the gym) take to warm up is 5 extra minutes of sleep. Expect to look at today's marching members and think "they're just kids" Expect strong Gatorade the day after Grocery Drop Off, and weak, colored Gator-water 5-7 days later. Expect to hate the words "Starting Line, Run-Through" until it is your day of quarters, semis, or finals. and... On the Bob Barker Note, expect that Hulk Hogan may have died trying to resurrect his career by bursting his jugular vein in the weight room.

Now why can't THAT suggestion be put on a petition??? :)

I think you beg an interesting question: Is DCI a Fan-Based Activity, or is it a Participant/Member-Based Activity?

I enjoy reading the dissenting opinions on this board. Some people don't like Bela Fleck. I do. Some people don't like Freelancers '83. I do (Especially Lover Come Back). The great thing about a forum/message board, is that no matter how polarized any of US are on a topic, we are infinitely passionate about something that has affected, does affect, or will affect our lives. Therefore, because people disagree on this board (or others) doesn't make them any less passionate about it. I'm sure that this observation has been made many times in many years, but it seems relevant in this situation. And think about this: Do we really think that our opinion (dissenting or otherwise) is so weighty that the kids who are marching in the corps care what someone on a message board has said about their corps? Doubtful. I've heard people on this board trash my age-out show (Regiment '92), and it does not diminish the memories I have about that year or show. Simply my two cents.... CS

I understand why you might disagree with what he says. I used to, and I am pretty sure that I don't share the same fervor that he does for defending what he feels is "right". He does raise some really interesting talking points in his discussion. I think (and this is strictly my opinion) that creating a discussion about what drum corps could be is a really good and interesting idea. Not that my opinion affects the price of tea in China - I'm just not sure that taking the "drum" out of "drum corps" is the best solution.

This is my first post, and I have lurked in these forums for years. Please read this. http://www.geocities.com/marchingresearch/mazsym97.txt Perhaps this will give you some historical perspective as to why this proposition is the ultimate "tail wagging the dog".