ShortAndFast

It's almost all percussion. Cadets 6th, Mandarins 13th = 1.1 of 1.25 spread

Yes to both. With high-end companies, it's usually about improving the audience experience or doing what the repertoire requires. They don't obnoxiously amplify Brünnhilde - she doesn't need it! But those tuned anvils in Das Rheingold are probably getting some help (if they are not completely pre-recorded).

I'm not trying to trick you here, I'm encouraging you to read more about the subject. Most, maybe all, professional orchestras and opera companies use electronics and amplification. Including live performances in their primary concert halls. You can dig into each company to learn where/when/why.

Professional orchestras and opera companies hire sound engineers. Full stop. https://nyphil.org/about-us/artists/lawrence-rock https://csosoundsandstories.org/backstage-at-the-cso-audio-engineer-charlie-post/ https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/arts/music/met-opera-broadcasts-sound.html I'm sure google will provide many more if you are curious.

Usually they are announced on Wed night.

Why aren't the corps themselves the best to evaluate the costs and the impact on their members' experiences? Basically, when it's time to vote on rules for electronics, the Bluecoats only get one vote. If what you say is true, why haven't the majority of the corps voted to ban or limit electronics?

The member-cam videos that always get posted this time of year really give me an appreciation for what it's like to be on the field in a modern top-end production. It's vastly different from what we experience in the audience.

You're not wrong that you need $$$ to play at the top of the DCI game. But nobody is imposing the new stuff on the corps. Corps leadership has directly voted for all the new toys, and has not voted for much in the way of restrictions on their use. And it's not like it's close - historically most of the votes on amplification have had only a handful of dissenters. You might think it sucks, but it's clear that #15 wants these changes just like #1 does.

Not to my knowledge. Maybe someone with a current rules book can say for sure?

What rule is being violated? "The other team uses their electronics better than we do!" is not a rules violation.

Why would I care? It's legal. There have been rule proposals to limit brass amplification; they were voted down. If corps don't like it, they should change the rules. If they do like it, they shouldn't #### & moan during finals week that someone else is doing it better!

Why? I would much rather look at Bluecoats' theatrical approach to costuming, where each performer is a little different but they combine into an aesthetic overall package, than a unit 100% in matching ugly spandex. Personally, I'd bet a fair number of visual designers are looking at Bloo's costuming these past two years and considering their options. I doubt there are many considering a return to traditional colors or styles.

I think the place they need to start is with the Program Coordinator, something that in recent years has been a huge weakness for Cadets. You need someone who can combine the work of all the designers into an effective whole. The interviews with Dean Westman at Bluecoats are always very interesting in terms of the process they follow to get an amazing show out of their design team. Yes, they need a good drill writer. But you can't start successful show design in 2019 from "go write a great drill!" They need a shared vision of a compelling program they want to create, and then they need a drill writer who can realize parts of that vision and support what the other designers need to realize their parts it. Personally I have a hard time imagining that they could hire big upgrades on Tom & Drew for the music book. I think they need to focus on how to better utilize them, since both have seen a lot of competitive success in other situations.

If you do, then finals becomes mostly meaningless. The caption awards are almost always decided by Friday night. In just 5 short days, you'll be reading something like "Unless BD can beat SCV by 0.4 in drums on Saturday night, SCV has won another Sanford". Saturday night would be a lot less exciting if the same were true of 10 of 12 finalists.

I think SCV is destined for the bronze medal, but I will say I thought that (over Flo) that was the most convincing performance I've seen from them this year. I definitely think they could see some tighter numbers than what they received tonight.

I also thought it seemed different on the Atlanta stream, but I haven't watched the show enough to pick out the specifics.

What were the changes to Blackbird?

I disagree. The judges are paid to make a decision. The absolute number they give is not very important. The spreads between the competing groups are extremely important and the main thing to look for in recaps.

The top 4 total music scores are within 0.1! Crown: 28.00 BD: 27.95 Bloo: 27.95 SCV: 27.90

They removed the tiebreaker in 2008 or 2009, and there is none at present. If two groups tie for 1st at finals, both will be champions and receive gold medals. Mathematically, it's harder to tie these days than under the scoring system of the late 90s (multiple averaged judges on a caption, individual scores that go to .05). Nevertheless it happened in 14th place last night.

We'll see. I agree it's super close, but we're going to see a bunch of people from this panel during championships. They know how to use the subcaptions.

Those BD 1s in GE Rep have to look pretty ominous if you're Bloo. It's really hard to see a path to the Gold for Bloo that doesn't start with winning GE. Crown, Boston, Cavaliers are a tangled mess on the recaps. I think 4th place is still viable for any of these groups.

Let me get this straight ... you think that the 2019 Madison Scouts are receiving lower marks than they deserve because, decades ago, a man who hasn't participated in DCI for 15 years got into arguments with a man who was thrown out of DCI, his corps and multiple halls of fame last year? Have you considered instead that the judges on recent panels thought Troopers were a bit better? I mean, I know it sounds a little crazy, but I'm just putting it out there...

If the goal is to be a relevant and competitive corps in the 2020s, then there's definitely something about having too much history. Like it or not, groups like Bluecoats and SCV have changed the activity in the last couple of years. They have brought new design and instruction capabilities to the table (costuming, sound design, scene design, props, staging, ...). If you want to be in the conversation, you're going to have to master these things. Maybe Cadets will ultimately do something very different with these tools than the current leaders. But first they have to learn to use them. For a reality check on how a well-performed Cadets-style visual program would fare in 2019, just check out Crown. They were 6th in GE at San Antonio. I would guess that no GE judges put them in the top 3 between now and finals.

Excellent!