liebot

I think the problem lies somewhere between design and execution, and I think it's silly to simply blame one or the other. I've been pretty vocal here and elsewhere about my problems with Aaron Guidry's arrangements, and while I think a change should be made, you just can't put the entire corps' problems at one person's feet. In 2007 there were major issues with drill design and the show being above the members' heads, in 2008 the drum line was pretty rough, and 2009 was just a mess from a design standpoint and featured a visual book that the corps could not perform effectively. In short, while I would personally be happy if the corps chose someone other than Guidry to write their musical book, I don't think that a change of arrangers is the panacea that many people think it will be. Also, I think the new visual staff is a step in the right direction, and if they can maintain consistency with the drum and guard staffs (which I have also heard good things about) and continue the momentum the brass staff has been building the past couple of years (which is, far and away, the most consistent section from a staff perspective. . . Goldberg's been involved with the corps every year since 2000) they should be in good shape. 2010, as a result of massive amounts of members leaving (members that I, unlike other alumni, do not blame for their decision), was bound to be a rebuilding year. Given the number of rookies that are in the corps this year and the much lower talent in comparison to previous years, I think the corps is doing fine. I look forward to them finishing the year strong and I hope that the membership returns to make 2011 a banner year for the corps.

The turning point was last year, when there was a ton of momentum building off of 2008, probably one of the highest vet retention rates in many, many years, and tons of talented members. Unfortunately a lot of talent jumped ship after last year because they were disappointed by the show and the staff. 2010's a rebuilding year, and if they can give the members a satisfying season, take a step in the right direction, and get it so there's a good return for 2011, I think things may start looking up.

Sooooo, who has scores?

It makes marching easier, for one.

If you marched Cavaliers from 2001-04, you only lost 19 shows in your entire drum corps career. IF you marched Blue Devils from 2007-present you've only lost 8 shows so far. . . from 2006-present you've only lost 13. Both streaks are pretty impressive. It remains to be seen if Devs can finish this year off, especially since they haven't seen Coats or Crown yet, who will probably be their biggest competition this year (isn't that weird to think?).

Yeah, you clearly don't know a whole lot about how Cavies carry themselves off the field. Cadets and SCV (and maybe, to a certain extent, Boston) are the only corps that really take themselves that seriously anymore. Good for them, I guess. Must be boring for the members.

You know, this is the type of crap that I used to buy into when I marched drum corps. Then I realized that no one (except the people that were already indoctrinated into this sort of logic) really gives a s*** about how you look off the field. As mentioned before, the Blue Devils (and the Cavaliers, I would add) are some of the most laid back, non-serious, non-uniform, lackadaisical a**holes off the field. Guess who's won twelve of the last fifteen DCI championships? Those two corps. The only thing that really matters is the show you put on the field - the rest is just bull****. The funniest thing is that Crown has been THE crowd favorite at parades for the past couple of years since they started the whole "laid back" thing. Why do sponsors keep inviting Crown back? Because they're freaking entertaining, and the audience digs it. The population at parades is mostly young, mostly drunk, and they don't really care that much about hearing Semper Fi or The Thunderer or Stars and Stripes. Sorry, that's just the truth. Rip their faces off with a. . . Madonna medley??? They'll probably go crazy. Crown would not be marching parades right now if the organizers thought they shouldn't be. I'm not trying to say that Crown looked good in that clip by most drum corps fans' standards, but to the people at the parade it was probably a breath of fresh air. Besides, who knew a drum corps playing Madonna would sound that good?

Besides, having marched behind Crown in parades for the past couple of years, I'm surprised they even played while moving. Most of the time they would just play a street beat and march then stop and play some throwback jam for the crowd.

Their hornline sounds freaking sweet and is playing recognizable songs (instead of the boring marches most corps play), so yes.

Who cares?

I watched them rehearse this section for a couple of hours earlier in the season and have talked to members I know about the tempo issues they've been having during that part of the show. It's just really, really, really, hard ensemble timing-wise, and they're not there yet. It probably needs to be watered or changed, but until it does, it'll be dirty. The whole thing is just a mess because the baris are way out on Side 1, playing a part that has a lot of interplay with the trumpets, who are way out on Side 2, which also locks into the bass line, which is coming from way back on the 50. None of the sections can listen back, because the drumline is in the front (if I recall correctly). Some of the baris/tubas actually have to play on top of the DMs hands so they can lock in with the drumline/the rest of the ensemble. When they get it right (which, out of about 15 reps I saw, they did it maybe once) it sounds awesome. That section is HOT when it clicks. When it doesn't, there's no groove and it loses all effect. They're either going to have to rewrite the drill, water some parts, or find some way to play it clean, because it ain't it right now. And no, it's not intentional. When the parts locked together, the staff gave positive comments. When they tore, they talked about why it was tearing. The people I talked to say they're frustrated too, that that part of the show is insanely difficult to get to sit down timing wise, and they hope that the corps rewrites it. Did you really think Crown wrote a part to be intentionally out of time? Come on now. They're just dirty. It's up to them to get clean.

Gotta love the July bump. This is where we start to see that the actual numbers behind drum corps scores make no sense. Also, comparing scores from different shows is probably the dumbest thing drum corps fans do. Look at spreads and subcaptions at the same show, not those at different venues.

Only one?

They usually (as in, they have for the last six years) stay at the actual show site, but I'm not sure about this year.

Nope. Toe the party line. Madison can do no wrong and they're above criticism. Unfortunately, this isn't just limited to Madison and their alums. Other posters do the same for their own corps.

This is comical. Have you seen the classless way that some old Scouts alums have carried themselves on this forum the past couple of years? And you're going to pick this guy, who has a legitimate concern/issue/complaint, and hold him up as an example of how the administration wasn't teaching the right thing? Ridiculous. A few bad apples (and I certainly wouldn't consider this guy a bad apple) does not mean the whole bunch is spoiled, and if we're being honest, it's the old alums on DCP that have been representing their corps with a lack of class.

Bluecoats get pennies, Crossmen get a cross necklace. Those are two additional ones I am aware of. I think Colts get something, but I'm not sure what.

That's a terrible analogy and you know it. Two trumpet spots are not gonna make it impossible for vets to march. I think the best analogy would be if they just decided to cut the entire color guard and say "Well, you guys can march with us if you want to learn to play an instrument, but we've decided to go a different direction this year. Sorry." Are you telling me those guard guys would be happy, especially if they found out later that the trumpet section put down their horns and spun flag for one song in the show? I don't think so.

That's ####### rough man. Complete slap in the face. Sorry to hear it happened this way.

Meh, probably the only drum corps "story" that succeeded in my eyes, and I wasn't even completely sold on it.

Dear Lord. That's even worse. Sorry I posted. Why do drum corps try to tell stories again?

I'm normally not opposed to "audience coaxing" as we've decided to call it, but, like bawker said, only when it's done spontaneously and genuinely. The end of Bluecoats' show last year seemed stupid to me because you could tell the visual staff (or someone) said "Hey, and when we get to this note, everyone wave your hands at the audience." It just came off as really contrived and really lame/high school bandish (I think bottled is a perfect description), and it also looked kind of creepy because there was just this sea of waving limbs coming at you from the field. If you are going to "coax the audience" it should just be one member, or a couple members. Not the entire hornline. It just looks silly and cheesy. If we wanted to stand up we would be standing already. Your lame appeals shouldn't change anything.

Disagree completely. They're running all over the place throughout most/all of the Khachaturian and Danzon, and they do it well. Just because they dance during the intro and ballad doesn't mean that's all they do, or that their show is "easy" by comparison. They definitely move as much/more than Cadets. I only saw Cavies' show once so I'm not really sure, but my memory is, with all the "This is my rifle" nonsense, they were standing still a lot as well. In the video I took at the Chesapeake show, he caught it, so unless they made a design change between then and Ft. Mill, it was probably just a tick.

There's a comment on one of the videos that identifies him by name. He's on facebook, and he's in a Cavies' uniform, so your guess sounds about right.