ScottPREuph

Throwing money at them isn't going to fix years of awful institutional financial management. Who even knows where your money would be going at this point?

Well, we can take that a step further in saying that the Mandarins succeeded in bringing the WGI style show to the field in a manner which is effective, engaging and entertaining. Blue Stars have not attained the same level of success this year.

You are right - I didn't look closely enough at the GE scores. I just saw the huge gaps in the music captions especially percussion. Of course, it's all inter-related. Poor performance will create weaker effects and poor design/GE will not effectively highlight a great performance.

Once again, I feel the Blue Stars is overdesigned with just too much going on to let us feel cohesive and complete ideas. I never get an emotional payoff - it's like I'm watching ideas develop and just before the impact point its "boom" to the next idea. The biggest crowd reaction the Blue Stars elicit is when the guard girl catches the sabre coming down the slide. I thought 2022 was a step in the right direction. The brass was fantastic but still the corps had cracks in their show design. Despite all the hype in spring training, I cautiously awaited to see how things would pan out. I have no doubt that the corps has just as much talent as Regiment, Mandarins and Cavaliers. Off the field, the corps has operational excellence on par with top 5. They just aren't being given the right vehicle to max out their potential and it's frustrating to see. Drum corps is embracing exciting, big, effective shows that fill a stadium and it feels like Stars are designing for a WGI gym floor.

GE is scoring ok. It’s brass and percussion performance where Blue Stars got smoked by Troopers tonight.

Varsity acquired Stanbury Uniforms in 2019.

San Antonio would be gone. It wouldn't make sense for corps to drive that far for just 1 show and nothing in between.

What show are you talking about and where is this information coming from? Shows tonight are both in Oklahoma. There is no official announcement regarding standstills.

Sadly, Joan went to the great recycling bin in the sky a few years ago.

Looks like the stages from 2015. Side Show.

Make sure you tell them that everyone really is boo-ing the Bluecoats.

Is this the best troll post of 2018? I'm admiration of the amount of thought, time and effort that was put in to educate the masses of the drum corps interwebs.

There's a way to do it with and without class. I marched Troopers for 4 years in the midst of what was historically be our least competitive era. I had the ability to march other places, but loved being a Trooper. We had people who would leave or announce their departure for another corps and put it in everyone's face like they were somehow too good for the corps. I ultimately marched my age out with Phantom Regiment and it was the best decision for me at the time. I did it quietly and gracefully and am proud to be a part of two legendary traditions.

I'm not sure what the Coast Guard Adacemy summer commitment is. I was an NROTC Mid. and completed my Freshman cruise in Norfolk in June and was able to march the rest of the summer with the Troopers in 2000. Granted I was a 3 year vet so I had some negotiation leeway.

I would like to take these for all 3 nights if they are still available. PM sent to you also Thanks!

The last new set of G bugles ordered for a DCI corps was for the Troopers 2003 corps. I remember a big deal being made for the "bugle fund." I suppose it is a bit of a historical marker for drum corps now that I think about it. I believe it was a Dynasty line. Here is a link to the DCI article about this: DCI.org News: Troopers keep “bugle” in drum and bugle corps

Drum corps don't exactly get busses new, maybe in very rare situations it has happened. That Crown bus is probably from the early 80's or late 70's and was well used an abused by the time they bought it. Drum corps is many times the end of the line for the life cycle of a bus in terms of purchases. The leased buses mostly used today are of course very recent models. While those vehicles in the pictures may look alright from the pictures each one would probably need thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars of work to be reliable down the road. There is probably severe frame rust and damage and who knows what wrong with the engine or fuel lines and airbrakes. You could probably turn one of those into a sweet RV with enough cash. A bus sales site www.walkercoach.com/mcibuses.shtml, states the MCI 9 was designed to have a life span of 30 years and 3 million miles.

Ok, Mike I'll chime in since I've been observing for quite while now and participating a bit in the behind the scenes of drum corps. I agree that the days of the bingo hall are pretty much dead. In a few select cases it still works and perhaps it can work for you, but don't count on it being major revenue source. You can go the lone wolf method of Bill Cook and have a corporation to support the corps. Good luck getting that to be profitable and then to be profitable enough to support a corps on top of the other business needs. Yes Star did have the bus company also, but that wasn't up and running to provide the initial capital for starting the corps. In a community the size of where you would want to start this corps, it's small enough that things are about who you know. I can think of a couple big names you would love to have on board. And if you don't know anybody, who do you know who knows people with the money who would love to support such a great cause as a drum corps. Have a competent board in place who has the experience and expertise to generate new income ventures. You'll need a professional business plan and the means to present it professionally, and an ideal BOD can help with this too. This is extremely important to establish yourself as a legit operation to both the business community and the music community where you wish to draw kids from. They should also be as enthusiastic and energetic as you are. Agressively pursue any type of grant or sponsorship opportunity you can find. Sponsor a band show or two or partner with someone who has a band show and would like it to grow. That is great for community exposure, cash and recruiting if done right. Remember no project or idea is ever too small to pursue if it brings in money. I have seen some corps pass up some great opprotunities. And be prepared to fight to the death for every cent.

I don't know a lot about guard, but I can tell that Mr. Lentz does not like whatever the Blue Stars are doing. They placed 7th at the Minneapolis regional.

Blue Stars did not do a full run last night. From what I was told, they should have no problem getting the whole show on the field in time.

Haha, I knew that was coming.

Bass bugle was the equivalent of today's baritone which is why George is holding that horn. There were no tubas on the field until sometime in the 50's or early 60' I believe so the baritone had the bass voice. Hence the term contrabass bugle when the tuba finally did show up.

I don't think it will be a huge disadvantage. That is a long distance to cover which will test the focus of the members after 3 consecutive nights of long bus rides. This usually doesn't happen early on in the season. I'm sure the administration has planned some good rehearsal time in between so it's not like there will not be any show preparation going on. If anything it will be good preparation for those long bus rides which usually occur on the east coast and in the Texas swing.

The corps had a female assistant conductor in 2003-2004. I believe in 2005, there was more of a co-drum major position held by Mr. Crimm and the girl whose name escapes me right now. In 2003, she was dressed in a regular uniform. 2005, the female drum major had on the black drum major top with skirt, hence the "black b****" reference as it was similar to the original guard uniform.

Blue Stars is from 79. The 'sit circle'.