BorisTS

Do the Cadets still do the thing where their vets don't come to the very first audition camp? That could be part of their lower numbers.

How many corps have camps in Texas now? -Bluecoats (I think they still do) -Revo (obviously) -Crossmen -Glassmen (I just noticed an audition camp in San Antonio for all sections). I'm wondering how many more it will be until holding auditions in Texas ceases to provide a significant competitive advantage. List others I've forgotten.

It can't be that hard to dye the gloves, either. Glassmen used to do it (and probably do again, since they dropped the black gloves they had from '03 through '05.) (I notice now that today, I wore my white bucks with linen pants, and that looks great, but I think my pants are a lot lighter than Crown's uniforms. I don't wear my bucks with khaki chinos, for example).

CR doesn't have a board of directors?

Ipswich (sp?)? Wasn't that mentioned in some H.P. Lovecraft story or another? Better be careful!

On Friday, I went to visit the office of an accounting firm in Indy (I might interview there later this semester). As I left, I saw a car in the parking lot with a Star of Indiana plate. There were several other businesses in the same office building, though, so I'm not sure if they worked at the company I visited. Anybody from Star work at DOZ's office on River Road, or at least in the same building?

I don't think she cares. I remember a few years ago, when the Normal, IL show was rained out, all of the corps did a standstill inside a fieldhouse (or something like that). Off to the side of the bleachers, she ran a sectional with her guard. No problem, right? ....Except that she kept time for them with a drumstick and block, even when other corps were playing for the crowd. I understand making the most of your time, but I didn't think that was what I'd call classy.

The Rev! Great guy. I believe his prayer meetings were non-denominational Christian.

The problem is that very light-weight fabrics (such as tropical-weight wool) wrinkle very easily, which is a problem for corps since they need the uniforms to look good every day. Also, durability can sometimes be an issue. I'd love to have a corps in seersucker suits, though. (Assuming I could get someone to make the jackets for this purpose so that the armhole placement and shoulders will accomodate playing position for horns while still looking good). Also, I haven't decided, but I think they'd all choose their own ties and tie in the corps colors in some other way (pocket squares or hat bands, perhaps).

I like both of the Glassmen uniforms you have designed. About the second "fantasy" one-- what would you use to make the prismatic lining of the cape? I'd probably lean towards silk to maintain proper drape without looking cheesy. And speaking as an alum, this uniform loses a fun corps tradition-- a new shield every year! We always looked forward to finally seeing what it would be sometime around spring training. If no shield, the old "G" is good, too.

I put in my contacts every morning and took them out every night when I got on the bus. As you said, glasses are a huge annoyance-- they'll get covered in sweat or sunblock or dust. Also, with contacts, I was able to put on a pair of sunglasses if it was bright out or we were facing into the setting sun. Sweat running into your eyes shouldn't cause serious problems with your contacts, anymore that it would without them. I tried wearing glasses for one rehearsal block early season my rookie year. Never again.

He had (more minor) contra solos the past two years, too-- the very last note of the opener in 2004 (the corps fades out, and the last note is just him...played up for a bit of a laugh even though it's 'serious' music), and also the phrase at the end of the drum feature in 2005. I don't think he's even 19 years old yet, so maybe there's more to come.

I agree. I prefer "Bratwurst Corps."

When I marched we had 135 members. Someone different did the show every day. Two others would be back-ups, and the others would take the night off. It's mostly because we could only afford one uniform.

How fast you're moving isn't just the tempo of the music-- it's the overall step-sizes required, too. Not that I've seen some of the shows/corps being discussed, but I just wanted to point out that it's possible to have your tempo be 180, 190, whatever and still not be moving very fast.

Vivian Whittaker. He's a drum corps fan from the UK, and his daughter marched mello in the Glassmen in '98. Every summer he comes over to the US, drives the box truck that tows the souvie trailer, and waves a British flag and cheers at the start of every Glassmen show. #### of a guy.

I think your biggest issue would be finding a set of marching tymps (and about 5 kids willing to do that).

Hah, I couldn't figure out why that upset people, either. Corps have been using nicknames for themselves and each other for years. Green Machine, Cap Reg, X-men, G-men, Devs, Blooo, BK, etc. "Who else is competing tonight?" "The Green Team." (And these are just the polite nicknames!)

I marched euphonium in corps, but sometimes I'd do breathing exercises, long tones, and a few passages playing on a tuba. I should've done it more, but of course there is rarely time and opportunity.

I did. After a while, trying to march and move a baritone just felt awkward to me.

"GO CHESTERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL!" I wonder if old CHS had a mascot before we took over.

Difficult to conduct? It doesn't appear to restrict motion at all, unless she decides to cross her arms in front of her for some reason.

I saw them at Oswego. None of my pics came out very well, but the uniform looks better on the field. (We'll see how the shield holds up after a few weeks). The shield looks better on the regular uniforms than on the DM ones. The smaller black triangle is positioned to follow the lines of the jacket; the gold part lies on the uniform's cream.

I enjoyed the silent drill effect at Oswego-- the music fades out and the drill keeps going as normal. Interestingly, I believe there is another spot in the closer with a couple beats of silence before an impact....at the Oswego show, some people screamed "GLASSMEN!!!" The guy with the flag who yells a lot is Viv. His daughter marched mellophone at Glassmen in 1998; he comes on tour to drive the box truck that carries the souvies and tows the trailer. He waves his British flag and yells for the corps. He's a huge drum corps fan. He'll be on tour after Europe; they're meeting up with him there so he doesn't have to fly back and forth twice.

I'm going to the Oswego show tonight, but I can't find directions or even an address for the stadium on their website. Does anyone know where it is, or will it be really easy to find?