mchromik

In 13' we knew going in that because of the Marine Corps D&B Corps performing, there would be no mini exhibition in finals. It was unfortunate that it happened to be the year that Ghost won. Getting to do the exhibition is a great incentive.

I will second you on your after points here. Nail on the head. Minicorps is addictive. The simplicity, the intimacy, the exposure, the individuality. I hope we can get more folks involved and hopefully get some more units going. It's affordable, it's fun, and it can be anything you want. Park and bark some Maynard, or Copland with 50 sets of drill. Seems others agree as we now have SoundSport and WGI Winds, both very 'inspired' by Minicorps. More groups, more performance opportunities. It sure seems that the Mini world could get a little bigger. Thanks for the review and the appreciative words. It was a blast to perform on the stage in Rochester once again.

Yes. One cannot overstate how important and influential Bill's contributions and advice was to the way corps are run. No more broken down buses being push started. No more kids being fed with a couple of burners and a freezer out of a Ryder truck. We may have lost more then a few corps along the way due to not being able to keep up or adapt to such standards. But the corps experience of 2014 is a bit safer and more comfortable. And that allows the kids to concentrate on learning, performing, and having fun. Where Star really exists is on the staffs and admins of today's corps. As I look through the DCI yearbook I can point to at least one Star Alum teaching or involved in most of the corps north of 15th place. Some top groups contain nearly a dozen former members and/or instructors from SOI. Two new Open class units came on the field this year under the directorship of Star Alums. And a few of us old farts are still on the field and stage at DCA. I like to think of it as the big tree may have passed away, but in it's former shadow a hundred new ones now grow. It's an amazing legacy given the relative number of folks involved in the 9 drum corps years. A tribute to the teachers and direction we received from folks such as George Zingali, Donnie Van Doren, Jim Mason, and dozens more. And of course Bill Cook, who deeply inspired and influenced us all. Drum Corps needs another Star-like entity. A well funded, extrememly well run corps that is more of less a clean sheet of paper. Unrestrained by history or tradition. But it doesn't need the Star of Indiana. It is best left in it's mythical 'what if' status.

Mellophones and Sopranos.

I did not ask about your involvement, but rather hypothesised the a possible basis to the negativity in your pronouncements. Looking at your involvement leaves me futher baffled as to your attitude. But hey I will play. Currently I am an active DCA performer entering my 9th season as such. I had 5 seasons in the 80s as a performer. I've attended or performed in every DCI Finals since 84' save for 5 random years. Was shocked myself when I counted the program yearbooks! Last year I attended 4 shows including Finals. I have over 15 years of corps volunteer and support work under my belt, including helping run 3 shows. I've been a Fan Network subscriber since it's inception. I buy the DCI A/V products every season. In that time I've met, worked with, spent time with and friended a good number of DCI Directors, judges, and staff members, including staff or admin for half of the current top12. I have my experiences, beliefs, ideas, and opinions. On occasion I share them, trying hard to be constructive and positive. There is already plenty of pundents and critics in here to go around.

Best of luck to you. But as to being the only active corps in IN...... http://www.starunited.org/

Something tells me you haven't been to a show or finals lately. Sure it isn't the crush of humanity when there were hundreds of active corps, but lots more folks then say 10 years ago. The shows I went to Bowling Green, Akron, and a few others where nicely attended. Finals seemed a bit larger. But hey don't let observations and figures get in the way of your ranting.

There is most definitely a connection. Many of us Star Alums more or less consider Crown our 'home team'. Since about 2003 there has been an incredible amount of Star Alums and former Star instructors on staff with Crown. Of course at it's heart it is the brass staff and the long time consulting of our beloved mentor, Donnie Van Doren. Donnie and the Star alums have found homes with many corps over the years and helped give them success. Crossmen, Cadets (in many ways a return to the mother ship) Blue Stars, and now Madison & Troopers. But Crown in particular followed a path in programming and philosophy that was well in place with Star in the 90s and Brass Theater years. The cream uniforms, the dynamic body movements, the wall of sound, and many other evolutions of things near and dear to the Star Alums quickly made Crown our home team. Watching them take that tiny bit of DNA and evolve into a new and wonderful ways. And it time watching their alums spread their DNA to future units will be fulfilling. Circle of (drum corps) Life. It has gone both ways. In 2010 the Star Alumni corps that played at SemiFinals proudly conained not only former members of Star of Indiana in it's many forms, but also some new new gen Stars in the form of members of the Blue Stars, Crown, and Star United Minicorps. It was a Blast to share that experience with them.

So many good ones to pick from, but my old school classic pick would of course be The Cadets. My pick from my era of marching would be the mid 80 and 90s Cavies. Of the contemporary uniforms I hands down love The Academy.

I have to agree with Donny that the venue is not conducive to the 'Minicorps Atmosphere'. It was a totally different vibe. We knew going in the it was going to be hard to communicate with the audience from the field in such a large venue. Our upping the ante and doing a drill was in a way an attempt to adapt to the venue. And our experience was similar in that the visual portion actually hurt us more then helped. But some folks never learn. If you disliked the fact that we moved last year, be prepared to hate us this year. ;) I think there is a place for staging, drill, enhancements, what have you. Even on the stage in Rochester a little movement seemed appropriate. Maybe that should be the dividing line between 'Minicorps' and 'Mixed or Brass Ensemble'. A bunch of guys standing and playing with a drum kit, mixed ensemble. A group with any kind of staging or movement and pit type percussion, Minicorps. Maybe throw an effect judge in to rate the 'enhancements' for the Minis. I can see where folks say; 'if you want to move, go to class A'. It is a huge leap to move up to the rung. 35+ members, battery percussion, guard, more time, more $. And then there is the challenge of communicating with that big distant audience. No matter how good, 18 or 20 brass on such a huge stage, and so far away has a tough time of it. But on a stage, or gym floor. Perfect. Again this seems like the perfect development environment to develop or redevelop some groups to eventually hit the grass. That alone could be a reason to get behind and promote the concept. I hope Donnie is correct and the return to the indoor stage will entice groups to come out again. Plus being in Rochester might put us in a little closer reach for many of those groups. It did not think about the distance from the Northeast to Annapolis. It is a haul for us either way. Indoors, in NY sounds good. I look forward to next Friday and our four corps showdown. SU and Ghost in the epic battle of 'simple gifts'. Not to be missed.

Ray, I understand what you are trying to say. Star United's stranglehold at the top could 'suck the oxygen' out of the competitive environment for some. But I hope it is not a major factor. There are no easy answers there. I think the performance level of all units have risen a good deal in recent years. We have to up the ante every season and have been lucky enough to stay on top. I would hope that the rising performance levels would inspire more then deter. But I have been known to be wrong. I like to think that there is more to Minicorps the winning. For most it is more or less a one shot deal. I am not going to BS anybody and say I don't want to win, but it really is not what drives my group forward. And I sure hope that is true for everyone else. It is all about the crowd and beating your own goals and expectations. If anything the one prize most worth winning has been the exhibition slot in finals. The chance to play for that crowd is a huge incentive. Sadly that is something we recently learned is also not to be this year. The Commandant's Own performance is bumping the Minicorps Champs performance. Takes a bit of the wind from the sails. I am sure music rights are an issue for some. Not much can be done about that though. It is the world we live in. I had always hoped that more Minicorps competition and performance opportunities would ultimately develop to make all the rights and practice worth while. It is a chicken and egg conundrum.

I was saddened today to learn that there is a total of four competing units for next Friday's Minicorps competition at DCA I&E. It was not all that long ago that we were talking about limits to the numbers of competing units. A couple of years there my group went on at nearly 11:00pm. It was a long night of entertainment. Here on DCP there was talk of who would compete. There was lively debate the 35 and over rule, and how Minicorps filled that gap. MCA was getting off the ground. The crowd was big and rowdy, and fun. And the quality of the groups was getting better and better. Where did it all go wrong? What happened to all that passion and energy? There undoubtably be those who will say; "DCA doesn't make a dime from I&E and Minicorps". True, but at the rate it was growing there was some potential for monetizing some aspect of it. It was a the very least a great kickoff to the weekend, full of reunions, consumption of beverages, and talk. But it was, or is still is rather, a great place to start. An incubator for a group wanting to get involved in DCA but small enough and affordable enough to get started. It could also be a place for those who could not make the 35 member limit to compete in a venue that better fitted their size. Maybe I am nieve, but all of this still seems to be true. Being based so far away from the DCA fanbase I don't hear the scuttle butt and buzz to know exactly what people feel about the Mini competition. Is it the venue in Annapolis? Is it the economy? Has the level of competition exceeded what groups think they can accomplish? Or is the lack of competition? Or entertainment? Is there something that DCA could do to make this thing viable again? Do they care? A couple of years ago a group of individuals from here in the Midwest came to the Mini competition and loved the vibe, the crowd, the groups, the concept. They happened to work for DCI and are now organizing a simlar concept in the SoundSport and Drumline Battle initiatives. It is only in the fledgling days, but they are exctited by the interest from a large number of alumni groups, former competing groups, and even current Minicorps. It is early days to be sure, but they are planning on providing performance opportunities for Minicorps and Mini like groups next year, and a potential season ending competition at their championships. And it is All-Age. Is DCI the future home for Minicorps? Even for us old folks? My group and I have very much enjoyed perfoming in the Mini competition over the years. We have worked hard to push the concept and find it's boundries and potential. A good deal of folks questioned what what 18 or 20 brass can do beyond stand and play. We have endevoured to find out. Most of all we have enjoyed DCA. The connection with the history of the activity. The chance to perform in front of folks with decades of experience and knowledge. We put a good deal of money and time into our DCA trip because it was fun. The highlight of year. But I fear for future of Minicorps at DCA. I sure wish we could figure out how to get back to the heady days of 15 or so competing groups and the buzz and excitement. I still believe in the potential of the Minicorps concept. Even a limited sized unit in a properly sized venue can be entertaining, exciting, even thought provoking. And it is a great place to start a corps. What can we do to save this thing?

As someone who goes to several shows a year, every show I attended this year was well stocked with fans. Finals in particular seemed noticeably well attended. Saw a good deal of people even in the lower sections outside of the goal line. Far from ideal seating. Race at the top might have had something to do with. Twelve really good shows might have as well. The 'progressive' evolution has had little to do with the audience numbers. The audience has always been largely the family, friends, and alums of the competing units as well as the band crowd. The loss of units equals less potential butts in the seats. The days of 30000 plus at finals also happened to be in an era of nearly three times as many competing units as there are today. Simple math. The economics of running and touring a corps has changed radically since the heyday of hundreds of corps. The 'die-off' began in earnest in the 80s long before drum corps was 'progressive'. With the recent economic downturn, the spike in fuel prices, and with a myriad of casinos popping up and sucking the potential bingo market dry, it is a hard time to run a drum corps or drum corps show. With all that in mind, the numbers at the fewer shows there are seemed pretty good. I've heard many positive reports from sponsors. Best in years. So it's a perspective thing. Glass half empty or half full. From where I am sitting it was one of the best top-12s I've seen. And I've seen nearly all of them live since 84'. And it comes at the most challenging time economically and socially the activity has ever faced. Truly the Best of times, and the Worst of times.

The closest thing to a true comparison came in 1994. Star of Indiana performed it's Evening of Brass Theater on both G bugles and Concert horns. Same kids, same technique and approach, same evening. The G horns were indeed the 'loudest', but where also exceedingly bright and a bit harsh in comparison. It was quite the topic of conversation at the time, but it was clear that most folks involved liked the sound of the Bb horns over the G horns. Now to be fair this was indoor venues. Primarily tarp covered basketball court sized venues. And the Bb horns were nothing like today's refined big bored marching brass, but it is the only time I know of where top level world class performers played both types of horns back to back. As I recall the G horns were used very sparingly if at all the next year and then sold off. I've watched with interest both the G and Bb lines in DCA finals. It is pretty easy to pick out the bright G lines, but it isn't that dramatically different. The top lines are on Bb, but it isn't giving them any real advantage. They would likely still be the top lines even if everyone was on G.

I am not an official spokesperson for my corps, but Star United is putting the finishing touches on the show this coming weekend and will be ready to rumble.