BlooooContra

It all depends on your needs. If you're writing for a 40 piece show band, handwritten is fine. If you want something DCI or BOA caliber, computer is the way to go. Michael Gaines and Mitch Rogers, IMO the 2 best in the business, use Pyware to write drill (as do I, and I absolutely love it). Being able to see animation is a total must for anyone writing really complex drill. Is it possible by hand? Sure, but you'll save a ton of time and effort with a computer program. I used to hand write, and having used Pyware, you couldn't pay me enough to ever go back. Hope this helps!

Dots encourage people to be proactive. Form shouldn't even be MENTIONED until mid/late July. Drill is too fast moving and difficult these days to simply be guiding the form all the time. Since my first year in 2000 to my ageout in 2005 I was a 100% dot monger. I never guided form. (and now that I'm aged out, I can say it without worrying lol) :) I'm not going to try and sound overly cocky, but from an ensemble vis standpoint, my name was almost never heard from the tower. Reason? Dots. Why did the Bluecoats rally at the end of this year and get clean? Steph Furniss came in and heavily stressed dots. Why did Cavaliers 02 happen from a drill standpoint? Dots. If you're on your dot, you won't be more than an inch or so out of the form. Everyone just has to be held accountable for knowing each dot perfectly and hitting each dot perfectly each time. Then instead of guiding a form, the form will happen by coincidence because everyone is on their dots. Any Cavaliers out there want to back me up?

Hm, let's see... Sops- 99 Blue Devils Power, intensity, and screaming Mellos- 05 Cavaliers Did you hear that ballad???? Wow. Baris- 00 SCV Their sounds in the intro and Adagio were just amazing Contras- 05 Bluecoats Bias? You bet. Best section I've ever been apart of. Pit- 05 Bluecoats Bias? Nope. Check em out. Snares- 99 SCV- Loved the book, great intensity Tenors- 2002 Blue Q- These guys were just sick. Basses- Cavaliers- 99 Guard- 00 Cavaliers Some of the best guard integration in DCI history Program- Music of Radiohead (not the show title) Idiotheque Paranoid Android Exit Music The National Anthem

I've said this every year since 2001. :) I'm glad people agree. My ideal 2006 Bluecoats show Idiotheque Paranoid Android Exit Music The National Anthem Absolutely perfect for the modern Bluecoats. Anybody heard the Christopher O'Riley Radiohead piano album?

Cavaliers 2000- Redefined the activity in terms of visual design. Very musical SCV 1999- Very flowing, very aggressively performed Bluecoats 2005- Motion from start to finish, showed that DCI isn't just about standstills Phantom 1996- Just the intro though. Set the tone perfectly for the show. Gorgeous. Boston 2000- Showed that you don't have to be sprinting to get GE. Well, bias aside, there's my top 5 of all time. I say "bias aside" because Boston is on there. :) Now for this year's top 12. Cadets- 2000 Cavaliers- 2000 Phantom- 1996 Blue Devils- 1999 Bluecoats- 2005 Madison- 1999 Crown- 2001 SCV- 1999 Boston- 2000 BK- 2002 Glassmen- 2000 Spirit- 2003 Honorable mention to the 2002 Crossmen. B)

I can't speak for other corps, but the Bluecoats' rise to success has been a very slow and steady process. 1999- 13th 2000- 12th 2001- 8th 2002- 7th 2003- 7th 2004- 6th 2005- 5th The main spark to get things turned around after 99 was the return of Larry Hershman as program coordinator, not to mention getting rid of all of 99's drum and guard staff. The next year it was the visual staff that had to go, hence why we could march in 2001. :) Each year there are a few key staff changes (i.e. Mike McIntosh in 2004) and each year we draw more people, and more importantly, more talented people. The administration makes the right calls each year to get us to that next competitive level. We've been a very, very relentless corps over the past 6 years, and the thirst for blood is stronger than ever (as evidenced by Saturday night this year). It doesn't seem like too much of a coincidence that other aspects of the corps are improving as well. The bingo hall started a couple years ago and has been a tremendous source of funds. Also, the Bluecoats Alumni Association formed in 2004, giving ageouts a place to continue their involvement in the corps, helping to make it even stronger every season. I'm definitely excited to spend 2006 as an "old man" and watch my boys in Blue go out there, entertain the crowds, and take it to the new competition. B)

SCV 99-03 no doubt. Amazing show after amazing show. Bluecoats 87-91 In my opinion the pinnacle of the really jazzy Bluecoats, though honorable mention to 93 and 95. Cavaliers 00-04 The years that set a new standard for a redefined activity. Niagra Falls changed show design forever.

Ok, stupid question from a confused 2005 ageout. Every year when I get home, I order a DVD of our semifinals performance to tide me over until the finals DVDs are released. Am I just missing something, or are those individual DVDs not on the DCI site for sale this year? If anyone could help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

I stood next to a couple of those corps on the field. There were not only phones, but even booing of scores by some of their members. Please, to avoid a flame war, get your information straight before you talk. I'm sure you didn't look at every single member of each of those corps. I stood next to a member of a different corps while she was on her phone on the field. And on a side note, the Blue Devils were an absolute blast to be near on finals night. The horns that we met were a great bunch of people. :)

I looked forward to my ageout ceremony for 6 years after attending the shindig my rookie year in 2000. I was very, very let down. We waited for over an hour, milling about and having no idea what was going on. Then we were "paraded" in front of the non-existant audience, only to be shown a montage video and given a pin. Quite a few left early and just walked away out the back. If they just killed off the ceremony, I wouldn't mind. If they keep it, there needs to be some serious effort to make it special.

I can't even begin to describe how Saturday night felt. I joined a 13th place corps in November of 99, and aged out a top 5 corps in August of 05... without jumping corps. We are no longer standing on the shoulders of giants. WE are a giant now. It was an amazing season, and I can't even begin to thank everyone enough- members, staff, volunteers, and especially the fans of DCI who now see us in the light we've wanted to be seen in for a very, very long time. There's only one thing left to be said. BLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The drummer from Sixpence None the Richer, not sure of his name, marched with Sky Ryders in the 80s along with Chad Sexton. I know for sure that in 87 Chad was on snare and the other guy was on tenors. I ran into an 87 Sky Ryders rook out who mentioned that. I don't know what other years either of them marched.

Very, very nice review. As much as it pains me, gotta agree about your Bluecoats opinion. they've got tons of talent, but NO volume. It's a bit difficult to get into a show when it doesn't reach out and grab you. Though holy ish, the guard is amazing. First crossmen viewing for me this season (at Indy), loved the show. Last few seconds of the ballad.... wow.

Lt. GE... might want to do that over private messages for safety's sake. Don't want to get a flame war started on here. :) Stuff has gone down on both sides of the 2 corps in the past 5 or so years.

Ok. I've definitely got a bittersweet taste in my mouth after tonight. My seats were among the best in the house, 50 yardline, 2nd row from the top in the wonderful Paul Brown stadium. I'm gonna keep this honest. Here goes.... Pioneer- After an alumni night out last night, I ended up sleeping in until about 4:30 in the afternoon, arriving at the show late and missing Pioneer. D'oh. I was happy with their score though, they've obviously improved a great deal. Southwind- My favorite Southwind show ever. Visual performance was rough. Tasty soprano screamer. I was stuck in the stadium entrance waiting to go to my seat, so I couldn't get a very good read on the show. Colts- The music left a lot to be desired. The opener was very, very generic. I'd love to see the Colts do something groundbreaking one of these days. They had a few very nice brass ensemble moments. Didn't notice the guard much, very little effective integration. If the Colts ever want to see finals again, they need to fire their drill writer. Glassmen- Loud. Opening Medea hit was great. The intricate body movement is starting to really communicate well. Guard had a very, very off night. Drops and mental errors all over the place. I really enjoyed the show up until the closer. If I could make it illegal for anyone to play Appilacian Spring on a field ever again, I'd be one happy dude. This is definitely a finalist caliber show. It's good to see Glassmen back on Saturday night. Ohio!!! Boston- I do not like this show. Most of it is performed very well. However it's mostly recycled on-2-and splitting contrary motion drill moves that are basically variations on what Boston has done every year since 2000. They've cut down on their narration, which is good. The narration they have still makes it tough for me to hold down my food, which is bad. They perform well to the box, and their contra line can move, which was nice to see. Phantom- I haven't liked a Phantom show since 96. I absolutely LOVE this show. Most contra lines seem to be unable to walk and chew gum at the same time. These guys can play and move with lots of attitude. Vis performance throughout the ensemble seemed decent, but it was very obvious that nobody in Phantom Regiment has ever performed a show this physically demanding. Once they get more confortable, GE vis will really go up. Colorguard was good, but staging wasn't necessarily optimal. Hornline was gorgeous. I'd love to see more brass on Kings in DCI. Definitely the fullest sounding horn out there. I could go on and on about how much I love this show, which is very odd considering it's Phantom. I may be a music major, but I can't stand classical music. This one really does it for me. Cadets- If they took the opener out of the show, the entire package would rock. The opener is basically a snooze fest. 2nd tune really heats up, wonderful brass playing. I don't particularly dig their percussion sound (choice of heads, drums, I'm not sure what it is...) but they have some great licks and are featured well. The Aqualung tag at the end of the 2nd tune was awesome. Good guard moments. First baton guy moment was great. After that TAKE HIM OUT!!!!!!! By the third time it was just old. I really like him in there, obviously a talented guy. He just gets overkilled, which is unfortunate. Very open brass sounds, though they were most definitely top heavy. Their contras and baris need to crank some more sound. Definitely a lack of bottom, a la BD. Especially after Phantom, it was very noticable. Bluecoats- Bias aside, it was not happening tonight. Crowd was on their side, that's for sure. 2 contra holes on the field, but guys are in transit to fill them. The show was probably the most physically demanding of the night. Performance wasn't bad, it's the GE that's killing them. The show does NOT get up to the box well. Not counting Pioneer, they were the quietest hornline of the night. Drill really hauls from start to finish, and there are some great and very memorable moves. Unfortunately the sound is never there to really accompany them. Guard integration is wonderful. Attitude from start to finish. Watch for some great trade-off weapon tosses in Wabbits pt. 1. Drumline is much, much better than ever before. Pit writing is incredible and being performed at a very high level. Afterwards the corps played Autumn Leaves in the stadium and there was no traditional parking lot concert. <**> Ah well. As a FMM I hate to say it, but I think the Bluecoats could very well end up in 8th or even 9th. The potential is there for a 5th place finish, but their lack of communication is really holding them back. I just hope in Denver that Phantom is over Boston. Another mentionable moment tonight was at retreat when Boston blew the Conquest rhythm through their horns. Some guy screamed "WHATEVER!!!!" at them and got some applause from the crowd. Guess who they were supporting? lol

Just to clarify things, the show's entitled "Mood Swings." All the bizarre transitions and modulations.... there ya go :)

:::throws a baby at Pittman::: Great review! I'm a bit confused as to how Blue's Box 5 in ensemble visual, yet the GE vis scores are only a 16.8. Individual technique not fully communicating up to the box? Scores or no, can't wait to see Blue and Phantom at Massillon!

GREAT review! I love it when reviews are honest.

I think this may be one of my favorite threads ever. Glad to see you're going to stick around. Now where were ya'll when I got blasted for dissing Cap Reg in my Toledo review?!?!? lol

Yes, don't forget Boston. ;) Good review!

YES! THANK YOU! No more sugar coated reviews. It's OK to hate something. And it's great that people have spoken up saying they dig the review before the others jump down your throat for saying something negative about corps X because the member's parents might be reading the forums and "How would that look to them?" LOVED your review. Can't wait for another.

Nice review! I definitely have to agree, that stadium is a great one for drum corps. I still have my 25th Anniversary tshirt from when we played there in 01. Can't say I liked the little black rubber bits in my shoe much :P but it's a nice place to play as well. And if I remember correctly, it's one of the few regular shows with a sno-cone vendor, something that was greatly appreciated then. I have to agree, for the most part, about Cap Reg. I'm so happy that they, esp. the hornline, are performing at a higher level- but I think the show design is something that will hold them back a bit. Hearing fans talk, they usually dig the show, but because "wow, I'm glad they've gotten so much better," and not because "wow, that show really blew me away. remember when that guy did......" a la Cavies, SCV, etc. They just don't deliver memorable moments, and it has nothing to do with the kids. Stale Holsinger isn't a good way to grab audiences (anymore), fortunately they're performing their behinds off, and the corps is going up rapidly. I'm hoping for Cap Reg in finals by 05. It would be great to age out with 3 Ohio Corps in finals.

In the words of Strong Bad- total crap. I've played their marching sousas and mellos. Horrible.

The BD contras are great sounding. Larger the bell, the better. I recommend the newly redesigned Yamahas as well.

Shilke 51D all the way. Basically anything but a 12c or 6 1/2 AL. They're meant for beginner players.