Weaklefthand4ever

SuperFans are easily distinguishable as they often have the corps logo as their avatar or corps name in their screen name. They are also known for repeated cheering on show threads as if they themselves were actually at the show. Often, SuperFans live in their own threads, but some venture into the wider world. Of these, many mix well with other SuperFans, but some types are easily upset by numbers or the Blue Devils. These can be dangerous when cornered. Nasty, filty Blue Devils! We hates them precious! The Messenger and scrawled upon the whiteboard of a glowing screen, is meant both to redeem past failures and restore drum corps to its former greatness. That is, if the arch-reactionary elements are soundly put in their place. The Messenger's incessant and repetitive chatter often drives away others, but woe betide the unsuspecting soul to whom the song becomes a siren song. I'm fairly certain you caught me here LOL. The Parent is very excited that son or daughter is in a drum corps and amazed and thrilled that they have found a place online for people just like them! They are known for asking well-meaning but somewhat screechy questions about scores, periscopes and pictures. Unfortunately, the Parent often cannot cope with the harsh environment of DCP and the lifespan is usually brief. Some, however, adapt, survive, and even thrive. I was once told that I should never have children as I was suspect to eat my own young. The Dinosaur can be found in both herbivorous and carnivorous varieties. Herbivores are placid creatures, contenting themselves with saying 'back in the day' and patiently chewing on old recaps. Carnivores violently attack anything, with exception of brass instruments in the key of G. Both herbivores and carnivores are destined for extinction. In the immortal words of Philomena Cunk, the herbivores are the placid "across ways ones" while the carnivores are the "up and down ones who eat the across ways ones." This seems to be the same in the DCP community. The Mathematician seeks meaning in numbers, constantly putting them into series and sequences. DCP Mathematicians are divided between those who will compare numbers from different spatial/temporal universes, and those who hold that only numbers from the same spatial/temporal universe can truly be validly compared. The rival camps continually accuse each other of failing to understand the rules of numbers, with some mavericks going so far as to state that the rules themselves are based upon false premises. Amazing creatures...beautiful plumage. I don't understand the ability to instantly compare shows across generations but I'm happy they exist for those of us who don't understand how to math. I now find myself trying to figure out which one (or more) of these categories I fall into. Fun post though!

Thank you for your feedback and for clarifying your stance.

Do we happen to know if scores will actually be released on the DCA corps or if this is one of the "evaluation only with comments" type of gigs?

I'm personally confused by this statement. If someone doesn't want to sponsor a member because they're a smoker, then that's a choice you make. That I'm aware of, I've never encountered a form on corpsdata or otherwise where "are you a smoke yes/no" was asked. To say that MM's who smoke are "duplicitous" seems a stretch in general terms at best. How are members who smoke being deceitful? I get it. You don't like smokers (especially as you put them in the same category as illegal drugs,) and that's your prerogative. But at least in my reading of what you state here, it appears that you are bulking all MM's who smoke into a default category of your own creation. That would be like me bulking gun owners into a default category because some decide to shoot people. Granted, I'm a smoker AND I own a gun so I guess that makes me a deceitful shooter of other people if I follow my own logic path. Now perhaps that's not what was meant and you and I have never been at odds on any post so please, correct me if I'm wrong. It just seems a bit of an overreach is all.

I am VERY excited about finally getting some actual reads on CV. Hopefully the show is small enough that someone will Periscope at least one of the shows.

I seem to remember that LOL. Possibly some cats from Renegades but my memory is...foggy....

I would agree. I don't know if the percussion is really an 8th place line from a battery perspective and I haven't gotten a good read on the front ensemble yet past the first show to get an overall impression. It's a strong battery but there are some significant gaps between a top 6 or 8 battery and a 9th-12th battery. The book listening to lot videos says 6th - 8th. But hearing it on the move to my ears says 9th-12th.

So I wanted to revisit my first impression of the show vs my impression of it now. I do this kind of self-analysis all the time as an instructional designer to find out if my training is effective. I don't get the first 1:10 of the show up until the first impact. With 2010 Into the Light, it worked for me because there was a brass build up and a huge front ensemble presence to that first hit (which still makes me grin from ear to ear.) You knew you were about to get your face melted off in classic PR style. Something just seems disjointed here. The battery sounds muddy as it moves through the back form in that opening segment. Now it's most likely just how they're positioned and the echo from the back stands. It just doesn't work the way I would expect it to because it isn't driving the build up forward into that opening hit. I'm sure the book is good but I can't hear it. Looking back the show at this point, the show is far less disjointed. It seems like the battery is coming through more clearly. I'm still uncertain about one battery segment where they're turned backfield. It doesn't take away from show, but it still doesn't add anything. The segmental work seems FAR cleaner than it was (as I suspected it would be.) I'm still looking for more build into that opening hit with some of the voicings and now, opposite of the first show, I can't hear the pit at all. For much of that first 1:30, the front ensemble is carrying the theme so they might want to bring up the front ensemble a little bit. But that's just my opinion. I really don't like the "I am Joan" scream right before the hit. It would be different if it added something, but I don't feel like it does. Maybe that's just me. The high mark time into the "goose step" COULD be kinda cool but it's dirtier than my flam 7's and trust me, that's pretty bad. Maybe as the show develops and the story becomes a little more clear and clean it will make some sense. I still don't like the "I am Joan" scream. It just doesn't add anything to the concept of the show as I understand it. In fact, it's the only part of the show that identifies that it's a show about Joan of Arc IMHO and it STILL seems misplaced. This show is SO MUCH improved, but the theme doesn't tie to the music to the average listener. If you're going to do a theme show, the theme should be pretty clear for all 12 minutes. The high mark time into the "goose step" is much cleaner and I was wrong...it isn't as cool as I wanted it to be. The drill at that moment is too compressed for it to really stand out as anything more than a "hmmmm...that's interesting" kind of a moment. On the much improved front, really strong horn performance now in that section of the show. I wouldn't call it "classic PR sound" but it's balanced and it's well written. The battery music seems to have been cleaned to the point that I now understand how it's supposed to fit. There are still a few "odd battery moments" where it feels like a little bit of random noise, but I'm going to listen to it again. There are some really good moments in the show that make me think they're making a turn in the right direction. I love the set at 4:24. It's well executed and it's clean. Some of the mini "park and bark" moments don't have that same level of execution...but it's early season. The beginning of the ballad feels like it builds too slowly and the MM's feel too spread out. I think of drill design like I look at Instructional Design (which is what I do for a living.) If you put something into a piece of training material, it HAS to add something. If it doesn't add anything, then it's just a distraction. Being so spread out had my eyes wandering around the field trying to figure out what the story was and that pulled me away from the small ensemble work of the brass and guard. It also made me notice that the props at the back of the field hadn't been utilized the entire show. Remember when you were marching and and you missed your cover in the company front and were just hanging out like a 3rd nipple? That's PR's props right now. Just my opinion. /shrug STILL love the set at 4:24. I think this is where I can really see some good things for PR moving forward. The small ensemble stuff is pretty hot. The ballad drill stuff is still a little spread out. I simply don't "get" the ballad I guess. My eyes are still wandering around the field looking for something to tie everything together. I will say that the build is stronger and musically, it sounds more like a ballad now. Props...Oh my....the props. So those of you who have judged in the visual or GE captions before, what would happen if a corps just...didn't have props? Would it be any worse than having props that never move and seemingly have no purpose? To me, they're just a distraction. They're an elephant in the room for me. From 8:28 to the end....THANK YOU PHANTOM REGIMENT! I would say, the front ensemble during the singing portion needs to turn it down a little...or maybe a lot. Ok...a LOT. Maybe from like a 10 to a 2 volume wise. Vibes especially REALLY drown out everything else. You fixed the volume on the vibes! Still love the last 1/4 of the show. Now I just want it louder and more in my face. In the past, there would be a kick stop or a chevron or something that made me say "#### yes!" at the end of the show along with some melt my face off brass moment. I wants it...I NEEDS it and most of all, I EXPECT it. That's the problem with being great for so long. You set the expectation, now you have to live with that expectation. Overall, this show is coming out exactly as I suspected it would. It's somewhere in the 8-10th spot depending on how much they can continue to clean. I said before that they're placement will be top 12 and WHERE in the top 12 will depend on when they peak and how much room to grow in score they have vs the others at the bottom 1/4. If the potential is there for tremendous growth score wise, it seems like the members and staff are up to the task (as they've shown so far.) If there isn't much more room for improvement, I STILL think it's a top 12 show, just maybe in the 11th or 12th spot. I'm personally proud of this corps. Work ethic and faith in your team and each other goes a LONG way me. It's about living up to the potential you have and this corps is showing just that.

We had one up until I graduated high school as well. We would go out and smoke with the nuns. I would assume that you're probably right. When I marched DCI and even into DCA, the rule was that you couldn't have anything identifiable to the corps when you were smoking and of course you could only smoke in designated areas.

There's so much good stuff in this thread. It really is just a breath of fresh air. Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful responses and memories. Just to touch on the quoted text, excellent observation. I think anyone who marched battery in the late 80's will share my recollection as well. We moved a lot and played a lot, yes. But we also moved a lot in straight lines and diagonals. Our drum features were all front and center park and play stuff. I don't think today's material is more difficult from a rudimental standpoint than what we played at least in my 87'-90' time frame, but these MM's are ALL OVER the field and what they're playing ain't exactly a cosmo either. The skill level of all of these cats, across all captions is at a next world level compared to what we did IMHO. On the second point, EVERY front ensemble player now seems to be a top flight musician. These guys now are just flat out artists performing their craft. We had talented players as well, but 10 out of 10 players weren't at the top level. I think the parts now are just quite frankly, better written. I don't even hate the electronics as some do. It can become a little over the top with bass drops at every impact point, but we can't always get what we want all the time. Again, just a fantastic topic. Love it, love it, love it.

But we all got to play Georgia together ❤️ and I had a blast talking to Kelly Houpt. I still have video somewhere of us playing the mass Georgia thing.

That show was hell lol. The equipment trucks were what seemed like a zillion miles from the stadium and no entrance to the front sideline for the front ensemble. They had to drag everything through the back entrance, up the right end zone and then left to the front ensemble area. Heat I can take, but this....THIS body is no longer built for the riggors of DCI. That was a DCI type of gig from a logistics standpoint. Also, the only bathrooms we were allowed to use were either in the stadium or a long haul from the sectional and warm up areas.

If there are holes in both sides from what's out there so far, then waiting to formulate an opinion on the incident itself would seem prudent. Discussing the good or bad sides of show design is fine, though I don't feel that's the point of this specific thread. I put more trust in survivors and how they view what is and is bot over the line than I do my own eyes since I never experienced that trauma.

I'm glad they made the move even if our assumptions of WHY they made the move are all over the place. I respect the tradition, I truly do. Madison has always been one of my favorite corps. But it NEVER had anything to do with it being all male. They need new blood in the corps in not only the MM population but also in the staff population. I'm sure there are folks out there who are MORE than qualified for positions in key staff roles who have not applied because they didn't want to fight the perceived bias of an all-male corps. Whether that bias is deserved or not, I don't think anyone can argue that it most likely exists. Again, I respect the tradition. Going "co-ed" does not IMHO diminish that proud history. If anything, it shows that an organization is willing to add to that history and create new and even better traditions. Whatever their reasons are, I wish them all the success in the world. I will not forget their past great moments and I hope to see many more great moments in the future. This change (at least on the surface,) gives them a chance to expand and grow. Good luck Madison and I hope to see you in the top 12 again very soon.

True. If notging else, the rookies got some good lessons in how travel works with a corps. Knowing how to get on and off the bus, how floor time actually works in the real world, chow time etc is a valuable lesson that will serve members well should they move on to DCI corps.

In 2005 with CV in Ocala (or maybe Orlando....it was in Florida and began with an "O." It was the SE championships show,) the skies pretty much opened up from the opening whistle. It was a slosh fest. It didn't help that it was about 90 degress with 100000% humidity either. That was the trip that our unis didn't get cleaned from the previous show and had been "marinating" in the little pull behind trailer we had all the way from Lawrenceville to Ocala. They were pretty ripe when the trailer was opened. The rain made everyone smell like wet dog. Fun show though lol.

As an alum, I was really looking forward to hearing about how they stack up against bucs ans cabs. Hopefully they'll allow some video soon so folks can get a look.

I live in Tennessee so I'm used to them. Even marching in high school 30+ years ago we occasionally ran into them (though usually just big king snakes.) Never had a problem in DCI or DCA (though the banana and huntsman spiders in Orlando and Ocala on tour were 10x creepier than snakes.) I think that sort of thing is more shock factor and reaction than true substance of perceived danger. I can't really blame people for that. But it's true that it's almost unavoidable. Now if you were practicing by woods and saw some coyote, then that's a whole lotta nope.

Interesting thought actually. What happens at that point to the battery given the new 2 yard rule though? Would they also be relegated to the back hash?

So back to something I touched on earlier in the thread. How is brass adjudicated now? Having never heard a brass tape (go ahead non-drummer types and bring on the "You wouldn't understand it because there's no "dut! dut! dut! or random exclamations of "Woooooooooooo!!!!" in them,) I would be curious how granular it gets by comparison. At that point, I could have a better idea from a performers standpoint of whether or not the same level of adjudication could be done on battery and front ensemble strictly from the box.

Most peoples apparent understanding of drummers: What drummers think of everyone else: Thank you for your time. P.S. - Blah blah blah judging percussion, blah blah blah it's 6 feet and drummers are dumb, blah blah blah rule book. There, now it's on topic and a fair summation of the previous 24 pages.

Interesting. I know from a fan perspective, it's easy to hear something half way up and not center if it sounds like shoes in a dryer. Dirty lines are easy to pick out. But even with lines like 2010 PR, in Atlanta it was hard to pick out how good they were probably because they were so #### #### clean. I would love to hear everything from the box to get the perspective that you describe.

Not knowing a lot about adjudication outside of percussion, it's hard for me to really think of how it could be done. In percussion (especially in front of the battery,) you are listening for very, VERY specific things from 3 or 4 separate sections (snares, bass drums, tenors and possibly a cymbal line.) Ensemble is one thing, but the technical aspects of each and the demand placed on the players is extreme and so to must be the pressure on the judges. I simply don't know if say brass is in the same boat (and I'm not saying they aren't.) To non-drummers, I'm sure it all sounds like thunderous goo (1pt to HockeyDad,) but it's far more complex than I think a lot of people think. How would you possibly judge anything but attacks and possibly unison passages from 20 yards away? And yeah...in a dome, it's far worse. Even with CV when we played at the Georgia Dome, the environmental demand was different completely when trying to listen in to center. I imagine for judges it's demanding as well.

Same. Before I started marching in DCI even, dad and I would sit through everything including A60's and the like. But I do get that not everyone will be like that and that's 100% ok.

Good question. I haven't seen anything after the tour premier.