Reeses0316

Pat, quick! Ron needs a Snickers bar! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9TkqNDPx-s

For those that are making the treak to Rochester and those watching the live feed the biggest disappointment in Minnesota Brass's show is that you'll only get to see it two more times live. Regardless of placement it's one of those shows that you'll love to watch over and over. It's a tantelizing seamless production from beginning to end with maddening melody and captivating harmonic. It has all of the right ingredients to give you goose bumps and the chill's.

Feel free to correct if I reported wrong.

Excellent night for a show and the conditions were perfect. 71.45 Chops 74.80 Kilities 82.85 Govenaires 90.90 Minnesota Brass

Govies and Brass perform at DCI shows on the July 31 and August 1. I assume they'll be on DCA sheets for both of those shows. Scores, in my opinion, are still relative whether or not they're DCA or DCI judges.

Is it a direct apples to apples comparison no, but major record labels do have similar control to the small group your describing as to what they think will be entertaining and what will sell, branding, etc. Solo artist and bands are hardly free to produce whatever they want when their under contract. Every corps has a distinct identity under the current system. If anything, corps under the old tick system were more homogenous because the system was restrictive in comparison to what is allowed now.

I think this year has been more interesting because of it. To have those unknowns going into finals I believe produces a better product for fans.

Be able to commit to their rehearsal and show schedule, at least minimize any conflicts and be upfront about it. Don't be afraid to ask questions and get to know people right away, vets and rookies. Analyize the etiquette of people around you. Expect to work outside the group on your own time or improptu sectionals when needed. Get to know your section on a personal level. The people that get along the best perform the best. On a personal level, make sure they're a good fit for you and meet your expectations.

That seems to be the case within the DCI circuit so not surprising its effecting the all-age groups. 3-4 point swings from shows day to day.

2.5 hrs isn't bad for a drive from Minneapolis. Break it up by a stop in Red Wing at Randy's Restaurant for lunch. The chicken there is awesome and have a few Spotted Cow beers in LaCrosse since they only sell it in Wisconsin.

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What is the thought behind the 35 minimum rule for DCA?

It would be foolish to break the bank on one trip and the idea is voluntary for those corps that already do travel. I'm speaking from my personal thoughts and experiences (which does not reflect Brass) as to why I saw travel becoming important for Minnesota Brass to survive. There's been a lot of changes in the Midwest over the 11 years I've participated in the activity, (ending in 2010) DCA and DCI, particularly in the early 2000's show opportunities were limited. That has changed with DCA-C, more participation in DCI events, and the desire for the competition aspect of it has taken root. DCA Fan Network currently does have its limits. There are limited shows and it only showcases corps in the northeast other than finals. If I want to see corps outside the northeast prior to finals I have to have a DCI Fan Network account. A strictly DCA show in Racine with corps participating from other regions would be wonderful because of the fan base there. Racine does have the most potential for filling the stands at least in the midwest.

I would argue that DCA corps in mid-July and August are definitely better now then they were 5-6 years ago and it's an idea that would work. Sure they peak in September but that's the nature of the beast. Honestly the idea wouldn't have taken hold even 7 or 8 years ago for the reasons you explained above when you compare the two. However, DCA corps are now "good enough" to showcase at mid-season DCI shows. Time off is a personal choice. If members know ahead of time and it's planned for at the beginning of the season it can work. It comes down to the desire of the membership. The idea is to help plant the seed. You have to start somewhere for those to gain interest in DCA and what better then a DCI Regional? Who isn't interested in seeing a corps they may have never heard of before or seen live?

It would be a sacrifice from a direct competition point of view but that didn't prevent Brass from doing it before. Does that sacrifice in the short-term lead to success for all of DCA in the future? The current DCA fan base in the northeast isn't getting any younger and when will you start seeing many of them not going to shows or championships because they're not physically able, or even some willing to make it? After DCM those of us in Brass wanted the opportunity to have performances in July/ early August. So travel outside of Minnesota/ Wisconsin became essential to the membership and the corps. '99 was Madison (we performed after the Blue Devils which is still an awesome memory). 2000 something we traveled to the DCI Indianapolis Regional to perform. We received a very positive reaction from young and old and it was great introduction to many in the crowd to what was becoming the all-age corps movement. I believe this was before the concept of DCA-Central when regional performances in July and August started. Consistently performing in DCA events outside of championships started in 2003 for Brass. The impromptu travel to Scranton which we fundraised for at the last minute (included a Twins game in the dome!) was a huge risk but the corps came out ahead and had a great performance. Holes are going to happen with or without travel. A portion of those holes were either filled and that person dropped during camp so it was a hole anyway or a select few couldn't make the trip do usually to family obligations. The point is to create interest in the all-age activity from those that are gen x, gen y, etc. in terms of fan base and potential members, and what better way to do that than a DCI Regional? Its hell of a lot of fun to perform in front of large crowds and DCA has enough caliber corps now then there was 10 years ago that I personally believe DCI crowds would take interest in.

A short term way to spread the DCA brand outside of the northeast may best be served to a DCI Regional crowd in say Atlanta. Have a limit of 3 DCA corps (minimum for a DCA sanctioned show) so fans get introduced to DCA and to corps outside of that particular region. Instead of say Minnesota Brass going out east they could perform at the regional in Atlanta. The next year or same year say CorpsVets could do the same and travel up to DCI-Minnesota. One year travel could be to Denver or California by other non-eastern corps to continually grow the brand outside of the northeast. The idea is that you can introduce DCI fans to DCA in a considerably safe way to the largest audiences to generate interest in DCA and DCA shows outside of the northeast. Ideally then northeast corps would have time to consistently generate enough revenue to travel outside their region to other DCA shows. Or maybe I'm just crazy and none of this makes sense...

Competing the final week of the regular season can be just as much of a disadvantage in terms of not having that time to refine your show as other corps do. Think about it. Sure you didn't end up with the highest score before prelims, not a bad thing. Having that hunger as you go on before prelims to get that top spot come finals night, I can only imagine would be even more rewarding when it does happen.

They were awesome and had an exceptional performance. Class A is growing very strong and they're setting the bar high.

Wish I could have been there. It's always nice to stop at Durango's for pizza, park inn for a burger, and O&H for a Kringle. Oh, and the show would have been good too!

"2013 commemorates the Statesmens 30th and final year of field competition." Poor choice of words then. With the announcement of more corps not fielding this year, DCA and DCI, it's easy to jump to that conclusion. Final year of competition, so I guess that means they'll be performing in exhibition after 2013?

I believe captions are awarded based on the average of prelims and finals as to why recaps aren't visible to the public.

In addition to other advice shop around. If you get a chance attend a rehearsal if your close to any shows. You'll get a nice perspective of how they operate and how you see yourself fitting in.

For this time of year, comparing it to previous ones, it was one hell of a show performance. Execution wise, this year so far they're pretty quick out of the gate. Solid line-up for the Bridgeport. It should be one heck of a show. Seriously, five dollars. Lot's of left over cash for souvies!

The stadium in Mankato is a little more challenging to perform in if you haven't experienced it before. There's a lot reverb on the field. There's about a 4 to 5 foot wall in depth and height in front of the pit that deflects a lot of sound. You could hear it being picked up in everyone's sound systems. That could have played a role. It was still a pretty good performance after an awesome musical performance from Madison.