Reeses0316
-
Posts
119 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Reeses0316
-
-
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.
-
2
-
-
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
-
Next week-end on the 4th of July Cadet2 enter the picture.the following week-end Sunrisers enter at the Gran Prix ,One week later the Skyliners so by mid July we should know pretty much where they stand .Got a long wait to see where Minn.Brass will fit in there first shows the 21 of August .
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.
-
The difference being that bluegrass doesn't have a distinct small group of individuals promulgating standards by which each bluegrass group will be judged, via which process all the bluegrass groups would tend towards homogeneity as they played towards that small group's expectations instead of merely playing to the audience of people who want to be entertained.
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.
I think Finals often shifts. That is the nature of having region corps who do not travel to other regions. You don't really know what is going to happen until the end. The Prelims seeding scores are probably going to be very relative and we will likely see groups slip into Finals that some did not expect or see others comfortably in looking behind them. On the flip side, we could also see groups in other places jump up just because they are around like competition.
I think we are likely to see at least a couple of corps flip flop on Finals night. You can see several examples of this in just the past decade.
-
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.
-
1
-
-
Wacked scores in St. Paul tonight. The DCI judges seem to be all over the place with the Midwest All-Age corps this year. (Seriously, no movement in scores???) I thought the Govenaires had one of their best shows in recent years. Even more fun than last year. Great guard and great communication! MBI's exhibition was also terrific, though not without its flaws (more later). It was also really nice to see Chops, Inc. back on the field!
There are some real judging issues this year regarding the DCI panels. I don't know if it is inexperience with the sheets or what. But if you follow the trend, the midwest corps are getting worse, which is ridiculous.
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.
-
- Duplicate Post
-
- Duplicate Post
-
What is the thought behind the 35 minimum rule for DCA?
-
Shawn, I am thrilled MN Brass and some others are able to travel long distance. Unfortunately, it's too much a financial strain for everyone else. If your net worth is small or underwater, it is foolish to extend oneself for speculative reasons. Heavy duty financial help would be required to place one long "feel good" trip ahead of, say, replacing uniforms, purchasing an equipment truck, etc.
One corps appearing live outside its region could cause a somewhat small segment of new fans to purchase a DCA ticket someplace else but until most DCA corps have a comfortable budget cushion, the execution of that trip during a weekend is not only difficult, but a risky purchase of limited benefit. It could actually help drive a corps out of existence.
A greater number of new fans can be achieved by working the new DCA Fan Network to full advantage. The potential audience size to impress is far, far greater and could generate new interest in the DCA product over many different regions of the country, not just the Midwest or South. Engaging someone new in Atlanta is not likely to cause them to try another show in Clifton, NJ. However, a new DCA Fan Network customer in Bridgeport might make such a trip.
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.
-
While I'm all for growing DCA in other parts of the country, having a few DCA corps at a DCI regional is essentially how it used to be when DCM was around. At times there were three and I think even four DCA corps that competed in prelims at DCM. I know in addition to the three current midwest DCA corps we had Chicago Vanguard for awhile and a corps out of Kentucky (Bluegrass Brass??) for a few years. Even with all that exposure it really didn't and still hasn't grown the DCA activity in the midwest all that much.
I think part of the issue and I know I will get dinged for this but I do think it is a factor is that the DCA corps don't get really good until late August. It is almost a disservice for DCA to be exposed to the DCI crowd too early in the season as they just don't realize how good these corps really do get by Labor Day. But, because the shows are getting harder and there are only so many weekends to practice it takes them longer to perfect their shows.
I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but when I was marching in DCI in the 80's and as a spectator after that, we enjoyed the "senior corps" for their entertainment value but didn't really think they were that good. Since I started following DCA 5 years ago, and I mentioned this in my Racine review, I'm still amazed at how good they get and how much they improve in the last few weeks of the season. I took some friends of mine that I met through DCI to Annapolis this year and they were all amazed at how good these corps are. Some had seen some of the midwest DCA corps before at a DCI show so they were a little familiar with the DCA side of things but they were amazed at what they were putting on the field by championships.
Now, if you could get a regional close to the end of August that would be awesome but then you have the issues of days off work a week or two before everyone starts needing time off to head to championships.
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?
-
Then you lose the incentive for those corps to travel long distance. Sure, its helping spread the DCA brand (which is the argument here) but do you think MBI travels just to be nice? No. They travel to go head to head with corps of their caliber and to get a mid season read by DCA judges. Same can be said for CV. No coincidence that one of these corps is holding strong at the top and the other is on the move.
If you take away that DCA show and make them do a DCI regional with few DCA corps and DCI judges... whats that really going to accomplish for their competitive success? Not to mention corps that travel far tend to have holes for the first trip... what kind of message is that going to send the DCI fan base when they watch a corps with 5-10 holes.
Im more into the idea of working in an Ohio show at some point. Yes there would need to be creative marketing and there would be risk but its a decent middle ground for corps to meet up mid season. Then again... I might just be selfish in hoping to have a DCA show in my backyard.
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...
-
2
-
-
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.
-
Govies are the #6 seed overall right now?
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?
-
thank you
Don't understnad the reason why, (DCI doesn't have an issue), but it would be nice if DCA stated this on their site.
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.
-
The show last night was terrific - definitely some cleaning issues to be addressed, and they added in a major visual/GE element that was noticeably missing on Saturday. I suppose once everything gets integrated and cleaned, it could be a really stellar show.
I won't be able to see the Bridgeport show, so I'll be relying on your expert reviews. It looks like MBI still has some holes in the show, and I found their execution to be average at best. I think the biggest question mark at this point in time is the hornline. The mellophones seemed especially shaky.
SMK
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!
-
Did Spirit have some re-writes or changes that they put in for this show? Or was it not the best run for them? Just trying to figure out why their score was off tonight?
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.
DCA Marketing
in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions
Posted
Pat, quick! Ron needs a Snickers bar!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9TkqNDPx-s