billj
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Posts posted by billj
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16 hours ago, totaleefree said:
I am really looking forward to this years show. I am hoping that it will be amazing when I see them next week. Last year I was super exited when I saw the show mid June and thought it had to be top 5, only to be deflated by the judges scores in Detroit. Hopefully this season we will wow the crowds and the Judges
I absolutely look forward to hearing and seeing this show, and I don't care what the judges think.
Of course I want Regiment to place high if it's deserved, but long ago I stopped letting the judges decide how I feel when driving away from a show. I let each corps' performance determine how I feel.
Hence, I don't stay for the announcement of scores. Side benefit, you get out of the parking lot easier and you get home earlier.
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These will do just fine! They will have a big visual presence on the field.
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On 4/19/2023 at 7:25 AM, kdaddy said:
... Could I envision a 20-year-old thinking Regiment's props (and how they were used) were lame compared to, say, Mandarins? Absolutely.
I would be disappointed to know that a student, especially a musician, chose their corps based on the props used in prior years. Although, as a former brass player, all things being equal, I might gravitate towards a corps that focuses less on props and more on the music.
Do the students really enjoy spending time and energy on the props?
Sorry, didn't mean to hijack this thread.
Speaking of MUSIC, looking very forward to what Regiment has in store. The last 2 years have been great.
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9 minutes ago, cixelsyd said:
Okay, then. I am definitely going to the Janual. I am going to start my own corps... better yet, two corps. I am naming one the Anaheim Kingsmen, and the other Star of Indiana. This will be a snap, now that DCI appoints committees to solve $2 million annual funding gaps for important corps brands.
I'll see your 2 corps and raise you a 27th and a Bridgemen
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1 hour ago, Sutasaurus said:
What did the “ DCI organization” do to help Glassmen? Though I respect SCV for their legendary history with DCI, why should they get “special treatment”?
It's a fair question, and I basically said the same, however... How many more corps skipping a season or folding will take DCI below a critical mass? I think we're getting close, and I'd like to think that the corps have a vested interest in keeping enough corps viable.
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22 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:
One model for coming back is Blue Stars - folded in 80's due to debt. Fielded Cadet Corps locally to raise $ to pay off debt. Then (and only then) started touring, slowly, at the Open Class (then called A-60) level, built up to champions, and today are very successful. But it took years of 'wandering in the desert'.
I agree that the SCV should consider the pros and cons of this option. Heck, SCV Cadets weren't that far from world class finals a few times. They could essentially pull a compressed Blue Stars plus Magic of Orlando, avoiding the costs of a full world class tour, win open class, and the make world class finals their first year back. Nothing to be ashamed of.
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22 hours ago, Slingerland said:
Nah bruh, just approaching this with real world experience in rebuilding companies whose owners/Boards have allowed inexperience or hubris to put their businesses into failure mode. The talking points in the vid from the current ED did nothing to dissuade experienced folks that the organization is simply in over their heads, and they're gonna need help.
DCI, as a business, has a vested interest in keeping their major marquee brands on the field, hence my guess that they will take some role in helping Vanguard put together an advisory team to fix the situation.As much as I'm a long-time fan of Vanguard and I don't want a season without them, I hope they don't receive any special treatment from DCI that other non-marquee groups wouldn't receive.
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This news is very sad. SCV has been one of my favorites for 40+ years.
I have a hard time imagining a recovery based on the numbers we've seen without a miracle. Hoping for one.
On a small bright side, gas prices have been dropping, so perhaps the fuel and food costs might be lower for corps in 2023.
If drastic measures are necessary for the activity as a whole, I wonder if (indoor?) soundsport might be where things land.
Am I misremembering, or wasn't DCI supposed to be reviewing finances of each corps to ensure stability? Or was that only to gain entry to World Class, and once you're in, your on your own?
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On 8/19/2022 at 6:28 AM, PopcornEater1963 said:
I'm certain I haven't thought this all the way through...and that DCP will point it out while laughing me out of the room.
But what if DCI went into "blank sheet" startover mode...( bear with me) ...with regards to touring.
What if the number of events in a tour were decreased, and the number of big DOME shows were increased. Right now a corps ends up marching right at 30+ shows before Finals is over.
What if the tour was 15-20 shows, but all in major markets throughout the US that have the stadiums to support big shows and big crowds. Less shows but bigger shows? More time to rehearse between shows, less rainouts, less wear on the kids/staff, etc.
What if opening night was like a Super Regional with all the Corps. And then move the whole thing from market to market...Saturday and Wednesday shows only. Major markets. Big crowds.
Start tour in Indy...then go to:
Detroit
Chicago
St. Louis
Houston
Phoenix
LA
San Francisco
One week travel/rehearsal to get to:
Milwaukee
Cincinnati
Houston
Austin
New Orleans
Nashville
Atlanta
Raleigh
Pittsburgh
Columbus, OH
Indy Prelims
Indy Semis
Indy Finals
Big markets that will have the best chance at housing all the corps...more exposure in bigger stadiums. Targeted advertising in those markets on TV/Radio.
Yes...I know this is "not the way it's always been"...but could it be this way?
Late to the game on this thread, and sorry if someone has already mentioned this (very likely), but there aren't domed FOOTBALL stadiums near many of the listed cities. And, before anyone suggests, we do not want to deal with baseball fields (hello Montreal and Atlanta).
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Not really responding to the survey (I wasn't there), and I know this won't help anyone feel any better, but... I've witnessed this problem more and more at various sporting sporting facilities over the last few years, including LOS at the BOA super regional (there wasn't a huge backup in the morning, but the workers were late, seemed short staffed, and untrained).
There are several reasons for long lines and waits to get in: understaffing, lack of training, and increasing security rules.
The bag checks and rules on what can be brought in are so strict now, people should just assume you can't carry anything in (sorry ladies, no purses).
And for places that don't have walkthrough metal detectors, and hand-held metals detectors are used, heaven help you, it's outright tedious (thanks St Louis dome).
Also workers typically have no sense of urgency in getting people through quickly.
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Congrats Colts. It's great to see another corps represent the Midwest in finals.
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By the way, Regiments' tubas win some type of award for marching. Watch them for the entire show. They are spread out all over the place and they're hauling around at fast tempos and large step sizes multiple times.
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I assumed a corps had already announced this as their show title for 2023
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And this is all why I've left before scores were announced since the 90's. Not sure why I follow them online here, but I don't let them bother me too much.
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When practically every subcaption ordinal aligns with each corps' overall placement (with an occasional variance in percussion or guard) I call BS. You can't tell me that some corps march better than they play and vice versa.
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22 hours ago, billj said:
🙂 ... I'm hoping for one or more of these updates: 1) a chevron instead of the brass block on the first main hit in the closer, 2) a wedge at the end, 3) something more than the single conductor's costume quick-change during "the walk", 4) a use of the platforms at the end of the show.
Two down, two to go! I'll take the horizontal front-most props during the walk as improved highlighting of the conductor's walk and costume change, although it seemed necessary because of the addition of the chevron.
I don't know if corps typically make significant drill changes (like adding the wedge at the end) this close to the end of the season, but if they did, it would bring the house down even more.
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18 hours ago, phd-student-TTU said:
They do.
Well, heck, if I'd known that, I'd have posted more suggestions here all season 🙂
I'll restate again how much I love this show, both design and performance. It reminds people what drum corps was, and still can be, and it deserves to be one of the fan favorites.
I'm hoping for one or more of these updates: 1) a chevron instead of the brass block on the first main hit in the closer, 2) a wedge at the end, 3) something more than the single conductor's costume quick-change during "the walk", 4) a use of the platforms at the end of the show.
Whatever the final product is, the closer is such a beast, I'll be watching it over and over and over.
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15 minutes ago, TexasPRfan said:
So excited to see Regiment in Allentown. Their momentum is palpable. Great to see the credit starting to come in Brass and (at least with some judges) Music GE (GE2). While they can still be as low as 10th, I think they have a better than 50/50 shot at 9th, a 40-50% shot at 8th, and a 20% (long shot) shot at 7th. Clean, Clean, Clean, Regiment!
What a great start to their climb back to the upper echelon. I'd be thrilled with a single digit finish of any kind. This staff knows what they are doing. You don't go from "Phantasm" & "I am Joan" levels of shows, talent and design back to top 5 overnight. I'm circling 2024 on my calendar for that.
Regardless, I love this show more every time I see or watch it. So powerful, energetic, aggressive, emotional and MOVING. Thanks for all the passion, Regiment.
Harvey
Agreed. I'm all for FFFF, but hearing the dynamic variety and shaping added the last week or two, hopefully this helps on the GE side. The visual changes have been good, as well, and looking forward to some addition visual changes towards the end of the closer that will really bring the house down in Indy.
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34 minutes ago, regimentlvr said:
I listened to the podcast and didn’t hear him say that?
Tony talked about changes to the end. Everything else is my conjecture. Sorry for any confusion.
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2 hours ago, OldSnareDrummer said:
Anyone else hum along ( or I dunno maybe even sing ) to shows as you play them in the car? BITD we'd ride around and do that all day long to every corps' recordings as we got into mischief along the way. Nowadays, PR is one of the few corps I will have seen/heard enough to remember what the heck I'm humming.
Serious question: are audio recordings even made available for sale any more? 100% agree that many corps' full show music does not stand alone. But Regiments' does!
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2 hours ago, general_tsos_chicken2 said:
Thoughts:
I can see them finishing 7th if they get clean and continue adding layers. I can also see them finishing 10th.
I really enjoy this show a lot and don't really care where it finishes at the end of the day. It is everything I enjoy about drum corps.
The guard has really come along, and are pretty great! Drill is better than they've had in many years. I hope to see this design team all return, and see how far they can go.
I'm not convinced that you HAVE to be extra modern with props/staging etc to do well.
also, I would not be disappointed if they didn't add a wedge or chevron and don't think there needs to be a SUTA yell. I'm sure they will change the ending some and I can kinda see where a chevron could be inserted, but I also like a lot of that movement at the end and would hate to see it go. Rather they focus on being phresh than go back to their traditional GE moments that they do
On Tim Hinton's Marching Roundtable podcast Tony Hall said that changes are in store for the ending. Best guess is chevrons or wedges. If I has to guess anything else, maybe they do something like what Crown did last year, and somehow get people in uniforms from across the years, standing on the stages at the end. I only say this because the closer is supposed to represent "coming home".
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14 hours ago, Bneat said:
There's a lot to be proud of here...I think the show is a great representation of what Phantom is, and how it can grow in the "modern" dci - I think this is a more modern Phantom, and it's a great production. Performers are performing the heck out of it, and the organization should be commended for taking the next logical step in re-climbing a very stacked ladder.
Having said that...one wants to quibble over 7th versus 10th place - and those involved should advocate for their group as much as humanly possible. But, the reality is, that the lower middle pack is going to be separate by very little - and the placements, while they sound like huge swings are really going to be splitting hairs/captions by very fine margins.
To that end, a couple of observations
1. Visually - we still dirty y'all. I get it - there is more "drill" here than others, and the vertical responsibilities are more demanding - but, we're getting to that point in the season where, even most kind-hearted, compassionate judge says - "I can't care - clean it up". 'member - you're not judged against the other corps...you're judged against the sheets, and essentially...yourself. If you said you're gonna do "x" drill and "y" drill - then, you better do it. End of story. It doesn't matter what the *insert corps name here* does or doesn't do...your 12 minutes on the field = your time to shine, or not. The scores are relative to other corps because the sheets align the standards...so, you can have the discussion of how scores relate, but don't conflate relation with causation or explanation. The answer lies within.
And to THAT end, I shouldn't be able to visually pick out very obvious ticks at this point. No, it's not tick-based, but your overall ability to demonstrate your product is hampered by people missing forms, blowing past cover points, etc...
2. Related to "1", in that, I feel like we jacked some tempos tonight (ala closer last year in Indy), which will become necessary, but I think it's cart before the horse at this point. See #1 - clean first, fly after that. "Control" is becoming an issue...and setting the corps off on hyperspeed is NOT going to help that right now.
3. OK, for cereal - are we trying to make a straight line with the props up the 50? We are aware that they're curved, right? And, I get that in some place in my mind, the curvature can connect to create a soft zig-zag up the 50 which feels like a straight through line...but, for however many times I try to convince myself it's possible, I just haven't seen it happen. It always "feels" off...and the peel off to the arc with the props also never happens the way it does (probably) on the nice, neat drill file. Reality is such that, up the 50 feels wrong, and when the props move, treat them like humans...they have to achieve subsets and make sense geometrically with the other props. Clean prop drill just like human drill.
4. Are we still lifting the trombonist on the two shoulders...? I hope not. Idea = kinda cool. Maybe. Reality = weird. Close up cameras = WEIRDER. Design/benefit analysis here...I'd make an passionate (574) please for it to go.
5. When. Are. We. Wedging. The. Final. Set.? Serrriously....the form is there. You just need to draw it out, reverse course on the suspensions, bring it in high and tight, and voila - wedge salad is there. On the 64,000 count chord at the end, down on the knee up front...kick it out....and yee-haa. I mean, the form is literally there...tick tock. I'm aware that this fluff violates the principal set forth in number 2....but, for a wedge, it cancels some cleanliness issues. 🙂
No really...where's the wedge?
Don't misinterpret any of this - love the show, and performers are doin the lawd's work - but, just some thoughts from this end of the earth to make this as amazing as it should be!
Regarding #3 while the "walk" ties to the theme, it's unfortunately not as impactful as one would hope, both because of the distractions with the props lining up, plus even with the DM walking the runway (in SA) AND having the quick costume change (I don't know if I've seen anyone mention it - did anyone even notice it?), her vertical movement isn't very noticable, because she's buried behind the corps, she's smaller in stature, and after the quick change, the white costume blends into the white surface of the props. Maybe there are more changes planned here?
It would be nice to have a wedge and/or chevron in the closer, but I'm fine if not. As someone else pointed out, the brass block during the first hit could be turned into a chevron, but the following drill would probably be impacted.
The changes made over the last week have been good to see, especially the ballad with staging of the brass on props and significant dynamic shaping added. Adding the snare feature in part 3 adds variety, but wondering if more variety could be added there (and include the tenors and basses)
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I don't see how anyone can look at Regiment '21 and '22 and not feel really good. This year's show ticks all the boxes for me, and it seems for many others.
I don't want 12 Blue Devils/Coats shows every year. I want to see corps like Regiment entertain the masses and retain their identity to an extent, while still pushing some boundaries, with a memorable show. Mission accomplished.
I stopped staying for scores in the 90's. Not going to let scores or placements make or break my enjoyment. I recommend not fretting too much about wanting Regiment to have another point or two, or a higher placement or two.
Just enjoy (especially in person!)
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Phantom Regiment 2023
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Noting that many corps have themes that are not obvious unless you watch a video from the designers. And even then, it may not be that obvious (or not so well designed).
While I certainly have had some "what the hell was that?" reactions over the years, if the music is great and performed well, I can look past my confusion.
That's not to say well-performed music can't be confusing due to the design/arrangements.