MikeM

I honestly hope that you take into consideration those who do not like how the forum footprint is smaller, and that screen is so busy it's hard to keep track, and make available a skin that excludes this for those who wish to not see it. Thank you.

Don't like the stuff on the side, do we have a way to get rid of it?

Hoppy must be nearly giddy at the thoughts of these on the field.

I think I saw the same thing when were in the 'burg. Plus he told Mike Ryan exactly what he was doing wrong and lived to tell about it!

Mike Longdo taught me more about brass playing in 2 years than I ever learned in High School. And I'll give John Arietano honorable mention in that regard.

I still have nightmares that involve Rich Templin drill.

Flamenco Cha Cha...pick any Cabs year. Oh wait, you said Juniors! :P 3rd movement of SCV 2004. :) Opening riff to 1996 BD...that's bound to get your attention End of the closer of Phantom 1996...(MY DOG HAS FLEAS!!) There's plenty of choices... OH WAIT....call of the bulls, pick any Cabs or Madison 95....

This is a very good point. However, the differences of drum corps is what makes the activity unique and wonderful. Those that would make the 2 activities the same is what infuriates me. Drum Corps is different from band. Lets keep it that way. If you want summer bands international, please go start your own circuit, and leave drum corps alone.

NOW I think I've seen it all.

Hoppy said this: Drum Corps = Marching Band. 'nuff said. How anyone can take his propsoals seriously after that statement is beyond me.

Dr. Beat is the truth. And the Truth shall set you free. Just don't set it up directly behind me all year during ensemble. Advil made lots of money off me that year.

Cabs competing corps performed in 2003 and 2004.

:wall::wall::worthy:

:wall:

Great, you probably gave Hoppy 3 or 4 ideas.

No, italian sausage is better than pepperoni! :P

:wall::wall::worthy:

DBC: Lemme address this with you: My first exposure to DCI was 1983 finals on PBS. Back when you could see the WHOLE TOP 12!! I wanted in so bad, because it wasn't marching band, but a step above. I was re-exposed in 1995, when the bug bit me again. The 1990's is DCI's glory days, IMO. Now, changes have been done, Bb, amp'ed pits, etc. I've come to accept Bb, even if I don't find it ideal, its still drum corps. I've come to (grudgingly) accept that pits are going to be amplified, and have seen improvements to that nature. I do NOT like the new rule allowing a staff member to control the sound board. The members are supposed to put out the product, not the staff. However, amplified singing, narration, etc, have no place in drum corps, and, IMO, add nothing to improve it. Drum corps is brass, percussion, and guard. Not electronics. Not technology. It's 135 people on a football field, busting their ###, making the best product possible. Electronic singing and narration does not make the best product possible. Period. I say the same thing regarding marching bands. If I hear singing or narration, I tune it out. And yes, I use BAC and Crown's horrible singing and narration to judge what singing and narration add to a show. And, IMO, that's nothing. I don't want to see it. I don't want to hear it. I'd love for the DCI directors to modify the rules to not allow it, but I'm not holding my breath. So there you have it.

IF you were informed about DCA, you'd know that the circuit has moved on from the rough and tumble days, and you'd know that the "kegger" mentality is gone. Do we enjoy a beverage after a show? Absolutely. But sloshing drunk? Doesn't happen. Especially during a show. If you were informed, you'd know DCA shows are becoming as demanding as DCI shows. Sure, the quality of DCI is better, but not like it was. LASTLY, I didn't say I was slamming DCI, I was slamming Mr. Hopkins, and the direction he's trying to take DCI. I live for the "Vanguard" yell, will openly support PR and SCV, and, to a lesser extent, Cavies. And, I know Mr. Hopkins has done a lot for drum corps. But, as soon as he said Drum Corps = Marching Band, he lost my support forever, past accomplishments notwithstanding. SO, before you make blanket statements, maybe you should do a touch of research, and not the "well I heard this" type. Have a pleasant day.

Forgive me for screwing up a year. I'm human. As for your slam on DCA, well, I just won't touch it.

Adam: I have nothing but love for you my friend, and I have nothing but respect for what you did in 2004 with the Cadets. Yes, I'm aware of what goes down regarding design, staff, all that stuff. But, unfortunately, Hoppy allows himself to be the face of all the changes. Therefore, he gets most of the fire. Maybe that's by design, I don't know. I certainly don't fault the members. They have to peform what they're given to perform, and, even if I don't like the theme, style, semantics, they do a ###### good job doing it. Trust me, I know how hard it is. However, in my mind, I cannot support the Cadets in any way because of the actions of their director. That means I leave the stands when they come onto the field. Its a shame, because I don't want to dis the kids that way, but, how else is Hoppy going to understand that if the fans aren't happy, his corps won't get support, now matter how hard the members bust their tails all day every day? Would I discourage someone from joining The Cadets? Honestly, I can't answer that. I would probably save face and tell them that they can expect to work their rear ends off, they'll have good times and bad times, they'll face people who will tell them to their faces that they suck, no matter how good they are, but they'll ultimately be rewarded by what they'll accomplish in a short period of time. I can privately wish they'd do it with Phantom or Cavies, but I certainly wouldn't verbalize that.

Jethro Tull? LOL

I love the Cadets body of work up until 2004. That was when their director decided that Drum Corps = Band, and managed to get Amps and Amp'ed voices passed. SO, from that point forward, I have 0 respect for their body of work since 2004. They have become a marching band, who happens to masquarade as a Division 1 Drum Corps, and a top 12 one at that. I have nothing but respect and awe for what the Cadets did from 2003 prior. ####, if I had been able to afford it then, I might have actually been a member of the Cadets in 1987. Now THAT was a drum corps show. A number of people I respect and look up to marched in those corps. However, I draw the line at 2004. Hoppy brought this ill will upon himself. Someone else said that he made the changes about him. That's a big issue.

The thing is this: I don't want to be anti-Cadets. However, Hoppy's "innovations" leave me little other choice. I don't like the product he proposes, don't like the direction he's leading DCI, don't like what he's done to my former favorite corps. So, I guess that makes me Anti-Cadets.

Yeah, I think it's time I did the same thing.