MikeM

Narration sucks. Sorry Chris, I usually agree wtih you on lots of things but I cannot in this regard.

Congrats to BD. I was so afraid of what would happen if the Cadets won. However, and I"m putting on my nomex suit for this comment: George lost it for his corps on Thursday night, with his hissy fit.

I agree. Some of us want to go to bed.

Um... Bridgemen alumni have been in existence since 2005, and they've performed at Allentown for the last 2 years and will perform at DCA championships this year. (And they did last year too)

This question doesn't matter. If the lines were supposed to be painted and weren't, then, as much as it really pains me to say this, Hoppy was well within his rights to raise the issue. DCI dropped the ball by not making sure those hashes were painted with the rest of the field. You can believe it won't happen again this weekend. I've done drill at 180+ bpm. You better believe I want all the field references plainly visible to me. Its a safety issue.

I hear someone yapping but I can't see her! :P Actually, I probably won't be in Kingston Saturday, but stranger things have happened.

Stand up Nanci! :P

African or European?

I do know a cadets hit actually physically hit me at Allentown this year (Felt the impact on my chest) Can't say that has happened since the 90's.

The Cadets are great. I just wish they'd shut up and play, and feature the hornline instead of some mindless, useless narration.

Whoever scores the highest wins.

Some of us HAVE contacted the director of the corps. We were ignored. If the Cadets show ripped out the narration, I'd dare say it would be scoring higher. I saw them at Allentown, and they're that good. The narration is a nightmare. Also, I don't think a booing crowd would be booing what the kids have done. They'd be booing the director of said corps, because he will have succeeded in further ruining what we all know as drum corps.

We started a check in the club in the OT forums as well. This kind of check is eerily similar to what Sky did after September 11th. I'm very glad to hear everyone is OK.

Oh man, if I had the capital to get that off the ground! :P

I dunno Lee...How much $$$ do you have? :P

It wasn't me this time! :P

Something not approriate for a family site! :sshh:

My most nervous time was Prelims 2003. I felt more like a rookie then than I did ever before. I recovered well for Finals 2003. :)

Some hints? Relax. Deep breaths while you're walking to the gate. In for 4 counts, out for 4 counts, all the way to the gate. Pay special attention during rehearsal on Saturday. Confidence helps nerves. As best you can, while performing, just do what you're supposed to. Block out the distractions, and if you mess up, don't panic. Recover the best you can, and don't let it ruin the rest of your show. Good luck. You'll do great!

Fran: My aunt went through a similar situation right after Christmas 2 years ago, but her aneurysm didn't burst. You and your family are in my prayers.

Did I miss a thread? What happened with RCR? A PM is fine if dirty laundry isn't to be aired in public.

2001- Ansonia, CT. I was petrified. I was a member of the Skyliners, and all the vets were like relax, everything will be fine. Easier said than done. I went dry as Karpinski was counting off. To this day I don't remember how I got to the end of the opener without royally screwing up. I survived...and the crowd cheer was wonderful.

Forward mosey is the best movement ever.

Nomex is a flame retardant material used by firefighters. I expect the Cadet Borg to come after me full force. Unfortunately, I cannot attend tonights portion. :(

Here's a really quick, few words type of review. I don't remember names of programs, etc. These were general gut reactions. I arrived at intermission. Sorry to the corps who perfomed before, I missed you. And, message to DCI: $25.00 to sit on the GOAL LINE is a rip off, thanks. Boston Crusaders (5th, 77.400) - Didn't see a lot of this corps, I had just arrived and was looking for friends, food, etc. What I heard tho sounded nice, had good power and blend. The little bit of visual I did see looked good. Madison Scouts (8th, 70.050) - Unfortunately, IMO what's been said before is true. I *did* like the moving warmup off the line. Very nice touch. Downhill from there. Opening hit had no real power. Brass line had no volume all night, and I was taking into account where I was sitting. Feet were a mess. Big time. Snares out of step is unacceptable. Ending was nice, but this show needs work. I'm hoping the get it together over the next month. Carolina Crown (4th, 83.125) - I was gonna go souvie hunting during them, but I was convinced by Jami Mills to watch them, so I did, and boy was I glad. This hornline was amazing. Nice volume, great hits, good technical playing. Their opening hit was nice...they held out the last chord longer than you'd expect, no audible gaps of people breathing...got a nice crowd reaction from us old brass players. They did William Tell in their closing and the double and triple tounging was CLEAN. Some visual issues, but not bad. I personally had them 3rd, ahead of SCV. Santa Clara Vanguard (3rd, 83.425) - I just looked at the recaps, and apparently the judges saw it differently than I did. Horn line was nice, powerful, technically clean. I'm partial to a Key Poulan book (I'm Cabs 2003-2004, he did our book, he writes incredible stuff, but I digress.) I also saw more visual issues with SCV than Crown, but the judges had them ahead across the board. Oh well. The spread means this one should be fun to watch the rest of the season Phantom Regiment (2nd, 83.950) - Wow. Frickin wow. Hornline better than Crowns, great sound, great control, great technical playing....exposed contra playing! I love it. Musical effects done well and effective. Some visual issues. They sounded like they were running out of gas at the end of the show. Just as I said this to someone the whole line starts jazz running...and playing their butts off. This show will be right up there at the end of the year. The Cadets (1st, 85.700) - I want to like this show. I really do. This has all the markings of a great Cadet show: Marching, Guard, Percussion and Horns are tight. Really tight. This was the only hornine that I actually FELT hit me in the chest with one of their hits. Hornline is clean, maybe almost too clean. Percussion was tight, Guard was amazing. They march their show well for July. Again, almost too clean (if there is such a thing. lol) But......I'm sorry George, your narrations are a distraction, they add NOTHING to the show, and should be taken out completely. They mask this amazing hornline. I dread what'll happen if this show wins (and, without the narration, should.) EVERY corps will see that this is what is necessary to win and we'll hear this ad naseum for years to come. So, the only placings I disagree with is 4th and 3rd. I'd have swapped them. Cadets/Phantom playing America the Beautiful was nice but I wanted a wall of sound. I didn't get it. Cadets encore just proves how amazing this hornline is and how Hoppy is ruining it with his BOA gimmicks. Flame all you want, I own nomex.