CapRegBari

Yeah, it doesn't ring completely true because it sounds so ridiculous. Surely they must be exaggerating, right? No, not really, it turns out. "Capital Regiment IS Rick Bays" is actually something I have heard a lot of alums say. I've said it myself. It's the statement that comes at the end of every conversation I've had with any of my friends about how we could possibly salvage our corps. I really like that, after all RB put us through, you think that him driving his own food truck for SW makes him a model citizen. It must be easy to get back in your good graces. Capital Regiment parents and ex-members and volunteers are not so forgiving, I guess.

I know this isn't the main issue, but just to clarify, it is not just that '06 was a bad year. It was particularly terrible for several reasons, yes, but the preceding years were not terrific. We were fortunate enough to have a few great administration people as well as fantastic staff and volunteers to pull off competitive success. 2006 was the effect of years of mismanagement, from my perspective anyway. I'm eager to hear more from CR as well. I want to be hopeful about this.

I don't think we'll have to move, but Memorial Stadium in Champaign would be lovely.... I'm moving there on Finals day.

Yes, and it's all fine and good in August, but bleeding welts during the first month doesn't make it any easier. It's a little late to be losing weight for tour. Just some food for thought.

OK, I know this product has been mentioned once on here, but it needs to be mentioned again. If your thighs rub together when you walk/march, it is going to hurt. A lot. I know people will back me up. My second year, my thighs got chafed so badly that the area swelled up and bled. I guess you can use bicycle shorts, but if you don't want an unsightly knee-length tan, use BodyGlide. I just used some because it's skirt weather. I wish I had had this when I marched. It's more practical to apply than Goldbond on the field, and lasts more than 10 minutes. This sounds like a terrible infomercial, so I'm going to stop talking now. :)

"Judges still don't get the sundial. What can we do?" "How about we add pictures to the side that vaguely reference times of day??" "By cracky, he's got it!!!" "But won't they still think that we're doing a Jaws show?" "The mariachi band should clear that right up." "But...... wait, mariachi?" "Quiet, shark-pusher! Go push something."

Thank you! That's an excellent point. I aged out to a meager audience. I'm not complaining - I expected it. I know, the lower tier corps do not usually put on a superior product. I know I don't watch them on DVD as much as I watch PR or BD... but how many of these people pointing fingers at Hopkins came out to Quarters, or the early Semis shows? Some of them.... but not all. Not even close to all. Some of your were out in the lot watching BD warm up. I do it to, so I can't blame you. But if you didn't come out to support the lower tier corps (that you paid to see!) then don't pretend you're sad that they're gone. It's not that it's your fault - it's usually the rising fuel cost, combined with idiot management. I just wonder where all these Cascades fans were at Quarters and Semis.

I just have to say.... yes, A/C on busses is wonderful, but it does not always work. You have to turn the bus on half an hour before the corps gets on it to cool it off, which is costly. If everyone piles on and then you turn the A/C on, it's like the A/C doesn't exist. It can't compete. And then sometimes it just breaks. Also, no one uses the bathrooms - those hold trash. And there's no door to pee out of or window to open... but we stop enough, so it's OK. :)

I agree... there is some terrible arranging. They take it all apart, and don't put it back together again. But, that's not the fault of wind ensemble or "esoteric" music.

I understand what you're saying. I loathe most wind ensemble literature and only enjoy it in a drum corps setting, and I think there's too much of it in the activity for my taste. Maybe this is unfair, what modern pop music would you recognize? Back in the day, corps played music that was recognizable. To do that today, corps would be playing Fall Out Boy, Imogen Heap, Coldplay, White Stripes, Kanye, or something. Some of that has been done, and I think a lot of modern pop music would be amazing.... but I get the impression (maybe I'm mistaken) that this very frequent complaint is less about the activity being accessible and more about it not playing the same type of music that you played. There's not enough "Greatest Hits Of The Movies" and "Greatest Hits of Classical Music" to go around. Also, what's the allure of listening only to music that you already know? If everyone had that attitude, everyone would listen to the same music for decades. It's like eating McDonalds every day or something. If you just want to hear John Williams and Chicago and The Planets, there are plenty of recordings (drum corps and not) of that stuff.

Lost 30-40 over the summer, gained 60+ back in the off-season. Seriously. It had a terrible effect on the following summer. Don't binge when you get home, kids! Keep exercising! No matter how much you missed McDonalds and ice cream. You'll gain a lot back because you can't keep up the lifestyle in the real world, but... yeah. Bad news bears.

You know what's sort of funny? I went to the world premiere of Whitacre's opera electronica. Granted, it was in a small theatre, and not at La Scala, but there were quite a lot of old folks at this show. I expected them to walk out in a huff at intermission, but they stayed for the seminar afterwards. They loved it, techno and all. I have also heard positive comments coming from older people who have heard the music. They didn't love it, but they didn't rock back and forth sobbing about the decline of opera. They have some crazy modern productions too, with strange interpretations involving monkeys or aliens. Not a ton of uproar, not too many people tearing up their season tickets. Why? Because opera patrons don't go to shows to relive their youth. They go to be entertained and inspired and moved. They go because.... could it be?..... they like music. Maybe if you didn't go expecting to see the same old #### year after year, you wouldn't be so disappointed when it changes.

I'm ashamed that I'm wasting time responding to you, since you're clearly a troll, but you just deeply insulted a friend. I was THERE the summer of 2004. Everything he said is true, and despite your display of callousness, I'll bet you felt like a real jackass when you read that. I hope you still do. Brandon worked harder than anyone else in that whole drum corps, and we were all very sad to see him leave. It's disgusting to demean an experience that meant a lot to someone else. You make it sound like you have a ring for each finger, which I somehow doubt is the case. You're not expected to know anyone's background, you're just expected to have the good manners to assume that people might have had less fortunate circumstances than you. It takes a big tough man to anonymously put people down, so I hope you feel extra proud and validated.

No, I didn't mean that it's ONLY about the kids. He implied that it used to be, but it's not anymore, which is insanity.

OK, I've had it with this statement. Who exactly is it for, then? You and the people who think like you (yet still go to shows to grumble) probably have some insane conspiracy theory involving the crooked powers that be. Dr.Evil doesn't have anything on Dan Acheson, let me tell you... There are not many avenues for young people that give them this kind of experience or education, musical or otherwise. My staff never made anyone feel like every day wasn't about us. I don't know what your backup is for this statement - maybe if we tape kids to poles in the sun, or make them run untli they vomit, or apply some other pointless, military form of punishment for ticking that accomplishes nothing, then it'll be about the kids. Participation costs are high because it is an expensive activity to run. No one on staff anywhere is getting paid anywhere near what they should for a 24/7 10-week job. If everyone could participate, and it was cheaper, the product wouldn't be anything I would want to see. Why? Because that's called a marching band. I can see them for free.

I had professors who forbade me from marching corps, because I never had the opportunity to practice (I'm a vocalist). I sort of don't blame them for feeling that way, though. I didn't come back as polished as everyone else did, and it did make a difference. It hurt me then, but corps was better for me in the long run. Also, a lot of professors hate corps because they don't know that it's evolved into something closer to a formal musical education - now we learn skills that we can take with us into the concert arena. We also learn a lot of skills that should stay on the field, but if you're a good enough musician, you will know what technique belongs where. They don't think of all that. They all think it's still all about blasting at FFFFF for 10 weeks. Hopefully, professors of tomorrow will be more tuned in to the musical skills and life skills you learn. That said, I have had several music professors who marched corps. Also, anyone who has been in music school knows that competition is fierce. In the performing arts, competition is just part of the package. I find it to be motivating when I hear someone performing at a higher level than I do.

"Youth" and "minor" are not necessarily the same thing. People under 21/22 are young, I don't think anyone would disagree with me on that. I certainly don't feel like a full adult, seeing as how I am an undergrad, which is essentially a state of suspended pseudo-adolesence, and I'm 24. If I had a job and bills to pay, maybe then I would call myself an adult.

My pride and joy. :) 3.5 hours and not a tear in sight. It's more than just an age-out tattoo, but it's blue for a reason.

Do whatever the vets are doing, even if none of the other rookies are doing it. If the vets aren't talking, don't talk. If your section leader is standing with perfect posture, do it, even if you feel like an ### kisser. It will make you stand out. If someone gives you correction, don't apologize or explain anything. Ever. Just make eye contact, nod, and fix it. They're looking for people who take instruction and correction well. If you aren't the best, but you improve leaps and bounds between the first and second camp, you have a very good shot.

Because, sadly, if you tell the truth, Rick continues to punish people even after they have moved on, by banning them from the forums and alumni mailing lists. That said, this is encouraging news. :) I think there might even be some alumni teaching there, which is a first. That would be great to have someone there to oversee our little traditions. Despite the many negatives, I also had so many positive experiences that I still laugh about on the phone with my friends. I can't wait to be proud in 2008! Go team.

No, we shower with them every now and then, usually after they get really dirty (deathcamp, rain, etc...). It's mostly Tarnishield all the way, though.

I still talk like a sailor, and it's been two years. Seriously, cursing is the tour habit that never leaves you.

We hope so. IF things change. That is a big IF.

If someone within arm's reach of me boos anyone tonight, they can expect nachos in their hair and water in their pants, at least. Possibly a kick in the head. This is supposed to be the happiest 3 days of their lives, and if anyone tries to take that away from them and mask it as displeasure with the director, they deserve swift punishment. When I was rude when I was a child, I was reprimanded. Same thing. I have just been reading a section in Renee Fleming's book about being booed at La Scala as an opera singer. It robbed her of a lot of confidence. And yes, I have been booed before. The ######## were "booing the judges decision" at retreat. But IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THAT. It really killed the next couple of days - and it should have been a happy time, because we had scored above another corps that we had never beaten before, which was the cause for the whining we heard. I dare you booers to do something you're really proud of, and then be loudly and publicly criticized for it. Whether you admit it or not, it would sting. A lot. It's called an email. Write one. If you don't like the show design, don't clap. Or even, don't watch it. If I don't like something served to me at the dinner table, I don't boo the cook. I just politely decline.

Well, I'm from Illinois, not Ohio, but weather-wise they're the same. It's been VERY humid here the last couple of weeks, and sometimes hot as well. I hate heat and humidity and sunshine (why did I march again?) so I'll welcome the dryness of LA. I'm staying with a good friend (one I met in corps) so all I'm worried about is what we'll be doing this week. All I have planned is a romp in the Pacific, In-n-Out Burger, the Getty, and the MOCA. OK, I guess there's Semis and the Eric Whitacre opera as well. I'm so excited!