bucspyke

If I'm not mistaken, the "pool/seeding" system you're speaking of is the way TOB does it with their High school marching band championships. they break them into groups of 5 or 10 and random draw determines their order of performance within their pool. Im not saying that I like or dislike this system, just throwin it out there that there are current instances in the marching and music activity where the pooling system is being used.

hey jim. im at a music festival in the middle of nowhere and its taking forever to load dcp. when the scores post would you mind emailing them to me? thanks man. sonofthecaptain@gmail.com (the todd thanks you)

$15.00 for prelims $25.00 for finals, rather decent seats, and i got mine at the gate apon arrival. didn't make it to the alumni show but 40 bucks for a weekend full of drum corps is pretty #### good in my book.

IMHO The AL is the oranization that originally started Drum Corps (if my limited knowledge of drum corps history serves me correctly), and today most if not all drum corps are still sponsored by their local AL chapters. I feel they have every right to honor the successes of the corps, and sponsor as many awards as they chose. as for 5 awards for first place... again if memory serves me correctly there were 5 awards for first last year and i didn't hear any complaints. I was in uniform on the field last season and it seemed to take 3 hours just to get through the caption awards. think of it this way, with all those awards being sponsored by different people/groups, isn't it a GOOD feeling to know that these people/groups care enough about the activity to get involved even in that capacity? it makes me feel pretty derned good to know that these people care enough and are interested enough to want to pay their respect to the corps after putting in so much hard work and dedication for all those long and tiring hours over the summer! again this is just IMHO it is not a reflection in any way of my corps or anyone in or involved with it.

it was reassuring to see how fast that second ambulance responded for the Cab member. although, i dont know if anyone else noticed (or was as angry as i was) when some type of field official tried waving off the ambulance as it came in the gates and it proceeded to fly across, not next to but ACROSS the field with its sirens blaring and lights flashing during the renegades performance. you think someone in that type of possition (the driver) would realize that if someone is waving him off thats gotta mean he's not needed. as far as driving across the field with sirens and lights on, yes it could have been an emergency more important than interrupting a show, but what about the risk of running someone over???? wreckless, irresponsible, and disrespectful to say the least! i will give my compliments to the renegades for not letting it interrupt their performance, you guys did a great job, and i cant wait to see what you bring to the table in '06 !

trooping isn't aloud at finals because it delays the oncoming corps from getting setup. the penalty is a shame, Bush really laid it down and had an incredible season and should have been in second. if they were instructed to exit the wrong way then something should certainly be done about it, but like Garry said, that mystery official needs to come forward, or there is nothing that can be done.

I echo kyle's comments. Your performance last night was absolutely ELECTRIC! Your hard work and determination this summer brings A LOT of pride to everyone who's ever worn Reading Blue. You carried yourselve's this season like true buccaneers; with class, proffesionalism, and remained humble and respectable the whole way. I was honored beyond explaination to be with you guys this weekend during your final preparations. thank you for letting me be a part of the celebration and thank you for finally bringing the gold back to Reading. with pride and love for all of you i have one last thing to say... CONGRADULATIONS BUCCANEERS FOREVER BLUE

since im not marching this year :( i figured i'd be able to actually see some shows. not exactly working out that way. Bucknell was my first show of the season, and even though i paid my FOURTEEN BUCKS to see the show, i didn't get to SEE anyone. I did however hear all of the corps. I really like what everyone is doing this year, and for the time of the season i think everyone is coming along rather nicely. Having HEARD both Bucs performances from the running track, its the only show i can lay a finger on, bias or no bias, that hornline has got some serious POWER! Dan McGrogan and his staff have done an incredible job of preparing those guys for battle. I was honesly fighting back tears through the whole show, from a combination of the power, control, and the fact that i wasn't among them, it took a lot not to break completely. I wont get to see anymore shows til prelims, but im sure everyone will show up ready to lay it all down. my rants for the evening include: A) not being aloud to drive the tractors across the track with the pit equiptment. although i will NEVER begrudge helping my corps when they need it, it was a bit of a let down that my time was spent carrying pit equiptment and not watching the show, im sure there were people with other corps that feel the same. B ) Is this the only show in DCA where they allow people to walk freely on the running track, RIGHT IN FRONT of a performing corps during their show? i was rather peeved at the fact that the event staff did nothing to prevent it, nor did the announcer seem to make any announcements to discourage people from doing this, although since i was only in the stadium for one show i may have missed him saying anything. upset about: not marching obviously, not getting to see Bush who seem to be making a serious move this year ( you guys sounded great, wish i could have seen the show), and missing Empire's drum line (Patsy VanKirk is my Hero! )

this is some interesting stuff. Thanx everyone! if i remember correctly my co-worker said that his dad had been drum major at one point, but he wasn't sure what years he was there. I dont know his first name but his last name is Fitz-Patrick. by the way he talks, his dad marched sometime in the 60's to early 70's but thats just a guess on my part.

a guy i work with told me a few weeks ago that his dad had marched with a corps from Milton (pa) being that im still pretty young i never even knew they had a corps in Milton. i did some looking around and found out that they were called the Keystoners, and a little info about parades and some competition stuff, but not much else. i was wondering if anyone could give me a little history lesson? i live pretty close to milton so this is a piece of history i'd actually like to know about. plus my co-worker was hoping to learn a little more about what the organization his dad marched with was like...

I bounced between instruments a lot in high school. I'd go from french horn to baritone in concert band. slide trombone, mellophone, or marching baritone for parades (sometimes we'd have 3 parades in one week and i'd be on something different for each one). i've always stuck to mello on the field though. never really had much trouble adjusting my embochure when switching though, i was told i have a really versitile lip, and have always gotten compliments on my tone. now if i could just get a little better at working the valves i might actually make a decent horn player .

Dont worry too much about the order mike, we went on first at wildwood, and we'll be going on last in Lewisburg... lets hope our monsoon season here in the good old susquehanna valley holds off for a few weeks so we can actually give this crowd a show this year. In true good sportsmanship fashion, i'd like to extend a big "good game" and slap on the butt to the Brigs, Cabs, Hurcs, and Sky (and also to the exibition corps Cabs Alumni and the Xmen) for Wildwood weekend, it was a tough venue and being the first show of the season i think we all stood up and delivered, cant wait to see you all again.... and GOOD LUCK TO ALL THIS SUMMER!!!!!! B)

I play on a trumpet 3c on my Dynasty G-mello, the corps prefers us to use a 6or 6v but i've played the 3c since my junior year in high school and i perfer that to the 6. the tone seems a bit darker, and it doesn't take away from my high range like the 6. if you think this is weird, its a huge difference from the 10 1/2 cw i used with my king F-mello my first two years in high school (awesome high range, easy on the chops, horrible tone)

yeah, john, my ears are still ringing... and i was on the other side of the stage!!! on another note: saturday was my first ever show as an official buccaneer B) so this statement may not be as strong as your review of the euphs but, you gotta give it up for us mello's, 'cause from where i was standing we sounded pretty derned good (biased opinion of course :P )