devsabre

Ladies and Gentlemen, Thatguyjustice requested "advice" on "do's and don't" not a clerical overview of who marched the youngest where or when. Age IMHO is just all that relevant. Lets say we hook Thatguyjustice up and provide some helpful guidance.

Based on 84BDSop’s comments Criteria: book difficulty, staging, performance. To name a few... Spirit of Atlanta - 79 Star of Indiana - 90, 91, 93 Madison Scouts - 81, 84, 85, 86, 88, 99 Blue Devils - 79, 91, 93, 96, 99, 10, 14 Cavaliers - 00, 01, 06 Cadets - 87, 97 Phantom Regiment - 78, 79, 84, 94, 96, 06 Carolina Crown - 10, 12

Favorites!? WAY too many to list but here is a start: 1974 Muchachos 1975 Santa Clara Vanguard 1975 Muchachos (yes, I have a recording) 1975 Oakland Crusaders 1977 Phantom Regiment 1977 Bridgemen 1978 Spirit of Atlanta 1979 Blue Devils 1979 Phantom Regiment 1980 Spirit of Atlanta 1981 27th Lancers 1987 Santa Clara Vanguard 1988 Madison Scouts 1990 Star of Indiana 1991 Star of Indiana 1991 Blue Devils 1993 Star of Indiana 1995 Madison Scouts 1999 Santa Clara Vanguard 1999 Madison Scouts 2000 Blue Devils 2004 Santa Clara Vanguard 2008 Phantom Regiment 2010 Carolina Crown 2010 Blue Devils 2010 Cavaliers 2014 Bluecoats 2014 Blue Devils …could easily list 20 more I listen to every week and love just as much as those above

There are numerous other posts on this topic. Take a look at those as well. Bluecoats have one of DCI’s premier percussion programs and staff. Make sure you get the audition material for the position you wish to audition and be able to understand and perform it at a very high level. Be confident, comfortable and able to sight read any new material presented during the audition. Age is not always a factor to making any DCI drum line. I made it into my 1st DCI finals-level snare line at 16. What matters is your level of ability, maturity, attitude and comment. Today’s DCI percussion sections move a lot and play a lot so make sure you’re in good physical condition. Show up early and be prepared for a wonderful experience. Be ready to go, ready to learn and have an enthusiastic and positive attitude. Be open to what the Bluecoats staff want you to do AND DO IT, have an open mind. Be rested and ready to work hard all weekend. Before the audition, during and after, talk to veterans, they can help you immensely. Don’t get stressed out, do whatever it takes to be relaxed. No matter what happens learn from the experience and enjoy it. Good luck to you and have fun.

I was on tour instructing in 90 and totally agree with all of this. Star '90 is one my all-time favorite brass shows. I Agree they were behind in visual and guard, GE as right up there with others. Percussion was good but a bit odd. It was interesting to watch their drum line get smaller and smaller every week, some strange days. The last 2 mins of Star '90...absolute drum crops bliss; throw babies, throw your mom, throw grand ma. The crowd went berserk - the recording almost doesn't do the moment justice, so glad I was there.

4th place - 1974 Anaheim Kingsmen (tough competition though) 2nd place - 1975 Santa Clara Vanguard (the perfect 30 in GE was no fluke) 2nd place - 1976 Madison Scouts - came out with a completely new show mid-season and go 2nd DQ - 1977 Bridgemen (...this is more of a "what would have happened if they had not been DQ'd, 2nd perhaps) 2nd place - 1978 and 1979 Phantom Regiment - 78 lost by a tenth; 79 was off the hook amazing 2nd place - 1980 27th Lancers - Best 27 of all time 2nd place - 1987 Santa Clara Vanguard - brides-maid of the 80s; far too many amazing shows in 2nd 2nd place - 1989 Phantom Regiment - OMG they put on the show to win 3rd place - 1990 Star of Indiana - 2nd place performance; throw babies! 3rd place - 1997 Santa Clara Vanguard - 2nd place performance; they set Florida on fire 6th place - 1999 Madison Scouts - WOW; finals performance was truly terrifying, only SCV but on a better performance that night 3rd place - 2004 Santa Clara Vanguard - blew the roof off Mile high 2nd place - 2011 Blue Devils - just amazing 2nd place - 2013 Blue Devils - a champion just about any other season

Agreed Sam, that show was amazing in all areas.

Glass half empty much? Let me think, they get thousands of applicants from around the world, but wait; BD needs to poach members from PC. hehehehe...RIGHT!

That happens...and there are people who just want to march. Exposure to another corps, and their approach, is a good thing for the members and the activity.

Consider the thousands of young men and women that try for a spot in Blue Devils or Blue Devils B and don't make it in, there is no downside for Pacific Crest. This is an opportunity that supports the Drum Crops community in California in a very positive way, not just one organization. PC is a quality organization and I think this helps them reach a segment of potential marching members that otherwise might not consider them. This may help re-grow DC in California and else ware, love this.

The awesomeness of the 1980 and 1981 Madison Scout's Rifle Lines. Watch the video from '81 then bring up a video of the '06 Alumni Project. Its got to be the same guys because they are doing the same work and its still near-flawless. Masculine, athletic and near perfect execution at every show. Those guys set the tone for both shows. Rivermen were on tour with Mad most of 80 and chunks of 81, my god those guys were amazing. I don't recall seeing a drop...ever.

Blue Devils 2014 - Will go down as one of the greatest shows of all time. Remarkable design and integration coupled with a legendary level of performance. Thank you BD for pushing the envelope a bit farther. Even if this show had not broken a 99, it still would be one of the best of all time.

The Troopers fan in me says, “Get back to finals.” The instructor/performer in me says, “Max out” scores and placements be ######. 12th place would be just great, but shoot for the moon and max out, then 12th can easily end up 9th or 8th. I’m from Wyoming…but I came into the activity in Kansas and unfortunately I didn’t march with the Troopers. I’ve always loved the Troopers and one of my few regrets, for the years I didn’t march, was not going there. Like you, I’m exceedingly proud of the organization and their approach to our beloved activity. Max out Troopers…Max out!

1. Vanguard - Only one crops will defeat BD over the course of the season and only that corps has a chance to win at finals; for '15 it will be Santa Clara 2. Blue Devils - Won't place below 2nd any time soon; they're formula is just too effective; predicting them to win would be too easy 3. Bluecoats - End up 1st or 3rd; only one crops will defeat BD, could be coats 4. Crown - They will be amazing but others will be better 5. Cadets - Execution will be remarkable but show design will hold them back 6. Cavaliers - Will be very strong; may end up 5th 7. Boston - Boston rebounds and takes it up a notch 8. Phantom Regiment - 8, 9, and 10 will be a cat fight all season 9. Blue Knights - Another remarkable show like '14 10. Madison Scouts - Greatly improved design and a monster fun show - Scouts will shine in fierce competition 11. Blue Stars - Will still be great, but others will be just as good or better 12. Troopers - A truly amazing show the kids will perform the crap out of; The '15 "Throw babies" show 13. Oregon Crusaders - Knocking on the door 14. Blue Devils B - Serve notice their '14 placement was no fluke 15. Crossmen 16. Colts 17. Spirit of Atlanta

1. Blue Devils – 97.7 (Music) 2. Carolina Crown - 97.45 (GE / Visual / Brass – 6th or 7th in perc) 3. Santa Clara Vanguard 97.10 (Percussion and guard) (love SCV...hope I’m wrong and they win) 4. The Cadets - 96.80 (peaked early) 5. Bluecoats - 94.90 (surge) 6. Phantom Regiment - 93.75 (peaked early) 7. Boston Crusaders - 91.70 (surge) 8. Madison Scouts - 91.40 (battle) 9. The Cavaliers - 90.80 (surge) 10. Blue Knights - 88.75 11. Blue Stars - 85.25 12. Spirit - 84.35 ---------------------- 13. Troopers - 84.00 (love this show, wish it would make finals 14. Crossmen - 83.90 15. Pacific Crest – 82.30 16. Colts - 81.55 17. Mandarins - 80.20 18. Oregon Crusaders - 80.10 19. The Academy - 79.00 20. Jersey Surf - 78.30 21. Pioneer - 71.45 22. Cascades - 69.30

There was a tie for 12th in 1977 between Garfield Cadets and the Kilties score of 84.45, both marched in finals. Which was convenient since Bridgemen were disqualified. All 3 had amazing shows that year, especially Bridgemen.

I was a Drum Major with the St Croix Rivermen in 1980 and we were at that show. We performed that evening with no knowledge of what had happened. When Spirit entered the field we knew immediately that something was wrong. When it was announced what had happened to Jim Ott there was a painful silence that settled over the field. Stunned is too soft a term for how every person in that stadium felt. It is nearly indescribable the love and heart break that Spirit released in their performance. Sprit drove every person in that stadium to cry like small children, it was devastating. It was one of the most awful and most beautiful things I've experienced in my life. It never occurred to me that this performance could have been recorded, experiencing that moment again was...not easy.

I was blessed to come into the activity in the 70. I’ve seen so many great lines and awesome moments, too many to stop at 10 In no particular order: *Won Drums that year *1993 Star – entire show, From the first note to the last…this line is goose-bump city! *1975 SCV – feature after the opener – Smokin groovy monster line; performed to near perfection; simply one of the best lines of all time 1992 Crossmen – entire show This is one monster groove machine of a show and these guys just threw down *1974 SCV – Young Persons Guide was a total game changer in DCI. They were Gods! 1990 Start of Indiana – One of my personal favorites; just awesome *2008 Phantom Regiment – Entire show *holy Cow* 1984 SCV – entire show is a masterpiece 1975 Blue Stars – entire show, noone played a harder book that year and they performed the crap out of it *1982 Bridgemen – Black Market Juggler …just nuts! *(tie) 1991 SCV – feature before the final push…*throw babies* 1974 Muchachos – entire show, Wow…just Wow! *1995 Cavaliers – Mars (opener) is ridiculous 1986 Garfield Cadets – Christopher Street (opener) is incredible *2005 Cadets – Feature is rockin and so fun Honorable Mention 1979 Spirit of Atlanta – Nutville is just awesome 1974 Anaheim Kingsmen – Exorcist feature is wonderful; not to mention the snare line full of legends 1991 Blue Devils – entire show, one of the meanest books of the 90s *1982 Blue Devils – entire show, 1st year with Float at the helm; they were awesome *1981 Bridgemen – the feature was scary clean and so fun to watch 1977 Capital Freelancers – The feature is remarkable *(tie) 1991 Cavaliers – feature with the pit on extra base drums …on fire 1978 Bridgemen – 2nd of many great Bridgemen shows, Harlem Nocturne is smokin (Bayonne ’77 rocked as well) 2000 Blue Devils – the pit accelerando is cash money 2003 SCV – the feature before the closer is smoking

Double post

Percussion Scores 00 Cavaliers 19.60 01 Cadets 19.70 02 Cadets 19.70 03 Cadets 19.70 04 Santa Clara 19.75 - my personal favorite 05 Cadets 19.70 06 Phantom Regiment 19.70 07 Blue Devils 19.70 08 Phantom Regiment 19.85 09 Blue Devils 19.80 10 Phantom Regiment 19.60 Thanks to sniper282000 for the 02 score.

Placement aside, Madison improved the most. Others I felt improved. Cavies Surf Pac Crest Pioneer Phantom Teal Spirit

Dear Ghost, Continue to enjoy the traditional shows that you love so much. After all there are at least 20 of them available to you each year. Some folks like that and that’s ok. Don’t watch BD if you must but we don’t need 21 shows designed the same way. Don’t expect or ask Blue Devils to follow the sheep. What you’re asking for helps no one. And yea…14 Championships…they don’t have anything to prove. Honestly people enjoy BD because of what they are not because of what we expect them to be. Those that like BD don’t follow, they have their own path and they’re not interested in walking with the masses. Sometimes we don’t like what BD does but we would never ask them to be like the rest of DCI. ------------------------ Dear Blue Devils Organization, I like what you’re doing and thank you. You know what you’re doing, keep doing it.

1. Madison Scouts (Throw babies) 2. Blue Devils (Incredible) 3. The Cavaliers (speechless) 4. Carolina Crown 5. Phantom Regiment 6. Blue Stars (in your face) 7. Bluecoats 8. Santa Clara Vanguard 9. The Cadets (the kid thing made me want to puke, enough already) 10. Boston Crusaders 11. Blue Knights 12. Glassmen (my god..all that talent and the most boring show on earth)

I fell in love with this show from the moment I saw the Sanford recording on Fan Network. I said it then and I will emphasize it now…”no one will beat Blue Devils this year.” This year’s show is the best production I’ve ever seen and one of the most unique in DCI history; performed at a level that was awe inspiring. I can’t wait to see what you do next year. Congratulations to the Blue Devils on your much deserved 14th and to the Blue Devils B on your 2nd Championship.