BeachDrums

I was very impressed with the Colts last year. Very much improved in my opinion. Best of luck to them in 2008 for an even better show.

I don't know if vacant bus seats had anything to do with the increase, but I feel sorry for all corps members carrying 150. The increase may add to a show's effectiveness musically and visually, but I believe it will also cause shorter tempers, more difficulty loading already packed to the max bus bays, and make it even more difficult to sleep on the bus. I give all corps members credit for enduring summer tour 2008. To: Bus Drivers Please drive as quickly but safely as you can to give members as much floor time as reasonably possible.

Indeed, little "Squirt" was part of Crown's '06 tour as well. Chachi is going for the record of "Most Drum Corps Toured Dog." If all goes well, he'll be on his 5th consecutive summer tour. And yes, I was there when Teal's little furry friend wanted to become part of the show that night. CUTE! As I understand it, they just befriended it that day of the day before and became an honorary member after his performance on the field that night.

2003 Blue Devils: Chachi, a Bichon 2004 Glassmen: Chachi, a Bichon 2005 Crossmen: Chachi, a Bichon 2006 Crown: Chachi, a Bichon Cutest little white dog owned by a bus driver. Dog was so quiet and well behaved, some members didn't even know he was on the bus until mid-tour. True. He was, however, known to stand up on the driver's seat with his paws on the steering wheel as if driving, looking for his owner to return to the bus. Cute as heck!

Thank GOODNESS!!! I'm with you all the way!!! 100% likewise!!! Yeah Bawker, I agree with you that any organization can learn from other organizations. I would like to see more passion in drum corps. I have even suggested several times before in posts that I would like to see more showmanship and that to some degree, it's what "separates the men from the boys. " But let's please not turn drum corps into some kind of rap show. R&B is probably my favorite kind of music but in my opinion, rap and hip hop music is . . . well. . . annoying and monotonous. I'd rather listen to disco. I'm surprised masses of people haven't gotten organized and blown up rap CDs at a major sporting event like they did with disco records. As I recall, it was at a Chicago and Detroit Tiger game. Well, we all have our own taste in music, don't we? Rap and hip hop are not in in my "ball park."

I'm with you on this, Bishtom. It's threads like this that has reduced my posting to usually, just about once or twice a month or so. I am not connected to The Cadets or Hopkins whatsoever, but I'm amazed at all the attention he gets. He is one drum corps director. He is not the CEO or President of DCI. He has just one vote like all directors. If saxes get into drum corps, for example, it will be because he and the majority of drum corps directors wanted saxophones in drum corps. Assuming the other division I drum corps directors are not under some kind of Hopkins spell, no Hopkins proposal means anything without a lot of help from other directors. This being true, why is there so much preoccupation with this man?

I can understand that many do not like Hop's proposals at all. But maybe someone can correct me if I'm wrong. That is, someone who really knows what they're talking about. It's my understanding that George Hopkins, Director of The Cadets, has no more "power" in drum corps than any other director in drum corps. Assuming this is true, Mr. Hopkins can propose all he wants, He can propose that all corps must have dancing poodles in their opener, but if he doesn't get enough votes from the other board members/directors, it doesn't matter what he wants. It's not going to happen. So I just don't understand why there is so much concern about this one drum corps director. Sure, disagree with his proposals if you like (I certainly have), but is he not just one man with one vote like every other director? Okay, please enlighten me.

Hi Tone Quality Matters. Thank you for kind of sticking up for me. I did think amelloguy could have made his point with a bit less sarcasm. Plus, in my original post I did not request anywhere that I wanted to know WHERE they marched. But, several posters misunderstood what I wanted, so I don't blame amelloguy for the essence of his post except his, at least to me, unwarranted sense of sarcasm. I don't know where dbc06 came into all of this. Americanos, right? Having stated all of this, let's all just try to get along. Oh, and Merry Christmas to all. Edit: Oh, I just read dbc06's add-on the amelloguy's previous statement. Well, I guess as long as they appreciate the same such tones directed at them by others, all's well.

Yes, I failed to make clear the information I wanted. I just wanted to know the name of each current director, where he/she is currently a director, and what area of performance they participated in, not where they marched. My mistake for not making that clear.

Greetings all. I was just wondering what current drum corps directors were former drum corps members and what was there area of performance. Care to help me out? All divisions welcome, of course. I'll add to the list as they come in. My mistake, I didn't make it clear. Where the current directors marched is interesting, but I just want to know at what corps each person is a director and what was there area of performance. George Hopkins: The Cadets - Snare Kevin Smith: Carolina Crown - Trumpet Howard Weinstein: Boston Crusaders- Baritone Jeff Fiedler: Cavaliers - Baritone, DM David Gibbs: Blue Devils - Soprano, DM Greg Orwell: Colts - Soprano Stuart Pompei: Pacific Crest - ????????? Allen Cox: Esperanza - Soprano Rick Valenzuela: Phantom Regiment - ????????? Jeff Spanos: Madison Scouts - Snare David Glassgow: Bluecoats - Euph, DM Mark Richardson: The Academy - ????????????? Mike Loeffelholz: Southwind - ???????????

Yep! In my opinion, no corps comes close to marching better than the Cavaliers. They're not always my favorite show, but they've got drill on lock! Also imho, The Cadets and Blue Devils seem to have lost their way, maybe trying too hard to be inovative. Change is fine, but if it's just for the sake of change, it may not be effective or necessarily entertaining (yes, I know '05 placement). I hope the Blue Devils and The Cadets find whatever it is that works best for them. In my opinion, the last two years seem to indicate they are still searching. My very best to them all.

Just what I was thinking!! Who played what music and won in 2004? If nothing else, thank you Cavaliers for performing "accessible" music and proving it is not only crowdpleasing and highly entertaining, but it can win. Good luck in '07 Cavies!!

I don't know if I'd say it was the best 8th place show, but I would say that sometimes, the judges, like anyone, can make a mistake and in my opinion, they made one with the placement of Crown '06. At the very least, Crown was a 7th place corps in '06. If I had been a judge, I would have been embarrassed on finals night. If I were Dan Acheson, heads would roll. :sshh: It was a very blatant mistake in my opinion.

I agree. I admit that '06 was at least creative, but I personally believe sometimes creativity can get a bit too "cute." Crossmen is not a "cute" drum corps. Like The Cadets, Blue Devils, and Madison, I think they tried to do a show that just wasn't them. I think Crossmen need to get back to "down and dirty."

. . . especially the part about "Experimenting is over." The last two years is enough. Get back to being the Blue Devils. . . PLEASE!!

Yeah, apparently, some DCI judges are slow learners. :P

Not the hottest, but I really enjoyed listening to the sounds coming out of Mandarins' pit.

LOL!! I enjoyed all the sarcasm. It feels really good and I think you all know what I mean. Hmm. . . there seems to be a prominent poster missing here. Good! :P

YEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!!! There are many here on DCP that like the more esoteric, sophisticated, emotional heart-wrenching type shows. To each, his/her own. Obviously, there's nothing wrong with that. I think there are plenty of corps that have that covered. But many, I believe, enjoy more of the masculine, in your face, raw power of a pre-2003 Madison-type show and want to see more of them. I sense that's what many (not all) are saying here. There's really no need for anyone to get all upset if we understand that opinions about drum corps shows vary.

Nicely put, oosterwaal!! Oh, and I didn't require your clarification. I dare say, most Scouts fans know exactly what you mean here.

Feelings I've ALWAYS had. It kind of amazes me how some people seem to let DCI judges tell them what shows they like best. Example: Spirit was 12th, but I enjoyed their show much better than many of the higher placed corps. DCI judges do not tell me what I like and what is entertaining to me.

What? Not one thought about the paying audience (not DCP posters)? Gee, I'm surprised.

I'm with this guy/gal. Except for the last two years, The Cadets have been one of my favorite corps. I don't know Hop, so I don't hate him like some seem to. But if the Cavies continue to put on high energy, no nonsense, masculine shows like 2006 and 2004 and The Cadets keep fielding shows like 2006 with wild and silly looking characters running all over the field (no one should have to look that ridiculous in a drum corps show to tell a story) in the guise of innovation, then Cavies, please take the drum corps helm and entertain the #### out of me.

I think Newseditor brings up some good points. I think we can all agree that different people are entertained by different kinds of shows. Some like shows that tell touching stories and create tender moments. Others tend to enjoy more of the in your face, blow me off the bleachers kind of show. I believe there is still a large number of drum corps fans that wish there were more Madison '95, Cadets 02 type shows. It doesn't mean they all necessarily feel the tender/esoteric shows do not have a place in drum corps. Just that they would like to see more fastpaced, in your face, masculine, hard driving, performances. I admit that I am one of them. Shows like SCV '04 are great, but also keep those Cavies '06, Cadets Bugle Boy kind of stuff and pre 2003 Madison shows coming. Just my opinion.