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njthundrrd

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Everything posted by njthundrrd

  1. I just posted this on my FB page, so I figured "what the heck" and will post it here also. _____________________ THE CADETS DRILL WRITER Jon Bilby ... If DCI had their version of the "Espys" (ESPN awards) you would get DCI Newcomer Drill Writer of the Year award. I was just rewatching the San Antonio show and your attention to detail in 1) dropping off and picking up small groups and soloists... 2) Dropping off people to move props...3) (Watch this one carefully Cadets fans) over time how the Cadets get out of the cream jackets...all the way to the intro to the ballad! 4) The mix of old skool run and gun and new school staging? Shut... the ... front ... door! You are good! Thank you for being a part of The Cadets all these years and you have done a masterful job this year! People... especially judges... you need to watch what I wrote above and take note of this in John's drill for the Cadets. THIS is what drill writers in our activity really don't do well, unless you are one of the Master Drill Writers (Gaines, Murphy, May, Sacktig, Johnny V). John Bilby is a super good drill writer. The judges need to recognize these ensemble compositional skills and the details needed to not just create effect, but the details... the math and structure... of what John Bilby is doing! If you are not watching closely, you are missing the subtlety of what makes a great drill writer... great... and how good the product they have designed... is. Reward it please?
  2. THE CADETS MARCH AND PLAY ON THE MOVE! That should be credited higher than only playing when standing still. Ever changing listening environments and simultaneous responsibilities are part of the sheet and they need to be rewarded rather than parking and playing! Period. This sign meant something for the Cadets show in 1984 and it applies exactly for the same reasons this year!
  3. THE CADETS MARCH AND PLAY ON THE MOVE! That should be credited higher than only playing when standing still. Ever changing listening environments and simultaneous responsibilities are part of the sheet and they need to be rewarded rather than parking and playing! Period. This sign meant something for the Cadets show in 1984 and it applies exactly for the same reasons this year!
  4. I always thought the issue with DCA was the fact that they go all the way to Labor Day. College and HS band camps happen start before the season is over, so you hope Band Directors are okay with it, but are they really? Also, you have to be "hard corps" to give up your Labor Day weekend to go to Rochester or Williamsport for a long weekend. I love drum corps, but I would rather be on my Harley or on the lake (or at the beach) that weekend. It would be interesting if DCA championships were held in Indy and their finals were during late afternoon, with a two hour break, before DCI Finals started. Hmmmm? More people in the seats? Do the alumni spectacular (which I love and to me is the highlight of DCA weekend) on Friday or Saturday at noon in Indy? I dunno. The world is changing and we are expecting the activity to stay the same. "If you are not evolving, you're dying."
  5. I am sure the design team and caption heads have a plan.... Really smart people there the past two years. Plenty of knowledge how to "get it done" and consultants that more than know the activity. Slow and steady wins the race ... when you are rebuilding a brand.
  6. They need to reestablish the brand. Be good. Be somewhat innovative while being themselves. Sneak into the top 6 and be themselves for a year before innovation becomes their tradition. You know who did what I described above? The Bluecoats. Cadets also have to work on their "side hustle" to bring in more revenue to experiment/innovate and have that financial cushion those corps need. Crown is pretty good at having a side hustle. Give The Cadet some room. For an org that was on the brink and full of issues... Between 2021 and 2022, they certainly are heading in the right direction. As long as 2023 is not a dud. They will be okay. I know there are more than enough people around there now to make sure that does not happen. Smart behind the scenes people working with them.
  7. CADETS ... are good. FREAKIN' GOOD! A brass book that inherently (because of Jay Bocook's writing) checks all the boxes and the members sound more mature by the week. A lot more like a top 6 corps. That drum line is FIRE!!!! Drill that challenges the individuals listening environments for sure! I am tired of people playing in infinity arcs and following the leader for hours. So much harder to be ever changing your relationships to others physically and the demands in puts on you for listening... THEN... THEN!!!... add in all the simultaneous responsibilities the members have while marching AND playing?! Seriously.... no hype here... The Cadets look more like a Top 6 corps then they do a 7-12 corps. The members need to start to show up with some swag and be (as Donnie Vandoren would say) ... UNDENIABLE! Now clean, water when needed (because not many do as much as you), and get your ending ready to reveal in ATL or Allentown!!!
  8. Nah.... They have a good design team and plenty of people helping in the shadows with great experience. The pieces are coming together just fine. Add a person or two here and there, as another person or two move on? That is all they really need. A visionary person doesn't fall out of the trees! They need to build the brand, have good shows (product), stay financially viable / don't spend what you don't have, and find other sources of income to grow the org. There are plenty of really really good Cadets teaching and on design teams on a lot of Top 6 groups that are keeping an eye on their "home team" and wishing them well. What the future will bring? I dunno, but if the Cadets build it slow and steady and within their budget.... They will be vying to chase the top 6 (or create a new top 7) here in a short period of time.
  9. CrownBEAT 1 Carolina Crown 81.850 2 Boston Crusaders 80.850 3 The Cadets 76.900 4 Crossmen 73.200 5 Music City 68.350
  10. Cadets were really really good tonight. They need to clean. They need an ending. They need the judges to start to reward them. They certainly check more brass boxes than a good portion of the top 6. Their listening environmental challenges are off the hook. Their simultaneous responsibilities are greater than two corps in front of them and every corps behind them. The drill is very good. The guard is much improved. The battery is slammin. The narration tells the story perfectly.
  11. I think it is a good mix of what BD does and gets credit for and what the Cadets have always done... RUN AND GUN! The ending needs a good tweak, but heck, its The Cadets. They have something up their sleeves I am sure.
  12. CADETS were REALLY GOOD! They look more like 6th or 7th place.... and a lot less like 8-10. THAT BRASS ENSEMBLE ..... should be getting MUCH MORE credit! They check more boxes (and do it as well) as some of the corps in the top 6! Good for them!
  13. Crossmen have gotten a lot better since their first show. Guard should never move props in transition though. It never looks good.
  14. Are there any predictions in this thread? LOL
  15. >>>>>>>>>> running and hiding from Terri >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
  16. Coming out of the ballad hit in the corner, I wonder if anybody gets the "East of my past and West of my future" with the guard person representing the East/Past?
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