divII/IIIlvr

Yea, but they were still probably more entertaining. Especially after the last two years of shows........... Maybe it would be better if we said..... it will be remembered as.... THE YEAR THE MADISON SCOUTS BECOME ENTERTAINING AGAIN and FINISH IN FINALS!

Madison is hardly a "much better corps" than they "ever" have been. Are they improved over the 2002 corps, probably....but I would honestly put any of those other shows up against 2004 and 2005. Besides, drum corps is a completely different ball game than it was in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. But you wouldn't know that, you are probably new to drum corps in the past 5-6 years. You ask what corps hasn't changed....well a lot of the haven't. And besides, there are very few corps who are around that have been around long enough to have the traditions Madison had. No one is bashing Sal by the way....in fact I think Sal is doing a great job directing the corps. Am I upset that they have lost there heritage....yup, but I'll probably get over it. And the old cook truck was awesome. It was rare you could find a corps that could survive with a smaller cook truck. It was because at nearly every school the corps stayed at they got access to the kitchen. And anyone who says the Scouts pre-large cook semi ate poorly.....ummm, nope. The scouts ate as well as any other corps on the road. (well, maybe not as well as BD and SCV)

Madisons pit not only lost there hats in 2004, but also there very aggresive style of playing. Something I personally miss dearly. Remember when you could hear the pit without amps? Oops, guess thats another topic. But in all seriousness......I really miss the pit wearing aussies. That was completely Madison and now its gone...just like most of there other traditions.

I think he means that the MDBCA board may have been onto something when it dropped Cap Sound. I'm not so sure about that however. Cap Sound lost most of its members after the 2003 season when it looked like they would not be around anymore. I fully believe that if the corps would have been active in November or December (instead of February) that membership would have been up in 2004, which would have placed them at nearly full capicity. However, from what I understand Cap Sound does all of there recruitment now by Word of Mouth. Small corps cannot survive using this technique. Keith Gee, the original director of CS, would go out to a lot of schools in the madison area and around the state to recruit. I just don't think that happens anymore. I'm glad to hear cap sound is going to be fine, but if they want to be fine for years to come they will need to revisit some of there recruitment techniques. THey no longer can simply get members because they are part of the Madison Organization or because they are the biggest "small" corps in the area.....especially with the return of the Americanos.

Oh....it's not that bad. God Forbid you actually have to walk a little. There is plenty of parking on side streets, and also in various church lots, etc. Madison is the BEST venue for finals, and the city welcomes drum corps fans with open arms!!!!! Yay for Finals in Madison!!!

Anyone know anything about Cap Sound this year? After there first camp I heard numbers were WAY down and staff wasn't filled? I believe they just had a camp....so were numbers better? Was there an actual brass staff?? I just think its weird that they don't do the same as other corps as far as announcing caption heads, show theme, etc. I don't hear about them much anymore? Wouldn't want them to take a dive the same here Finals come back to their home field.

After talking to some friends, I heard Cap Sounds numbers were way down after last year. Only like 6 horns at the first camp and no brass staff???????? i hope this isn't the case, but isn't there a member minimum each corps must meet to be able to perform?

For anyone to say that the 03-05 shows are more entertaining than the 00-02 shows are completely out of their mind. I can give you credit for 2003, but 2004 and 2005 were absolute crap. The absolute most awful shows Madison has ever produced. Bring back the Madison of old. Plus, if you have any doubt in your mind that Madison 2002 was entertaining just ask all those people around the country that screamed louder and cheered harder for Madison than any other corps out there. (and there are plenty of them!)

John, Thank you for the clarification. It did sound like the only reason your corps was moving to Div. III was to stay "competitive." Which just didn't make sense. However, if DCI has said that because you now have 69 members, one less than the buffer, you must move to Div. III....thats a totally different story. But....I still don't think it's good of the corps to ASK to be put into Div. III. Either way, It sounds like the corps has petitioned to DCI to change divisions. Is that correct??? If that is the case, then I truly do not feel it fair. Also.....the fact that members have been "leaving" tour only let us outsiders believe that something else is going on. When I marched, and I did for a number of years, we lost maybe 1 member over the course of many seasons. Did we have people get sick from the heat (yup) did we have people break their legs or arms, or sprain an ankle? (yup) but they stayed with the corps till the very end. The bus comments and financial comments have absolutely NO relavence to the fact that corps is switching divisions. Many corps go through numerous break downs each year and many financial struggles. I wish your corps the best and I hope you survive financially.

First of all....the fact that the corps is below the threshold to remain in Div. II is pointless. Things happen, and many corps stick with it and face the struggles they have. Secondly...obviously I'm not on tour, I'm sitting at home. Thirdly...I NEVER ONCE SAID you were only sending kids home so you could move to Div. III. That would be stupid. I only said that I believe there are reasons other than heat related illnesses. Finally...the corps was very successful as a Div. II corps. And even with the smaller numbers, they would remain competitive, they just wouldn't win or medal. (and that hardly has anything to do with smaller numbers) It's never anyones goal to tear apart a corps on this forum (and if you think it is...) No one is ever happy to see a corps struggle or lose members.

I still see this as a ploy to remain "competitive" i.e. win a medal. Like someone else said, if a Div I corps lost members due to the flu or for any other reason and they were suddenly in the Div II size range, would they be allowed (Mid-season) to move to Div. II??? ABOSLUTELY NOT! This is setting a bad precedent of being able to claim Div. II status.....go the majority of the season as Div. II and then switching to Div. III after you lose a couple of kids and realize that your hopes of being a medalist in Div. II aren't there. Also, heat related illness (for the most part) would not force a kid to leave tour. Have them spend some time inside, drink lots of water, and get back outside. Perhaps it's something the staff and administration needs to look at. If I had to guess I would say something else is forcing these kids to leave tour... Hmmm.....sketchy.

I don't like this one bit. Corps are asked to make a descion early in the season so DCI can set forth schedules. So now, Teal Sound has gone all season as a Div II corps (getting paid more??, performing later in the show, etc.) But now, as they go through the course of the season they see they are not going to "win" in Div. II...they make the move to Div III where it seems they will have a good chance of either winning or taking 1st or 2nd place. Sounds to me like a sad plea to be a champion. B***SH**

Any Madison shirt pre 1992. The Slaughter Shirt Lemon Squeeze (I'd pay top $ for an original) Jammin' Waillin' There were some pretty cool Blue Devils shirts back in the day.... and what about anything from Black Gold??

You can hear them, but I not as well as the 14. Yamaha makes a 13 and 14. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, but they were made to have a different timbre and also made for indoor drumlines. I think cavies used them in 1995, but I'm really not sure about that one.

Yea, I would! Good choice with the Yamahas! They really are very durable. And 4malletmarimba is right about the MTS system...unless you have a killer snare line, it's not worth the money. 10-12-13-14 is good, I believe Yamaha just started creating a deep shell drum, I would look into this, as I feel it makes the sound a lot less chincy. Oh yea, make sure you go with the 14'' Snares as well. 13'' = BOO!! :P Hope this helps.

Hey, just my thoughts here. I really don't like the Pearl snares and tenors. Yamaha's multi-timbre system is great and way ahead of anything Pearl is doing. Also, Yamahas equipment is MUCH more durable if you are talking about using this with a High School. The school I teach at just bought Pearls, the year before I got there, and I can't stand them. If you absolutly need to go with Pearls, make sure you get the right heads and make sure they are tuned very well. I suggest REMO BLACK MAX on top and a clear batter head on the bottom for the snares... REMO Crimp-Lock Pin stripes for the Tenors. I don't like Evans, but a lot of people do. If someone has a better way of heading these drums, let me know. Thanks.

Correct, sorry bout that. It was Concord. Diablo Valley College? right?

Cavies 02 - Finals night...the "gock blocker" dropped his stick and had to air gock block! Madison 02 - Hayward, CA...the drummer that lead the corps onto the field started his lick on the wrong yard line. Half the corps stopped on the 50 the others went to the 45. THey basically feel apart. the crowd laughed! Oops....bet he never did that again.

1. SCV 2. Cavies 3. Cadets 4. BD 5. Phantom 6. Bluecoats 7. Carolina 8. Crossmen 9. Boston 10. Blue Knights 11. Glassmen 12. Colts 13. Capital Regiment 14. Madison

Does this have to be from the current? I think back to the days when Madison had.. Scott Boerma Van Matthews Jon Schipper Matt Gregg Clay Wachholz Steve Smith WOW!! That was a staff! And ALL MADISON ALUMNI!!!!!

They aren't really new uni's...... they aren't wearing any uni's this year. I heard they are going for the all natural look.

Mike, Sorry but I don't know about the horns. But, what year did you march? I had met a girl from Northmens Colorguard. All I remember was that her name is Liz. I believe she must have marched in the 1993-1994 range. Later

Capital Sounds Uni's aren't any different this year. Last year they added the large white stripe where the small silver one used to be. I'm super excited to see Capital Sound out there this year. And Frank you're right. THey are way better off without the Madison Organization. Look for a stronger and larger corps in the years to come. I have heard only positive things aobut the future of this corps! From the people I've talked with, they have raised a crap load of money and have way better relations with the City than the Scouts do. CONGRATS CAP SOUND!! KEEP TRUCKIN ALONG!!!!