kansasDC

Nope. They specifically asked that no one post it to T.S.W.S.N.M.N. It sounded awesome to me though! Even over a phone. And there will be some very happy fans in Saginaw .

Listening to this live on the phone! They are doing the show part by part with a description of each part by Frank Sullivan. Very cool!

^^^Still^^^. I would like to give a shout out to the folks from the Spirit souvenir crew who have saved me twice from nightmare situations. Their head driver drove our souvenir truck out of a very tight spot in Lubbock, TX in 2007. Then last year, in Wichita, we were the very last people to leave the stadium at the end of the show. Even the show sponsors and the stadium personnel had left (turning off the lights in the process). With the location we had under the stands, I was really struggling trying to get our van with the souvie trailer attached out. The concrete poles that supported the stands were actually closer together than the combined length of the van and trailer. After trying and trying for about 20 minutes, I had pretty much gotten the van wedged very close to a pole and in an almost impossible position to get it out. Meanwhile, the folks from Spirit had sat out in the parking lot to make sure we got out, not worrying themselves about the sleep they were probably losing in the process. When they saw the troubles I was having, their head driver walked up and asked if he could help. Within 5 minutes, he had our rig driven out the 75-80 yards from the underside of the stands and sitting ready to travel in the parking lot. This is what drum corps is about. Thanks, Spirit souvie crew, for making it so special.

Hope the weather holds for tomorrow. Heard from my wife tonight that they were having some more of those Indy thunderstorms.

Voted.

The DCI schedule now says "Listed in reverse order of performance". That means Blue Stars appear first and BD last on Saturday, and BD appears first and Blue Stars last on Sunday. I will be at both shows, volunteering with Blue Stars. I am very happy Blue Stars will be the very first performance of the 2011 DCI season.

Finally, some brass. That's my son talking from 0:18 through 0:26 .

Depends on how many of the members are "re-bourne" during the show this year .

Just wanted to pipe in on the highlighted statement above. There are many more members marching more than three years than I think people realize. My son is in his seventh season of DCI this year, and there are quite a few other people marching with him this year that are in their fifth through seventh year in the same corps. The financial part is not as bad as people think with all of the sponsorship options and fundraisers available, and the members who take care of themselves physically all year long normally do not have any problems marching many years. Yes, there are quite a few one-and-done people in drum corps today, but there is also a significant group that marches in DCI for five plus years still. And, based on the numbers at my son's corps, I can tell you that the average number of total auditionees at the upper WC corps is much higher than 250. Several of the corps get numbers in the 600-800 range. And I think many of the "cuts" are steered toward OC corps, but the corps doing it just don't advertise that fact.

I like that: "It's really fast. And, they're probably going to take up the tempo, but it's still really fast". Knowing what the music is makes this statement even better news .

They're at a totally awesome facility. Thank you, Marian University! You guys rock.

http://www.facebook.com/bluestars Check out the great video that Blue Stars posted on their Facebook page to all of their members, staff, volunteers, etc.

Actually, Jon, there is no minimum age in the DCI rules. "Kansas" is a good example of that. Each corps may state a minimum for their particular organization, but there is no rule defining one.

That's so cool! I went to the Indy Fairgrounds this weekend and saw about 110 Blue Stars. Of course, I was working the camp . Seriously, if you're in the area on 4/29 - 5/1, come on by. We'll be there again. Maybe you can get a sneak peek at the unannounced 2011 show .

Sorry I'm late . It was a rough drive home from camp last night due to the weather. Kris is not the only member of Blue Stars that is a long-term vet. There are three other members that started with him in 2006 that are still marching there, and quite a few others that started there in 2007. There is also another member like him that marched a different corps in 2005 and then Blue Stars 2006 - present. I believe that this ability of the Blue Stars to retain a fairly good number of people over the long term is part of the reason for their continuous improvement over the last 8 years. Always having that nucleus of experienced, long term veterans that can carry on the system they use helps accelerate the learning curve for everyone else. And the stability in staff also helps.

The corps I marched in: 1980. The corps I volunteer for now: 2011

Once you complete at least a decade marching with the same corps. (jk. See my signature. )

Here you go Chris. From 1974: And from 1978, doing "Zorba The Greek":

1979. Secaucus, NJ. A dirt field, a total downpour right as we started. Getting hit in the face by a wet, muddy flag whipping past my head. Not fun! Oh, and we had to do an exhibition that night at the Sunriser's DCA show in those same wet uniforms.

Couldn't have done this when I lived near Gulf Shores, AL, huh?

The roast pork loin dinner that Blue Stars served at the December camp this year was outstanding. Included stuffing, a special orange/cranberry sauce, vegetables, and strawberry shortcake. And, of course, PB&J . This camp my favorite was the meatloaf for Saturday dinner, and the baked potato and salad bar for Sunday dinner.

We had a member in the corps who had a really great "pool hall" in his basement. We called it "Jansen's Flophouse". That was one of our favorite hangouts. Another was the local Ground Round restaurant, as it was close to our practice parking lot .

The peanut butter and jelly have been excellent so far through the first two camps. And I like sleeping in a bed versus a sleeping bag.

Come to the Indiana State Fairgrounds this weekend and find out .

This.