Freelancer92

Check your junk/spam folder, my first donor video link ended up in my junk folder.

I'll agree with you %100 on that one! No matter how big of screen I projected last nights show on, nothing compares to a live performance!

Definitley some good discussion on this topic and valid points from both sides. Liahona, you pretty much summed up my feelings as a drum corps dinosaur (aged out 1993). Despite feeling unsatisfied by the design of todays shows, I find myself each June excited for the start of the new season as I would the start of football season. It's in our blood and whether we are 82 or 22 we all share a common bond. In terms of hoping for a rebirth.....I think thats why so many people could relate to Phantom 08. That was a show full of passion and emotion. A show that very well could have been done 20 years ago, but with a modern twist. Unfortuntaley those shows are few and far between now.

Its just not 2010, my own personal opinion, and Im sure I am in the minority on this, but the shows just seem a little stale. Did anyone besides the Cavaliers even get a partial standing ovation during their show? Did anyone have the crowd on their feet before the final notes were played. Todays shows while performed to perfection by these hard working kids, just dont ignite that fire in the stands with the fans like shows in the past. Again, just my opinion.

Crown was about the only show I generall enjoyed last year from beginning to end. There were certain segments of others shows I enjoyed last year, but the overall total package seemed to lack with most.

It's not the kids in this activity that let me down....they work their tails off and do things I could never have imagined doing. Its the show designers that are letting me down. Classic example tonight was the endings of almost every single corps. They all just seemed to suddely stop.

All afternoon I've been looking forward to coming home and watching the top 8 drum corps in the world battle it out. From what I've been reading on dcp this is shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever for drum corp. Brought the projector home from work, plugged in the bose to the laptop and prepared for an evening of big, loud and live home style version. I even had my girlfriend, someone who has never seen a drum corp show, sit on the couch watching. I have to admit for the first time in the 25 years I've been either participating or following this activity, I finally feel like one of those "old timers" who just dont get the direction of this activity. Im not talking about electronics, vocals, preshows, or any other of the rule changes that have taken place over the last 5 to 10 years. I dont see the diversity or passion written into the shows anymore. There is no question the kids in this activity are highly trained, extremely hard workers with a passion for perfection that many of our nations youth will never achieve. There was not a single show tonight that grabbed me, threw me down in my seat and then made me jump up before the last notes screaming like a little school girl with goose bumps covering my entire body. Did anyone else notice the crowd reaction during the performances and after the last note? Yea!!!!!!! Great job kids, we can tell you're very talented and work very hard, my ### hurts so its time to stand up! After the Blue Devils (actually every corp) final note, and seeing the look of utter confusion on my girlfriends face, I almost felt like I needed to appologize for wasting the last few hours. I then decided I needed to show her one of my favorite shows of all time. Without saying a word I played 1988 Santa Clara Vanguard. After the corps disapeared she leaned over and said "now that was something I could get excited about and would pay to see!" I then realized what's missing from todays activity. Diversity, Flow, Melodies and Passionately written shows! Im sure I'll be blasted by the younger generation for expressing my disatisfaction and that's fine, we all have a right to an opinion. It was just a sad realization this evening that for the first time in nearly 25 years I realized I am losing touch with an activity that has given me so much joy over the years.

Maybe someone closer to the organization can answer these, not trying to stir the pot, just curious about operations, etc. There seems to be a lot of blame placed on the tribal gaming and how it's effected bingo. Was bingo the only major source of incoming funds and if so doesnt that see like putting all your eggs into one basket especially when you're dealing with the survival of your organization? Is Bingo the major source of funding for the majority of corps throughout DCI? I'm sure I speak for all my fellow Freelancer alumni and alumni of others who have lost their corps, no matter how many shows I attend each year, a piece of my heart is missing when I dont get to sit in the stands and cheer for the corp that provided so many wonderful memories in my youth.

As a Freelancer Alumni it breaks my heart to see this corp continue to struggle to gain some financial stability. I applaud those of you who have done everything in your power to keep the Freelancer spirit alive. It saddens and even angers me that this corp has never been able to fully escape the culture that has caused them to fold 5 times while other corps who we once competed against ( Blue Knights, Blue Coats, Spirit, Troopers, Crown, Glassmen, Colts) all continue their legacy.

Roseville, CA!

We'll be driving down Friday morning from NoCal, probably hit California Adventure that afternoon. Did I see the show starts at 5pm on Saturday? Isnt that earlier than usual? For some reason I thought in 92 when we finished 12th we stepped off after 7pm?

How many people from DCP are going to be attending finals? We have 6 tickets Section 17 Row 57 Seats 103-108. Staying at the Residence Inn-Burbank. Taking a few newbies who have never seen a drum corp show so it will be interesting to get their reactions.

Kelli, I'll see if I can find an old pic in my Uniform LOL. The only Freelancer I still keep in contact with on a regular basis is Brenda Stumph who also played Soprano 1991-1994. Maybe that will ring a bell.....we were bus partners in 92-93

It's always great to see fellow Freelancers on this site. I played lead sop 1992 & 1993 and have always wished someday we'd get to hear the SAC yell on the field once again. Unfortunately my old corp jacket no longer fits....Hmmm hard to believe it's been 13 years since I marched. Brett

Interesting post and I think the more cities that get a chance to host finals only helps the activity. However if you're going to make a statement that hosting finals in Denver will satisfy us west coast fans, then we may as well hold finals in KC every year and that should be enough to satisfy east coast fans right? It's almost the same distance from SF to Denver 1,267 miles as it is from NY to KC! IF DCI really wants to help corps cut travel costs they should hold finals in the most central location as possible every year, and rotate to a "coastal" location every 4 or five years. My 2 cents