On the Propriety of Booing

[bobhoehn]

Booing is a sign of ignorance, being uninformed, jealous or just plain stupid.

[Tekneek]

It was on the verge of all out parody.

I had been thinking the same thing for a while, but the last fixes to it seemed to finally put that thought to rest (for the most part). I still say that VK could take the same exact dialogue and allow people to have a completely different reaction when freed from the supposed obligation to take it seriously. The way the dialogue went early in the summer was so amazingly over the top I simply couldn't believe it was actually happening.

[Tekneek]

Booing is a sign of ignorance, being uninformed, jealous or just plain stupid.

You mean the booing of a corps, right? Or does this apply to the booing of scores as well?

[sardomus]

Ya know, I've been thinking a lot about this whole situation since Thursday night, and reading the OP is very much a "wake-up call" for me. DCI is not what it used to be when I became a fan, not because of the shows that "push the envelope", but because the audience reaction has changed from simply not applauding at things you don't like, to booing and shouting things like, "give the kid a gun already" (and before anyone says that it was just one fan, the laughter that followed the remark was loud enough to be heard in the theaters).

So, as a director, I will no longer be selling the activity to my students and recommending to my students that they march Div 1, because I will not subject any of my kids to these "symptoms of DCI's schizophrenia". Anyone who is a HS director, ask yourself this- if you were at Quarterfinals or were in a theater, would you want your kids to be on the field with The Cadets?

[byline]

What I'm reading from a lot of people is "I spent $$$$ on the ticket so I can do whatever the #### I want"

Yup. And even there, I draw a line with booing. OK, yes, I've paid money to go see a show. Say that a performer/group of performers is having a bad day, night, whatever. Does it really improve things by my booing? Sitting on my hands and not clapping is better. Not great, but it's not nearly so deliberately malicious and offensive (not only to the performer(s), but others in the audience who, after all, may not share my opinion).

The only action I can see that justifies booing is if a performer/group of performers, instead of delivering the performance I paid to see, goes on a rant targeting a specific individual or group for personal attack . . . gee, when has that happened lately? I didn't pay to see/hear that, and I have no wish to sit there as a captive audience to someone else's tirade. So I can see booing as being appropriate in that scenario. Any other? IMO, if I am so moved, then a phone call or letter would work far better. Life's too short.

[jwillis35]

So is it acceptable to Boo a drum corps or a production? I don't think so. This activity is a curious mix of entertainment and competitive aspects. The audience has a extremely diverse set of reasons for watching it. Any personal view that is extreme enough to cause you to 'boo' is surely going to offend many others senses and views. If this unusual balance is to be pleasant for all involved, a certain degree of decorum is in order. There are many other ways to 'vote' your personal views such as supporting the corps whom you agree and enjoy. Cheer loudly and buy a t-shirt from those whom you enjoy. These kids didn't design the program or vote for the current rules. They are doing the best they can within the framework that is given to them. Cheer the one's you like, be polite to the rest. If you are so dissatisfied with the activity that you need to vocally boo and offend, then why are you even paying to see the show?

Very well written, and all your points are well taken. I think you are right on.

Good job,

JW

[byline]

In the word of the Comic Book Guy "Well Actually....". The booing of Star began sporadically around during the 90' & 91' seasons. During this period it seemed to me the hardcore fans of the traditional Midwest powers began to resent the hugely competitive IN group.

I think this is a correct observation. And, as much as I didn't like some aspects of what Star did, I didn't boo them. Never even thought about it. I did sit on my hands during some portions of their shows, however.

[2000Cadet]

After Thursday night's antics by the director of the Cadets, much discussion was had regarding the crowd's reaction to his display and to his group's performance. After much introspection, I have come to realize that this is merely a symptom of DCI's schizophrenia. Just think about it: Before 1993, for the most part, the only real boos heard at a drum corps show were clearly aimed at the judges. For example, on several occasions at shows I attended (especially in the 80s), the announcement of the score and placement for the Madison Scouts was met by vociferous booing, which was replaced within seconds by thunderous applause. The clear message: "Judges, you f’ed up; get it together! Scouts, you deserved better; great job!" Although the implication was that they should have placed higher than another corps, it was never interpreted (or, at least, meant to be interpreted) as "Hey, other corps: You suck!", and no one thought twice about it. Well, at least no one with any intelligence.

The first example of actually booing a corps, as others have pointed out, occurred in 1993 with the Star of Indiana. But that's also the first instance of DCI's growing schizophrenia becoming apparent. I will admit: I booed that show. Did I boo the members of that corps? No, I didn't. There had been no evidence from Star's previously well-designed shows that they were about to produce such a lump of manure. And, up until that point, the audience (and most corps members and staffs) still believed that drum corps was a youth activity. I booed the staff of the Star of Indiana, and especially the design team. The American Heritage Dictionary defines "boo" as "to express contempt, scorn, or disapproval", and that's exactly what I did with Star's 1993 show: I expressed my contempt for their design, my scorn for the faux artistry of their visual program, and my disapproval of the musical philosophy demonstrated by their book (or lack thereof). Did the members perform their show with excellence? Yes, but if a sculptor crafted a realistic-looking piece of excrement out of marble, it’s still a piece of excrement, even if excellently rendered.

After that instance in 1993, booing a particular corps (as opposed to the judges) mostly disappeared. Pockets may have occurred, but not like we saw with Star. Why? Yes, corps were "pushing the envelope" from a creative standpoint, but they were doing it within the confines of the audiences' expectations. No show made such a leap from the expected as Star's did, until Cadets 2005. And despite the audiences' overall rejection of the design choices of the Cadets that year, the judges rewarded them with the title. Who could have seen the provocative effect this would have on DCI's schizophrenia?

You may be wondering: "DCI's schizophrenia? What are you talking about?" The American Heritage Dictionary defines "schizophrenia" as "A situation or condition that results from the coexistence of disparate or antagonistic qualities, identities, or activities." And that describes exactly the current state of affairs in DCI. Most (if not all) of DCI's current problems stems from the fact that it doesn't know what "drum corps" is anymore. At various times, and for various reasons, DCI (as emblematic of the activity as a whole) holds itself out as "a youth activity" (emphasis education), as "art", as "entertainment", and as "a competitive sport". However, decisions are made based on the perceived emphasis at that time, not due to an organized and focused approach, creating a jumble of confusing, and often contradictory, principles.

So, is it appropriate to boo a corps? It depends on what you believe the emphasis should be. If drum corps is still truly a youth activity, then the answer is easy: No, booing is inappropriate. No one, not even the worst, most heartless person, would go to a concert given by their local school and boo the 4th graders who are just learning music and are attempting to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on their flutophones. While the Cadets are light years past that scenario, if the emphasis is education and they are students, then the attempt, any attempt, should be cheered. Unfortunately, as an activity, this has not been a youth activity for quite some time. Yes, there are individual corps that exist as singular youth activities, but as long as a corps turns away kids who aren't as experienced or talented in favor of a "better" performer, they have lost the right to be considered a youth activity, and the "protection from booing" that goes along with it. Accordingly, as a personal example of how I implement these differences, you will never hear me boo corps like the Colt Cadets, Mystikal, or Capital Sound. However, I will not hesitate to boo the Cadets, the Blue Devils, or the Cavaliers if their show (or performance) dictates it. Conclusion: Booing of a youth activity should be inappropriate, but, unfortunately, few corps meet the definition of a youth activity and thereby deserve not to be booed by drum corps audiences.

What if you believe the emphasis should be on art or entertainment; is booing appropriate then? This is definitely a harder case to make. Do people boo at movies they disapprove of? Not usually. Instead, they show their displeasure by advising others not to pay the money to see it. But that analogy doesn’t work for drum corps, because you can’t financially express your opinion about one show: So you didn’t buy a ticket to the show; is it because you don’t like corps A or one of the others performing (or more than one)? How can anyone differentiate? It’s impossible. And that’s before you throw in all the other possible variables (maybe you didn’t go to that show because it was too far away, or you had other plans, or you couldn’t afford it, or you didn’t know about it, etc.). A better analogy is provided by stand-up comedians. When you go to a comedy club, there are usually several comedians performing their routines that night, and booing and heckling a comedian who sucks is commonplace. “Well, they’re professionals; they can handle it,” you might argue, but it happens to amateurs as well. Don’t believe me? Just stay up late some Saturday night and watch “Showtime at the Apollo”. Even the definition provided above for “boo” was followed by the following example: booed the singer off the stage.” Conclusion: Whether booing an artist or entertainer is appropriate is not clear, but it definitely happens on a regular basis. Deal with it.

Finally, the easiest case is if you believe that the emphasis should be on competition. Anyone who has ever been to a sporting event knows that booing the opposition is practically an American pastime. And since this appears to be the primary emphasis these days (as evidenced by DCI’s new branding initiative “Marching Music’s Major League™”), no one should be shocked. Indeed, why did the Cadets perform the show that they did in spite of the palpable disapproval with their show design? Is it because their director is concerned with their education? Clearly not (unless he wants to teach them about derision). Is it because it’s entertaining? Again, clearly not; the “libretto” is simplistic and inane, and the “performance” of the libretto is so dreadful even Dorothy Parker would be incapable of giving it the drubbing it deserves. (How their Music GE and Ensemble scores can be so high is the second greatest mystery the drum corps world has ever known, only behind the mystery of how their Visual Performance scores can be so high year after year despite the blatantly crappy technique.) Is it for the art of it? Unless the director and staff of the Cadets have changed their organizational philosophy recently, I can attest to the fact that the sole motivation for their design decisions is to give their members “the best shot to win a title.” Clearly, the Cadets, as an organization, believe the emphasis should be placed on competition. Conclusion: If you want to play in the majors, you’ve got to grow some cojones or go back home.

Overall, it is clear that booing is an appropriate response to the abomination that is the Cadets 2007 show. Which takes us back to 2005: That year, people booed the Cadets for the same reasons they booed Star in 1993; i.e. they were booing the design team and staff of the Cadets, not the members. But what happened? The judges put their imprimatur on the show by not only handing them the title, but all of the captions (and subcaptions) as well. The message (doing their best Ellsworth Toohey imitation): “We, the judging community, hereby declare that everyone who thinks they know anything about drum corps is wrong, and that the Cadets 2005 show is what we want in the future. Trust us; it’s for your own good.” So, the next year, the Cadets brought us more of the same crap and once again scored well, despite the increasing discontent and increasingly vocal opposition. Now, the 2007 season rolls around, and the Cadets once again decide to show us that they know more about what drum corps is and should be. The problem is that, at this stage, no member can claim ignorance and lay claim to the pass that the members of 1993 Star and even 2005 Cadets receive. If you know enough about the Cadets to be willing to pay the exorbitant fees to march there, then you know enough about their design philosophies; you’ve made your choice, and that choice is to place your stamp of approval on it as well. So, thank you Cadets, for accomplishing the Toohey goal of making everyone equal: First, we booed the judges (and DCI), then the design team and staffs, and now even the members are fair game. Thank you for taking this once-grand activity, steeped in the traditions of honor, respect, duty, and camaraderie, and dragging it down to the vulgar levels of an SEC college football game. “Embrace the suckiness!”

Dan Baker

I started to like this post until the end. I hope if you have children who choose to march drum corps, they have the opportunity to know and feel what it's like to be booed. And if you have the right to boo, everyone else has the right to call you all types of names for doing so. Take care.

[byline]

Hmmmm.... well, if the Cadets felt comfortable shoving their narration down the crowd's throat, perhaps they deserved some feedback. I have great respect for the talent of the corps, but come on. The narration was horrible. It was on the verge of all out parody. It was like the Mormon kids from South Park. It distracted the crowds. It literally (and I mean literally LITERALLY, not in the current usage) made my 1 1/2 month old niece cry at semifinals, something which no other corps did. It pandered to anyone who got (or is still getting) picked on for being a band geek. Unless somebody can honestly tell me that the Cadets didn't know about the narration until they had invested too much time and money into the season to bail out, I think they deserved the lesson in consequences that only the crowd was up to giving them.

OK, then why not write a letter to the corps specifically citing the narration? And maybe also cc: DCI, so that they are aware how much the narration turns you off? Are you really going to boo during the corps' performance, and then the entire corps hears the booing and has no idea what it's directed at? I really don't see why people can't see the ineffectiveness of booing, because it's impossible for the performers on the field to distinguish what, specifically, the boos are aimed at. All they know is that they're on the field, performing, and hearing boos. What is a performer/competitor supposed to think? Nobody else is on the field/stage but them.

Someone else pointed out major league baseball. In that instance, a coach's actions may change depending on fan reaction. But all booing can do to a corps' performance is undermine their own confidence in what they're doing. IMO, that should not be the goal of feedback that we, in the audience, are trying to give. If we don't like some element that the design team has come up with, then we should direct that at the design team, not the corps out on the field who, like ourselves in whatever era we marched, are only doing their best to perform what they're given.

Edited August 12, 2007 by byline

[Tekneek]

DCI is not what it used to be when I became a fan, not because of the shows that "push the envelope", but because the audience reaction has changed from simply not applauding at things you don't like, to booing and shouting things like, "give the kid a gun already" (and before anyone says that it was just one fan, the laughter that followed the remark was loud enough to be heard in the theaters).

They should not have yelled that, but there have been lots of jokes made during and about that particular aspect of their show all summer. While some are probably harsh, the dialogue itself was a little over the top for many and so their reactions went a little over the top as well.

So, as a director, I will no longer be selling the activity to my students and recommending to my students that they march Div 1, because I will not subject any of my kids to these "symptoms of DCI's schizophrenia". Anyone who is a HS director, ask yourself this- if you were at Quarterfinals or were in a theater, would you want your kids to be on the field with The Cadets?

You could draw the conclusion that you not recommend any students to march with any corps, or you could decide that the show designs of The Cadets alone are not producing the environment you would like them to be in. If the problem were entirely DCI and its fans, wouldn't all of the corps have been treated the same way? It appears clear (to me, at least) that there was something specific to The Cadets that caused this reaction.

It could be that the excessive reaction was due to a corps that they felt was being excessive. It appears that both sides were within the confines of the rules since The Cadets were not disqualified and, to my knowledge, nobody was removed from the Rose Bowl stands either. If it is the apparent tolerance of this crowd behavior that upsets you, then maybe you are on the right track. I just feel that when you really look at the context objectively, you will see a show that seemed to be pushing the limits that resulted in a fan reaction that pushed the limits. Nothing more than that.