On the Propriety of Booing

[IRMO]

Yeah but everytime he has inspected the field and said something about it, something was done about it. I don't see a "smug" attitude. If you have marched, you know how dangerous a field could be. From holes in the field to hills appearing out of nowhere, if you are not careful and not sure what is on that field, you could either hurt yourself or take a tumble. So I think he is right for inspecting the field. He only appears to have a smug attitude because you choose to take it that way.

Spot on. People see what they want to see.

I heard people say after Thursday night why didnt George just come onto the field and not bring the whole corps to just turn them around. See, and now we have complaining because he does just that.

###### if you do and ###### if you dont.

[byline]

then why oh why are we suddenly now surprised that we now are beginning to hear some boos at these competitive " Games " in the outdoor stadium venue ?

I think we've pretty well established that this isn't the first time booing has taken place at a DCI event. Not by a long shot.

[year1buick]

I won't boo in the stands because I don't want it to seem I'm booing the performers, but if there was a way I could boo George directly, I would lose my voice. You can say all you want about how he looks out for the safety of his kids...this is true. I'm just sick and tired of his smug attitude. Do you ever notice how he comes out and inspects the field hours before his corps comes on? In San Antonio and Atlanta, he's walking out on the field by himself 7 or 8 corps before his. He also did it in Charlotte, although it was because of field concerns, hence the sandbags and staff spray painting hashes. It's like he has to make an appearance so EVERYBODY sees him walking around talking on his cell phone. If you watch him closely, he'll talk for a minute, then dial another #, talk for a minute, then dial another #. Who is he talking to? The fact that he bowed to the crowd on Thursday night when they were booing proves my point. His ego is as big as his hair.

Flame away everyone.

No flaming, however I would like to point out that this is not an uncommon practice. People just recognize who he is when he's doing it. When I marched at Regiment, our visual staff would always give us a field report during warmup. I'm pretty sure this is done by other corps.

[Gorgo]

Just my 2 cents' worth here. . .

Booing the show on the field, regardless of who you want to hear the "message", goes directly to those in front of you - the kids who pay for the experience and work their arses off to put that show on for the fans. And that's not right under any circumstance, even if you feel you have the right to do so. THAT I believe!

That's why at every show I attend, I stand and cheer at the end of each show (and mid-show if I feel so moved) and again when the corps troops the stands, regardless of how I felt about the show design or the level of performance - because these kids have more than earned it from me for the reasons stated in the paragraph immediately before this one. It's the least I can do to show my appreciation for all that they do. And they do one helluva lot more than I ever did in buying a seat to watch the show.

Because it's all about them. Not the design teams. Not the directors. Certainly not the audience. The kids. And they should be central to any and all considerations of how an audience member should or shouldn't behave in the stands.

And another "opinion" - "schizophrenia" is not an exclusive "symptom" of the DCI situation - it exists in the audience as well. I, for one, dearly love Star '93 - the music book was innovative and exciting, and these kids played the jumpin' bejeebus out of it. And the visuals - goosebump occasions were numerous pour moi - and as I watch the whole show, there are spots that are insanely well done. All my opinion, of coors.

But that is the "beauty" of artistic interpretation - one man's meat is another's poison. It happens as a natural part of the artistic process. But it still doesn't sufficiently justify booing or dissing the show on the field - ever!

[year1buick]

No. Calling people "all types of names" is not the high road in any situation. You should calmly and politely ask them to stop and then report them to the ushers/security if they persist. Write letters to DCI in complaint if nothing is done about it. Verbally assaulting people is not the right resolution anymore than booing a corps because you disagree with their show concept. If anything, verbal assault is more wrong, since calling people "all types of names" could be a crime in some areas.

My original comment was more to make a point than anything--that the same people who have been rationalizing that the performers should be thick skinned would almost surely balk at getting a dose of the same, in return. Despite what many have claimed, I don't believe that they'd be cool with getting booed themselves. I don't buy it for a second. (Perhaps, if one were to simply say, "Excuse me, but I believe your behavior is boorish and idiotic," it would alleviate the situation. In this way, they would understand that their behavior was being criticized--not them personally. :) ) I'm also not sure what you mean by "freaking out." Have you heard of instances where people opposed to this have behaved worse than what happened on Thursday night? It seems that some of the pro-booing camp are just as sensitive to criticism.

[byline]

And another "opinion" - "schizophrenia" is not an exclusive "symptom" of the DCI situation - it exists in the audience as well. I, for one, dearly love Star '93 - the music book was innovative and exciting, and these kids played the jumpin' bejeebus out of it. And the visuals - goosebump occasions were numerous pour moi - and as I watch the whole show, there are spots that are insanely well done. All my opinion, of coors.

So true. That was the first Star show I actually liked, and I liked it the very first time I saw it. I can't explain why, but for me that show carried a conviction that, for whatever reason, didn't come across to me with their previous shows. It could just boil down to the fact that I'm a guard person, and that was without question the strongest guard they ever fielded. Finally, they weren't there primarily for effect and big jewelry, but they had convincing equipment technique, too. Whatever the reason, Star '93 started out as a favorite of mine and has only grown over time.

[X DM]

I think we've pretty well established that this isn't the first time booing has taken place at a DCI event. Not by a long shot.

Then why the sudden outcry here re The Cadets ? And why then were The Cadet members caught apparently so off guard and from their own members quotes ...so rattled it effected their quarterfinals performance ? Sounds to me like a lack of preparation by the staff for this very real possibility.. Nobody can tell us with a straight face that The Cadets did not know by June at the latest that their show was going to be controversial with a sizeable portion of the national audience. To march into the Quarterfinals stadium, be subjected to boos re the hash mark delay, or their show or what have you, and become so rattled by the experience they tell us now that this accounts for the reason for their flat performannce in the quarterfinals of THE CHAMPIONSHIPS.... that they have prepared for all winter.....well, that rings hollow. I'm not condoning the booing. It was unfortunate. But the fact that they were rattled, means to me that the members were simply not prepared as well as they should have been by their staff for the Championships all important first show... the quarterfinals.. The adult staff of that Corps needs to step up and take the responsibility for their Corps members being caught off guard by some of the fans reception in the quarterfinals when they marched into that stadium.

Edited August 13, 2007 by X DM

[CreativeType]

I made a similar point earlier and I wholeheartedly believe after Thursday night that the booers are doing just as much to ruin this activity as they claim GH is.

It's hard to blame people if they were never taught how to act responsibly in public. I blame my generation for raising a bunch of hoodlums who never heard no and have no respect for themselves let alone others.

I dont care what year it is or what corps is on the field it is never appropriate to boo artistic performers.

I was not a fan of the narration in the Cadets show, nor am I a fan of booing. And being a "nevermarched" my opinion will be worthless to some of you but I would like to take a moment to put this into a bit of historical context...

Several posters have stated that booing is a result of the decline of manners, a sign of our current impolite society, etc. On the contrary, as a response to one's thoughts on an artistic presentation, booing is a time honored tradition. From the earliest accounts of performances of any kind, the expectation on behalf of the performer was that the audience would make it known *clearly* what they thought of the performer(s). This ranged from applause and gifts to (yes) booing, the throwing of rotten vegetables, and even death! In Shakespeare's time it was quite common for actors to be shouted off stage and opera fans to this day are notorious for expressing their displeasure through all sorts of catcalls and boos. Let us not forget that the first performance of the ballet "Rite of Spring" descended into an audience riot, and the opening night of Chekhov's "The Seagull" was met with loud and sustained booing. Please do not glean that my implication here is that Hopkins is some kind of artistic genius whose work will stand the test of time with Stravinsky and Chekhov - I merely wish to point out that any change from the artistic norm is painful and greeted with skepticism if not hostility.

My point is this: With the current state of music (and arts programs in general) in our schools, I for one am rather cheered to know that the activity of drum corps is alive and well enough to solicit this type of polarized reactions on both sides. It shows that people feel passionately enough about it to express their displeasure at its perceived weakening/strengthening. Artistic growth is always a painful cultural shift and whether you feel it is in the right or wrong direction, I am very happy to see that the fire still burns!!!

[ech2os]

Outstanding insights here Don...... In an earlier post last week, I acknowledged that booing is the byproduct of the venue and how DCI is marketing themselves these last few seasons....." ESPN"...... "Major Leagues"...."shoot out at the ok corral"...... performers trumpeted now as "athletes "...... have the endurance of " olympic competitors"....... lets wire a percussionist to demonstrate his heart beats "as fast or faster than most athletes" snd lets PROVE IT FOR THE AUDIENCE with an accredited heart specialist from a Univ....... we are told that " the competition is really beginning to heat up " from the Semi's...... lets.show a clip of Bobby Knight who loves Drum Corps too......did Rondo tell us the competition is REALLY heating up ?..... and so forth.

When we put the " teams " as we call them now in an outdoor stadium, market " the Summer Music GAMES it to ESPN, and stress the intense competition level ( " These Corps are just getting better and BETTER every year " says Rondo ), and we liken them" to well conditioned athletes"....... then why oh why are we suddenly now surprised that we now are beginning to hear some boos at these competitive " Games " in the outdoor football stadium venue ? Your typical ESPN sports fan must be scratching their head at what all this fuss is about regarding a brief moment in a 4 hour competition of a smattering of....... Gawd forbid....... a boo.

So yes, there is some apparent " schizophenia " like actions at work here. DCI wants to liken Drum Corps and its marchers to toughtened athletes. They want them adulated like athletes at colleges and universities. But as we know, 17-22 year old college athletes are ROUTINELY greeted with catcalls, boos, ridiculing signs, and worse etc all designed to give the home team an advantage and make the opponent become rattled. DCI wants the adulation for their competitors, but as for an occassional boo ?..... well, these are really Band kids here so lets be real sensitive here with them and not hurt their feelings. Can't have it both ways folks. If Drum Corps wants to see themselves as tough and strong "athlete like" competitors, then they are either going to have to learn to blow their nose, wipe their eyes and get real, or else drop the sports and athlete analogies in it's future marketing altogether. That's my 2 cents worth anyway.

Classic. Well stated. My point was this.........if you can't stand on a field with 134 other people and take a boo you have bigger problems.......do you think you are going to be able to stand there one on one and hear what people think of you or your resume or your performance when they tell you no or that you stink don't quit your day job ?

There is a lot of Barry Bonds here with Hopkins........if any other Director pulls his corps from the field there is no booing. But when you ruffle so many feathers year after year, you put a bullseye on your back.

I could be wrong, but I doubt the people booing were attending their first drum corps show. There is a bit of history that we are all aware of that provides an impetus for what might normally be a letter writing protest into a boo. And there are two issues here...........1) Is booing ever acceptable............2) Should it effect the "kids" ?

I'll go back to one of the mantra's I hear on this site constantly......educating the "kids"........."kids" who have thick skin are undeniably better off in life. Some people are born with thick skin and some people develop thick skin.

Maybe the folks who booed DID write a letter. We don't know. Booing definitely has its place as a form of communication and protest. I think grown educated men actually boo and are booed in the House of Commons. Much like my feelings about some soccer fans who think people who don't like soccer just don't "undertstand it", I don't think only ignorant, uninformed people boo. Some of those people booing may have poured their heart and soul into the activity as well when they were younger and feel they have a "right" to express their discontent with Hopkins because of that and NOT because they paid for a ticket.

And to the poster who claimed that "these kids don't get paid" as some sort of justification for insulating them from reality.....money doesn't make people any different when it comes to who they are deep down. If you can't take a boo when you are broke, you won't suddenly be able to take a boo when you are loaded. One has nothing to do with the other.

I could go on about this all night........should all protests be submitted in writing to some governing body ? If you look, there are many protests in this country and not all of them are done with "taste". But the argument can me made that sometimes taste doesn't get results. I'd let my kids march Cadets in a 2nd, but I woud also forewarn them to be prepared for any and all reactions. I would definitely let them know that the people they hear booing aren't booing them and even if they were, guess what.......suck it up. In this life, being booed when you are 18 is one of the easiest things you'll have to endure.

Edited August 13, 2007 by ech2os

[NakedEye]

But the fact that they were rattled, means to me that the members were simply not prepared as well as they should have been by their staff for the Championships all important first show... the quarterfinals.. The adult staff of that Corps needs to step up and take the responsibility for their Corps apparently being caught so off guard by the fans reception in the quarterfinals when they marched into that stadium.

So they are "unprepared" because they were shocked by a completely ugly, beer-fueled reaction when the worst they had encountered so far in the season was polite, rather than enthusiastic applause? I was around for the Star booing and it was nothing compared to what happened on Thursday. Star also received it AFTER their show, not as they were about to begin.

They aren't a group of 135 stand-up comics who have experience handling something like that, and I find it highly unlikely that any other corps would have done better with it. The uproar happened mere moments before they were to start. Now the next night, they HAD experienced it and knew it MIGHT be a possibility. You know how that performance went.

The worst that can be said about Thursday's run is that it didn't seem to be their best. The fact that it wasn't a complete train wreck given the circumstances speaks volumes about just how prepared and focused they were.