Cadets webcast

[DRUMAJOR]

>> As would any fan of a corps that received even a fraction of the crap _____' get.

> The thing is, there aren't 15 million threads about the _____ _____' easy drill or park and blows.

> There aren't 15 million threads about the _____' lack of a brass book.

> There aren't 15 million threads about _____'_ tone quality at loud volumes.

AS YOU WERE

Now get back on the bus, and I'll see if I can whip up some directed criticism.

[Pinwiz]

Im hardly whining or "desperate" or "suffering" or at a loss to what to do over this less than favorable show by the Cadets.

You haven't seen the show yet. Or if you've watched it online, you haven't seen the final product. How do you know that the show is a lesser product?

I understand that people aren't happy with where Cadets have been headed over the last few years, but seriously people... we're at a point where things aren't going to change. People could just as easily rant at the sky for being blue, and make as much of a difference.

Me, I'm waiting to see it in Madison before I start critiquing.

There's 19 other World Class corps and even more Open Class corps that would love the energy devoted to them that people waste complaining on Cadets.

[EDIT: Removing person-specific pronouns.]

Edited June 14, 2008 by Pinwiz

[euponitone]

My first real post in this debate, and I gotta say - I sympathize a lot more with -G- than I do with some of the people attacking him. I mean seriously...I dont even agree with most of what he says, but even coming from someone who has the opposite view, his points are pretty laid back compared to the people calling him a troll and telling him to get a life. Its a sad day when I'm embarrassed to be a cadet fan (at least in the online community - shows are generally nothing like this...)

[chaddyt]

My first real post in this debate, and I gotta say - I sympathize a lot more with -G- than I do with some of the people attacking him. I mean seriously...I dont even agree with most of what he says, but even coming from someone who has the opposite view, his points are pretty laid back compared to the people calling him a troll and telling him to get a life. Its a sad day when I'm embarrassed to be a cadet fan (at least in the online community - shows are generally nothing like this...)

I apologize to G if any of my posts came across as attacking. My sarcasm and cynicism has a tendency to shine through more so online.

A lot of it has to do with just being over all the negativity expressed towards a corps that has, in my opinion, received more than it's fair share over the past few years.

Sorry GMichael.

[LandoC]

hugs all around!!!

come here ~G~

[euponitone]

A lot of it has to do with just being over all the negativity expressed towards a corps that has, in my opinion, received more than it's fair share over the past few years.

I will agree with this, and your previous post...however, you've got to admit this thread was pretty much guaranteed to be a discussion on narration, since its the first time most people have heard it...

[2000Cadet]

My first real post in this debate, and I gotta say - I sympathize a lot more with -G- than I do with some of the people attacking him. I mean seriously...I dont even agree with most of what he says, but even coming from someone who has the opposite view, his points are pretty laid back compared to the people calling him a troll and telling him to get a life. Its a sad day when I'm embarrassed to be a cadet fan (at least in the online community - shows are generally nothing like this...)

I, too, sympathize with G because I do understand a lot of his points. But at the same time, some of the others are right as well. This was only the first viewing of Cadets and already there are people getting bent out of shape over this narration just like last year. If you feel embarrassed, then I am sorry to hear you say that. But I am embarrassed that many Cadets fans have to try their best to defend Cadets as passionately as people who shut them down.

[GMichael1230]

Thanks guys. You are the class of your organization and truly whats special about drum corps. Just for the record, I am not a Cadet hater, I understand why I have to state that every summer, and I know its my fault. What bothers me the most about the activity right now just happens to be what Cadets are doing so its easy to label me a hater and attack and the n not having to deal with a fan who is disenfranchised by the current state of affairs.

I have loved most of the Cadets shows since back in 1979, consider one (1998) in my top five of all time, and really only have had a problem these past few years. To me, and many, which is another issue, but back to me. To ME...this is a musical activity. Sure the drills are mind-boggling, the colors of the guard are awesome and the total visual package, as it accents the music can be awe inspiring. But think about it.

We buy audio downloads without visual, CD's without visual,d o we ever just by the visual without the audio ? Does anyone honestly stick a dvd or vhs tape in and turn off the volume and get the same enjoyment as popping in the CD, cranking the volume and listening ??

My point ??

Cadets are going out of their way to try and overtake the music with voice. Yes, its only one observance so far, got to tell ya'. I stayed away all off-season because I wasnt happy with what Cadets gave us last year and was afraid thats where the activity was heading, and I was equally disturbed by the booing, being there, I felt awkward looking left and right and seeing the majority so frenzied, but I totally understood their passion. Most did, I was hoping those designing Cadets cared just enough to curb it back this year, I was wrong and am very unhappy that they now consider voice a prominent element in a drum and bugle corps show.

Sure things change, I accepted amplification, I could even accept the voice, If I had to if it fit, was clever and didnt overshadow the music and the talent on the field, I mean....lets go back to last year, can you believe that drill from Cadets ? Or that smack in the face loud yet dynamic brass line ??? Unbelivable....thats what really pisses me off !!! As good as that was , thats how bad that narration was and it ruined a really good thing, you shouldnt be putting subpar efforts out at the end of the season when the rest of the elements are phenomenal.

Whining ?? no way, just disappointed that I even have to acknowledge that their is an option of "getting a hot dog" during a performance. I wont do that, I dont want to miss something, thats what I mean by "suffer through" because I didnt want to leave.

Now back to this years offering. Tell ya the truth, drum corps is an escape, no need to get into politics, religion, current events...etc.....WIth gas prices approaching $5, the war in Iraq, the economy in the hole and plenty of other problems occuring, I dont care about whats her names trite problems and them being exploited and highlighted on the football field in a drum corps show. I pay my hundreds of dollars and drive my many moles to get away from that crap. I dont need a drum corps show to make me aware of current events or other problems, I have the news, the internet, the library, etc..when I choose to do so.

I want the brass and the percussion to communicate to me and tell a story and I want the colorguard to enhance it. I want the creative staff to progam a show that reaches me intellectually, not spells it out to me and tells me what I should know verbally. Its as simple as that. How can you be passionate about something you didnt bargian for, didnt ask for and isnt remotely like what you fell in love with in the first place (and then discuss it in a discussion forum and get beaten by those defenders that lack respect and perspective....not all, they know who they are).

Again, like I write almost every season, change is inevitable, all things change, but change for the sake of change constant swift meaningless changes that really dont enhance a product are what will ultimately be its downfall. As soon as one thing is changed, those in charge ram another one down our throats, and before even perfecting those changes ? add more...why ??? How has adding amplification, and narration, help expand the activity and made it better ?? Ive asked this for years and never once gotten a real answer.

With gas approaching $5 and $6 around the country how is it better or in the best interest of the future of drum corps to add all the new toys ? Has anything in the past five years topped the, say: 1986 Blue Devils, 1988 SCV, 1993 Cadets ? 1995 Scouts ? ......you get my drift ?? Integrity in product and design is what keeps people interested. True creativity comes when new ground is broken within a set of defined paramters,not when the board decides to change the rules and alter the fundamentals of an activity that has been around longer than they have.

Thats it. Anyway, narration was brought up because the topic was the webcast and the webcast had plenty.

Geoffrey

Edited June 15, 2008 by GMichael1230

[DutDutOut]

to attack me because my opinion isnt all hunky dory !!!!

Geoffrey

So thats how you spell hunky dory... no if I only new what it meant!

[Hrothgar15]

The reason the Cadets get criticized so heavily is that, ironically, they have some of the best if not the best music and drill in the activity year after year. Yet when the design team chooses to use narration and amplified voice so prominently, continues to program shows that remove the limitation that music, not spoken word, must be used to auditorily communicate, and take the focus and purpose away from performance and place it on a message, story, or theme, to many people that music and drill, exceedingly high talent level, and degree of execution are all for naught.

There's just so much potential for outstanding drum and bugle corps, but these design choices render these shows worthless to a lot of people. I can guarantee that if the Cadets marched and played mediocrely and didn't have such high qualilty musical and visual programs, they would receive a fraction of the negativity they currently do.

Edited June 15, 2008 by Hrothgar15