It's not narration that's the problem, it's Cadets' pr

[soccerguy315]

Here's something I find interesting:

7 div 1 corps have used narration in their programs to some extent since 2004: Boston, Crown, Cadets, BD, Blue Stars, PC and Bluecoats. That's it.

there's another one. Using narration was the final straw and caused them to move across the country.

[McKdrummer]

Long time reader, first time poster, here. As a former Cadet member, there are a couple things that bother me more than anything else. Let me start by saying I am very much against narration. With that being said, I will not go on about why I hate it. I and 10,000 others could probably write a detailed ten page dissertation on the matter. However, there are a couple things I would like to share, from my point of view.

The first is the fact that I believe it is CRUCIAL people voice their concerns about this subject. So many times I have read, "enough with the flaming, stop with the hating, enough with the criticizing, stop with the negatives..." People need to be heard. If you don't like something you see, let it be known! You probably aren't the only one.

When I marched in a div. III corps, the director told us something I will never forget. He said (somewhat revised) you perform for four different groups of people. The first is yourself. This is the most important. You must love what you are doing, and truly believe in it, because at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with it. The second is for the crowd. This is almost equally important. You are putting on a performance, not barking into a mirror. If the crowd doesn't love what you are doing, or understand it, what is the purpose of the performance? (mid-90s Madison knew that) The third is to the judges. There are certain criteria that you are judged on that you must abide by. You cannot just be a crowd pleaser, you must also march in step :-) The last is to the critics. The people that write about you (professionally, not on forums). You usually don't worry about these people.

With ALL OF THAT being said... I believe this forum is an outlet for the crowd... THE FANS... to be heard. We are not the critics, we are the people who want to root for them! We are the fans! And you can't ignore what the fans want. If everyone said nothing, just to be polite, this would continue and everyone would just grit their teeth during the Cadets' show. No one wants that.

In 2006 I watched the Cadets walk off the field into the lot behind Camp Randall. The guard had tears in their eyes. Not because their season was over, but because they were pretty much booed off the field. In 2007 everyone in California was laughing at them because the plot of the show was so ridiculous. This year, people are just getting fed up. As an alumnus, it tears me up inside to see this and I wonder how long it will go on. (I don't believe the solution is to stop people from booing. The REASON they are being booed must be addressed)

A close friend of mine and I were discussing the show. He said something that truly sticks with me. He said, "I remember when I used to go to a corps show, see The Cadets and think 'wow.' THOSE are THE CADETS. They would perform their show and you knew you had just witnessed something awesome. Now you see them and you just laugh at how absurdly childish and cheesy their show is."

Now, contrary to that last line, and through my own experiences, I KNOW what a world class organization the Cadets are. I know the values they teach, and how many great people are in that organization. Unfortunately, the average fan only sees the product on the field. The product on the field is what gives you most of your reputation.

[ronsell]

Long time reader, first time poster, here. As a former Cadet member, there are a couple things that bother me more than anything else. Let me start by saying I am very much against narration. With that being said, I will not go on about why I hate it. I and 10,000 others could probably write a detailed ten page dissertation on the matter. However, there are a couple things I would like to share, from my point of view.

The first is the fact that I believe it is CRUCIAL people voice their concerns about this subject. So many times I have read, "enough with the flaming, stop with the hating, enough with the criticizing, stop with the negatives..." People need to be heard. If you don't like something you see, let it be known! You probably aren't the only one.

When I marched in a div. III corps, the director told us something I will never forget. He said (somewhat revised) you perform for four different groups of people. The first is yourself. This is the most important. You must love what you are doing, and truly believe in it, because at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with it. The second is for the crowd. This is almost equally important. You are putting on a performance, not barking into a mirror. If the crowd doesn't love what you are doing, or understand it, what is the purpose of the performance? (mid-90s Madison knew that) The third is to the judges. There are certain criteria that you are judged on that you must abide by. You cannot just be a crowd pleaser, you must also march in step :-) The last is to the critics. The people that write about you (professionally, not on forums). You usually don't worry about these people.

With ALL OF THAT being said... I believe this forum is an outlet for the crowd... THE FANS... to be heard. We are not the critics, we are the people who want to root for them! We are the fans! And you can't ignore what the fans want. If everyone said nothing, just to be polite, this would continue and everyone would just grit their teeth during the Cadets' show. No one wants that.

In 2006 I watched the Cadets walk off the field into the lot behind Camp Randall. The guard had tears in their eyes. Not because their season was over, but because they were pretty much booed off the field. In 2007 everyone in California was laughing at them because the plot of the show was so ridiculous. This year, people are just getting fed up. As an alumnus, it tears me up inside to see this and I wonder how long it will go on. (I don't believe the solution is to stop people from booing. The REASON they are being booed must be addressed)

A close friend of mine and I were discussing the show. He said something that truly sticks with me. He said, "I remember when I used to go to a corps show, see The Cadets and think 'wow.' THOSE are THE CADETS. They would perform their show and you knew you had just witnessed something awesome. Now you see them and you just laugh at how absurdly childish and cheesy their show is."

Now, contrary to that last line, and through my own experiences, I KNOW what a world class organization the Cadets are. I know the values they teach, and how many great people are in that organization. Unfortunately, the average fan only sees the product on the field. The product on the field is what gives you most of your reputation.

[kusankusho]

Long time reader, first time poster, here.

/snipped for brevity

Wow - what - a - post!

Excellent perspectives and insight sir. Bravo!

[Phillygwm]

It might be helpful if George would clearly articulate from the 10,000 foot level, if you will, what he hopes to accomplish with regard to the activity by pursuing this path.

It is divisive.

Those of us that oppose narration do not see what George does.

I do not think he understands how polarizing this is or more disturbing may enjoy the controversy.

Didn't he just do that a couple weeks ago with the "webinar"? I don't know that it changed any minds.

Look, either you like it or you don't. I agree with a previous poster: there are very few examples of narration done well but there are one or two that I can think of (others will disagree, of course, but IMHO Coats '07 and Cadets '05.) I don't necessarily want to see it repealed just because 98% of the usage is crap but I would like to see standards about how narrative can be judged so that corps wishing to use it can do so but be rewarded or penalized accordingly. Right now, there seems to be no ramifications for doing it badly.

[leeb]

Long time reader, first time poster, here"

Ok I was at quarter finals last year (07) and was impressed with Cadets show minus the narration. At semi-finals I watched Cadets horn line warm up and that was just amazing!!! They were upset from the night before,(hash mark incident) and were pure emotion / just intense. You could feel the tension come off Geno and the entire horn line!

I watched Cadets win in 84 and since then I have been a fan. But when I listen to the show last/this year I am trying to concentrate on the music and marching but get distracted by the narration. My heart goes out to all the kids and hope that they enjoy the season.

[HockeyDad]

In 2006 I watched the Cadets walk off the field into the lot behind Camp Randall. The guard had tears in their eyes. Not because their season was over, but because they were pretty much booed off the field. In 2007 everyone in California was laughing at them because the plot of the show was so ridiculous. This year, people are just getting fed up. As an alumnus, it tears me up inside to see this and I wonder how long it will go on. (I don't believe the solution is to stop people from booing. The REASON they are being booed must be addressed)

Thanks for the post. One thing: I was at Camp Randall in 2006. All three nights. If Cadets were "pretty much booed off the field" I must have been in a temporary coma. They did not get booed off the field. I understand your statement might be a little exaggerated for effect, but, this "Cadets get booed at every show" thing is more myth than truth. I have attended several shows each season. I did not attend Finals last year - maybe "they" were booed (although it was directed at GH I'm sure) then, but to extrapolate that to every single show is a little disingenuous. I was at Madison this year - I heard zero booing.

[amjn]

When I marched in a div. III corps, the director told us something I will never forget. He said (somewhat revised) you perform for four different groups of people. The first is yourself. This is the most important. You must love what you are doing, and truly believe in it, because at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with it. The second is for the crowd. This is almost equally important. You are putting on a performance, not barking into a mirror. If the crowd doesn't love what you are doing, or understand it, what is the purpose of the performance? (mid-90s Madison knew that) The third is to the judges. There are certain criteria that you are judged on that you must abide by. You cannot just be a crowd pleaser, you must also march in step :-) The last is to the critics. The people that write about you (professionally, not on forums). You usually don't worry about these people.

I couldn't agree more.

[McKdrummer]

(it was after the awards ceremony when I saw them crying in 06, not the show. sorry i was not specific. there were some really nasty comments coming from the crowd)

[GGarrett]

"Long time reader, first time poster, here. As a former Cadet member, ..."

Wow. Welcome to posting on DCP ... that was a pretty impressive first post.