Some questions to members of the Cadets

[MisterA]

First off, this is in no way meant to bash the Cadets, so please nothing extremely negative.

We all know how much Cadets bashing there has been since about 2005. And while we each have our own opinions about the corps and the types of shows they have done, this is more about learning the perspective about the members of the corps who have marched during this controversy. And while I haven't enjoyed some of the talking during their shows, I honestly think they have been underplaced at least once during this stretch. 2006 was an example, where they should have placed 3rd behind Cavaliers and Blue Devils, and yet Bluecoats and Phantom beat them.

So some of my questions include

When you joined Cadets in the year that you did, were you aware of the direction they were going to be taking? Were you aware there were going to be major controversies surrounding the corps?

Were you ever stunned by the booing by some of the crowd after a performance, especially when you knew how great you had performed?

If you would have known how your season would turn out(and I am not talking about placements at finals, but at the controversy), would you have still joined the corps?

Do you ever regret marching Cadets?

And last, if you could say a couple of things to some of the people who have had such negative reactions to the shows, what would you say to them?

[BigDale]

Did you ever really care about all that stuff, or did you just want to be the best your could be?!

[MisterA]

Did you ever really care about all that stuff, or did you just want to be the best your could be?!

I honestly hope no one wishes they hadn't marched Cadets, and I understand what you are saying. But sometimes corps remind me of high school cliques, and the pressure can be pretty painful sometimes. I know some people use that as motivation, which judging from the level of performances over the last 6 years, I would think alot of them did.

[dbc03]

When you joined Cadets in the year that you did, were you aware of the direction they were going to be taking? Were you aware there were going to be major controversies surrounding the corps?

In 2004 at the end of the season there was a member survey about the direction the members hoped the corps would go. Most people said that instead of trying to make pretty good shows that pleased everybody they wanted to go back to pushing the limit and being more like some of the years past. So in 2005 I knew that it was going to be a big change, and I was happy with it even though it took me a while to buy into the show. I knew that it could be really awesome, but it could have been a train wreck just as easily (and it was for a while). At the beginning of the season I said that we were either going to come in 1st or 6th. Great rewards require great risks.

Were you ever stunned by the booing by some of the crowd after a performance, especially when you knew how great you had performed?

Only times I really remember being booed in 05 were when we passed the Cavies in Indy and a few here and there when we got a 99.15.

I laughed about it. Probably would have been a little harder to laugh about if we weren't winning though. But, then again in 04 our show wasn't very popular and we didn't do well competitively, and that was a great season too, so I really don't think it matters that much.

If you would have known how your season would turn out(and I am not talking about placements at finals, but at the controversy), would you have still joined the corps?

Do you ever regret marching Cadets?

I feel like these are two of the same question, and the only thing I regret is not marching Cadets sooner and not being able to march longer.

And last, if you could say a couple of things to some of the people who have had such negative reactions to the shows, what would you say to them?

People are entitled to not like shows. I don't like every show either. Booing is kind of a dick move though.

Did you ever really care about all that stuff, or did you just want to be the best your could be?!

I certainly cared about placements and whether or not people liked our show, but those were somewhere down the list behind a lot of other things.

[Drumcorpsfan471]

When you joined Cadets in the year that you did, were you aware of the direction they were going to be taking? Were you aware there were going to be major controversies surrounding the corps?

When I joined, I knew the direction we were headed. I LOVED the 2005 show, and I knew that the Cadets had a history of pushing the limits of the activity, so I was comfortable with it.

Were you ever stunned by the booing by some of the crowd after a performance, especially when you knew how great you had performed?

The only time I was ever surprised by the boo's was quarterfinals 2007.

If you would have known how your season would turn out(and I am not talking about placements at finals, but at the controversy), would you have still joined the corps?

Absolutely. I loved everything about being a Cadet.

Do you ever regret marching Cadets?

Absolutely not. Never have, and never will.

And last, if you could say a couple of things to some of the people who have had such negative reactions to the shows, what would you say to them?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion good or bad. I would just say try to keep an open mind about it. There are a lot of good things in each of those shows if you are willing to look for them.

Did you ever really care about all that stuff, or did you just want to be the best your could be?!

There is a quote from Marc Sylvester that sums up how I felt about everything. "It's not about scores or who you are going to beat - it's about whether you are going to be the greatest Cadet corps of all time. Whether you will have the performances of '83 or '93, whether you will have the proficency of '85 or '98 or the passion of '89 or '87. Will you have the intensity of '92 and the tradition of '90 or will you be able to connect with the crowd like in 2000 or 2002. That's what is important now - not what some one else is doing, but whether you are going to choose to be legendary."

-Marc Sylvester

Hope this helps!

For Holy Name Shall Always Be

[melloguy05]

What those guys above me said.

[BRASSO]

First off, this is in no way meant to bash the Cadets, so please nothing extremely negative.

We all know how much Cadets bashing there has been since about 2005. And while we each have our own opinions about the corps and the types of shows they have done, this is more about learning the perspective about the members of the corps who have marched during this controversy. And while I haven't enjoyed some of the talking during their shows, I honestly think they have been underplaced at least once during this stretch. 2006 was an example, where they should have placed 3rd behind Cavaliers and Blue Devils, and yet Bluecoats and Phantom beat them.

So some of my questions include

When you joined Cadets in the year that you did, were you aware of the direction they were going to be taking? Were you aware there were going to be major controversies surrounding the corps?

Were you ever stunned by the booing by some of the crowd after a performance, especially when you knew how great you had performed?

If you would have known how your season would turn out(and I am not talking about placements at finals, but at the controversy), would you have still joined the corps?

Do you ever regret marching Cadets?

And last, if you could say a couple of things to some of the people who have had such negative reactions to the shows, what would you say to them?

I would ask the OP some questions too. And not to" bash "him.

1) Can you name a single Corps where the camp tryouts prospects knew when they signed up for that Corps in the offseason what " the direction the Corps was going to take the following season " regarding the show ?

2) do you know any prospects that have tried out for a Drum Corps in late fall, early winter that have the powers of clairvoyance ?

3) are you " stunned" by the giggles some might get out of your questions on this thread ?

4) had you known how absurd your questions you initiated on this thread might be received in some quarters on DCP, "might you have still "asked these questions ? Do you "regret now " asking these questions ?

5) and last...." if you could say a couple of things to some of the people who have such negative reactions " to the questions, "what would you say to them "? This is not meant to" bash " you. This is about learning the perspective of people who ask silly questions, so that some of us might be able to learn what the motivation is that prompted them to ask such silly questions about people that most believe might be very talented musicians, but probably do not possess the powers of clairvoyance to predict what the future reaction ( negative or positive ) would be to something not yet created.

Edited April 30, 2010 by BRASSO

[Lance]

The Cadets are simply amazing whether I like a particular show of theirs or not.

Just wanted to throw that out there.

[BRASSO]

The Cadets are simply amazing whether I like a particular show of theirs or not.

Just wanted to throw that out there.

You might be interested to know that had I known you were going to answer this question before you posted it, in the fashion you just did, that I probably would have responded in the same way I just did.

On the other hand, you might be interested to know that had I not known what you were going to post in reply, I may not have responded to your reply at all.

I really wish I could predict the future. If I could, I 'd love to see the negative reaction the Casino operators at Vegas would give me there after about an hour at the blackjack table.

Edited April 30, 2010 by BRASSO

[jpaul]

I didn't think the questions were silly. Some of the responses were pretty good too.