Old Corps Guy Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I have to believe the Cavies will be changing the end of the show. Anyone that has listened to OTSOG knows that the chords at the end are begging to be put on the field with the drum fills in-between each chord. The ending right now just doesn't work for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteInGA Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Here are my personal thoughts on the theater experience: We had probably between 100-125 people in attendance at the theater in the NE Atlanta burbs. My first time doing the DCI at the movies. Was a bit concerned as to how it would go from all of the past issues I've read with regards to the production. Our particular theater had great sound, great video, and never missed a beat so overall I was quite glad I came out. Madison Scouts: It's a very MS show. The performers and the product are very entertaining and I'm sure live was even more amplified. My concern is that this show could have been performed anytime in the last 30 years. It was lacking in innovation and almost seemed like a step (or a few steps) in the wrong direction. Blue Stars: After hearing the introduction interview I was excited to see Side Show. While it was still very dirty (as it should be for this time of year) I was pretty disappointed overall. I was expecting a little more freak show and got more of a family friendly show. It was still entertaining but leaned towards gimmicky for me. I'm sure that as it evolves the idea of it being a depression era traveling circus side show will become more evident. Cavies: Had heard so many positive things coming from the corps and that this was the product to launch them back into the mix. After seeing the show, I'm not sure where I stand. Part of me wants to really like it and think that it can be competitive with the big guns. The other part of me thinks its really flat and the "game on" idea doesn't read at all except through the uniform. I really hope that I'm wrong and that as things move along it does become a powerful show. Tons of fast energy but sadly, this show received the least response from our theater. Carolina Crown: I really want to like this darker side of Crown. And the first 2/3s of the show I really do like it. The color guard is really kicking it right now and the corps was a lot cleaner than I expected. As always, the brass was fantastic. I'm sure that this is far from complete but the transition to Ode to Joy is very abrupt and that is where I was lost. I understand the storyline but it just felt like we jumped from the middle of the book to the last chapter. The overall set design seemed to be lacking from a visual standpoint. I want to see more "hell" on the field (and maybe it will come...props??). Overall it was highly entertaining but a bit of a head scratcher for me. Cadets: Wow...this show is VERY Cadets on all fronts. It is full of powerful music and tons of visual elements (all the things we expect from the Cadets). The idea of the number 10 is portrayed in many different ways, sometimes hitting you over the head and others more subtle. Fantastic percussion. Color guard was pretty dirty (for the Cadets this kind of surprised me, I'm sure they will come along nicely though). Overall, it is quite a production and one that will be towards the top of the heap all season I'm sure. For what it's worth, this show received the largest ovation from my theater. Bloo: After last seasons success, I was really excited to see this. And I was not let down at all. It's like they continued right where they left off. This show is LOUD!!! I can't wait to see it live where I'm relying on my ears vs. the microphones on the field and theater speakers. Holy cow, this corps is moving! And the level of clean was the best of the night across the board. Another product that will be near the top in August. Again...these are MY opinions only. I really enjoyed the show and can't wait to see more from these corps and the rest of the field. Best of luck to everyone on a great 2015 season! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Czapinski killed Bloo last year, so not really surprising. Let's see what happens next week...She has a more visual eye and I agree, Cadets visually have a monster show from an effect standpoint. The drill is nonstop, full field coverage, interesting g, thoughtful and although not clean, has the greatest potential and that's how she called it. Bluecoats have really cool musical sound effects and the visual was second best by a bunch IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwillis35 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Many, many people on these forums have expressed this concern about Cadets shows, both live and recorded, for the past several years. Are we all crazy? Are Cadets' staff incapable of hearing their synths? Or do they actually like it? I haven't minded some of the things they try with electronics. I thought they nailed it with Angels in 2011. For me, I mostly hate their use of e. bass. In 2013 and 2014 it was WAY overkill in all the wrong spots. Last year they destroyed the shaker hymn in their closer with too much bass. They simply do not seem to have the tech team capable of the right balances. I would caution that electronics tend to be over-amplified on the cinecast broadcasts vs. live. We will know more when we see them live. I love their show, and it's a potential winner, but they have to back off and mix better. It's usually more about mixing, but knowing what effects and electronic instruments work in what settings is a key. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) I haven't minded some of the things they try with electronics. I thought they nailed it with Angels in 2011. For me, I mostly hate their use of e. bass. In 2013 and 2014 it was WAY overkill in all the wrong spots. Last year they destroyed the shaker hymn in their closer with too much bass. They simply do not seem to have the tech team capable of the right balances. I would caution that electronics tend to be over-amplified on the cinecast broadcasts vs. live. We will know more when we see them live. I love their show, and it's a potential winner, but they have to back off and mix better. It's usually more about mixing, but knowing what effects and electronic instruments work in what settings is a key.Agreed about the Cadets/synth issue. I've heard other recordings of run throughs and their brass is a powerhouse yet it almost seemed muted at times in the theater. Bloo seems to have the gold standard with electronics but again, as cool as the show was, the loudness was a bit jarring after awhile. I like subtlies in a program for effect and that is just forte from beginning to end. Edited June 18, 2015 by Tobias Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwillis35 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 So "usually" must mean that most of the amplification and electronics used over the past six (for the latter) or eleven (for the former) years have been tawdry, but when those of us in the anti-electronics crowd, as it were, dared to say so, we were told repeatedly how wonderful it was and that we were trying to stop the glory of progress. I understand where you're coming from. The opinions of DCI fans on electronics has morphed over time because what occurred 10 years ago was all we had to go on. In 2005 we didn't have modern shows like BD 2013 or 2014, or Bluecoats 2014 and 2015 to base opinions on. So you basically had two camps of thought: 1) those of us who wanted to see some advance with electronics, and 2) those who wanted more of a traditional approach. I believe that those in camp 1 were willing to put up with some use for the sake of advancing the concept to reality. I know I was in that camp. We were trying to find what worked and what didn't while trying to remain positive about it. But in truth, as I reflect on in years later, so much of what we heard then was cheese or unprofessional mixing and electronic composition. What we are seeing from Bluecoats this year, in my opinion, is extraordinary. And they have been the masters of this for many years, much more so than any other corps. Only BD has come close in my opinion. The 2015 Bluecoats is clearly, to me, a revolutionary show for DCI, one that is leading the activity in the use of all elements of sound -- electronic and acoustic. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madcityscout Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I find interesting at how some of you guys can be so critical of these shows during the first show of the season and not even take into consideration that it's just that, the first show! Everyone one of these young people in each of these corps work their butts off in all types of elements so the say absurd things like "disaster" or someone got "screwed" really shows your understanding of what's really going on. Just because you don't like a choice of music or theme personally should not objectively want you to trash it, it's just your Monday morning quarterback opinion. It's early and I'm sure most of these corps finished products will look markedly different by DCI finals. You tell by some of the comments made who is knowledgable and who is not. For example, I really appreciate the knowledgeable comments by Horn Teacher. Definitely knows the activity as a performer and instructor. I will close by saying this, it is going to be a very competitive year this year in DCI, which is good for the activity. Some that we expect to place higher will not in the end, and some we expect to fade will not this year. Again, this is all good for the future of the activity. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phan771 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Here are my personal thoughts on the theater experience: We had probably between 100-125 people in attendance at the theater in the NE Atlanta burbs. My first time doing the DCI at the movies. Was a bit concerned as to how it would go from all of the past issues I've read with regards to the production. Our particular theater had great sound, great video, and never missed a beat so overall I was quite glad I came out. Madison Scouts: It's a very MS show. The performers and the product are very entertaining and I'm sure live was even more amplified. My concern is that this show could have been performed anytime in the last 30 years. It was lacking in innovation and almost seemed like a step (or a few steps) in the wrong direction. Blue Stars: After hearing the introduction interview I was excited to see Side Show. While it was still very dirty (as it should be for this time of year) I was pretty disappointed overall. I was expecting a little more freak show and got more of a family friendly show. It was still entertaining but leaned towards gimmicky for me. I'm sure that as it evolves the idea of it being a depression era traveling circus side show will become more evident. Cavies: Had heard so many positive things coming from the corps and that this was the product to launch them back into the mix. After seeing the show, I'm not sure where I stand. Part of me wants to really like it and think that it can be competitive with the big guns. The other part of me thinks its really flat and the "game on" idea doesn't read at all except through the uniform. I really hope that I'm wrong and that as things move along it does become a powerful show. Tons of fast energy but sadly, this show received the least response from our theater. Carolina Crown: I really want to like this darker side of Crown. And the first 2/3s of the show I really do like it. The color guard is really kicking it right now and the corps was a lot cleaner than I expected. As always, the brass was fantastic. I'm sure that this is far from complete but the transition to Ode to Joy is very abrupt and that is where I was lost. I understand the storyline but it just felt like we jumped from the middle of the book to the last chapter. The overall set design seemed to be lacking from a visual standpoint. I want to see more "hell" on the field (and maybe it will come...props??). Overall it was highly entertaining but a bit of a head scratcher for me. Cadets: Wow...this show is VERY Cadets on all fronts. It is full of powerful music and tons of visual elements (all the things we expect from the Cadets). The idea of the number 10 is portrayed in many different ways, sometimes hitting you over the head and others more subtle. Fantastic percussion. Color guard was pretty dirty (for the Cadets this kind of surprised me, I'm sure they will come along nicely though). Overall, it is quite a production and one that will be towards the top of the heap all season I'm sure. For what it's worth, this show received the largest ovation from my theater. Bloo: After last seasons success, I was really excited to see this. And I was not let down at all. It's like they continued right where they left off. This show is LOUD!!! I can't wait to see it live where I'm relying on my ears vs. the microphones on the field and theater speakers. Holy cow, this corps is moving! And the level of clean was the best of the night across the board. Another product that will be near the top in August. Again...these are MY opinions only. I really enjoyed the show and can't wait to see more from these corps and the rest of the field. Best of luck to everyone on a great 2015 season! Your impressions match mine exactly. Spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) The 2015 Bluecoats is clearly, to me, a revolutionary show for DCI, one that is leading the activity in the use of all elements of sound -- electronic and acoustic. But there can be no denying that this " leading the activity " is leading the activity into a realm where sideline adult machine engineers are being scored by judges every bit, if not more so, than the actual youthful musical and dance performing competitors on the field. This, in my opinion, is extraordinarily new.. and unprecedented... in how we judge DCI show performers, show performance competition. I make no judgement assessment on whether or not this is good, nor bad, just pointing out how sideline adult machine manipulators, and THEIR sound machine engineering talents are increasingly showing up on build up scoring sheets in competition between the performing youth on the field of competition in these Corps. Edited June 18, 2015 by BRASSO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Blatch Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 (edited) But there can be no denying that this " leading the activity " is leading the activity into a realm where sideline adult machine manipulators are being scored by judges every bit, if not more so, than the actual youthful performing competitors on the field. This, in my opinion, is extraordinarily new in how we judge show performers, show performance competition. I make no judgement assessment on whether or not this is good, nor bad, just pointing out how adult machine manipulators, and THEIR sound talents are increasingly showing up on build up scoring sheets. There is one member who does this and I promise you, he is of DCI legal age. I believe his name is Nick. Where do you get this idea that there are "adults" who are "manipulating" live shows? This is a new argument, I guess. It never came up during Tilt. The Bluecoats have been quite open that they are working with different sound engineers in spring training and in doing so, these sound engineers have trained their members on how to recreate these sounds in a live environment. But don't take my word for it. Look here: https://twitter.com/Bluecoats/status/608276187765424128 This is no different than hiring brass, guard, or percussion techs. Actually, about ten years ago, it became the norm to also have dance/movement techs, as well. The Bluecoats have just added sound engineer techs. You know, educated adults who teach members how to do things professionally. Yeah, this is just a bit ahead of the DCI design curve, and I am fairly certain other corps will follow suit. Edited June 18, 2015 by Elmo Blatch 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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