DCI 2024 Color Guards!

[NakedEye]

27 minutes ago, Brian Tuma said:

I like to think of that as their homage to The Cadets. ❤️ To Tame the Perilous Skies, 1992 had a silent flag feature. 

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw it. Even staged the same - across the front. And Greg Lagola, now with Bluecoats, was with Cadets in '92. I think that feature was his creation, or he at least had a hand in it.

[NakedEye]

10 hours ago, mjoakes said:

Bluecoats showcasing the CG using silver (mylar?) flags. No sound but the synchronized spinning of those flags. That was lovely.

It's lamé - a staple of flags back in the hand-sewn era. Then it fell out of fashion and got pushed aside when the digital printing juggernaut took over. It's back and having a moment this year and makes a cool whispery sound in this feature as opposed to the louder snap of the polyester silk. 

[Box5Opinion]

It will all depend on the judge on any given night on finals week. BAC. BD, Bloo and Crown are all insanely good. I would advocate for two judges for color guard (something similar to what the percussion section gets evaluated). A field judge and another ensemble judge (WGI aspects). 

Quick review of what the judges look for:

Responsibilities: The Color Guard judge, placed in the stands or press box, is strictly judging the proficiency of each guard, what the guards are achieving and how they are achieving it. To put it another way, what the guards are doing and how well they are doing it. This caption is NOT about the effectiveness of the guard, nor is it about the costumes nor the flags.

GE judges will be looking for"

Responsibilities: One of the GE judges has a music background and the other has a visual background, but each utilizes the same judging sheet because they are effectively judging the entire show, not just the effect of the music offering or the effect of the visual production. GE judges must be the most experienced, most knowledgeable, and most flexible members of the audience. Plus, they know how to manage numbers in order to give a proper score. The GE judges are doing the romantic 🤔 job, they’re feeling what the show is offering and responding to what the show is. There are three parts to GE, the intellectual, the aesthetic, and the emotional.

If you are looking for integration of drill and pure technique - hands down BAC. Content and Achievement will be high but will the judges give them the number? Time will only tell. 

BD is extremely good in technique and achievement (but in my humble opinion - we are seeing tons of stuff that they did in the last few seasons, especially in the dance, use of pods (visual moments), use of hands, body moves, and those hula hoops have been used before. ALL EXCECUTED EXTREMELY WELL but too much scatter and multiple focus for my taste - formulaic design (Content) - waiting to see what judge will be judging on finals to get a feel for what direction this will lead. 

Bloo - just wow! Tons of visual moments and great technique but it's spread out visually. 

Crown - technique, technique technique and they have a story line.

It's anybody game! Loving how the season is playing out! 

 

[rmurrey74]

38 minutes ago, NakedEye said:

It's lamé - a staple of flags back in the hand-sewn era. Then it fell out of fashion and got pushed aside when the digital printing juggernaut took over. It's back and having a moment this year and makes a cool whispery sound in this feature as opposed to the louder snap of the polyester silk. 

No, it’s Mylar. Heard it rips very easily and they practice on regular flags frequently to try to make them last. They’re also very different from a weight standpoint since it’s so light.

Edited July 16, 2024 by rmurrey74

[Vuitton]

12 hours ago, mjoakes said:

Bluecoats showcasing the CG using silver (mylar?) flags. No sound but the synchronized spinning of those flags. That was lovely.

THIS is my single favorite moment of this season. BRILLIANT!

[Vuitton]

The guards I gag over are Boston, Crown, Bluecoats, Regiment, Devils and Mandarins.

All have such fanastic guards. I love Regiment's silk designs, and Crown's book is so juicy. Boston is exciting and fun to watch with guard work and hoop work happening simultaneously.

[bandman28]

I know this is a bit off topic as we all know guard will go to crown, Boston, bd, or bloo  However there needs to be a shout out to Troopers guard, likely 10th 11th or 12th but such an improved program over the past couple years.

[MomGuard]

Ooof! Pretty clear after SA which group(s) are at the top. Boston is UNDENIABLE!

[MarkHornGA]

13 minutes ago, MomGuard said:

Ooof! Pretty clear after SA which group(s) are at the top. Boston is UNDENIABLE!

The more I watch them the more mesmerized I become. Seems like losing the Zingali to BD last season was a big motivation in the offseason to put together a book that showcases all of the skills. They succeeded. 

[Danby510]

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Edited August 19, 2025 by Danby510