Back to the drawing board for . . .

[2muchcoffeeman]

. . . well, everybody of course, because audition season will be here before we know it. But in particular:

Blue Devils. When you win a medal it's not as if you don't have a clue, and it's not as if "The Romantics" was a flawed package by the standards of 99% of the people in the activity. But for the other 1%, who are associated with BDPA, it may be time to take an honest look at the design formula that has served them so well and has, despite being decoded by even casual fans, been bulletproof — until Bluecoats barged in and busted up the joint, just as they did eight years ago. BD cracked the code: They understood the sheets better than anyone, washed an airy, artsy motif across the stage, and threw the activity's best performer and instructor talent at it. It was a consistent winner, even if this year's motif had more than a whiff of previous years' motifs. But that era may be closing. BD perfected the recipe, but now the recipe itself may be changing. Blue Devils may need to grab and manipulate the soundstage more aggressively.

Cavaliers. Not much mystery here. The Bowery Boys of DCI took an introspective, high-concept approach to their design in 2024, and it felt like a ill-fitting suit. Whenever the Cavies have attempted deep thoughts before, they've usually done it with hammer in hand, e.g. Men are From Mars; Propaganda; Madness and Creativity (it's the madness that sells). The Cavies have big, brawny hands and they need to do Big Things That Go Boom. Give them tangible things -- planets, gears, railroads, flying trapezes -- and they'll be back in the thick of it. There is precedent for bouncing back; the 2024 Cavaliers are the 2023 Blue Stars is the 2019 Phantom Regiment are the 2016 Boston Crusaders. If the Green Machine can remember it needs to look like a machine, they'll be fine.

Troopers. It was delicious for three seasons, but cheese is now off the menu. Now what? Is it possible to brood and scowl your way toward a medal? It got them as far as 10th, with the eternally sunny Colts still in front of them. After three years of getting huge crowd response battling personal demons, Troopers have big programming decisions to make for 2025 and beyond. They also have a model to follow: Mandarins got off the Dark Train a few seasons ago, with success (one can argue whether Sinnerman was dark or tongue-in-cheek mayhem). It will be an interesting off-season in Casper. UPDATE: Well, that was quick! "Final sunset" sounds like more dust and grit. I was sold on the idea that 2024 would be the final installment of this programming arc. I guess I have to put this on hold until next year -- though I am intrigued by the way the Troop braintrust is managing this process. 

Blue Knights. 2014 was a decade ago and BK sat, with Crown, on DCI's creative high ground. It opened a 5-year vein of wonderfully weird, captivating and flat-out cool shows that brought audition applications by the truckload. But the concepts were slippery as soap and today, 5 years after their creators have moved on, BK essentially is at a reset point, creatively speaking. The organization seems solid and the member experience is renowned, but at this point it feels like the members are the reason to attract top design talent, not the inverse as was the case 10 years ago.

 

Edited August 11 by 2muchcoffeeman

[OldSnareDrummer]

Excellent assessment, particularly regarding Troop. I loved the "Dark Ages" of the last three years and was thrilled they found a niche that worked, though only so far. It is time for a Mandarinesque change in direction to get to that next level. 

[Lance]

everybody

at least that's the way they should think about it

[FromThePitline]

40 minutes ago, OldSnareDrummer said:

Excellent assessment, particularly regarding Troop. I loved the "Dark Ages" of the last three years and was thrilled they found a niche that worked, though only so far. It is time for a Mandarinesque change in direction to get to that next level. 

Mandarinesque? That’s a new word for me, but I like it!

[DFA1970]

Thanks for the “observation “. 

[MikeRapp]

BK has a couple of the most loved shows of all time. I really thought they were the next medalist. Hope they can figure it out.

[Sutasaurus]

1 hour ago, OldSnareDrummer said:

Excellent assessment, particularly regarding Troop. I loved the "Dark Ages" of the last three years and was thrilled they found a niche that worked, though only so far. It is time for a Mandarinesque change in direction to get to that next level. 

Anyone ever read “The Gunslinger Series” by Stephen King? The main character is an intergalactic, wait, gunslinger! There are a ton of plot lines in that body of work.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series)

[GraysonHarris]

6 minutes ago, Sutasaurus said:

Anyone ever read “The Gunslinger Series” by Stephen King? The main character is an intergalactic, wait, gunslinger! There are a ton of plot lines in that body of work.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Tower_(series)

Excellent idea. Also, Red Dead Redemption would work well for the Troopers show next year. 

[LuvsPAisTe]

New guard staff for Troopers.

[BlueStainGlass]

4 hours ago, MikeRapp said:

BK has a couple of the most loved shows of all time. I really thought they were the next medalist. Hope they can figure it out.

First year with a bunch of new staff. Let's see next year's result.