The Staff Merry-go-round 2025-2026 edition

[TenHut]

Madison Scouts, you are on the clock. Start at the top. 

Edited August 11, 2025 by TenHut

[OldCorpsGuy]

11 minutes ago, TenHut said:

Madison Scouts, you are in the clock. Start at the top. 

Hope you have an atomic clock that lasts forever. 🤣🤣. Just don’t see it happening. 

[AllRise99]

50 minutes ago, MikeRapp said:

he didn’t choose the theme to this show

this is just me not knowing how this stuff works, but if he didn’t, who did? I just assumed the design team chose all that stuff, but did he come on too late in the cycle to make those decisions or what?

[MikeRapp]

13 minutes ago, AllRise99 said:

this is just me not knowing how this stuff works, but if he didn’t, who did? I just assumed the design team chose all that stuff, but did he come on too late in the cycle to make those decisions or what?

Not an insider so I don’t know for sure. But those closer to the org have said there is a lot of design by committee—and in my considerable experience this leads to the loudest and most politically powerful voices in the room dictating decisions.

[Tim K]

2 hours ago, Zeke said:

Oh is that why that was put into place..interesting 

The Labor Day policy was put into place at the request of a certain former director who was angry members of his staff moved to one of the three corps he did not exactly love and they didn’t move to Crown or Bloo. He claimed he learned about it online, but I first heard the news of the move in Allentown, it was confirmed in Indy, and if I heard it, well it’s as secret as a Dan Potter interview broadcast in the stadium. 

[kdaddy]

6 minutes ago, MikeRapp said:

the loudest and most politically powerful voices in the room dictating decisions.

I'd say you're describing Wes

[brassboy]

Some staff members are staying. Some are moving to other corps. Some are leaving the activity. 

Did I do that correctly, @Jeff Ream. 😝

Edited August 10, 2025 by brassboy

[contraguard05]

Imagine everyone had to announce their entire staff in a televised event like the NFL draft. 

[jwillis35]

3 hours ago, TenHut said:

Madison Scouts, you are in the clock. Start at the top. 

I don't know how much I would change here. Brass arrangements were great and the brass line played well this year. I think percussion and guard are getting better. Design concepts need some work but I don't know if this means getting someone new or getting additional help and ideas. They needed to follow up last year's excellent run to Finals with a somewhat traditional show that the members could perform at the highest level while also having some swagger. I'm not saying go back to the old days but keep it basic and bring in teachers who can get the members to absolutely nail a more traditional show. They, IMO, went too far the other way. More of their emphasis should be on building their guard, percussion and brass programs in terms of performance and give them a show that has elements of drum corps that are true and tried, even if they feel a tad dated. Their job at this point is not to be Bluecoats, Boston, Blue Devils, or attempting something similar to SCV from this summer. 

[Algernon]

Got to expect big changes at the Crossmen. In the last 4 years they have regressed to point where they were the 2nd best Open Class corps and only better than  perennial cellar dwellars Genesis and Cascades. Unless money problems prevent the corps from kaing it out in 26, I would bet there will be a new program coordinator and design team.

Spirit needs to look at visual and guard staffs. Music was in the Top 12.

Not sure what happened with Pacific Crest, but they get a mulligan for this year, although the visual designer from the Troopers didn't help.