The 1991 Phantom Regiment show was the most provocative I have ever seen, where the guard members drop to their knees in front of the horn line, then lay on their backs, and spread their legs - of course, this was part of the Bacanal finale, and actually quite fitting, though it did cause quite a commotion...

I was thinking of road tripping to finals next year since from San Diego to Denver is 1050 miles or 17 hours drive time. But my parents didn't like that idea. Instead they said maybe we can use our timeshare up there next summer and watch finals.

Wow! Spirit did really well!!! I remember being in High School and talking about how one of our percussion instructors used to march spirit "back when Spirit was good". I think 12 is a pretty good showing for them.

Yeah, I heard that on finals night the guard made it, um...extra provactive...

Guard gurlies........the material of every high school band guy's dreams.

Heh..I played w/a Blue Devil a few times in a couple semesters ago. We jammed :) He was a jerk but damn was he good!

Congrats to the Blue~!

From DCI's website, regarding the PBS broadcast of finals:


A note about the 2003 PBS broadcast
7/22/2003 -- 10:14 AM CST


The 2003 Drum Corps International PBS broadcast will be produced in a similar format as last year’s television special. It will begin airing on public television stations during the Labor Day weekend. We’ll post a schedule of where and when the broadcast will be airing soon after finals.


In the interest of reaching a broader television audience, DCI will again offer PBS stations across the country a two-hour program that will focus not only on the World Championship competition, but also on the drum corps experience as told by performers from different corps.


"While our long-time fans have always enjoyed the live broadcast of the World Championship Finals, this program was not always the best way to hold the attention of a general audience and more importantly, to give them a true sense of the drum corps activity" said DCI executive director Dan Acheson. "We believe that this format will not only appeal to long-time fans, but will also be more engaging to the general public, especially high school and college students with little or no exposure to the drum corps activity."


"The new format will allow us to move seamlessly between the best performance moments of the championship night and the stories of commitment and dedication that every kid in drum corps has to tell," explained DCI broadcast producer Tom Blair. "Our objective has always been to create the best television program possible, not just to document the event as it happens. This year's program makes that more of a reality. It is a fantastic opportunity to make the entire drum corps experience more accessible to the general audience, as well as the devotee."


The 2003 DCI Broadcast will again be produced as a PBS fund-raising program and will air throughout North America beginning Labor Day weekend. According to Acheson, "The support of the local Public Television Stations is critical for the long-term success of the DCI television broadcast. As local PBS stations rely heavily on funds raised by audiences interested in such unique programming, drum corps fans are encouraged to not only request that local stations air the program, but to also thank them for doing so, by pledging their support for this type of programming. This is the single most effective way to ensure that PBS stations will continue to carry the program in the future."

It's dumb. You're trying to get more fans by only showing SNIPPETS of the top 5 when you've been showing all of the top five plus highlights from the rest of top 12 for nearly 25 yrs?


Cmon Rondo....

Ya know, I think they have a point. The average person is going to be more entertained by a fast-moving program made up of snippets rather than 12 11 minute shows. Who knows, maybe someone will see it, get interested in the activity, then want to investigate it further. On the flip side, the average joe probably a) does not watch PBS and b) if he does, might not tune in to a show about drum corps, anyway.

Well, my first DCI experience was a live show, so I guess my perspective is different. I definitly see your point though. I just think if I'm seeing a great show, like BD for example, then before they finished they cut it off to show a clip about the Esperanza Drum Major, Id be like WTF?

Maybe you'd be curious to see what the rest of the show was? Kind of like a trailer for a movie?

Have you seen the DVDs DCI is now putting out? They're very cool, and worth the $90, IMO.

If they follow last years format, they'll show snippets of the 5th and 6th place semi's corps, with small featurettes in between, but show the 4th to 1st shows in their entirety.

I'd much prefer seeing the shows myself, not the "behind the scenes" stuff so much. The older shows were good in that they blended both by doing the features on individuals or corps between shows - which is about 10 minutes or so - maybe they could change the time between to expand on that, and still show the full show...who knows.

I'm just bummed that no show will be in Greeley next year since finals are just down the road in Denver. It's a treat to be able to walk down the street to the UNC stadium, and, also to walk across the parking lot at work to see practicing corps....

I always wonder how corps get used to the thin air in Denver. Speaking of finals I wonder if DATR will still go on since finals is there.

Depending on my job I might pick up the DVD.

Also I'm surprised at how many greeks know about drum corps. Music greek wise there's only an SAI and a KKPsi (me) posting about it. Lately I've been talking online to an AOII that played tenors.

I know an AOII who plays tenors, she posts at the Blue Devil forums.

No DATR at all next year (Casper, Greeley, Denver, or Albuquerque) in lieu of Finals being in Denver.