TWHSParent

Now that I live about 1.5 hours from Indianapolis, I'll most likely attend pretty much every year. So I should be there in 2024 (as I was in 2023).

Made it to Lucas Oil just as PCEP went on, so was able to catch TWHS in person. Visual was great. The uniforms pop against the field. Music was well done. Overall strong performance.

6:45 p.m. – Class AA: Argyle H.S., TX 7:00 p.m. – Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX 7:15 p.m. – Westlake H.S., TX 7:30 p.m. – Round Rock H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Cedar Park H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Leander H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Wakeland H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Bridgeland H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Marcus H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Rouse H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Ronald Reagan H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – L.D. Bell H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Vista Ridge H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Vandegrift H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – The Woodlands H.S., TX 10:30 p.m. – Class A: Krum H.S., TX

Short answer is yes, the scoring is that much different. As a start, music performance at UIL is 4/7 judges (~57%), at BOA it is 20% with Music Ensemble and Music Individual averaged for that 20%. Then you have GE judges (2 for Music and 1 for Visual) that are each 20% of the score, which UIL doesn't really account for, although the design judge has some overlap. So just some of the differences which can impact the placements between UIL and BOA.

Absolutely, however all streaks do end. Is this the year? I think it is the most possible this year than it has been for at least 10 years. I like the show, but it is missing a spark the ones I would rank higher have. I don't see an Eagle for them this year based off this performance, but they will be right there at the top. I think 4th right now. Good bet? Probably not -they'll adjust the show over the next few weeks so by Grand Nationals it will be awesome.

I haven't been to Indy for a few years (2019 was the last time). I found this map of downtown https://www.icclos.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/downtown-indy-skywalks.pdf There are quite a few things around the skywalk (which is a great thing if it is really cold). Circle Center Mall has shopping, and there are many restaurants around, including in many of the downtown hotels. There are some museums and the Indiana state capital in the vicinity. So I don't have any specific recommendations, but there is plenty to choose from.

My wife was watching the computer screen over my shoulder last night and made a comment about how she really liked their drill. I completely agree - well designed and executed.

I don't mean "safe" in a negative way. To me "safe" means designing to what UIL rewards, and it is safe because Texas bands do that type of design all the time. They will still do well in BOA (obviously), but it won't knock off the top shows with a BOA focus.

They have their best show for several years - not "safe" like some of their recent shows. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Flower Mound was too "safe" with this show to knock off Hebron at a BOA contest. I'm not surprised they took visual. They are focusing on UIL, and I think it shows. This Flower Mound show will be a beast for UIL state.

Not just finals, but top half. You guys have a great show!

Not directly, no. It can, however, impact other areas (timing, performance) that would impact the scores.

Foster was AAA at Shenandoah this past weekend. So likely to be there here as well.

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Oak Ridge H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Stephen F. Austin H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Foster H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Cypress Woods H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Seven Lakes H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Wylie East H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Clear Brook H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Dawson H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – Cy-Fair H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Friendswood H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Klein Oak H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – College Park H.S., TX

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Weslaco H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Del Rio H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Robert Vela H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – PSJA Early College H.S., TX 8:30 p.m. – Edinburg North H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Gladys Porter Early College H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Roma H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Pioneer H.S., TX 9:30 p.m. – Edinburg H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – John B. Alexander H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Pieper H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – United H.S., TX 10:30 p.m. – Port Isabel H.S., TX (In Exhibition)

Finals Schedule 7:30 p.m. – Midland H.S., TX 7:45 p.m. – Frenship H.S., TX 8:00 p.m. – Randall H.S., TX 8:15 p.m. – Loveland H.S., CO 8:30 p.m. – Lubbock-Cooper H.S., TX 8:45 p.m. – Colleyville Heritage H.S., TX 9:00 p.m. – Permian H.S., TX 9:15 p.m. – Mustang H.S., OK 9:30 p.m. – Robert E. Hendrickson H.S., TX 9:45 p.m. – Sachse H.S., TX 10:00 p.m. – Braswell H.S., TX 10:15 p.m. – Clovis H.S., NM 10:30 p.m. – Class A: Greenwood H.S., TX

I can definitely see the cosplay!

Yes, it is (we seem to love cross-country moving - NOT). We are closing on a house in Greendale, IN in mid-October. I did just purchase tickets for Grand Nationals semi-finals and finals, so it looks like I will be there!

Well, it may not be San Antonio, but I am tentatively planning on attending at least Saturday at Grand Nationals this year (2023). With everything that happened in Arizona, my wife decided she couldn't stay there any longer, so we've packed up and moved back to the Cincinnati area. About 1.5 hours from Indianapolis.

Just because I had to look it up... https://comicvine.gamespot.com/mad-mod/4005-46670/

From the Danpodcast they are doing a top half/bottom half split for finals this year just like BOA.

Auto qualifiers do not take any of the spots in semifinals. The top 30 scores advance to semifinals. The qualifiers add to that number. So it is theoretically possible that the top 30 are all from say class A. Then there would be 4 qualifiers from each of the other 3 classes filling semifinals up to 42 bands. They'd be starting at ~0500 in the morning to get through all of them.

Maybe a little, but it depends on the band. Also think that they are trying to project to the press box, and you are sitting above it while very few high school outdoor stadiums have seats higher than the press box. I've sat in the lower level, press box, and top level at the Alamodome. Press box is best, but the lower level seats right up against it are awesome too!

Or maybe everyone knew Avon was attending in 2017 and decided to go all out to beat them, then just kept that competitive level as the standard going forward.

In the end, it is all about making state. In recent years 2016 jumps out at me - they barely squeaked into the last state spot at area, but ended up 7th (IIRC) at state finals (and 2nd at BOA). Huge improvement with that show at the end of the year. 2 weeks to get that closer done and cleaned up. There's lots of good stuff in this show, and I'm now looking forward to seeing it completed.

Agree with your overall take. I personally like what Avon is doing more than what Carmel is doing (but Carmel is currently performing slightly better). I get just a whiff of Texas influence in Avon's music choices. I think Avon has a chance at GN to overtake Carmel in GE (and maybe performance), but it will really depend on the judging panel and what they are looking for in a show. A more current design, or a "classic" design? I really did not like TWHS's show the first several times I saw it, but as it has cleaned up and fleshed out I have completely flipped my take. I think it will surprise at San Antonio (both BOA and UIL).