1998-2018

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.

The info came directly to me from the highest source. The tentative 2017 plan changed before it was made public because of the 2018 Macy's Parade invitation after the 2016 marching season. Trips of this kind (BOA Nationals, Macy's Parade, Rose Parade, etc.) are typically scheduled years in advance due to issues like cost, travel logistics, and district approval requirements. All of these host organizations also work years in advance for their major events. Even so, there's just no point in telling all the kids and parents in 2015, "We're going back to Nationals in 2017 and 2019 and...", when all that could change quickly when you get an unexpected significant invitation. So long-term plans remain flexible and out of the public view until they are firm and require public action. More happy surprises and fewer disappointments that way.

The info came directly to me from the highest source. The tentative 2017 plan changed before it was made public because of the 2018 Macy's Parade invitation after the 2016 marching season. Trips of this kind (BOA Nationals, Macy's Parade, Rose Parade, etc.) are typically scheduled years in advance due to issues like cost, travel logistics, and district approval requirements. All of these host organizations also work years in advance for their major events. Even so, there's just no point in telling all the kids and parents in 2015, "We're going back to Nationals in 2017 and 2019 and...", when all that could change quickly when you get an unexpected significant invitation. So long-term plans remain flexible and out of the public view until they are firm and require public action. More happy surprises and fewer disappointments that way.

Directional mics and shotgun mics are not the same thing. They actually serve opposite purposes. I can confirm some top Texas bands are now using shotgun mics while others are using directional mics and it should be no surprise that some are using both. Why? I think there are two good reasons. First, nobody should win based on the size of their band. Mics allow excellent, but smaller bands to be competitive. Second, more subtlety and quality of tone along with increased dynamic range of the performance is possible. Park and play is bad enough but when a band then just blasts away, loud and proud, I'm ready to go see what the concession stand has to offer. My kids are spread out. The oldest was a Freshman in '98 and the youngest will be a Senior in '18 so I've been doing this a long time. During that time the program has done very well and more than doubled in size (nobody would call them small) but there is a small group of band that finish ahead of them on a fairly regular basis and that group has one thing in common. They're all louder. Please don't misunderstand me. Generally speaking (but not always) these are programs with excellent music, marching, and visual skills too. And our band also beats many loud bands. Clearly loud alone is not enough. So it's a subtle and complicated issue. However, my observation over the last 20 years is judges are influenced by volume and sometimes it is enough to make up for other shortcomings or give the edge in extremely close competition. (BOA SA for example.) I'm also not blaming the judges. Any band nerd knows that big blast of sound is intoxicating. So mics, used correctly without abusing them, give everyone access to our drug of choice. So once everyone is loud enough to be easily heard, great will have to be defined by other traits or elements of the performance that it seems should matter more anyway. When my oldest son was in the band at practice it was normal to hear the Director say something like, "That sounds great! Now play it again, louder." It was a major focus during practice. Towards the end of this season I asked my daughter if she had heard anything like that. She didn't recall ever hearing it so I stopped by practice to listen because I knew they still weren't "loud enough" to overcome the natural bias. What I heard was, "That's much better and exactly what we want! That time you didn't overplay like last time." While this is excellent music instruction, it might not be the best way to prepare for a competition where volume gives an edge. So what was going on? We used mics at that next competition and the sound was amazing. The best of both worlds. Sweet, subtle tone with volume. I started out with a strong bias against mics. Now I realize it was mostly because the early adopters were often bands that tend to overplay anyway and now they were over amplified too. Now I see it more like mics for solos. That seemed odd at first too, but the variety of woodwinds we hear now is a welcome addition to the traditional trumpet solo of days past. We're very early in this transition to mics on the field. I think in the long-run it will likely get worked out and be a positive addition.

What an incredibly insightful observation!
 
While I should probably avoid making long posts on my phone where the forum's edit screen is limited to just a few lines of text and it's hard to get a perspective on format, the truth is I'm left wondering if you have anything productive to add to an otherwise interesting conversation.
 
Go ahead, feel free to try again.

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.

Ha! "One complaint... Lucas Oil has escalators." Now that's funny stuff, AvonDad. My wife and I saw an Avon couple mid-climb to the 300's section reserved seats, stop and stare up in disbelief. I asked them, "I'll bet they told you Texas was flat, didn't they?" They laughed and caught their second wind to finish the climb. We'll make a deal with you. When... (Would you agree "if" is not an option?) When Avon comes back to our little Super Regional, you bring the Lucas Oil acoustics with you and we'll get your whole crew "front of the line" access to the elevators. That stadium sounds so clean and clear.
 
Your show is beautiful. The precision timing and physical strength and flexibility of your Color Guard was a pleasure to watch. No wonder they keep winning WGI. And of course it's no secret your kids can really play! I also saw Avon's 2015 show, "Black Gold", at Nationals and it changed everything I knew about the limits of what is visually possible on the marching field. Absolutely amazing! I can't help thinking the instant Texas karma available for an out of state band performing that show, about wildcat oil drilling, this last weekend here in Texas, would have blown the roof off the Alamodome and the battle probably would have been for second place. I have no desire to diminish anything that was accompanied by anyone at this historic event. In fact, I don't think anyone even could do or say anything that will ever diminish this experience for those of us who were there! However Texas, with a tip of the hat to the wonderful Avon band family, we dodged a bullet! If any of you had the privilege of seeing that show, I'm sure you know what I mean.