JC18 Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I hate I-35. I'm taking the toll road. The real competition in San Antonio... Which is worse? 35 or 290? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeanderMomma Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I think you'd get to a "This isn't safe to drive at" speed before "speeding" on 35... Those cars fly by! Yes, when the traffic that's holding everyone to an excruciating 45 mph let's up for even a minute, cars will jet away easily at speeds of 90 mph and up. It's either one or the other on I-35 between Dallas and San Antonio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeanderMomma Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I hate I-35. I'm taking the toll road. Good plan! It dumps you off onto I-10 relatively close to downtown. Definitely worth the tolls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danpod Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I hate I-35. I'm taking the toll road. Toll Road from Georgetown to Seguin. Avoids all the mess, you get to go 85 mph, and the smell of Lockhart BBQ fills the air. scoobydoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeanderMomma Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Vista Ridge - They were 10th in Austin, but improved to 6th at Southlake even with a super duper early prelims performance time. They could certainly surprise and get into finals, especially if they add Siberian Huskies to their show. Wait, what???!!! I feel like I'm saying that a lot lately. But seriously?? Excellent writing and analysis here, by the way! Now I'm even more pumped for the upcoming weekend! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadisonBandMan1 Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Wait, what???!!! I feel like I'm saying that a lot lately. But seriously?? Excellent writing and analysis here, by the way! Now I'm even more pumped for the upcoming weekend! This site really is quite addicting, and I love it! LeanderMomma 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamuelCulper Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 What are BOA rules regarding live animals? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zururoua Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I'm not sure- but after watching Vista's show that's what I thought would make a perfect GE addition for their show. I don't think it's it's allowed (?) but it would be darn cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NTxBandMom8 Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 The one thing I’m disliking about SA is that so many other good bands feel like they stand no chance at all. That’s unfortunate. I heard one band mom say that their band is begging not to have to sit through finals since they aren’t expected to make it because they have state a few days later and figure they need the downtime. Another band mom was questioning going to BOA anymore since there are so few finalists and their band never seems to make it. I get that the experience is great, etc. but by the time many of these kids are juniors/seniors, it seems to promote burnout. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everyone should make finals or “get a trophy,” but it’s just discouraging that it almost seems decided already. It further seems discouraging that many schools won’t allow or can’t afford trips to Finals but Avon, who is nearby, decides to come to SA and take a spot potentially from a team that SA is the biggest event they do. Just trying to understand how this keeps teams participating year after year. Maybe I’m missing the big picture. scoobydoo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeanderMomma Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I'm not sure- but after watching Vista's show that's what I thought would make a perfect GE addition for their show. I don't think it's it's allowed (?) but it would be darn cool. Ha, yeah it would!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadisonBandMan1 Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 The one thing I’m disliking about SA is that so many other good bands feel like they stand no chance at all. That’s unfortunate. I heard one band mom say that their band is begging not to have to sit through finals since they aren’t expected to make it because they have state a few days later and figure they need the downtime. Another band mom was questioning going to BOA anymore since there are so few finalists and their band never seems to make it. I get that the experience is great, etc. but by the time many of these kids are juniors/seniors, it seems to promote burnout. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everyone should make finals or “get a trophy,” but it’s just discouraging that it almost seems decided already. It further seems discouraging that many schools won’t allow or can’t afford trips to Finals but Avon, who is nearby, decides to come to SA and take a spot potentially from a team that SA is the biggest event they do. Just trying to understand how this keeps teams participating year after year. Maybe I’m missing the big picture. Well remember nothing is ever a sure thing. A disaster could happen to any if those bands or a certain band just might have a stellar performance and earn their spot. I hope a disaster never happens, but it happened to us in mcallen where we were predicted to medal but ended up in 22nd place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisdinh Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 What are BOA rules regarding live animals? Directly out of the Adjudication Handbook: 22.03 The following are NOT ALLOWED in a Performance or on the Performance Field: • Any equipment, object, or material (including, but not limited to debris, powder, water, or other liquids) that may cause damage to the Performance Field or Performance Area, that presents a safety hazard, or that disrupts the scheduled flow of the contest • Pyrotechnics of any kind, including fire, fireworks, or the discharge of arms • Lights-out routines • Animals We definitely wish we could bring out some huskies Xenon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamuelCulper Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 :-( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post zururoua Posted October 30, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Maybe some big cardboard cutouts of huskies. chrisdinh, inmysights31 and LeanderMomma 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post TWHSParent Posted October 30, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 The one thing I’m disliking about SA is that so many other good bands feel like they stand no chance at all. That’s unfortunate. I heard one band mom say that their band is begging not to have to sit through finals since they aren’t expected to make it because they have state a few days later and figure they need the downtime. Another band mom was questioning going to BOA anymore since there are so few finalists and their band never seems to make it. I get that the experience is great, etc. but by the time many of these kids are juniors/seniors, it seems to promote burnout. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think everyone should make finals or “get a trophy,” but it’s just discouraging that it almost seems decided already. It further seems discouraging that many schools won’t allow or can’t afford trips to Finals but Avon, who is nearby, decides to come to SA and take a spot potentially from a team that SA is the biggest event they do. Just trying to understand how this keeps teams participating year after year. Maybe I’m missing the big picture. BOA San Antonio is basically a single-class Texas state championship. Every top program attends, so the level of performance required to make finals let alone win is astonishing. For me there was a big adjustment when we moved to The Woodlands and started understanding this program. I was never associated with a program that expects to excel at this level (my wife was, so she had less adjusting) and I'm still not comfortable with assuming we'll make finals (or semi-finals and finals) at every contest we attend. Texas has the most high level marching bands in its borders than any other state (at least in BOA AAA and AAAA), so just being in Texas means the competitive level is extraordinarily high in those classes. To your point, it really depends on the goals of the program. What would a successful trip to San Antonio be? How does the program define the growth it is working on? Are the directors and students learning what it takes to break into the top levels of competitive band in Texas? BOA awards execution and showmanship, while UIL is much more about execution with some showmanship. Which does the program value more? Isn't getting better the goal, and measuring yourself against some of the best and getting feedback to improve yourself and your program the real payoff? If programs drop out because it is too hard, I personally think that says more about that program than about the activity. I think you learn more about yourself from your failures than your successes, but you must be open to learning from them and not getting too defensive and doubling down on a failed approach. As I tell my kids - you set the goals for yourself, and you set what counts as success. You then have to find the path that gets you there, and it may not happen in the next 5 minutes. It is a journey, and lots of twists and turns, ups and downs, are coming your way. Take every opportunity to learn and become better at something, and you'll be closer to that goal, even if that learning came from a failure of some type. I personally prefer BOA, and one of the things I really like is that it is a national circuit. I think Texas is a little too insular at times, and I think it is great that bands from other states can come here and compete. Of course, there aren't many large school bands that can come here and be strongly competitive for the same reasons you point out with programs in Texas - Carmel, Avon, Broken Arrow, Blue Springs, Wando, Castle, Homestead, Ayala, William Mason, Union, Owasso and a few others. Since Texas is so large-school heavy, top A and AA bands (other than Tarpon and Marian, as they can compete with the big classes) can come here and have a good chance to win their class and perform at least a second show in exhibition. So really I see your points as a symptom of the success that Texas as a whole has had in marching band. BOA is limited mainly by time constraints in the numbers that make finals and I don't really see a way around this, but others may have some ideas. A prelims/semi-finals/finals has been suggested, but I also agree that only Grand Nationals should have that format since that is the pinnacle and main showpiece for BOA. Yeah, currently I'm affiliated with The Woodlands, so I suppose all the above is easy for me to say, since this program is at the highest competitive level in Texas. But I've been on the other side, and was just as frustrated as a student performer in my day that we couldn't get over the hump (and we had a director change between camp and season starting during my junior year, so I've been through that too - ugh, that was awful). Of course, about 5-6 years after I graduated, my high school won the KY state championship in their class (after changing directors yet again). They apparently took what they learned and kept applying it, and getting better. They still compete strongly in their class 2+ decades after their first state title (and won 2 more in that span), and just finished 6th this year. But BOA finalists they aren't. principalagent, LeanderMomma and chrisdinh 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostChoirGuy Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Finally got to see a video with Keller's full show. Their closer looks very "Keller-esque" which in my opinion is a good thing. It will be interesting to see if they make finals or not with such a big bubble this year. Anyone that has seen their full show have any opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1998-2018 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Where did you find a Keller full show video? BOA Southlake was far from complete and anything after that has been conspicuously missing this year, making predictions and rankings even more difficult than usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostChoirGuy Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 It was just posted on YouTube today. Probably is not meant to be seen by the public (they have been very secretive this year and I will respect that) but I will send you a link if you PM me. Edit: that goes for anyone who wants it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1998-2018 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Thanks for the offer but you're off the hook and the secret is safe with me. :-) I looked earlier today with no luck but I found it now using an "indirect path". I guess I just needed a heads up to try again. Edit: They're still being somewhat secretive. The video I found is a big hint but it's still a relatively low angle and narrow view, hiding details of the drill and forms, compared to what the judges will see. (Yes, I was up high at DMI.) Edit 2: More digging turned up a prelims video from the judges view and there's a clear differences between the two performances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Testing Trumpet Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Updated Predictions for 10/29/2017... 1. Flower Mound H.S., TX 2. Avon H.S., IN 3. Claudia Taylor Johnson H.S., TX4. Hebron H.S., TX 5. Vandegrift H.S., TX 6. Marcus H.S., TX 7. The Woodlands H.S., TX 8. Ronald Reagan H.S., TX --------------------------------------------------- -Bubble- 9. Round Rock H.S., TX 10. Leander H.S., TX 11. LD Bell H.S., TX 12. James Bowie H.S., TX 13. Hendrickson H.S., TX 14. Keller H.S., TX - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Cutoff 15. Cedar Park H.S., TX 16. Winston Churchill H.S., TX 17. Vista Ridge H.S., TX 18. Cedar Ridge H.S., TX ---------------------------------------------------- 19. Cy-Fair H.S., TX 20. Timber Creek H.S., TX 21. Clear Brook H.S., TX 22. Wakeland H.S., TX 23. North Shore H.S., TX 24. New Braunfels H.S., TX 25. Pearland H.S., TX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Okay so I know this is one of those dumb questions but what does the Chief Judge actually do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nny14 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Okay so I know this is one of those dumb questions but what does the Chief Judge actually do? Helps bands on the field and keeps time, makes note of any penalties. That sort of thing. Omega 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandwoww Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Finally got to see a video with Keller's full show. Their closer looks very "Keller-esque" which in my opinion is a good thing. It will be interesting to see if they make finals or not with such a big bubble this year. Anyone that has seen their full show have any opinions?First of all, I think they will be in finals but I wouldn’t be completely shocked it they aren’t. I love that they are doing something new this year while still keeping the “Keller” feel. Musically they are probably one of the best bands at San Antonio. For example, they were 3rd in music in SA prelims last but then somehow fell to 13th in finals. This year they topped Marcus at birdville in music which is a huge accomplishment. Also, I want to point out that in my opinion, they are one of the few bands that marches and plays as much as they do and still sound as good. Visually they are extremely ambitious but their drill isn’t clean. Probably due to the fact that their hardest drill is right at the end of the show and it is ALL done while playing at a fast tempo. You can literally see people running to different sets, which makes it even more impressive that they sound good while doing it. Thier drill should bring strong visual GE if it were clean, which it is not right now. Based on years past, they struggle a bit with GE. They look to be focused on GE this year which will probably help them out but thier show is missing the cohesiveness that I see out of the LISD bands where they have three very related parts of the show. I can kind of see that Keller is trying to have very different styles of music across thier show maybe like they are trying to find their “Sense Of Direction” but some moments feel off compared to others. It would be fun to see how many individual arrows are in this show because between the props, guard, and drill it is kind of insane lol! They are hard to predict because they never get to compete with other bands around thier skill level like Round Rock, Cedar Park, etc. They really only get to compete with the LISD bands so it’s hard to track progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeremiahW Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Helps bands on the field and keeps time, makes note of any penalties. That sort of thing. That's actually the timing and penalties judge that does that. I'm not entirely sure what the chief judge does other than just make sure all the other judges are in the right place at the right time with the right supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC18 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 That's actually the timing and penalties judge that does that. I'm not entirely sure what the chief judge does other than just make sure all the other judges are in the right place at the right time with the right supplies. Do they judge the judges' judging? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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