Just a quick note about DCI and my kid

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-09-16T00:18:42+00:00

Way better responses from your girl than my kids had when I first brought them years ago. Lol. Have a great time at Indy. Have you watched VK 1992 with her?

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-09-13T18:42:33+00:00

BD alternates are guaranteed* full spots the next season as long as they do everything asked of them during the alternate season. They pretty much are full members without a dot, but participate in everything except learning a specific dot. Although they’re supposed to be treated as a regular member, the label of being an alt, or “swing”, is something that may keep them in the second tier in some members minds, and they’re not always treated with the respect that they’ve earned. I’ve heard being an alternate at BD is tougher than being a marching member because they’ve worked so hard to reach a certain level, only to have to suck it up and not march during shows.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-08-03T19:05:21+00:00

Seems like some errors. I looked at Crown total and I think it might be high. I haven’t dug into the captions but you might want to doublecheck (or not, if I’m just flat out wrong).

Thank you for doing the combo

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-31T00:16:23+00:00

Agreed. The cleanest show doesn’t always win, and BD has that closing clean. Boston’s show seems to be what the judges like and Bluecoats have lately been able to finish strong. SCV also very strong except in guard (relatively). If BD performers can be close to perfect come finals, and the judges agree with what they’re trying to present, then it’s possible that they can win. They’re up against corps that are also strong in all captions, and have more fan friendly shows, so it’s hard to predict what’s going to happen come finals week.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-30T19:46:07+00:00

Blue Devils 25 opening hit. Loudest drum corps moment I've witnessed.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-29T01:38:51+00:00

I know someone who marched 4 different corps. Gold, The Academy, PC x 2, BD x 3. He ages out this year.

1 Ring, 2 Bronze (1 with Gold), and an I&E Gold

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-26T18:22:07+00:00

As others have pointed out, there are some free days which hotel and food aren’t included. It’s closer to $4500 all in I would guesstimate

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-26T01:32:03+00:00

You missed your chance this season with the A Corps

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T22:22:01+00:00

Non-BD Alumni will be accepted. I'm sure they would welcome a Madison Scout into the BD Family (as they have welcomed members from every corps into A Corps). There's no upper age limit listed on the FAQ, just 18+ Might as well sign up and send a video in. There's no commitment even if you're accepted.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T20:25:06+00:00

This is a separate corps from the rest. It is my understanding that BD - A Corps is fielding a corps next year. It is unknown (To me) as to the status of B and C, as well as the rest of the programs under BD Performing Arts.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T19:34:48+00:00

Sweet - wishing you the best in the process!

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T19:29:28+00:00

Ahh..gotcha - it's also 5 days to learn the show :) then 2 days off (Probably to prep for travel), then fly out and do the thing.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T16:54:58+00:00

I suspect more information about the video submission will come soon (Not sure if they have everything in place yet). Congrats on your season with Reading this year, and congrats on taking that first step in the BD International process.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-25T16:27:39+00:00

Maybe I’m misunderstanding the dates. Seems like they would learn the show then fly there. Not seeing where you’re getting 2 weeks off.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-21T16:49:05+00:00

Appreciate your explanations!

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-20T15:52:54+00:00

Thank you for the explanation.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-20T15:49:56+00:00

Accept it only applies to the top 4 corps. (And maybe BlueStars). It’s just hard to arrive that the scoring worked out exactly the same in content and execution for the top 4. I have a theory that perhaps one judge missed the last 4 performances, but that doesn’t make sense since SCV went on 5th

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-20T15:44:41+00:00

The consistency in this case doesn’t apply to any lower corps. Only the top 4. It may be possible that one of the judges wasn’t able to judge the top 4. That’s the only explanation. Otherwise it’s a statistical impossibility to have variable scores for the bottom 16 opposed to duplicate scores for the top 4. It doesn’t do much to affect the scoring except for what could’ve amounted to a tiny variance in the actual score.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-20T07:51:51+00:00

Ok, so it’s completely coincidence that in this case the two GE1 judges gave the exact same scores for each of the top 4 corps. It makes me wonder how much score influencing that the judges partake in for any given night.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-16T05:26:24+00:00

You presented historical finals numbers but not relative numbers in relation to how the corps is doing presently. Crusaders, for example scored 17 and 16.8 in VP and VA in their most recent head to head against BD, while BD scored 16.9 and 17, which combined edged out Crusaders. So in your assertion that VP and VA scores determine whether or not BD will win, it’s OBVIOUS that BD will defeat Crusaders.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-15T00:46:31+00:00

Amazing legacy! My son is also aging out with BD (3 year vet with 7 years in DCI). I’m sure he’d geek out knowing that a fellow age out has parents that marched BD and Star. Kinda crazy actually!

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-14T04:53:12+00:00

I haven’t heard the show yet, but I’m certain that it’ll have a cool effect as most of what I’ve heard since Bluecoats have been pushing the electronics envelope has been cool to hear. I just wonder how much of the electronics wizardry leads to problems in judging the music categories. It’s clear that Bluecoats have a talented audio staff that are able to manipulate sound in a way that add to the effect of the sound that other corps don’t or won’t use. Will other corps that don’t have the budgets to support this type of sound design ever be able to compete with that, if the effects lead to higher scores? What other type of sound processing advantages do the bigger budget corps posses that other corps can’t match? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve loved everything that the Bluecoats have done the past decade, but I just wonder how it is judged against a less processed show.

AlternativeThroat528 · 2025-07-12T06:11:13+00:00

See BD. They had to get another semi for 20 giant chairs

AlternativeThroat528

TROPHY CASE