TechGuy

This is beyond unfortunate. Unless the teacher's union can step in and moderate the situation, I fear you are correct.

Holy crap Morton takes Music AND Visual over Marian? Well done!

Numbers management across so many bands, so many classes, over such a long day, is somewhere between really really hard and impossible. Infuriating to the fan, perhaps, but I wouldn't want to try it.

I was at U of I briefly (between the raindrops) long enough to see bands from Carl Sandburg - Danville. I was really, really impressed with Waubaunsie's show. Guard was nearly immaculate and well written, this show had it going on. Band sounded great, had excellent movement and visuals, drumline was tight.It was the only show that really "got to me". I'm officially not a fan of voice-overs. One group's was skipping or cutting out, the other inaudible half the time (and I was down low). The "Phobia" show was interesting, but I think didn't deliver.How do you announce "fear of love" and then go on for a 60 second dance between guard and band? Aren't they afraid? Took me 'out of the moment' and I don't think I made it back in. And I'm generally a fan of props on the field, but unfortunately when things go wrong all you end up remembering about a group is their failure to get the giant pyramid set up correctly. And lastly, in a strictly "homer" opinion, it's nice to see Danville finally getting whipped back into shape. Still small for their class, but they generate what I think is a really good sound, the drumline is solidifying, and the guard is finally getting a book with some teeth to it. Let's keep it going.

Well, being 'of the era' myself, I would tend to agree with her, but don't have the empirical evidence to back that up.

Hmmm. Does someone sense an impending retirement somewhere?

And congrats to the four people in the poll that picked IVC.

Absolutely.

No matter how you slice it, the maximum final score is still 100. According to the spreadsheet those scores are added, then divided by 10 to get the "Final Score", which is not averaging them.

Interesting point. I've been at 'local' shows where there has been an 'agreed on' floor of 50 for scoring, but I'd be surprised if something like that went on here. The spread looks about right, but I think you're right in that the bottom is too high.

I had what would otherwise be great seats, just off the 40 about halfway up. Only three incidents of idiots walking in / out during a show, and one parent telling a group of kids to shut up. I wanted to stand up and applaud him, but it was in a slow section of someone's show. Love to see afternoon recaps if anyone has them.

yeah I was pissed about the balcony. Anyone know the reasoning?

Crap. I knew I should have stuck around after Bloomington. Interesting caption awards in 4a.

Got to see most of 4a & 6a today. My very brief impressions: DGS : Great show. Can't wait to see how it does next week. Waubaunsie : Lots of potential here Fremd : Nice show but not the difficulty / demand of the other two. Rock Island : Great concept, kind of reminds me of old Normal West. Well played, but execution issues abound. Lots of clean-up to be done before next week. Galesburg : LOVE the way this show plays. Man these kids can blow, the first true "Sit back and let us part your hair" moment of the day. A more demanding visual book under this group and they'd be tough to beat. Danville : Funny, but basic and short. Execution is there but demand is not. Bloomington : Favorite show that I saw. Just has it all. Can't say enough good things about it, but I'd love to see it again.

Danville Viking Invitational Class A 3 Okaw valley 2 Georgetown ridge farm 1 Oblong Class AA 3 Charleston (Guard) 2 Urbana 1 LaSalle-Peru Class AAA 3 Argo 2 Champaign Central 1 Edwardsville (All Captions) GC Edwardsville