From: dawson@willard.UUCP
Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps
Subject: Re: POPCORN
Date: 27 Aug 92 04:56:56 GMT
Organization: Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814

streuer_d@cubldr.colorado.edu writes:

> In article <1992Aug21.161158.6762@vdbsan>, dawson@vdbsan (Willard Dawson) wri
>   
> >>I don't know where the poster of this info felt that allowing the fans
> >>to participate would mean regression to past marching techniques and simple
> >>music.  What would be nice, and I believe is intended, is to let the 
> >>audience have a voice as to what they enjoy.
> > 
> > Obviously (to me, anyway), he feels that the majority opinion coincides wit
> > that regression idea.. perhaps he even subscribes to it himself.
> > 
> >>Most people, who are not drum corp nuts, truly enjoy the entertainment valu
> >>of a competition with the competition secondary.  For example, all this
> >>VK bashing is out of line, because a lot of non-corp people look forward
> >>to see the corp "that wears the red sneakers."  It's the entertainment valu
> >>that draws and usually keeps the new viewer.
> > 
> > Is it?  How many new viewers have actually been polled for us to determine
> > what initially drew them to view the show?  I would be glad to see DCI,
> > and its member corps, have a better link to whatever it is that defines
> > "entertainment value" to the "average fan," as well as knowing the extremes
> > ranging from indifference to fanatic worship.  However, I don't know that
> > that could be really separated from the need to appeal to the common
> > denominator, and we all know what that's done to television.
> 
> WILLARD, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A SHORT MEMORY - YOU YOURSELF WERE ONCE A FIRST
> TIME VIEWER AND I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT YOU WATCHED YOUR FIRST SHOW AND WERE
> ABLE TO ANALYZE EVERYTHING FROM A TECHNICAL POINT OF VIEW.  SOMETHING ABOUT
> YOUR INITIAL EXPOSURE TO DRUM CORP GOT YOU HOOKED - THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING
> ABOUT.  YOU HAVE TURNED YOURSELF INTO AN FAN BY LEARNING THE INTRICACIES
> OF DRUM CORP. 

(Did you really mean to SCREAM at me?)  Actually, I'm rather sorry for you
if you feel that I was not able to technically appreciate (or, to use your
terminology, analyze) everything I observed, as this shows a rather limited
appreciation of my skills on your part.

And, I'm not sure that I agree with your assessment that I'm "hooked."  I do
enjoy watching drum corps, but I am more a fan of the musical performance,
and the television broadcast has never done ANYTHING to further my enjoyment
of that.  Even now, with two stereo PBS channels to choose from in the
Atlanta area, it doesn't even approach a live performance.

However, none of this has anything whatsoever to do with the meaning of my
follow-up, which was (and still is)...

It has been stated that the majority public preference would be for shows
that are simpler.  I question this assertion.  It has also been stated in this
group that "It's the entertainment value that draws and usually keeps the new
viewer."  My comments were meant to say "I don't think it's such a hot idea to
base your decision (as a corps show designer or implementor) on some possibly
ill-founded poll of (supposedly) representative fans."  Who is going to conduct
such a poll?  Who is going to offer a guarantee of impartiality?  Who is going
to guarantee to the show designer that those persons polled actually do
represent the public opinion?

And, even more to the point, what difference will it make to the corps'
eventual placement at Nats?  That is what corps management is going to be
interested in.. because that is what influences the staying-power which
enables a corps to be such a hit, year after year.  If the judging practices
are indeed changed so that the person in the stands has a voice in selecting
the winning corps, then you can be sure that each and every show winner will
be pre-chosen before the event ever occurs.  How are you going to remove any
inherent partisan support (ballot stuffing??) in such a scenario?

> > 
> >>True, after being exposed to drum corp for a while, a true fan appreciates
> >>the difference and stretch of the more difficult music and marching.
> > 
> > What the hell is a "true fan?"  Is that anything like a "real drum corps?"
> 
> AS STATED ABOVE, DON'T FORGET WHERE IT STARTED FOR YOU.  THIS COMMENT WAS NOT
> WARRANTED.

This comment certainly was warranted.  The post to which I was following made
a direct reference to the wishes of "true fans."  Well, dammit, just go ahead
and define what "true fan" means, and tell me that your definition of that
person is the one, true definition.  Go ahead, make my day.  Am I, or am I not,
and by which definition, a true fan?

> > 
> >>But there is something to be said
> >>about 'recognizing' a piece of music or seeing straight lines.  When they
> >>showed the clip on the DCI national broadcast of Madison's Slaughter on Ten
> >>Avenue, I got goose bumps.  One, because it was something from the past and
> >>two, you could really hear them blasting those notes and you knew it was
> >>good because you were FAMILIAR with the tune.
> > 
> >>Let's not make drum corp an elitist sport, keep it within reach of everyone
> > 
> > You don't have to make drum corps an elitist sport.. it already is.  I seem
> > to enjoy it being that way.  Maybe that makes me a true fan.
> 
> NO, SOUNDS LIKE THAT MAKES YOU SOMEWHAT OF A SNOB. 

As is already patently evident in your comments to me, you are refusing to
discuss the issues I raise, but instead resort to name calling and SHOUTING
techniques that mark you as either a snob yourself, or (and?) an amateur at
the art of practicing either network etiquette or tactful discussion.

I'll make this offer to you...  I'll promise not to assault your personal
reputation if you'd kindly do the same for me.

And, to the net in general... I apologize for not taking this last portion
to email, as I most certainly should have done..  I did feel that I should
have a chance to voice my concern, as I did in my original follow-up, to the
pressing "issue" of potentially allowing "fans" a voice in show design or
judging...

Allow me to reiterate:  I think that is a *bad* idea to consider anything
resembling the Nielson (sp?) ratings that are used to make TV the absolute
load of crap it is today.  Do we want anything of a similar vein to invade
drum corps?

Perhaps the American public does.. after all, it seems to swallow the bilge
from American TV like it was Mom's apple pie...

-- 
dawson@willard.UUCP (Willard Dawson)
Willard's House BBS, Atlanta, GA -- +1 (404) 664 8814