It has some of the same problems I had with Odyssey but not to as egregious of an extent.
The movement tech is great but the amount of collectibles that are just sitting out in the open is a bit much. It was a bit of a slog to 100%
I feel as if Gravity and Grace is the culmination of the last three years of coats show design.
My question is do you think they should continue down the science road next season or try to do something completely different.
On one hand if it ain’t broke don’t fix it but on the other hand, I kind of want them to do something else.
With coats clean sweeping San Antonio, it’s not out of the realm of possibility for them to sweep every sub-caption at finals.
If they do, when was the last time that happened?
In a lot of ways this show is a huge turning point for design philosophy as a whole. Some people embrace the more WGI style mindset while others dismiss it. Regardless corps even to this day build there shows around the foundations Bluecoats 2016 set.
Looking back on this show, it’s strange how although it was a big shift at the time, just how primitive it looks 10 years later. Makes me wonder what corp will look like 10 years from now.
With Bluecoats being the frontrunners so far this year, maybe they can clutch a 3rd gold medal on the ten year anniversary of this groundbreaking show.
Edit: primitive might have been the wrong word to use. What I’m saying is that design philosophy has shifted so much in the last 10 years that to how things are right now, even this show feels a bit dated.
I’m not saying 2010s BD, I’m talking 2000s BD. Phenomenon of Cool, Summertrain, Winged Victory, Constantly Risking Absurdity…
That kind of classic BD.
I’ve always thought that overall Season 10 has the best prize task sections out of any series. This is mainly because they are all so completely rubbish at bringing in good prizes that it’s hilarious.
I will do the DLC after some other games! This one was a huge improvement on an already great game. It talks about humanity’s relationship with religion, myths, and legends.
It also has great puzzles that expand on the first one while improving on old mechanics that didn’t quite work in the original. Check it out but you have to play the first one before the second.
I was looking into this because it’s interesting but the split between women and men right now winning are basically evenly split and taskmaster losers are exactly evenly split
So far for winners, we have had
9 Women
11 Men
1 Nonbinary Person
So far for losers (lowest score a season) we have had exactly
11 Women
11 Men
This is because John Kerns and Fern Brady tied for last their season making it 22 losers despite 21 seasons.
I don’t know why I was looking into this to be honest I was just interested.
I go off and on for both versions and I can’t decide which I like doing more.
One gives you a more in depth appreciation for the shows because you see them multiple times, the other gives you more whimsy as your first impression of a show is the best version that show will be.
Last year I watched the shows more often but I think this year, I’m going to go in blind just cause.
I was offered the new job in May. They said to wait until the June 10th board meeting to be approved by the school board. After June 10th, I called on June 15th to confirm I was approved.
During that call, I was told I was approved, got to talk to the Superintendent welcoming me, and told to wait and check my email for paperwork in the coming days.
At the end of next week (the 27th) I’ll be moving 3 hours away to this new district because my current lease ends at that time. They told me in the phone call I should be fine to go ahead and move to the new place because I’m essentially hired. Should I wait for the paperwork to notify my current position of my resignation or just tell them when i move regardless.
Thank you!
And thus, I have finished the Kiryu Saga of Yakuza games. I started a marathon of these games back in January and have basically been playing these exclusively ever since.
I will be playing a few of other games in my massive backlog before starting the sequel series “Like a Dragon”
Throughout the majority of 2025 and 2026 BOA and Indoor, I have seen too many groups use AI imagery in their shows.
It sucks, looks terrible, and is vehemently anti-art.
I think DCI should put in their rulebook a rule banning the use of AI generated materials in Drum Corps. Hopefully it can trickle into the lower levels too.
Edit: Here is BD’s Email page so you can let them know your thoughts. Be respectful. https://bluedevils.org/about/contact/index.php
It feels like Greg is giving out less penalties to contestants and excusing the contestant’s chicanery.
It feels like he was a lot more aggressive for the rules in previous seasons.
The Blue Devils, due to religious reasons, will change their name to the Blue Angels.
They will then get sued by the US Navy for using the name, causing them to call themselves “The Drum Corps Previously Called The Blue Devils” for the 2026 season.
Hi. I’m a music education teacher in Indiana. For the last few years my school district has been gutting the band program slowly but surely. It has caused me to look for new employment.
I have been applying everywhere and I have gotten 7 interviews so far. However, it feels like no matter how hard a practice questions and research schools and do mock interviews and reach out and everything, it’s never enough. I’m hoping I’m wrong but I’ve never been great at interviewing. Something puts off potential employers.
I’m worried I’m going to have to be here for another year. I feel stuck. Like I desperately want to do more but I’m not being given the opportunity to do so. I know part of it is being there for the students I have now but I want to teach more band. I want to do more. I want to be closer to my friends and family. I don’t want to be stuck in this position where I see my remaining band students and they can never grow to where they need to because admin doesn’t care.
I just want a job I can be somewhat happy in. So my question is this. What more can I do to get people to hire me and how do you cope with being in a position you hate, even if you don’t want to leave the profession?
Sometimes it feels like Music Ed is abandoning me not the other way around. I’ve talked to other music ed people and they’ve all said it’s pretty easy to find a new teaching job after working in music ed for a few years. That has simply not been true for me at all. Part of me thinks I should give up on everything because clearly I’m not built to be good at interviews or anything of that sort. I’m always gonna be stuck where I am forever.
Throughout the last couple of years, I’ve heard the same thing from educators. That it’s easy to get a new job. There’s a teacher shortage. Blah blah blah. Even in my music specialty, I’ve heard it’s easy to find new employment.
I have been trying and trying. I get to the interview phase fine but something about me puts people off I think. I have thought out my answers to interview questions. I say please and thank you. I try to showcase my passion for the job to them. I watch videos on how to interview well. I videotape myself and critique it. And it all still feels like it isn’t enough. Like I’m just going to be awful at these interviews my entire life.
I hate my current job. They’ve destroyed everything I loved about it. I can’t stay there. I don’t want to leave the profession but I might have to simply because nobody else wants me.
Edit: I want to clarify a few things. I’ve been getting a solid amount of interviews. I have so far gotten 7 interviews. It’s the next step that is always that problem. Also I’ve been applying to most job openings and I am willing to move all across the state for a new job. In fact I’m trying to relocate so that isn’t the problem.
My life has been the same for the past few weeks.
I apply for new jobs in my field
I get job interviews
I go to interview and answer questions with thought out and semi-rehearsed answers.
I shake hands politely and am kind to everyone at the place.
I sent a thank you note the day after the interview
I get rejected from the job.
I hate my current position and want out asap. I love my field though so I really don’t want to change careers. I just want one of these places to actually hire me. I’m doing everything I can to get a new job. I’m practicing most commonly asked questions, I’m videoing myself and sending it to others to critique, I’m doing mock interviews, I’m sending out emails to places. It just feels like it’s never enough and I’ll never be able to achieve my dreams and aspirations. I just want to be happy,
I was watching Phantom 2010 and I thought to myself “this show is timeless. If Phantom did this show now it would still do well”
I was wondering what other shows you think that for.