<p>Drum corp: (skip the entire post if you don't care about Drum Corp stuff!)</p>
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<p>Amazing was really the best word to describe it. There was a Jr. Corp band as well, I believe, and one for older folks, too (can't remember the name).</p>
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<p><strong>Kath</strong> - the Corps are typically for ages 18-24. They cut us older folks off, though after seeing some of the better ones, most band alumni couldn't keep up. Holy crap. I never though of drum corps as being athletic! Anywho.. to get into one of the teams/corps, you go through a tryout/audition and if you make the cut you're in - but you pay for the privilege of participating. I'm told $2500 per year is not unusual. They travel all over the US and earn points for how they place in each competition, much like how Nascar drivers earn points for how they place in individual races. At the end of the season, the winner takes all (though I have no idea what "all" entails, other than bragging rights.)</p>
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<p>I had brought my camera (yah!) but apparently the damn thing didn't charge when I set it up last night, and I couldn't get one freakin picture. (booo!) Below are a couple from my friend, though. </p>
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<p>The Blue Knights:</p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/50900/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Blue Knights.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="12849" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/12849/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
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<p>Pioneer</p>
<p><a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/50904/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="Pioneer.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="12851" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/12851/width/667/height/500" style="; width: 667px; height: 500px"></a></p>
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<p>Tim - Do any of these names ring a bell? Mandarins, Cavaliers Spirit of Atlanta (formerly just Spirit)? They were all present and DAMN impressive.</p>
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<p>The bands were getting better and better (they went in reverse order of ranking), and quite frankly, I sometimes have NO idea how the human mind could come up with the complexity of formation changes, coupled with speed and intertwining groups (brass, drum line, colorguard, rifles, etc). I wonder how many times some of these groups literally tripped/ran over each other and/or were accidentally beaten in the head by flags/rifles until everyone knew precisely where to be and when.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, I had to bail at intermission so I could get home safely before I lost the sunlight. The best bands were still to come. Drat!</p>