"Here
are some tips when watching a show!"
(taken from various show programmes
in the early '80s)
- Try and keep an overall view of the performance and not concentrate
on any one portion. The entire show is geared to expressing the
music as presented by the bugles and drums.
- The single most important individual on the field while the
corps is performing is the drum major. Each drum major has a distinctive
style, he has to know when to control the corps and when to control
the crowd! At times the drum major can be a showman, but at all
times he must be in absolute control of the corps.
- During every contest judges are scurrying about the field looking
for errors. Try not to pay attention to the judges and enjoy what
the corps is doing!
- The most visual portion of the show is provided by the flags.
They set the stage for the musical presentation.
- Many of our corps are now including rifles and it takes an alert
fan to catch all the manoeuvres of the rifle section. They are
an extremely busy group and they add greatly to the overall pagentry
of a well designed show. The flags and rifles, which make up the
colour guard, are not restricted to any certain part of the field.
Each movement is co-ordinated to the drill of the bugles and percussion
sections.
- Drum Solo Time. There is usually one part of a show when the
percussion takes over and does "flashy" manoeuvres.
During this time the guard is featured in the background sometimes
with the bugle line doing feature drills.
- And finally, if you enjoy highlights of performances by various
corps, show your appreciation by your applause and cheers... it
is the only reward the members get while performing. The audience
has the power to turn a medocre show into a fantastic show by
turning the kinds on with their applause!
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