So, why did I pick that show anyways?

So, Cadets 2000 was my music of choice for my birthday trip.  If you know me, then you know why I picked it.  It's, by far, the best show on the topic, and one of the best shows to ever hit any field.  The score is useless, everyone knows Cavies had no business tying Cadets that night (the shame of that is that I really liked Cavies 2000 show), but something really irks me about that tie.  It's the beginning of the end.

It's the beginning of the end of demand being judged.  Watch the two shows back to back and tell me that the Cavies show has 1/10th the demand that the Cadets show has.  Now, tell me the execution on the easier show was so good that it warranted the same score as a show that was nearly as well executed, yet 1000% harder.  Come on, I'm waiting.  You can't do it.  Nor can anybody else.  Wait, maybe Cadets so under-performed their show that it drug them down to Cavies level.  Ummm, nope.

This was the beginning of the end.  The beginning of the Cavies taking advantage of judges who teach middle school chorus, or have no affiliation with musical pursuits at all, except during the summer, and getting them to score them at the top of Box 5 when it's clean, but not hard.  And by not hard, I mean NOT hard.  Like, Cadets, or BD, or SCV could hold an emergency camp and learn the entire Cavies 2000 show in a couple days.  Yes, I'm serious.

Now this trend has hit Bands of America.  Demand isn't being judged.  All shows are on an equal playing field.  Hear that flushing noise?  That's demand going down the toilet.  If I do "Rite of Spring" and you do "Come to Jesus" (in whole notes) those shows are judged the same.  How is that?  

People are playing to win.  People are trying to win and underserving their students.  Directors are trying to make a name for themselves at the expense of their students.  If you know about American Marching Bands you know who I'm talking about.  The sad part, they haven't won a title yet, and probably never will, especially since their window is closing.  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but..............

If you but a good product on the field and you happen to win, then more power to you.  If you don't, oh well.  I've been there, I know.  I'm not scarred by it.  I don't think any other kid would be either (even if you came up .025 short.)

Tell me that this difference is the difference between kids being underserved by Directors who want to be famous and kids being pushed to the limit for the sake of learning.  Please.  Tell me this is the new Alpha.

Tell me Phantom ended this madness once and for all and we can get back to putting on a show, not a scoring machine.