NTxBandMom8

Is it just me, or are all of these bands just incredibly strong this year. At BOA too. Each band comes out and continues to impress. The bar seems to have been set super high this year. I feel like in past years any one of these performances could have qualified for finals.

Lovejoy’s show was gorgeous and a shocker, area B for BRUTAL competition! Too many great bands in one area!

That was a hugely competitive finals. The biggest heartbreak has to be Lovejoy. That was a fabulous show! I couldnt even leave to get a to grab a blanket from the car. Hugely competitive!

P-town T-bone, you know they were saying area B for bloodbath. Tough tough competition and everyone looked great. It will be another heartbreaker tonight, but all of these bands left it on the field. Hold your head high! ❤️

My heart hurts for Roma. We were told that dropping any prop on the field and failing to retrieve it in the allotted time or having any sound clips with speaking could also immediately dq a band. That means one persons oops could ruin it for the whole band? Maybe that is incorrect and it would just hurt the score? I’d love more clarification on this situation as well as in general. It’s not criticism at all. It’s just a question so I can learn more.

I believe a certain kid I know now has this as his background screen.

Any surprises for anyone?

Independence. They are a newer school in this district so it will be interesting to see what he brings. Their former director is now the assistant director of fine arts and their former assistant was picked up by Wakeland when Coppell took Jerry Miller. I hope he’s a great fit for them as they have had a bit of turnover for a young school.

I’d put Wakeland over Prosper this year. I hear that Prosper has a new director this year.

Speaking of which....I hope someone reminds Wakeland to get the rest of their clouds off the field. They had to leave them behind when evacuating. Maybe they should leave those at home for the next show.....

I think it means Wakeland brought the clouds and won by having the only non-exhibitions 2 minutes in finals. ⛈⚡️☔️ Sorry. Just trying to bring some levity to the situation. Rain is no fun.

So unfortunate that they had to call it in the middle of a finals performance. But I’m very thankful that they did call it as just a few minutes after there was a big lightning show. Wish I knew how to post pics from my phone on here. I have a “waiting for it to pass” photo.

Whoa.....no Coppell? Wow. By all accounts they had an amazing show today! I had to eat crow for saying I wasn't always as impressed as others with them, and I stand by eating that crow with the show they put out there today. I think they did way better than some who got class awards. To add insult to injury, that allowed Wakeland to slip into the top 10. I figured either Wakeland or Waxahachie would make it, but if you had told me both, I would have picked someone besides Coppell to be out based on performances today. I'm totally baffled by some of the class awards. To me it feels like there's always some reputational bias at work sometimes. I hate to think that, but if I am seeing obvious mistakes and find them distracting, then I wouldn't expect to see such high placements by some. Again...just my 2 cents. I'm not a judge, which is probably a good thing!

I would also like to say that I love a band who likely knows they won't make finals but proudly shows up to the awards regardless. I know there are reasons that bands have to leave sometimes, but there were several today who didn't stay and some to go to other competition events. I always have mixed feelings about that.

Speak to me, LeanderMomma....... I keep refreshing waiting to hear thoughts. I'm not an expert but I heard a clarinet solo that I think wasn't intended to be completely alone...... But I also heard a vocal that may have come across different on FloMarching. I hope I was just getting bad sound on this end. Stranger things have happened.

I think Keller may have read this and said, "Game on." I think everything is up for debate at any given event. Okay...not everything, but I can't recall any event where there weren't unexpected surprises in both directions. I think your predictions are great, but I do think that some of the performances are leaving a tiny opening for some surprises. As far as opinions go, I know some people get very upset when someone doesn't love their show or has things they feel need to be improved. Obviously every single kid out there is giving their heart and soul. I think, however, I would rather hear debate about the show our band is doing rather than never hearing it mentioned at all. I sometimes feel bad for bands who work hard and have great shows but never even make the radar on here. So here's to the underdogs because they all deserve to be recognized for their hard work. That being said, who doesn't hold their breath during finalist announcements and awards? I know I do no matter what the predictions!

So if we can rewind, does that mean it will be available to watch afterwards like some other events are? That would be cool..... I know. I'm wanting to have my cake and eat it too.

Whoa.....you can rewind? Seriously???? Terrified of trying and missing something I can't get back to.... I will say that Keller is a WOW for me. Its just the whole package for me. I am curious as to how people would change their predictions, but I don't want to go negative at all. So I'll ask this way.... Who did you UNDERESTIMATE? You don't have to say who you would replace in your prediction, but just who you underestimated and maybe you would rank higher now in your own mind.

I have to be honest that I was not a fan of Coppell's “Haute Couture” last year at all. I have not seen their show yet this year, though like others said I am sure it's out there. I'm not ready to put Duncanville in the top 10. I think I'd prefer to see how they do this year and hope for a finals placement next year. Union....I'm not quick to add them to the finals. I think they may fall short unless they have cleaned the program up a good bit. Sloppy won't make the cut, so I hope they have worked out the kinks. LD Bell.....I loved their show earlier in the season but now the full show fell flat for me. I do not like the big blockers in the front, even though I know that has been a positive for them in the past. The color guard on them was not only distracting and loud but also they had a near miss where one seemed not locked in well that left me wanting them to just get down. Love the bagpipes, but it was such a huge part at the beginning. Loved it but then it seemed to fall a bit flat after that. I would have liked to have seen it throughout rather than such a focus and then almost nonexistent. I'm probably in the minority, and my opinion is just that....my opinion. I'm far from a judge. I don't think Keller Central or Wylie will make the finals. Again...I could be wrong. I just think that Prosper, Waxahachie and Wakeland will be take those spots. My predictions: 1. Keller 2. FloMo 3. Hebron 4. Cedar Park 5. Timber Creek 6. Prosper 7. LD Bell 8. Coppell 9. Wakeland 10. Waxahachie

Is it a director’s call as to whether a group is division 1 or 2?

Seeing these bands live makes me want to go in and change a few predictions. Anyone up to posting their top 10?

Totally ageee that Poteet has a great shot at finals! That show was great!

Favorites so far are (in order of performance) Cedar Park, Aledo, Waxahachie, Wakeland, and Poteet). Shout out to Willis, though! Loved that show! And that was your first color guard? Really? Wow! Beautiful visuals!!!

I loved Marcus in prelims. One of the parents sitting by me explained their program to some extent. It's about Paganini, a violin virutoso and composer whose medical oddity helped him create musical works that others were unable to play because they did not have his "disability." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccolò_Paganini