I'd just like to see the opinions of everyone... and I know that 90% of you have never marched in any kind of organized formation... but I'd like to ask opinions for sheer interest in what people woud prefer to see of us for the DCon parade.

Can you picture us marching in formation with perhaps the USMC anthem playing in background?

I vote we rehearse the formation scenes from "Stripes" and do that!!

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-Spat

This poll is a great idea, Dom.

My thoughts... I'm pretty familiar with both choices (both military drill and "in-character" interaction with a crowd) and, as sharp and proud as a formation march may feel, I think it would take too much rehearsal beforehand to make it look good. Not that it needs to be said, but military drill is NOT easy... it either looks really cool, or really bad. The uniform precision is what makes it so impressive, and you can't get that without practice.

Interacting with the crowd, on the other hand, is something that can be done easily by any of us with little or no rehearsal beforehand; also, unlike drill, it won't leave us looking like a bunch of sloppy amateurs if even one person "messes up." And judging from the crowd I saw last year, I think they really, really enjoyed the interaction - every time someone in the group got facehuggered or attacked by our Bug, every time someone shouted a movie line, every time I swung my smartgun around at the crowd and yelled "Let's rock!", people in the crowd went nuts.

On a side note, I'm not sure I would feel comfortable with the Marine Corps Hymn playing behind me as I marched. I'm sure you mean it as an homage, but I would feel a bit disrespectful playing another branch's service song as if I was a member of that branch. That's just my opinion, though - no offense intended. I was actually going to suggest having a loop of the drum tattoo from the "Ready Line" scene playing as we march. Thoughts?

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

BOOM-chaka-lakalaka, BOOM-chaka-lakalaka BOOM! I can teach you all to march in line way faster than us to learn that choreography.
It's actually accepted as cannon as per the Tech Manual... but I understand what you mean.
THAT, I like.

while i do know how to march, and have a great cadence voice , i would prefer to gaggle it .this being my first parade .i really want to interact with the crowd .

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"I am the ULTIMATE BADASS , state of the badass art"
Alpha squad. Burton's Bandits

Voted. D*con parade is tough enough without tossing a formation into it.

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I like the way it has been done in the last two years.
Just a casual strole along the parade route.
People call out and do whatever act they want to do.
Its simple, and fun !

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Scott
13

A10/TQ2.0.42142E1

Here's my two cents.

In five consecutive D-Con parades I have yet to see anyone walk in any resemblence of something that remotely looks like a group formation.

No offense.

We've tried two columns (2007)... three columns (2004)... Diamond formation (2006- lasted about ten feet).

The only time we actually looked like a box shaped group of guys walking along was back in 2003 when there were 12 of us.

Remember the first time you marched in step Dom? Kids stepping on each others heels- "bear marching" swinging the same arm forward as the foot you're stepping forward with- skipping steps desperately trying to get back into rhythm. It was ridiculous... but expected from a bunch of beginners. That's pretty much what we can expect from the guys who have never marched before.

The guys with prior drill experience could pull it off (it's like riding a bike)- but being intermixed with civilians who have no experience- even the most hardcore drill team member can be thrown off by everyone else's mis-steps.

There also seems to be a corellation that the larger our group becomes, the harder it seems to keep everyone together. This year looks to be twice the size as any past groups.

I'm sure you could give everyone a crash course in marching say Saturday morning (and might even get everyone doing it right)- but I guarantee it will all go out the window as soon as we step off the sidewalk onto the street when the parade gets moving.

Sorry Dom (and everyone) for sounding harsh- I'm telling it like it is- because bad drill looks absolutely embarassing. I want us looking like badasses- not the goofs from Stripes. That reminds me of last year when Spat said he had a friend who wanted to march with us like Private Pyle in FMJ- walking ten feet behind us with his pants around his ankles, pulse rifle upsidedown over his shoulder, and sucking his thumb. I'm glad that never happened. We're not goofs.


All that being said...

Since I will be carrying the USCM Flag and will be in Dress Blues... I will be marching. It wouldn't make sense for me to be in a formal uniform carrying our flag and looking like I'm out for a Sunday stroll or carrying our flag on a sweep of the hive.

It won't exactly be a quick march like I've been accustom to; the parade moves too slowly for 120 paces per minute. It will be a slowed down version of it- not exactly slow march but a happy median.

As for background music- the Ready Line drumbeat sounds best. People shout out "Marines!!" when they want to get us to look at their camera, and in my rallying calls I yell MARINE CORPS!!... But the bottom line is we are not the United States Marine Corps. "Getting Ready for the Drop" is actually from the movie which might help with the crowd actually recognizing who we are. It's a cool beat regardless.

If we have a few members in Service C's or Dress Blues- and the rest in combat dress, there might be a concern that it will look like a mish-mosh. I however consider it like a montage- much like military re-enactors in a parade. You see a procession of impressions going from formal dress to battle dress.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

It all comes down to... on who are what can we place speakers strong enough for people to hear the music?

I actually had it playing back in 06.....but no one could hear it.
My fault for thinking a small MP3 player and mini speakers would be enough.

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It may be "canon" but I guarantee you that 99% of the people in the crowd will have NOT read the book. And maybe a high 50% have even seen the movie.

I had airsoft buddies that thought every time I referred to "Aliens" I was actually talking about "Alien: Resurrection." That's what happens when you're a fan of a 20+ year old non-mainstream genre film.

Russ

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"A writer needs a pen, a painter a brush, and a filmmaker an army." - Orson Wells.

http://www.rookscastle.com
http://www.alchemyarms.com

What would work is a vehicle with the speakers blaring.

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I told you I'd shoot, but you didn't believe me! WHY DIDN'T YOU BELIEVE ME!?!

Anyone got £85k to spare?

http://www.witham-sv.com/infopage.php?ID=1470&Overide=1

I think the UKCM are going to have enough of a time keeping Abe under control with all the cameras pointing at him to worry about keeping in step

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A11/TQ1.0.32150E1 Murphy, J - Covert recording headcam. There is no flashing red light when you are on Kona-Cam
Weyland-Yutani: Their projects are intentionally full of bugs. Avoid!

Well you're in luck because I've just got an e-mail saying I've won approx $1.5 million in the lottery.
It must have been a reminder e-mail though because I got the same one 3 times yesterday.

I'll paypal you the funds plus shipping ASAP

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I betcha a cheap Wal-Mart boombox - or two, one on each side of the group facing the crowd - and a CD with one long-ass looping track of the drum tattoo would do the trick. Only prob is, we'd need a volunteer(s) to carry it regardless.



Here's a thought... if Mr. Henriksen makes it to the con this year and joins the parade, they'll no doubt provide a vehicle for him, and it'd be a simple matter to say, "Hey, we're the Aliens guys, mind sticking us behind Bishop?" I'd be willing to bet if we handed them a parade CD, they'd play it. Worth a shot, anyway.

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

Marching in step is lame & for "Garatroopers". We've freakin' Colonial Marines, not some honor guard. Fair enuff having the colour party marching but the rest of us bad asses will be mixing it up with bugs and face huggers all for the crowds enjoyment. Besides...how in the hell can I break some kit if I'm marching?
Enuff said. Let's put this to rest.

Mike

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There is nothing more impressive than a bloody big Alien wiggling on the end of a sharp stick!

Agreed. I've got sumthin' special planned for the parade, it just won't do to be marchin' in step...

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USCM- The Colonial Marines- A Brotherhood of Bad Asses!

Considering the Sweatfest that last year's parade was, I'm wearing a different Marine get up then what I will wear for the colony sweep.

LOL, should we set up a colony sweep thread too?

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This man is biased and obviously can't march in step due to old age. Don't listen to him kids, he's cRaZy!

I've got a few ideas for the sweep(s) whenever a thread for that gets put up.

In the meantime, though, at the time of this post I'm seeing a vote of 19 vs 2 in favor of gaggling it. I think that's pretty straightforward, hehe.

I do have one more question, however. Last year we started up an idea of putting a plush facehugger on an RC car chassis and using it to mess with the parade audience. I bought a facehugger plushie last summer for that purpose, hehe. Do we feel like resurrecting that idea for this year's parade?

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CPL Sean Maio A01/TQ2.0.72156E1
Public Relations Division (Temporary Cross-Assignment)
M-56 Smartgun Operator, A/3Btn, II CMEF, USS Sephora

I'm for that!

We could also have a R/c chestburster running around.

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OK, but let's not turn this into a Shriner parade, huh?

Lil' mini fez?

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Check, please!

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~Jay