I think it is ridiculous that anyone that was pro-Finale get -16 comments and anyone that bashed on Antwon or this competition gets +42. If you weren't there you shouldn't get to comment about how good or bad the actual experience was. And i'm willing to bet there were not 42 kids at that competition that hated it.
It's not really about whether they liked Finale or not. It's whether or not they are trying to strongarm other people into not talking about what they felt. You'll see here, here, here people saying nice things about Finale and no one giving it negative feedback.
And I still can't find a anti-finale post with +42.
Stop saying people aren't allowed to have opinions. You're probably right, the majority of people voting on these posts likely weren't at the competition. But you know what? They've read what is here and have a decent amount of information to form their own view of the event. That could be good or bad. It's not at all in the realm of anyone's influence to say what opinion they should have.
I think this thumbs up thumbs down bullcrap is ruining the site. Well-thought out posts are being completely buried because they actually give a good opinion, not a popular one; and this isn't just on my posts. I see it on many posts made by people who know very well what they are talking about.
As for Finale, I won't comment on it because I wasn't there, neither should anyone else who wasn't. You don't know Antwon's position and I don't think it's completely fair to him to blame the whole thing on him. Shame on anyone who does.
Well to me the thumbs are better than comments because fights start to happen and things get out of hand. It just shows what people like and don't like.
I think this thumbs up thumbs down bullcrap is ruining the site. Well-thought out posts are being completely buried because they actually give a good opinion, not a popular one; and this isn't just on my posts. I see it on many posts made by people who know very well what they are talking about.
As for Finale, I won't comment on it because I wasn't there, neither should anyone else who wasn't. You don't know Antwon's position and I don't think it's completely fair to him to blame the whole thing on him. Shame on anyone who does.
I think it is ridiculous that anyone that was pro-Finale get -16 comments and anyone that bashed on Antwon or this competition gets +42. If you weren't there you shouldn't get to comment about how good or bad the actual experience was. And i'm willing to bet there were not 42 kids at that competition that hated it.
Exactly
I think it is ridiculous that anyone that was pro-Finale get -16 comments and anyone that bashed on Antwon or this competition gets +42. If you weren't there you shouldn't get to comment about how good or bad the actual experience was. And i'm willing to bet there were not 42 kids at that competition that hated it.
Please don't assume that I only like California choirs and think one way because I'm from California. I went to high school in Northern California, where show choir is, in my opinion, much more similar in style to show choirs in the Midwest than it is to show choirs from Southern California. If you don't believe me, check out Enterprise "Starship" when they compete at FAME Nationals.
My pedigree aside... let's just agree to disagree. I'll just end my dialogue by saying that I don't call certain show choirs my favorites because of where they're from, but because of how they perform.
Choir is such a subjective sport. One group will never be able to please every single person that watches them, you know? Even though I am from California, I still love all the choirs that I saw on Saturday. I felt intimidated by a lot of them because of how amazing they were! But, really when you get down to it, choir is about performing and giving it your all. Once you take the set, the costumes, and the special effects away, you're left with a choir. And how that choir performs is all that matters.
Honestly, Finale was one of the best competitions I've ever participated in! The schedule changes did occur, but you just have to adjust and go with it. Everyone was working their hardest trying to make this competition as successful as it could be. So yes, mistakes happen, schedules are changed, but Finale shouldn't talked down on. it's up to the directors to see what competitions they want to go to and I would consider it if I was a director. For all of us the whole experience, not just the competition was simply amazing.
My feelings exactly
do not talk bad about a competition to try to influence other directors, things happen, we just have to deal with it
Honestly, Finale was one of the best competitions I've ever participated in! The schedule changes did occur, but you just have to adjust and go with it. Everyone was working their hardest trying to make this competition as successful as it could be. So yes, mistakes happen, schedules are changed, but Finale shouldn't talked down on. it's up to the directors to see what competitions they want to go to and I would consider it if I was a director. For all of us the whole experience, not just the competition was simply amazing.
I'm doing this from memory so I know I'll forget something, but they do "New Divide" from Linkin Park, the Hogwarts School Song from Harry Potter, "What Is This Feeling" from Wicked, "To The Sky" by Owl City, "We Will Rock You" by Queen, "In From The Dark" by Silent Force with a bit from "Uprising" by Muse (is this a Josh Greene arrangement?), "Dream On" by Aerosmith, and "Take My Hand" by Simple Plan.
Almost all correct! We sing "Loathing" from wicked
I am one of the directors who brought my groups to Finale. It needs to be made clear that any director who is considering doing Finale in the in the future DO NOT CONSIDER IT. Here is a list of things that were wrong with this joke of a competition:
1) Radio City was the advertised venue, this was changed without contacting directors! Most directors found out by rumor that turned into truth, some directors found out from other students in other groups.
2) We were originally given a Broadway show to go see. Our group was given different tickets to a completely different show! This happened the night we arrived. Were we notified of the change? NO! I had built up the advertised show and kids were very excited to see it but again this was changed about two hours before we were leaving for the show!
3) In the package THAT MY KIDS AND PARENTS PAID FOR we were to have a dinner at a popular NY restaraunt. We were notified that because of $ mismanagement/embezzelment in the company they did not have the funds to pay for our dinner, THE ONE WE PAID FOR. The major problem with this is I now know that one group got their dinner, who is their choreographer? Antwon/the CEO and founder of Finale! Yes this is true. AS AWFUL AS IT SOUNDS.
4) When we arrived at the hotel we got no welcome packet of any kind.
5) After competition I received no score sheets or score composite nor was I given any instructions on how to obtain them! We left with nothing in regards to scores.
6) There were supposed to be shuttles (provided by Finale) running from our hotel to the venue, whenever we asked about this we were never given a for sure answer by Finale. It was always "we are
working on that". THEY WERE PROMISED FROM day one when the venue got changed. This caused major issues because most of group buses were not to be used and staying in Jersey. This was a huge problem. We ended having to use our own bus as a shuttle for our group and are being rebilled by our bus company. More $ for us!
7) The workshops ended up being ok at best, there was no sign up sheet, no organization to it. The music for the hip hop class was being payed on a tiny mp3 stereo and you could barely hear the music. Over half the classes originally advertised DID NOT EVEN OCCUR.
8) The prize money promised....what do you think?
9) My parents who bought those expensive tickets to come watch were not even asked for their ticket at the door! Could have just walked right in!
Now lets see if Antwon and his company reimburse any of these schools for money that they paid. If he does he will regain some credibility and respect but as of now he has zero of that from me and I assume most directors there this weekend. He did do a nice job salvaging the event after the alleged $ theft. He could have cancelled the event and completely robbed us. For that, good job Antwon. But evrything else was run very poorly. Let me rephrase that, about as poorly as possible.
Again (attention all directors), DO NOT CONSIDER FINALE in the future. It is rollacoaster you do not want to ride. You other directors know this, when the company you are dealing with is unorgainized who does it come back to? YOU! Antwon put me in an awful position with all my students, chaperones, and parent that paid almost $700!
do not talk bad about a competition to try to influence other directors, things happen, we just have to deal with it
Mr. Chavis and company wasn't begged to put on a competition, they sought participants; and when so much is so publicly promised and charged for, but not delivered - not just explanation, but possibly retribution is in order. If, as has been intimated, there was theft of funds, is there a police investigation? Is there a warrant out for someone's arrest?
No one has said yet, but did any choir get the prize money that was promised? Did any of the workshops take place; any of the social events?
And in defense of Mr. Lopez, he could only do what was asked of him. What kind of information and prep did he get ahead of time? Was there someone from the organization with him making sure he had proper pronunciations? Background information? You don't hire a name like that and expect them to know anything; you've only paid for their name, likeness and time. They have to be produced.
I went! I have no idea about the money, but there were lots of different workshops for acting, dancing, vocal technique, and music theory! And the pizza party with the other schools never happened, so that was a bummer.
I just think we should focus on all of the good that happened this past weekend
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
That might be a bit heavy-handed. But this is one of my biggest pet peeves here. Things go wrong, people inevitably have opinions about that. It doesn't help anyone to gloss over them. Ignoring the bad that happened doesn't make the good stuff better. If anything, it cheapens it. The bad is what helps us enjoy the good so much. Having cancelled reservations and lost money makes the time spent with your friends and performing so much the richer.
And no, I don't know what happened there. It could have been absolutely wonderful for a lot of people. But there's no reason to pretend that others weren't very displeased.
I am just glad to be back home safe and sound. I just wish we would have been given some information before arriving in New York instead of dumping it on us as we arrived and then having to scramble furiously to make decisions. That was unfair, especially to schools who had no hotel and no tickets to the show they "thought" they were going to see the first night. All in all, we escaped with "minor cuts and bruises". We got our hotel rooms, we saw the show we wanted to see with AMAZING SEATS, and we performed our show in New York City and that was our goal.
Don't be that way, they did the best they could with what they had. I applaud them for a good start. Antwon worked tirelessly to ensure that this event still happened.
you're right. that was bitchy. i do apologize. im just siding with the victims here-directors and their groups.
so is it safe to say that Finale's future is done and that antwon chavis should be banished from the show choir world? its a shame because he's really talented...at stealing money and choreography....sorry had to say it! you all were thinking it! but congrats to all the kids! what a line up of groups! my god!
Don't be that way, they did the best they could with what they had. I applaud them for a good start. Antwon worked tirelessly to ensure that this event still happened.
so is it safe to say that Finale's future is done and that antwon chavis should be banished from the show choir world? its a shame because he's really talented...at stealing money and choreography....sorry had to say it! you all were thinking it! but congrats to all the kids! what a line up of groups! my god!
Finale Nationals 2011
I'll just end my dialogue by saying that I don't call certain show choirs my favorites because of where they're from, but because of how they perform.
"Dream On" by Aerosmith, and "Take My Hand" by Simple Plan.
