first, to jackie....at least people can hear and notice my section...
secondly, 53 perc nugeyes? awesome. too bad they'll get cut. we dont have 53 instruments. we have at max: 9 snares, 4 sets O tenors, 6 basses, and 8 sets O cymbals. 27 positions and 3 of them are already taken by leadership. so that leaves 24. we do have vets coming back that will more than likely make it back in with no problem. so that brings that number down again.
personally, if you dont cut it, you should be cut. i've been there before, it CAN happen. why we dont, i 'understand' but really i dont. as for alternates, it doesnt work well. from experience i know this....2 years ago we had 3 cymbal "alternates" for pregame but they marched every halftime show. they never were allowed to march pregame because we didnt feel they could hack it...and we were right! however, two of them returned last year, one came back to cymbals and kicked ass, and the other went to bass and didnt do too bad either.
Cuts? oh yeah, and i HOPE AND PRAY ON EVERYTHING HOLY that we get to use them. letting everyone in is great and all, but it definitely holds us back. Alternates? eh, i'm not completely for it, but not completely against it. if had to actually pick a side and go with it, i'd say yes....so long as there is like a challenge type thing so the alternate can try and win the spot for the next show or something.....great...now i'm thinking like that school from columbus