Fleecing Ichitan:: Thai marching band wins Dutch gold medal by competing with themselves

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Fleecing Ichitan: Thai marching band wins Dutch gold medal by competing with themselves
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- After camping out in Thonglor and guilting Ichitan's CEO into paying millions of baht to compete on two continents, the little performers of a school band managed to win a gold medal after all. By competing with themselves.

After Satriwitthaya 2 School's marching band "Max Percussion Theater" talked businessman, juice magnate and cosplayer Tan Passakorn into handing over THB3.1 million so they could travel to compete in the Netherlands and United States, the social network has been hard at work digging up the dirt on the band.

The band claimed to have been invited to the competitions but unable to apply for government funding due to the political crisis - not exactly the truth. [read more...]

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2014/03/31/fleecing-ichitan-thai-marching-band-wins-dutch-gold-medal-competing-themselves


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-03-31

[bigbamboo]

These kids should go far. Im sure Pheu Thai's Scamming Department has already got their eye on one or two of them!

[hanno]

Destined for a career in politics, all of them. Or the police.

[Soutpeel]

These kids should go far. Im sure Pheu Thai's Scamming Department has already got their eye on one or two of them!

From what I understand, Thaksin of Arabia has already offered them consultancy roles in his next scam to defraud the Thai nation

[Bkungbank]

This team is not compete under education ministry department so have any knowledge, didn't follow standard procedure to compete school level, the principle would landed in trouble later have to explain to education dept later.

The group didn't landed on direct flight transit with train for holiday purposes with somebody money, it's very bad example for school pupils to cheated that way, one man show it's not competition it's cheating, those teachers have to be sacked off.

[kriswillems]

Actually, the performance was nice, but probably not worth 3.1 million.

I wouldn't blame the kids for this, they did the best they could and they did very well.

Thailand has been joining this competition for years, and while most Dutch people or the rest of Europe doesn't seem to know it, it brings great national proud to Thailand.

A lot of Thai people are really convinced Thailand made something extraordinary and that they are world famous for this, even though besides the people in this Dutch sports centre, nobody has ever heard about it.

It's part of image building that goes on here and that is focused on increasing the national proud.

I would put it in the same category of the Thai invention of the car on water and the Thai invention of roof insulation (about 6 years ago)....

Anyway, I think the kids did great and that's what counts.

That they are used as a propaganda tool is of secondary importance.

Edited March 31, 2014 by kriswillems

[Why ask]

Looks like any school inter-team competition routine to me. Nothing much special about the content... seen better in government schools, never mind international schools.

[Pimay1]

What kind of an outfit gives a gold medal to a team when there is no competition? They didn't win anything. I have to wonder if the judges were the winners.

[quagmirefg]

The article's Writer shows a clear Bias against this School Band.

The writers lack of knowledge about this Performing Arts Form and procedures for contesting is obvious.

I write this response as a knowledgable person of Marching Band and Percussive Arts, and as a former Percussion and Musical Instructor and Adjudicator.

I have no affiliation to the SW2 School or Max Percussion.

1. No School of Group is ever initially Invited to Compete or Perform at or in any Parade, Field Show, Percussive Arts Competition, or any other Musical or Dance Events. Not even Macy's or the Rose Parade initially invite participants.

A. Schools and groups make an initial application to the Event.

B. The Event Accepts or Denies the Application based on their Criteria. If accepted, the Applicant is then Invited.

C. The School or group then must make their own travel arrangements.

2. The SW2 School Max Percussion Group competed in the World Class, which is "Superior" to all the other Classes at the CGN Contest.

From the CGN about World Class:

“The units in CGN are at a very good level of performance, based on the Open Class criteria. We always said, that we would add World Class, if contestants having that level would enter our competition."

3. SW 2 Max Percussion was very active and did compete and win awards and placements this season in 2013-2014.

Here is the article from the CGN Color Guard Nederland.

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Home → Nieuws → Seizoen 2014 → Thai Max Percussion Theatre competes at CGN IPC Championships

Thai Max Percussion Theatre competes at CGN IPC Championships

maandag 17 mrt 2014 13:00 | Seizoen 2014 | 24929 x bekeken

Color Guard Nederland is proud to announce an additional entry to the Championships on Saturday, March 29 in Eindhoven. Max Percussion Theatre from Bangkok, Thailand will compete, with 53 marching members, in the Marching World Class, that premieres as an official Class at CGN Championships. With their programme The Battle of Siam they will do both a Prelims as well as a Finals performance.

Through mutual contacts CGN invited the unit from Thailand some months ago with the request to compete in Eindhoven. Except for CGN Championships, they will compete at the WGI Percussion World Championships in Dayton three weeks later.
It took a while before all confirmations were in. Maikel Linders, CGNs Indoor Percussion Coordinator, talks about that: “Only after the WGI Regional on March 1, everything got momentum resulting in the good news from Thailand that Max Percussion Theatre will come to the CGN IPC Championships.” The group of travellers consists of 53 marching members and an additional support staff of over twenty people. CGN is checking to see if additional activities can be organised during the Championships day.

The unit competed last year already in the WGI Championships, but didn’t make Finals then. This year will again bring them to Dayton, with a whole new show, written by a partly renewed staff- and designteam. Added to the staff are, amongst others, Jim Moore, Sean Vega and Jim Wunderlich. Also Michael Gaines, who judged at the WGI Regional in Almere, is also part of this team. It’ll be no surprise that with such a team, Max participates in WGI’s Independent World Class.

That’s why CGN now adds the Marching World Class to the CGN Championships.
Until now, CGN didn’t have a World Class in IPC. Chief Judge IPC Paul Doop about that: “The units in CGN are at a very good level of performance, based on the Open Class criteria. We always said, that we would add World Class, if contestants having that level would enter our competition. After the 2014 season, CGN will evaluate if we will add World Class permanently or that we will wait longer.”

Here is SW 3 Max Percussion in Korat Competition 2014

Edited March 31, 2014 by quagmirefg

[Basil B]

Although this is farcical.

This is a once in a life time experience for the children to see the world outside Thailand, which I would wish for all Thai children.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Basil B

[Utley]

Can you imagine the band's loss of face if they would have lost the competition?

[stoffel45]

These kids should go far. Im sure Pheu Thai's Scamming Department has already got their eye on one or two of them!

From what I understand, Thaksin of Arabia has already offered them consultancy roles in his next scam to defraud the Thai nation

"Thaksin of Arabia" - GREAT! Love it!

Can just hear the music .....and the screech of tyres in that last fatal car accident.......

Edited March 31, 2014 by stoffel45

[FredNL]

Gold medal for being the only one in their class. How hard could it be, having no competitors at all ???

Edited March 31, 2014 by FredNL

[hyperdimension]

Did they win any money? I'm just wondering whether it was a good return on investment.

[razer]

Why is this so acceptable here?

[quagmirefg]

The article is written with mean spirited Opinions ment to Bash this School Musical Group and Performers.

It is full of Gossip, Opinions, and Speculations from the writer of the article with referance to some other Bashers on Social Media.

The writers own referance to the Color Guard Nederland CGN Article even contradicts the opinons brought forth by the writer of this article.

These kids are not Scammers. They are doing the same thing as other kids from other Bands around the World who Compete in these events.

The band performed in a Class where there were no other competetors in that Class.

According to the article, no other Bands Competed in that Superior Class. The Thai Band Won by Default in that Class. That is not the fault of their School's participation.

Musical Groups at All performing levels from Around the World participate in these events.

This is not exclusive to Thailand.

It is Ludicrus to try to compare these kids to other problems in Thailand.

Take a good look at Schools in the Western World. Many travel and compete in these same events. Are other Bands around the World also "Scammers" as so many are claiming of a Thai Band here in this Forum ?

Edited March 31, 2014 by quagmirefg

[DLock]

I thought their performance was terrific.

Who cares if they competed alone. I doubt very much whether the kids had anything on their minds but doing their very best and representing Thailand, which they did well.

I counted about 45 performers and no doubt there were teachers and costume people and organizers, so maybe 50 - 60 people.

3.1million baht divided by, say 50 is 62,000 baht per person for flights, accommodation, food and expenses.

Hardly a scam of rice proportions.

Get over yourselves and give credit where credit is due you crusty old bar fools.

[belg]

fraud

[surangw]

it would be comical if they came i second place

[noitom]

Thai pathology working here. This group of youngsters seem to profile as sociopaths.

[diehard60]

I dont see how they are a MARCHING BAND?

[Somtamnication]

This can only be April Fools! But In Thailand, it is April 1st. every day of the week.

[tomyummer]

Thailand, hub of World Championship Marching Bands.

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