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BamRam

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  1. This thread is hilarious. Let's virtue signal to the "kids" by throwing around some buzz words. That'll fill the holes, lol. Sorry folks. Staff, participants, fans, boosters, social sites, and yes forum admins, years ago killed true diversity in drum corps. The most important diversity, diversity of opinions and ideas, has been shouted down and banned by those who've self anoint themselves as keepers of drum corps morality. But hey, "it's for the kids, so you can ignore the awful outcomes and lack of participation created by our policies and behaviors."
  2. Whenever I see a picture of Millstadt or the Crusaders, it reminds me of only one thing. BEER GARDEN! Ahhh. Just one of many places young men shouldn't go... but always do.
  3. You're right, I should clarify my definitions. It's simple really. Elite - corps that are DCI member corps. Those that have voting rights. (I would consider there to be a few super-elite corps at the very top of the activity in terms of success and longevity. But this isn't important to the discussion). non-Elite - corps that are not DCI member corps. Those without voting rights. These are the lower tier of World Class, Open Class, and others who may not participate in DCI sanctioned activities. I tend to interchange the terms "non-Elite" and "small" As to the 15-20 years comment, I knew that would get misinterpreted. I'm not saying the solution will take 15-20 years. The impact will be almost immediate. When finally deshackled from DCI, the non-Elite corps will be free to explore innovative financial, touring, marketing and membership solutions that will enable many to make the jump in excellence. Right now the barriers erected by DCI are so high that very few can hurdle the wall. A bottom up, not top down answer to the problems impacting "drum corps". Make no mistake. There will be a major fight with the remaining DCI corps for control of market share. But, IMO, competition is exactly what is needed. My prediction is that it will take 15-20 years for the newly formed group to become the dominant financial, marketing and creative force.
  4. Umm. My last statement reinforced my original contention. By definition the voting members of DCI are all elite corps. Have you ever seen any small corps casting DCI votes that permanently change the face of drum corps? I haven't. Once the smaller, non-elite corps stop trying to be DCI member corps, they will stop reinforcing the people making poor decisions. In essence, what I'm proposing is the exact opposite of G7/G8. They need to reorganize and refuse to participate in DCI events. Then they will be free to make decisions which benefit the vast majority of corps rather than a few elite corps. <edit> If the non-elite corps have the courage to do this, in 15-20 years they will control the marketing, distribution, and dollars. </edit>
  5. After 40 years, I see no reason to follow or trust the elite corps directors who have taken drum corps to this point. I'd rather see if the non-elite corps have any innovative solutions (could they do worse?). But as long as the non-elites keep chasing the DCI promise land, I doubt true solutions will emerge <shrug>.
  6. Really? All of the World Class "Junior" corps DID NOT start DCI! DCI was started by a small number of upper echelon corps. Those upper echelon corps set up new rules and changed those rules as they deemed necessary. These corps used their growing power and influence to create a system that benefited THEM, not all drum corps (including marketing and distribution rights). And while it will be painful to the ears of many old timers, most of those revered drum corps directors from the 70's and 80's where directly responsible for putting in place a system which decimated "drum corps". Those elite corps directors refused to look at the big picture that was "drum corps". Through the last 30 year the elite corps directors have continued to make decisions which benefit them and their corps. Yes, today all the World Class Junior corps are members of DCI. But only the foolish believe they historically have had equal say in the direction of the activity. More importantly only the gullible believe that the actions of these elite corps have historically benefited "drum corps". "Without the Wizard's balloon Dorothy wouldn't have gotten back to Kansas, and without DCI's backing the activity won't get back to profitability." You've missed the analogy. Dorothy didn't need the wizard, she always had the ability to solve her own problems via the ruby red slippers. So does "drum corps". Note: I tend not to post too much at DCP because, like many, I can become too passionate about a once great activity that is at the final fork in the road. I mean no disrespect to anyone, especially those that disagree. Just stating my opinion.
  7. Are we in Oz? "Bow down to the all powerful, all knowing DCI." When Toto starts to tug on the curtain, the guards come out in force to protect the wizard(s) of DCI. The original poster asked what are the biggest challenges facing drum corps today? It's not money, it's not lack of fans or corps, it's not lack of membership, it's not that drum corps is a niche within a niche. All of these challenges are merely symptoms of the most fundamental challenge. DCI does not equal drum corps AND drum corps does not equal DCI. Once fans, members, corps administrators stop bowing to the all powerful, all knowing DCI, then and only then will the other challenges be solved. Just one persons opinion.
  8. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over and expecting different results... Einstein The definition of gullibility is following the same people over & over and expecting different results... Einstein Corollary Regarding TOC, I don't consider myself insane nor gullible.
  9. Way to break open old wounds Folks are confusing 82 and 83. The 15+ point drop at Whitewater occured in 82. Geneseo was a legitimate 11-15 place corps that year (eventually finishing in 15th at Montreal). At DCM Championships in DeKalb scoring a 72, beating Colts by nearly 13 points and trailing Cavies by 6.5. Two weeks later at DCI-Whitewater scoring a 61 (23rd place) losing to Colts by 1 and trailing Cavies by 17+. Two nights later at another DCI sanctioned show, scoring a 71 and trailing Cavies by 9. None of the marching members were ever told why. And to my knowledge no comments from DCI were provided. The situation at Whitewater in 83 was similar, but far more destructive to the corps. As a previous poster said, Geneseo was a legitimate top 10 corps that year (eventually finishing in 16th at Miami). At DCM Championships in DeKalb scoring a 71 at finals, beating Cavies by 0.05 and trailing Madison by 6.5 (Madison finished 5th that season). One week later at DCI-Whitewater scoring a 68 at prelims (9th place) droping to a 61.9 at finals (11th place). While the drop was large, the finals performance was flat, so the drop was not all that unexpected given that it was a DCI regional championship. The next night in Rockford the score was 59.9. The following week the score jumped back up to a 70. From July 23rd until Aug 15th the scores stayed at about 70. Occassionally popping up to 73 or 74. The same time all other corps scores were continuing to move up so that by finals week, essentially all but a handful of corps passed Geneseo. There are a lot of theories and speculation, I truly don't know why. I can tell you this. After the Whitewater and Rockford shows, Geneseo worked their tails off the last 3 weeks. Including certain sections refusing to take a "free day" so they could practice. There is zero chance that the corps didn't improve during those three weeks. So I'll leave it to those who saw the corps to decide for themselves if the fix was in. Regardless of how/why it happened. The 83 season was the beginning of the end of a terrific drum corps. Due to what transpired they lost a tremendous number of members after that season. Also, please note that I'm not trying to disparage any of the other corps' from 82 & 83. There were some terrific corps' with great programs each of those seasons. Any residual anger from former members and staff are toward DCI and the judging community not the other corps' or their membership.
  10. Staying with the Knights theme... 1952 Kewanee Black Knights - Dale Whitman 1969 Kewanee Black Knights 1979 Geneseo Knights 1981 Geneseo Knights 1989 Quad City Knights All photos courtesy of knightscorps.org - lots of other photos in the galleries
  11. Rita on bells in 1980. Photo Courtesy Of www.knightscorps.org
  12. I didn't march with Knights that year. My wife, who did march that year, believes it was in Monterey, CA.
  13. 1981 Geneseo Knights Drum Line A bunch of Midwest kids drumming in the Pacific Ocean! Photo Courtesy Of www.knightscorps.org
  14. 1981 Geneseo Knights Snare Line Photo Courtesy Of www.knightscorps.org
  15. 1980 Geneseo Knights Courtesy of www.knightscorps.org
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