Newseditor44 Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 After reading the article in this morning on the Cadets, I'm growing more concerned about the health and well being of our activity. With fuel and food prices going through the roof, corps are having to refine their budgets to make it out on tour this year. And that's just the start. There are many questions: 1) How many corps are going to deeper into debt after this season? For some, rising gas prices mean an extra 50k to 75k, that's a hell of a lot of money. 2) Will there be corps that won't be able to finish the season, or have to cut down on travel? 3) Oil jumped $3 a barrel today, but that price hike will take about 6 weeks to hit the consumer. If diesel jumps a dollar more a gallon by the end of the summer, how will that affect the corps. 4) How many corps will be out of business following this season? I am guessing there will be more than a few that have to close their doors. I haven't really heard anyone sound the alarm yet, but we all need to start thinking about this before its too late. This activity is in trouble, and we need to figure out a new way of doing things before we kill off more corps. Thoughts? Quote
ouooga Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Honestly, I'm not too too worried about gas prices effecting drum corps that much. What I honestly see happening is DCI taking a pretty solid stance in the next few years if prices don't get better, and focusing the first 3 quarters of the season on regional competitions, so corps really only have to worry about the cost in the last few weeks. And since DCI has been pushing for corps to rent buses rather than own for a few years now, not only will gas prices be significantly reduced on the part of the corps, but it also opens up the opportunity for corps to look into other means of travel once the regional competitions are over. More and more corps are starting to fly across the country and then picking up buses when they land, which in the end is a huge money saver. I'm pretty sure BD picked up new buses after they took the train in 06 too. Drum corps will change, but not to the point where I think we'll need to worry. The biggest concern will be seeing ALL of the corps if you just check out regional events, so there'll be a bigger push on tickets for the end of the season, which just means DCI will need to build more travel relationships for fans (which they're pretty much doing anyways) Quote
SkyRyder_FMM Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 (edited) All good questions, and all very valid questions. Just check the financial statements for just about any of the world class corps, and you will see that almost all operate on very thin margins. Support you favorite corps in any and all ways possible. Skip a starbucks coffee here and there and send your favorite corps $10 or $20. Buy a shirt. Drop your spare change in the tip jar. Buy a raffle ticket. Renew your magazine subscriptions through the corps fundraisers. Attend their events. Buy the merchandise you already buy from internet sites through corps on-line malls. Buy your subscription to the DCI Fan Network through your favorite corps site. Every penny counts. A lot of corps offer fundraising opportunities where you can do things you already do today - like search the internet, shop online, etc. - which bring in money to the corps. Check out their sites. Use them. It all helps. The couple of corps that are on very sound financial footing rely on bingo. Given the issues seen with bingo in recent years (i.e., declining attendance, smoking bans, competition with indian gaming, legislation, etc.), those corps should not feel all that comfortable either. All corps need your $upport! Edited May 16, 2008 by SkyRyder_FMM Quote
2000Cadet Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 All good questions, and all very valid questions. Just check the financial statements for just about any of the world class corps, and you will see that almost all operate on very thin margins. All corps need your $upport! But those margins are going to get even thinner with the cost of fuel and food rising. I have to say I am a little worried. I am doing my part to support the corps of my choice, but we are all feeling these economic challenges. I am worried that people who have supported corps over the years may take another look at their budgets and opt out of supporting the corps. I am trying to be optimistic about today's economy, but it doesn't seem there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT!!! Quote
SkyRyder_FMM Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 But those margins are going to get even thinner with the cost of fuel and food rising. I have to say I am a little worried. I am doing my part to support the corps of my choice, but we are all feeling these economic challenges. I am worried that people who have supported corps over the years may take another look at their budgets and opt out of supporting the corps. I am trying to be optimistic about today's economy, but it doesn't seem there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel. SUPPORT SUPPORT SUPPORT!!! Bingo. That was my point (though intentionally made in a subtle manner). When your corps asks you for support, find a way to do so. Every penny counts. When you age out, consider it a point to continue to pay "dues" to the corps as an alumni. Send the corps $100 a year every year after you age out or stop marching. If your corps no longer exists, pick your favorite and do the same. If all corps alumni sent in $100 of support annually, every corps would see a very sizable infux of cash. That's a mere $8.33 per month. Look into whether your employer matches contributions. Many do. That helps significantly as well. the only cost to you is the time it takes to fill out a couple of forms. I'll echo your charge above - $UPPORT $UPPORT $UPPORT!!! Quote
MikeD Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Bingo. That was my point (though intentionally made in a subtle manner). When your corps asks you for support, find a way to do so. Every penny counts. When you age out, consider it a point to continue to pay "dues" to the corps as an alumni. Send the corps $100 a year every year after you age out or stop marching. If your corps no longer exists, pick your favorite and do the same. If all corps alumni sent in $100 of support annually, every corps would see a very sizable infux of cash. That's a mere $8.33 per month. Look into whether your employer matches contributions. Many do. That helps significantly as well. the only cost to you is the time it takes to fill out a couple of forms. I'll echo your charge above - $UPPORT $UPPORT $UPPORT!!! I route my United Way contribution from my company's annual drive to YEA! to support the Cadets. As long as the corps of choice is a non-profit organization anyone should be able to do the same, I think. Quote
Feathers Up Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 (edited) Bingo. That was my point (though intentionally made in a subtle manner). When your corps asks you for support, find a way to do so. Every penny counts. When you age out, consider it a point to continue to pay "dues" to the corps as an alumni. Send the corps $100 a year every year after you age out or stop marching. If your corps no longer exists, pick your favorite and do the same. If all corps alumni sent in $100 of support annually, every corps would see a very sizable infux of cash. That's a mere $8.33 per month. Look into whether your employer matches contributions. Many do. That helps significantly as well. the only cost to you is the time it takes to fill out a couple of forms. I'll echo your charge above - $UPPORT $UPPORT $UPPORT!!! I agree. I was looking at SCV's Alumni list the other day and thought to myself, "if just half of the alumni gave $100 a year the corps would be in great shape." I will be honest and say I haven't been part of the SCVAA since I've aged out. I probably spend a little over $50 a summer on souvies, but I know I should do more. This year I have decided to "man up" and support the corps by giving at least $100 just in donations. I know some people are hurting with the economy right now, but there's a smart way to do it. Each week I've decided to put at least $3.00 in an envelope. By the end of the year you will have at least $156 to donate to your corps of choice!! Think about it. We probably spend more than $3.00 a week on stupid stuff anyways. You could even just put one dollar in there a week and still make a difference!!! Another idea is to just throw some of your loose change into a bucket, and at the end of the year cash them out and donate!! You might be a little shocked when you see how much your loose change will end up being. Edited May 16, 2008 by Feathers Up Quote
Linda Slocum Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 Here's a real no-brainer way to contribute a few bucks whenever you shop online, and a few pennies whenever you search online: Join iGive.com and select your favorite corps. They pay a % of your shopping dollars (usually in the 2%-4% range, but up to 8% and more) to the corps of your choice. If you use their search tool iSearch (powered by Yahoo!), you get $.01 per search sent to your corps. Not a lot per transaction, but imagine if everyone was doing it? In addition, they give $5 per referral to your corps if that person buys something online through iGive within 45 days. Looking for bug juice for tour? Shop Avon through the iGive link and order their Skin So Soft. They'll send 3.2% of your purchase to your corps. Looking for a duffle bag for tour? Shop eBags through iGive and they'll send 4.8% of your purchase to your corps. Computer geek? Go to GoDaddy through the iGive link and they'll send 8.8% to your corps. You get the idea... Support the Madison Scouts! CLICK HERE to join iGive and send your $5 bonus their way, as well as any shopping commissions. Quote
ducttapedgerbil Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 All good questions, and all very valid questions. Just check the financial statements for just about any of the world class corps, and you will see that almost all operate on very thin margins. Support you favorite corps in any and all ways possible. Skip a starbucks coffee here and there and send your favorite corps $10 or $20. Buy a shirt. Drop your spare change in the tip jar. Buy a raffle ticket. Renew your magazine subscriptions through the corps fundraisers. Attend their events. Buy the merchandise you already buy from internet sites through corps on-line malls. Buy your subscription to the DCI Fan Network through your favorite corps site. Every penny counts. A lot of corps offer fundraising opportunities where you can do things you already do today - like search the internet, shop online, etc. - which bring in money to the corps. Check out their sites. Use them. It all helps. The couple of corps that are on very sound financial footing rely on bingo. Given the issues seen with bingo in recent years (i.e., declining attendance, smoking bans, competition with indian gaming, legislation, etc.), those corps should not feel all that comfortable either. All corps need your $upport! And those corps that were so sound relying on bingo have had their worlds turned upside down as of last week...specifically BD and SCV. Quote
cowtown Posted May 16, 2008 Posted May 16, 2008 I’m more optimistic I’m hoping the high gas/food prices eat up the corps' budgets for electronic instruments next year. Quote
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