Where are they

[84skyrydr]

OK, so we got a new number of people allowed on the field because the big dogs wanted more. We were told that hundreds of kids were being turned away from almost every corps. This 15 person addition to each corps wouldn't come from other corps, it would only help other corps. We lost two world corps this year, so that comes to around 225 kids that need to go elsewhere, yet the Troopers are 30 short in the colorguard area, Spirit needs color and horns, Crossmen need horns, Pioneer needs horns and color, Colts need horns.....the list goes on. What happenend to having hundreds of leftovers being cut???????? Why are the big boys full, but the rest are short now?????? I haven't even touched on the open corps yet......... WHEREs THE HUNDREDS of NEW MEMBERS THAT WERE BEING CUT????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[JonCordell]

WHEREs THE HUNDREDS of NEW MEMBERS THAT WERE BEING CUT????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

They all play Saxaphone.

[TerriTroop]

I'll bite and take the sarcasm route: they're all home playing with their Wii.

Ok, now that I've got that out of the way, the real answer is "who knows?" Some of them are marching in other corps. Some of them didn't want to audition elsewhere. Some of them tried out elsewhere but couldn't put the money together to march. What can we do about it here? Not much other than keep pounding the pavement to help those corps fill holes.

Next year maybe more instructors, parents, fans and alums will encourage more people to seek spots in open class and lower tier world class corps rather than demonstrate to young people that only the very top corps are worth their time. Maybe DCI will take steps to incorporate more communication and collaboration between corps. Maybe alums and fans will offer sponsorships in droves to returning vets to lower tier and open class corps. Maybe more people will buy souvies from some of the corps that go OTL before the intermission.

[dckid80]

Making the Top 12 when you don't even have 20 corps competing seems kind of hollow to me.

You can't force the kids to march where they don't want to.

Edited June 26, 2008 by dckid80

[Peel Paint]

They all play Saxaphone.

He shoots, he scores. Thread over in message 2.

[ssorrell]

The top corps being full and supposedly turning away potential drum corps members while the rest of the pack is somewhat short in some sections has been a phenomenon that has occured for 20 years or so. It's nothing new.

Maybe those kids that will travel great distances to audition for Cavies, Cadets, BD, etc. are willing to do so because if they make the cut they will be a member of a corps that is almost assured a top 5 spot and a chance at a championship. If they get cut and they go elsewhere they won't receive that instant success and gratification. Maybe fighting for a finals spot is not worth the travel, time, and money it will take if they go elsewhere.

Besides, if a member auditions for a top corps, they must have a reason they chose that corps. The corps drew that member to them. Why would anyone expect potential members to be able to just change their desires? Sure, there might be some members that would be willing to go somewhere else just for the experience of marching in our activity, but for many auditionees it's not the experience that draws them...its the corps.

[JimF-LowBari]

Started a few threads on this in the past but can't find them now.

My question was why don't members go to "lesser" (non top 5/10/12) corps if they don't make the cut at a top corps. Lot of the responses said that the total costs (dues, travel, etc, etc) were so high that it was "only worth the cost" to be in a top corps. So some of these people might be home with the Wii...

[wishbonecav]

"It's for the kids" is usually a suspect argument that masks a different agenda, but it's an argument that is difficult to deflect in a debate.

If you come out on the "other side" of the "it's for the kids" argument, you can be painted into a political corner.

So the big dogs hide behind ambiguity, claim the moral high ground, and garner a competitive advantage. It's actually smart politicking.

Here's the tough part: the new model calls for a 4th bus (128 fit on 3 busses; 150 takes a 4th bus), making it that much more difficult for the fledgling corps to keep up.

When DCI becomes a 10-12 SuperCorps, big venue traveling circus (remember the post-DCI showcase from a few years ago? that was the prelude) DCI will have graduated to product-entertainment as opposed to participation-competition.

Kinda like NASCAR. That's not a contest so much as it is an entertainment showcase.

[Laurakemb]

Here's the tough part: the new model calls for a 4th bus (128 fit on 3 busses; 150 takes a 4th bus), making it that much more difficult for the fledgling corps to keep up.

Actually, most tour busses these days have 54 seats. There is plenty of room for all 150 members, plus alternates.

As far as the OP's concern, you can't make kids march somewhere they don't want to march. I didn't make the corps I auditioned for in 99. I stayed home, had a really fun summer, practiced a lot, and then went back and made it in 00. There was no way I wanted to go anywhere else, mostly because it was cost prohibitive, but partly because I knew where I wanted to be.

Yes, it is unfortunate that the number of corps is declining. Perhaps we need to have a better way to getting notice to students who are cut from one corps that there are other options for them, if they want. But like I said......... you can't make kids go to a corps they don't want to be at.

[JimF-LowBari]

But like I said......... you can't make kids go to a corps they don't want to be at.

Understand that as I had other options during my time in competing Senior corps. Part of the problem I see is that the top corps get more than their fair share of publicity, praise, etc, etc and the non top corps are "kind of there if you really care to check". On the BD vs Pioneer thread someone posted tongue in cheek (I hope) "who's Pioneer" which about says it all.

To compare DCA treated the non-top/smaller corps the same way for years until about 10 years ago. Now DCA has small corps division like DCI. But the difference is the smaller corps compete with the big corps at the same shows so they get the same exposure. They get clobbered on the score sheets but fans see them liek the big corps. Then for DCA Finals the top five (used to be 3) smaller corps have their own Finals just before the top 10 big corps come out at the same stadium. You can argue the reasons but All-Age has seen great growth in the smaller corps and those members feel like they are a part of DCA.