How about this for saving drum corps

[KeithHall]

There should be an agreement with DCA to move Open class corps to DCA, weekends only. This should foster more growth in corps by saving corps financially and still competing. Allow corps to participate in regional DCI shows and then allow certain corps to participate in DCI Championships. These Open corps will also have the opportunity to compete in DCA Championship. There can be more added to this I am sure, feel free.

Edited November 18, 2008 by KeithHall

[Mr. Bill]

While I like the idea, Keith, most Open Class corps still wish to have a "fuller" touring experience by having shows during the week. Weekday shows also make it possible to be more than just a 300-mile regional touring corps by hitting shows along the way.

If DCA could start to sponsor Open Class shows on weekdays, then I think it is definately a viable option.

Edited November 18, 2008 by Mr. Bill

[Tom Brace]

There should be an agreement with DCA to move Open class corps to DCA, weekends only. This should foster more growth in corps by saving corps financially and still competing. Allow corps to participate in regional DCI shows and then allow certain corps to participate in DCI Championships. These Open corps will also have the opportunity to compete in DCA Championship. There can be more added to this I am sure, feel free.

DCI Open Class corps have not...to this point felt that DCA competition was a viable option for them. They have continually chosen to align themselves with DCI II/III and now Open Class.

[tnmaiello]

While I like the idea, Keith, most Open Class corps still wish to have a "fuller" touring experience by having shows during the week. Weekday shows also make it possible to be more than just a 300-mile regional touring corps by hitting shows along the way.

If DCA could start to sponsor Open Class shows on weekdays, then I think it is definately a viable option.

Good point Bill. Keith's idea is fine. An organization justs needs to choose which path it wishes to take and plan accordingly. Would the Raiders love to not spend $45,000 on busses? Sure but 13-21 years come here for the experience of tour.

Edited November 18, 2008 by tnmaiello

[bhs alumni]

DCI Open Class corps have not...to this point felt that DCA competition was a viable option for them.

there are reasons they haven't tried to make the switch, but there has been plenty of serious talk about going in that direction.

[bill]

While I like the idea, Keith, most Open Class corps still wish to have a "fuller" touring experience by having shows during the week. Weekday shows also make it possible to be more than just a 300-mile regional touring corps by hitting shows along the way.

If DCA could start to sponsor Open Class shows on weekdays, then I think it is definately a viable option.

DCA sanctions shows, supplies ajudicators, etc..............actual sponsors (be them corps themselves or independant parties) sponsor shows.

[MikeD]

There should be an agreement with DCA to move Open class corps to DCA, weekends only. This should foster more growth in corps by saving corps financially and still competing. Allow corps to participate in regional DCI shows and then allow certain corps to participate in DCI Championships. These Open corps will also have the opportunity to compete in DCA Championship. There can be more added to this I am sure, feel free.

Read Tom Maiello's (a person who KNOWS, given his position) last sentence as a huge stumbling block in diminishing the season for the Open Class corps like that.

Plus...DCA champs on Labor Day weekend are outside of the acceptable timeframe for many parts of the country that start school in August...esp most college-aged members...some of them have football games already by then. Even here in NJ where schools tend to start just after Labor Day, a lot of schools have band camps sometime over the last two weeks of August, the "prime time" for DCA, competition-wise.

Plus...for kids in many parts of the country...they know what DCI is...and Open corps use that connection in attracting new members. DCA is an unknown organization to them.

[MikeD]

DCA sanctions shows, supplies ajudicators, etc..............actual sponsors (be them corps themselves or independant parties) sponsor shows.

...which brings up another topic...

Are there show sponsors lined up in all geographic areas of the country (that have Open class corps, anyway) who want to host weekday "DCA Junior division" shows? Is there a market for such an endeavor? I'm asking as I don't know. My guess is that the answer is "no", but that's just a guess.

[dci72]

There should be an agreement with DCA to move Open class corps to DCA, weekends only. This should foster more growth in corps by saving corps financially and still competing. Allow corps to participate in regional DCI shows and then allow certain corps to participate in DCI Championships. These Open corps will also have the opportunity to compete in DCA Championship. There can be more added to this I am sure, feel free.

With the economic downturn, this MAY BE A GOOD IDEA. But just that,an idea.

Kate

[JimF-LowBari]

Sure but 13-21 years come here for the experience of tour.

Good to see someone in the know saying what I always thought was the case. (Pardon me whille I break my arm patting myself on the back. ). Seriously you have minors doing All Age because they don't want to/can't tour so why not the other way around. And it's not like young folks in the Northeast know nothing about All Age. Used to see Lehigh Valley Knights and Jersey Surf doing exhibitions at Reading Buccs home show.