Reverse the Rules

[Richard]

From the "pre-show...woodwinds" poll/thread:

In an effort to better understand the opposition, I have some questions for those of you who dislike some or all of the modern drum corps rules.

1. If you were given the option pick a year rules-wise and have those rules be carved in stone tablets and enshrined in DCI headquaters until the end of time, would you do that? Which year and why?

2. Would you be comfortable with the activity never changing/evolving again? If not, how would you suggest the activity move forwards (not necessarily from today, but from a year of your choice)?

3. Along those lines, which recent (2000+) rules changes do you support and feel have been beneficial to the activity?

[Slow Adam]

I would be okay with either of the two following set ups:

Late 80's-90's: G Brass, grounded pit, 128 members, no amps, no ticks.

2000-2003: Multi-key brass, grounded pit, 135 members, no amps, no ticks.

I don't support amps or the increase to 150 members.

[bawker]

Instead of participating in this . . .because I already see the argument coming as to "you're a crusty dino and don't like progress besides what you did on the field", I'll make a counter-offer to the "other side":

What if we could establish two divisions in DCI, and then had Saturday night as a direct competition between the two?

First, no more World Class/ Open Class. Everyone can compete against each other in their "division". . . . so if BDB is better than Teal Sound and makes Finals, then that's just the way it goes.

Regular shows during the season would be split, with groups in one division on first at a show, then the other, depending on show sponsors preference. Regionals could be alternating between what division performs first.

Divisions as follows:

1. Anything goes. Woodwinds, light shows, step teams, rappers, whatever. You get to have your Finals Friday night in the Oil Can (since these shows will be designed for it), and compete against the other division directly on Saturday.

2. Brass only. Bb is fine, amps and synths can stay. This group gets to have their Finals on Friday night at wherever the Open Class Finals would be and meets the other group on Saturday at the Oil Can.

Let say it falls like this:

World Class "Open"

Cadets

Blue Devils

Cascades

Bluecoats

Vanguard

Spirit

SCV Cadets

Blue Devils B

Cavaliers

Teal Sound

(etc)

World Class

Phantom Regiment

Madison Scouts

Citations

Carolina Crown

Colts

Pioneer

Boston Crusaders

(etc)

Both groups go head to head Saturday night in direct competition and a "World Champion" is still crowned.

[audiodb]

From the "pre-show...woodwinds" poll/thread:

In an effort to better understand the opposition, I have some questions for those of you who dislike some or all of the modern drum corps rules.

1. If you were given the option pick a year rules-wise and have those rules be carved in stone tablets and enshrined in DCI headquaters until the end of time, would you do that? Which year and why?

I'm not going to play this game. Frankly, we've seen this line of inquiry used before as a tactic to divide and conquer. I don't want to assume that is your intent....but then again, where do you think this discussion will lead?

2. Would you be comfortable with the activity never changing/evolving again? If not, how would you suggest the activity move forwards (not necessarily from today, but from a year of your choice)?

I object to your use of terms such as "evolving" and "move forward", especially with the implication that the only way to "move forward" is by changing instrumentation.

Let me ask you a question. Say DCI adopted "anything goes" for instrumentation right now. How would the activity continue to "evolve" or "move forward" after that?

3. Along those lines, which recent (2000+) rules changes do you support and feel have been beneficial to the activity?

I think adding the auxiliary caption to the score tally was a beneficial rule change.

[jthomas666]

I would be okay with either of the two following set ups:

Late 80's-90's: G Brass, grounded pit, 128 members, no amps, no ticks.

2000-2003: Multi-key brass, grounded pit, 135 members, no amps, no ticks.

I don't support amps or the increase to 150 members.

ditto

[JimF-LowBari]

Since DCI is supposed to be a learning experience for the members let's have the rules go along those lines.

1) Only amps (maybe) would be for the bell players so they could use proper technique. (maybe) is because I've seen arguments both ways on if amps are being used in this way. Other than that all acoustic, that way corps would have to be inventive and use their brains to work out how to do different effects, etc, etc.

2) Have rules set that corps are judged the same way irregardless on the number of toys used in the show. What should count is how effective a corps uses what they have, not what they have. (For example at DCA I&E there have been people performing on one valve horns. One group has won their class more than once because of talent level and effectiveness of bringing their performance across. Then another smuck (raising hand) didn't come in last in his class with a one valver... but still trying to figure out how. )

3) Have WC and OC together at regular season shows. Have top 3 OC corps compete in a Finals before WC Finals begin (like DCA). Would allow WC/OC fans and possibly members to see what the "other side" is like.

As for "never evolving" I came in with symetric elevator drills, marching guard, color pres, no pits (corps just starting to use marching bells) and piston/rotor horns. Some changes I liked, some I didn't and some I didn't give a rats hind quarter about. To say it's a change/no change thing is too black and white to be realistic.

Edited February 9, 2010 by JimF-3rdBari

[Richard]

I think my intent in this thread has been severely misinterpreted. I'm not looking to debate the merits of modern drum corps rules versus rules of years past, or even to demonstrate that each individual has their own concept of what drum corps should be. I'm just curious about what people would like to see. I obviously don't expect people to say that the rules should be like 1979, 1989 or 1999 and never change again.

The most interesting part of the question, I think, is where would you take the activity (rules-wise) from any given starting point? It's easy to say to say "we should go back to year X", but I'm interested to know if people think we should stay with year X rules perpetually, or what changes could have been beneficial starting with the rules in year X.

So far the suggestions provided related to that have been very interesting!

[contrajedi8]

I would be okay with either of the two following set ups:

Late 80's-90's: G Brass, grounded pit, 128 members, no amps, no ticks.

2000-2003: Multi-key brass, grounded pit, 135 members, no amps, no ticks.

I don't support amps or the increase to 150 members.

this

[The Other Mike]

1980

[perc2100]

Instead of participating in this . . .because I already see the argument coming as to "you're a crusty dino and don't like progress besides what you did on the field", I'll make a counter-offer to the "other side":

What if we could establish two divisions in DCI, and then had Saturday night as a direct competition between the two?

First, no more World Class/ Open Class. Everyone can compete against each other in their "division". . . . so if BDB is better than Teal Sound and makes Finals, then that's just the way it goes.

Regular shows during the season would be split, with groups in one division on first at a show, then the other, depending on show sponsors preference. Regionals could be alternating between what division performs first.

Divisions as follows:

1. Anything goes. Woodwinds, light shows, step teams, rappers, whatever. You get to have your Finals Friday night in the Oil Can (since these shows will be designed for it), and compete against the other division directly on Saturday.

2. Brass only. Bb is fine, amps and synths can stay. This group gets to have their Finals on Friday night at wherever the Open Class Finals would be and meets the other group on Saturday at the Oil Can.

Let say it falls like this:

World Class "Open"

Cadets

Blue Devils

Cascades

Bluecoats

Vanguard

Spirit

SCV Cadets

Blue Devils B

Cavaliers

Teal Sound

(etc)

World Class

Phantom Regiment

Madison Scouts

Citations

Carolina Crown

Colts

Pioneer

Boston Crusaders

(etc)

Both groups go head to head Saturday night in direct competition and a "World Champion" is still crowned.

So you assume that there are enough corps in DCI who are against current rules (that many of them voted to pass) to support it's own division?

ANY organization is free to do whatever they want (see Star of Indiana): if they want to break away from DCI to try their luck with their own venture, they can. The fact that most do not do this, and instead work within DCI's parameters, indicates to me that most of them are happy working "in the system."