fifer Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 Well, that's what's happened over in DCA-land (Brigadiers, last year's 7th place corps, can't recruit enough members to field a competitive corps in 2010). Now if this happened to the Boston Crusaders (or any corps in the DCI top 12), we'd hear tons of people complain about and blame DCI, the national tour, the cost of amps and synths, modern show design, dancing/effeminate guards, etc. Not saying that everything is perfect over in DCI-ville, but it sounds like DCA isn't paradise either. Both have to deal with the harsh realities of life, the economy, people's changing interests, difficulty gaining local attention/support, etc. etc. etc. Both have to deal with the harsh reality that a corps that placed 7th in last year's t finals might not be able to field a competitive corps the next year. I wish the Brigadiers well and hope they can return to the competitive field as a full DCA corps in 2011. The moral of the story: let's try to help one another a little bit more in the future rather than being so "my organization (DCI, DCA, SDCA, BOA, WGI, etc.) is better than yours" all the time. Quote
nemesiscorps Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 Well, that's what's happened over in DCA-land (Brigadiers, last year's 7th place corps, can't recruit enough members to field a competitive corps in 2010). Now if this happened to the Boston Crusaders (or any corps in the DCI top 12), we'd hear tons of people complain about and blame DCI, the national tour, the cost of amps and synths, modern show design, dancing/effeminate guards, etc.Not saying that everything is perfect over in DCI-ville, but it sounds like DCA isn't paradise either. Both have to deal with the harsh realities of life, the economy, people's changing interests, difficulty gaining local attention/support, etc. etc. etc. Both have to deal with the harsh reality that a corps that placed 7th in last year's t finals might not be able to field a competitive corps the next year. I wish the Brigadiers well and hope they can return to the competitive field as a full DCA corps in 2011. The moral of the story: let's try to help one another a little bit more in the future rather than being so "my organization (DCI, DCA, SDCA, BOA, WGI, etc.) is better than yours" all the time. Whereas I certainly agree with the main point of your post (I think), I'm not quite sure how one corps choosing to forgo competing in a given year is a reflection on the circuit, the activity in general, or anything else. I'm not sure who made claims of any particular circuit being "paradise," but it seems a bit of a stretch to assert a "see, they've got issues over there too" type mentality to the announcement of a corps to pass on competing the following year after a 7th place finish. Likewise, I used to think that people would rise up and somehow never allow corps like 27th Lancers, Suncoast Sound, Bridgemen, Velvet Knights, Troopers, Madison Scouts, etc. to fold or go under, but clearly that has not been the case. If last years 7th place corps did choose not to compete in 2010, unfortunately, I think they'd receive pretty much the same response as those corps that either folded or were on the brink of death. Quote
Grumpy Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 I don't know this for certain, but from what I read in that thread on the DCA side, the reason they're not competing this year has less to do with numbers on the field and more to do with numbers off the field. Quote
craiga Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 Fifer is dead on.....and I just read that the Brigs are not fielding and isn't this the case with the Rochester Crusaders as well? (Sorry, don't really follow DCA). When I read about the Brigs, the LAST thought in my mind was to blame DCA, design teams, musical selections, tours-or lack of-etc. Sometimes, bad things happen to good drum corps, and it is a false argument to blame DCA or DCI, as the case may be. Having been around the activity since 1977, my experience has been that when drum corps fold, it is the result of management issues in almost every case. I know that Boston was used just as an example, but for the record (and to prevent this thread from going off in a tangent), BAC is currently in a very strong position organizationally, so no worries there. But, Fifer's point is well-taken. I should also say that there used to be three different dance studios with competing clogging teams here in Biddeford (this IS Maine, after all ). One of these was a national champion in the 70's. Now, none exist. Times change. Quote
JimF-LowBari Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 The moral of the story: let's try to help one another a little bit more in the future rather than being so "my organization (DCI, DCA, SDCA, BOA, WGI, etc.) is better than yours" all the time. Agreed and let's throw the non-competing (Alumni-type) corps into that mix too. Always thought all DC types have to be healthy for the activity as a whole to be healthy. And craiga, have actually been in Biddeford while doing temp work at Portsmouth, NH. The American Legion Post used to have a corps that competed nationally in the 30s. Quote
craiga Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 You're correct, Jim. And let's not forget the Andrews Sabres from Portland, another national contender that went to Europe in the early 60's, came home, a dozen babies made their appearance some nine months later, and that corps went out of business as well..... Quote
Just A Plain Old Fan Posted March 17, 2010 Posted March 17, 2010 I thought I read in another thread that Boston was only fielding 30 kids. Oh well. I guess we'll find out on June 26. Good point, OP. Makes sense! Quote
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