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Seems you are not going to give this one up, are you? So... since it does seem you don't know how Google works... here goes... I've been the CEO of 4 companies (3 of which I founded), CTO of another company (which I also founded). One crashed and burned... hard (after chewing through tens of millions in investment), one merged with another (which was then sold soon after), one was acquired for a solid chunk of change and two are humming along, though I have no involvement in operations. Pick a Fortune 100 and you'd have almost a 50/50 chance that they were a client of one of those companies. In addition, I was a partner in a technology incubator and venture capital firm... where I picked up small chunks of a large number of companies, most of which have not transacted. Also dabbled in other areas, like the restaurant business (rough business). What do I do now? Work with governments in various countries to put together deals for private investment in infrastructure. If we're talking about knowledge... interesting enough... I've learn most from the major failures, not the success. In a failure, you know exactly what went wrong and why. In something that is successful, you don't really know... I mean, it could be luck, it could be timing, it could be that it wasn't so much you did something right... that your competitor did something wrong. So, success doesn't really give you knowledge... it just gives you a narrower set of parameters for future trial and error. Only if you are able to repeat it a few times do you have any idea. There is no one magic formula for anything, but it is smart to copy things that have seemed to work before (that narrow set for trial and error). Apart from that, it is essentially surfing... most essential is to have a solid board, great skills and the ability to immediately react to a fluid and quickly changing environment. Anyway, this is just a site where people talk about really good kid's marching bands, right? Things we like about them.. things not so much... and ideas on how to keep it going. I'd prefer to get back to that.

... and another reason why you shouldn't. You'll have a different experience. Different from other rookies. Different from other vets. They'll be living it. You'll just be recording it. Think about all the conversations you won't be participating in. Think of the conversations that won't take place at all because someone is recording. When the others are having fun spontaneously, you'll be reaching for the camera. While they're communicating silently, you'll be looking for a better angle or better light. I feel sorry for the people who feel compelled to record all the events of their lives. They're working when they could be enjoying. You should be enjoying too. HH

From experience I can say that if you make the corps you will have very little "me" time. Especially in your first year it will be all you can do to keep up with the vets. I think you're getting way ahead of yourself, and you didn't "imply" anything in your original post. You stated it as if it were fact.

Being around this activity for over 40 years and having known many people in the activity through the years, I can say some of the guys that "do it for the kids" these days were some of the biggest abusers back in the day. Still makes me snicker when you read the word "education" used with so many of the corps these days. just my 2 cents.

Well, it wasn't implied from the other end and I (and I suspect others as well) would encourage you to reign things in a bit. You wouldn't want to jeopardize your chances of making the corps by appearing to state to others that you've already made it. Corps staffs don't look kindly on such bravado when they have a few hundred other applicants to choose from, applicants who are eager to put their own personal goals on hold to be part of the team. Like it or not, you've kind of given the impression that you are interested in doing something quite individualistic, apart from what everyone else is doing, and this is even before you've made the corps. And by stating that you ARE beginning your DCI career with Cavaliers this December, you've given the indication that you're prone to taking things for granted. All the above impressions on my part could be very, very wrong, and not at all what you had in mind. However, impressions are often reality in the minds of those who are in charge of passing judgment on whether or not you'll be invited to sign a contract with the corps. I wish you nothing but success here, but I would be amiss if I didn't also strongly encourage you to lay low...very low...between now and the completion of the audition camps.

Don't you need to make the corps first? Did I miss something major? O.o

from dca's facebook page: "Congratulations to Allen Buell, who was elected DCA Vice-President today! Election Results: Executive Board (2-year term): ... President: Gil Silva Vice President: Allen Buell Secretary: Glen Johnson Treasurer: Mike "Red" Corso The Judging Team (1-year term) : Judging Coordinator: John Kreitzer Brass Caption Chairman: Rich Guillen Percussion Caption Chairman: Marty Griffin Visual Caption Chairman: Tony Smith Appointed by the Executive Board for 1-year terms: Business Manager: Dick Eschenmann Class A Coordinator: Joe Geswaldo Central Division Coordinator: Amber Roeker Southern Division Coordinator: Vic Kulinski Public Relations Director: David Hobart Director of Corporate Relations: Kimberly Symonds Media Director: Mike Symonds I&E Coordinator: Dick Pronti Alumni Spectacular Chairman: Kevin Hassan By vote of the Class A Corps: Class A Directors of the Year 2011: Holly Marino (Fusion Core) Gary Williams (Sunrisers) Kevin Serfass (Windsor Regiment) By vote of the Open Class Corps: Open Class Director of the Year 2011: Eric Molho (Minnesota Brass, Inc.)"

Thanks so much for your comments John! A well qualified Administrative Staff is crucial to any Corps' success. Carolina Gold also has a fantastic staff with which those new individuals will have a great pleasure to get to know and work with. We already have a large number of returning hornline and battery percussion members ...and Gold has recently made a sizeable purchase of new horns to go with the new uniforms that we purchased last season. So, I will say that there is a BIG commitment and a determination in North Carolina to bring a powerful and entertaining Drum Corps ensemble to DCA in 2012!! We sincerely hope that all of you enjoyed our show this past season, and we hope to surprise and entertain you once again in 2012!

I agree...

I got my email notification as well! After reading the interview with Tom Blair I am sooooo excited to get my hands on the Blu-rays!

So...my credit card just got hit for the 2011 DVDs...does that mean they are on their way?

So, I just got an e-mail from DCI regarding my pre-order of the DVD's. This e-mail is a Receipt/Purchase Confirmation. Then, I check my bank account and the money has been taken out! So, it seems that they are on their way! DCI did say over the weekend that they thought the chances of the orders shipping this week was good ... but I had no idea they'd start on Monday! I'm going to call them in a bit to see if this means my Blu-ray is shipping too since I did that through the Fan Network and already paid for it. Hopefully they're smart enough to package them together. Anyway, it's time!

Well, if that's your only point of reference, I suppose that's understandable. I'm more reminded of: "Those who say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are actually doing it."

Oh look what I found... http://memegenerator.net/Cool-Drum-Corps/images/new And two I'm guilty of:

In this day of people posting their every move on Twitter, Facebook and goodness knows what else will appear before summer 2012, it's no wonder that this question was asked. It was asked innocently with a level of maturity typical of people in their late teens and early 20's who are living in this time of electronic over-sharing. (and I'm guilty of that from time to time myself) Let's not skewer the author for that. Us oldies have all lived through our own transformations from adolescence to adulthood, and I'm sure we all said and did a few things that demonstrated a lack of experience. And like many people in his situation it seems the OP would like to try to rein in the negative perceptions. It's natural. Cut him some slack. To answer the OP: honestly, I wouldn't have much interest in such a thing. I find personal diaries/blogs about tour too individual-focused for my tastes. Also, I would hope that once on tour you would be far more invested in the group dynamic and not so interested in your personal experience. Lastly, many of the things that you experience on tour can't be put in their proper perspective until long after tour is over. Sometimes it takes months for the whole thing to sink in. (maybe years for some) However, I am always interested to read the official blogs and videos from various corps, both in the summer and during the off-season. Cadets have had some really inventive ones recently that give me a much needed off-season chuckle.

Be very careful with how you write things. You maintain that you never claimed you were already a member of the Cavaliers. Well young man, the bold above (from your first post) not only implies you have already made the corps but flat out states you will be touring with them.

I would have to say over usage of pain killers is the largest problem in drum corps. What we do is not good for our bodies.. no matter how you do it. We beat our body's up all summer, pushing ourselves to do some things that our bodies were not made to do. And when you come into spring training out of shape... you are going to have a really tough time. I know if I didn't chug IBP during spring training, I would not have made it through. I may have chugged... but I know others who inhaled. Some nights it was impossible to sleep without taking something. Someone is always asking for a painkiller at some point over the summer. As far as the other stuff... it happens. It also happens in high schools and all other summer camps, on college campuses, and in your neighbors house... It doesn't mean that anything of it is right. It just happens. I can tell you though, that it doesn't happen nearly as often as it did back in the day... and it is really hard for anyone to find time to do anything illegal unless it is a free day. Corps policies are EXTREMELY strict, and there is absolutely NO TOLERANCE from most corps. Even if you are 21, some corps don't let you drink, even on free days, and if they find out you did, you can be kicked out. I know we had a no tolerance policy... if anything was found on the bus... see ya later. If you're 21 or not. As far as smoking... most corps frown upon it. And since smoking on school grounds is prohibited pretty much every where... and we already have enough trouble securing housing... you better not be caught with a cig, anywhere near your housing site.

Yes, I explained this in my clarification post.

...because those issues, while important, are clearly not what the thread is getting at. It's clearly about illicit drugs. Let's stop splitting hairs. Smoking is bad. Alcohol is a drug. There. We've covered it. The thread is about the use of controlled substances and the abuse of OTC drugs. Both of these are prevalent issues in society (as are the issues you mentioned; please don't misunderstand me.)

I wouldn't say squat... I did work for a few months as a cashier at Target. I got pretty good at counting back change.

I figured it was implied that this was only if I made the corps, it would be hard to vlog if I wasn't on tour. Also, I auditioned last year and got 1's in both the visual and music part of my audition however I couldn't go to the call back camp due to All-state. I believe I have a good chance but I realize nothing is guaranteed. Also @wcmello09 They still have their cell phone policy however allow them on free days.

I think people are willfully naive about this kind of thing in drum corps. People want to believe that "drum corps kids" are perfect angels who never, ever do anything bad. The reality is that drinking and drug use happens, though the demands of the activity mean that it is hard to get away with it. In my experience, I think corps members are at risk for developing addictions to pain killers. One person I know had some leftover Vicodin from an old injury, and used to distribute it liberally to his friends. I never did anything like that, but there was one time when I had my hamstring and took 11 extra strength Tylenol in one day, so I wouldn't miss rehearsal. If I had taken many more, I could have gone into liver failure. I think alcoholism among drum corps staff is a bigger problem.

I can't prove it, but my hunch is that at least one of the former marchers that used to partake in it, left Corps then later on came onto DCP, then registered their poster name as " wackywords", and then started a wacky thread filled with some wackywords.

1. Cavaliers 2. Blue Devils(Just cause they always get 1 or 2, even with an awful show) 3. Crown(I am a Crown fan, and I don't put the first because 1. I want when I march to be the 1st win Hahah /selfish and 2. Cavaliers have been nudging at it forever) 4. Bluecoats 5. Cadets 6. Phantom 7. Spirit of Atlanta 8. Madison Scouts 9. Blue Stars 10 Santa Clara 11. Boston 12. Blue Knights High Brass will go to Crown Percussion will go to Santa Clara Guard will go to Cavaliers BRING ON THE -1s Hahahaha

Sounds to me like this individual needs to worry about the important things before they worry about what may very well be the LEAST important thing to someone who hasn't marched DCI before. Focus on making the corps, A corps, ANY corps.

It's not just that. Some corps prefer their PR to come from a central source. Other corps have had members blogging, but it has passed through a management clearing process first. Some of it has to do with keeping certain things under wraps until the instructors know for sure that these things will make it into the show, or they wish to not jump the gun. Your milage may vary. And, yeah...have you already made the corps?

I would encourage any member of any corps to first check with their corps management to find out their opinions of such endeavors. We all love content, but no one here would want any member to get in trouble with their corps for putting up such content.

Personally, I'd like the Blue Knights to keep playing what they've been playing the last couple of years, and I'd like them to put those crazy visuals back into their shows.

Nah....SOME of it's on the drum....

Never seen something like a single huge silk that breaks down into or assembles into loads of individual flags (think loads of different colors and shapes of flags becoming a huge scrim of a stained glass window... or vice versa). Never seen uniforms that interconnect performers.... like sashes linking together in a chain. Haven't seen an entire corps on nothing but flags... or all on drums (funky cylindrical or column props that break down into hundreds drums could be one hell of a way to end a show). Haven't seen incorporation of LED lights (if they are not legal.. seems silly that they would be restricted). Haven't seen props that automatically rotate pictures or change shape when pushed. Haven't seen funky equipment that is spun that becomes assembled into props (something sort of like Tinker Toys).

Ohh prediction Threads hmm.. 1. Cavailers 2. Santa Clara Vanguard (Believe people) 3. Crown 4. Blue Devils 5. Phantom 6. Cadets 7. Bluecoats 8. Madison 9. Boston 10. Blue Knights 11. Troopers 12. SOA back into the darkness of the web I go

There was no need for a clarification post in the first place. You're approaching this situation the wrong way and it's not reflecting well on your ability to be a corps member.

Read my post on page 2, I already addressed this.

...seriously?

It's good to know you're not in high school. Teacher gloves off. You have the wrong attitude about this. There was no need for clarification. Simply a "thank you" and internalization of the advice given. That's it. End of story.

Oh I thought they were. I heard there was gonna be killing of drum majors.

They don't throw hissey fits when their corps drop.

:worthy: This is the best thing I've ever seen! LOTR + DCI = WIN! "I am not a Cavalier, I am an ENT."

Was just at the market and this song was playing ... cracked me up.

I do think IBM should have just stuck with typewriters. An interesting valuation. Seems you don't really get what I am saying at all. How does offering in-house skills and services to external clients get into something that is political or emotional? BTW - The Fighting Intangibles... absolute perfect name for the mascot of a math/science magnet school. I recognize the words.. but no idea really what you are trying to say. Well, this certainly wouldn't work without your approval. I'm not that naive. Now there is a novel idea, DCI creates the city of Indianapolis as a subsidiary in order to easily generate revenue from sources outside the activity. This is a possibility I really hadn't considered. A few questions... Would this be a clone of the current city, just put someplace else... like say, Gary? or... Would you just tear down the old one and build the new one on the same site? What would you do with all the people living there?

I have no idea what you are talking about? who is being robbed? how?

Volume of work doesn't necessarily translate into greater productivity or profitability. In fact, I am a big fan of working less. To use an industry example, I would say Hopkins is the hardest working guy in the activity, hands down. This isn't necessarily a good thing. He probably works about 70 hours a week, but he'd get MUCH more done if he only worked 30, as it would force a laser focused approach and clearer sense of priority. He would be forced to say NO to a lot more things. On top of that, when people work less and spend more time relaxing, their ability to focus is much greater. This sort of approach, oddly enough, was drilled into me by a professor who, after I hit something of a wall in my playing, convinced me that I would make more progress if I practiced less, not more. The approach was sort of rigid with a maximum of three 25 minute sessions per day... with at least one hour between each session... broken down like this: - 5 minutes before picking up the horn go through the music and take notes planning what you will practice on, note trouble spots that will need more emphasis, and prioritize them in order of difficulty. Write down a goal. - 5 minutes warm up - 5 minutes churning through the easy stuff - 10 minutes on only ONE of trouble sections - 5 minutes making notes on the session, things that are locked, things that need more work Taking this same approach to work can dramatically improve productivity... and setting clear limits on how much time you can devote to specific tasks is key. Back to the point... DCI could be more profitable if the team worked less (in the off season) not more.

This wouldn't give them more to do, just give some people some different things to do. These different things would generate cash at much higher margins than their current tasks, which covers resources that pick up the gap on tasks they were moved off of... plus generates a solid profit. In more specific terms... If you look at revenue per employee, a guy working in media or event management for DCI is probably not generating more than a couple times their salary. If they were to do work for external clients, the same volume of work (some current tasks not related to media or event management would be reassigned) could generate several times more their current salary. Again, there are also a lot of things that could be done cheaper by outsourcing to companies specializing in the specific area... which could also free up more time.

So you haven't done squat in the business world but continue to spew your "advice" on DCP?

The worst of this is beer talk...the kind of thing best left to a casual night out over beers/wines and good conversation. This board is well traveled by many...most of whom do not register and/or post. They just come here to see what the world of drum corps is all about. And while I don't think this should be closed or removed, I do think we should be wary of airing our dirty laundry HERE. <the demands of the activity mean that it is hard to get away with it.> Exactly. All corps have no mercy policies about this stuff. One of the triumphs of today's drum corps is that, compared to college (or high school) football and other sports, it is a squeaky clean activity. No...it's not perfect...it's an activity centered around youth 14-22...so stuff happens. Drugs are not a problem in today's drum corps.

Well, why not ? The drugs of alcohol, tobacco has destroyed more lives and families by far than any other "drugs" in the world one can cite. What " drugs " are you in particular thinking about that you want to personally limit the drug discussion to? I certainly did not think of limiting the " drug " useage question to " drugs " that are less prevalent and less dangerous to one's health, ie pot, or pain killers. ( and " no ", I 'm not endorsing these, as I have no use for potheads. )

There was no advice given to me that I hadn't already conidered with the exception of Michael Boo's suggestion to talk to corps management.

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It would make it more fun when the corps finally meet too!