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Do you mean a show that has this :

Be sure to thank Rex for his stellar memory, Beto. The Chase grant leaves $585,196 in unexplained "Contributions". Anyone else have a recollection of a special grant or contribution that may explain the increase? Garfield's Kid and his little sister are mowing and picking up dog poop, Garfield's better half is raking leaves. Garfield just came in to refill his adult beverege before resuming his supervisory role.

The IRS form 990 is the tax return for non-profit organizations. As such, all of the financial data for DCI and each corps is exposed for all to see; 990's are open for public view because of the filer's tax exempt status. That is, if you can figure out how to read them because the forms are notoriously hard to read and decipher, especially for non-financial people. The financial stability of DCI and the individual corps is a hot topic in DCP-land. My hope is to present the finacial data here in little bites, giving plenty of room for discussion, in hopes that we all can become more familiar with the facts about the financial health of the activity. My method for studying the 990's is to analyze the trends over as many years as are available. Typically, there are three years of 990 data available and my goal is to spot the trends over time, subject to the 990 forms available. A word of caution: nothing that we can present here is a full explanation of the background story of the numbers; complete explanations are not part of the forms even though notes are an integral part of the form filings. It's just raw data - income, expenses, assets, and liablilites - it doesn't explain how the numbers came to be. As a result there will be a natural tendency to speculate on the reasons for the numbers - something that DCP'ers are very good at. But the real back story can only be explained by the financial people at DCI or the individual corps. Still, I've always believed that numbers can tell a story. My hope is that, by presenting the numbers here, that story will reveal itself to all of us. Disclaimer: While I work in the financial industry, this thread is not official in any capacity, and does not reflect the position or opinion of DCI, any corps, or my employer. All data comes directly from Form 990's found on www.guidestar.com, is presumed to be accurate but is not guaranteed to be so. All opinions expressed are mine, personally, are not audited, and are only based upon my amateur interpretation of the 990 forms. With all that in mind, here we go! Fun with numbers! EDIT: For those who may wish to skip to their favorite corps, I've added the following index of post numbers. First the corps name and then the post number where their 990 discussion begins: INDEX OF CORPS 990's (Name: Post number) DCI: 2 YEA!: 134 Blue Devils: 204 UPDATED 2011 NUMBERS ARE IN RED Cavaliers: 286 Carolina Crown: 367 Phantom Regiment: 437 Santa Clara Vanguard: 469 The Bluecoats: 525 Boston Crusaders: 576 Blue Knights: 603 Madison Scouts: 647 Blue Stars: 669 Spirit of Atlanta: Not available Consolidated Summary of Top-11 plus DCI: 724 The Glassmen: 739 The Troopers: 767 The Academy: 808 The Colts: 824 The Crossmen: 845 Pacific Crest: 869 The Mandarins: 891 The Cascades: 917 Jersey Surf: 957 Pioneer: 969 Consolidate Summary of All Corps: 994

The Centurions are pleased to announce our 2013 Program: Maroon, Black, and Gold The show will feature music that reflects our corps colors. The first movement, "Maroon," will be based on selections from Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky. Part II, "Black" is a lush ballad from Suite Bergamasque, “Clair de Lune” (which means “moonlight”). A smooth bass line and rich harmonies, along with shades of Black, help portray the night. Part III, "Gold," is represented by the lively “Bacchanale” from the opera Samson and Delilah. A “bacchanale” is a musical composition depicting a wild celebration, or bacchanal, displayed here with flashes of Gold. This builds into the fast paced finale, where we see the return of Maroon and Black, as all the colors of the corps come together to close the show. Our next rehearsal will be January 5th. For the full schedule, visit our website at www.enfieldcenturions.org

HELP THE HURCS MOVE THAT TRUCK! Hello to everyone in the drum corps community! As we all anxiously anticipate the beginning of the 2013 season, the Hurricanes have hit a minor roadblock and we need your help to get around it! One of our equipment trucks suffered a catastrophic engine failure at DCA Championships in Annapolis, MD on September 1st. The truck was left non-drivable in Annapolis and was towed to a truck repair facility. After a lengthy and expensive process to diagnose the source of the problem, the garage facility has finally finished the repairs and the bill is much, much more than we had emergency budgeted for! We need YOUR HELP in getting our newly fixed equipment truck back to Connecticut. Please visit the our homepage at www.cthurricanes.org for more information on how to help. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support!

I've been told that the electronic bugle's recording was done by an Arlington Cemetary bugler. I can't recall the name of the soldier (supposedly their top guy at the time), but in essence, they ensured that the quality of the "Taps" performance was consistent with what one would expect at Arlington. There are several cool (and true) stories about the sounding of "Taps" at Arlington, including the unintentional "chipped note" during President Kennedy's funeral, and the same note being unintentionally "chipped" by other buglers for a period of time immediately after the Kennedy funeral. I spent four years serving in the United States Marine Corps with the MOS (military occupation/specialty) of "Soprano Bugler." In addition to regular ensemble performance activities, all of the soprano buglers in the drum corps (there were three USMC drum corps at that time, 1985-1989) were assigned on a regular rotation schedule as "Duty Bugler," to handle "Taps" requests as needed. It was a privilege then as an active duty marine, and now as a USMC veteran and active law enforcement officer to sound "Taps" for those who serve. "Taps" is always tough to play under such circumstances (so many tearful stories I could share), and I personally find that it does not get any easier over time. On this Veterans Day, I offer my personal thanks to all who have served, or are currently serving.

The Windsor Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps is pleased to announce that our 2013 Membership Day will be held on Saturday, December 1, 2012. All returning and prospective members are invited to attend and learn about the corps, the show, meet the administration and expanded staff, and participate in rehearsal. Our first rehearsal of the 2013 season will follow on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday, December 2, 2013. We are excited to kick off our third competitive season in DCA! What: Membership Day and First Rehearsal When: Saturday, December 1, 2012, 10am-6pm; Sunday, December 2, 2012 10am-5pm. Where: Robbinsville High School, Robbinsville, NJ 08961 There is a $35 registration fee for all participants. With our expanded staff and exciting program design for the 2013 season we will continue the "Windsor way" with yet another crowd pleasing production that will promise to be fun for our members and the audience as well. The corps is currently accepting members in all sections: brass, color guard, and percussion. If you are interested in more information please take the time to fill out our contact form and/or pre-register on our website.

Hey! I'm glad for the feedback. I wonder if anyone "important" is paying attention? Maybe they already know this stuff and it's just us fans who, apparently, pay for this activity that don't have a clue about the numbers. Probably most don't care now and won't until there are no more shows. How's the data coming, everyone? Too much? Too fast? You're eyes glazing over yet?

Given the correct show design & music choice.... anyone.

That ends the look at Revenue, so let's see if the numbers make sense. In looking at the change from 2010 to 2011, Revenue was up $883,211. Of that, there was an increase of $357,476 in Contributions ($125,000 from Chase), an increase of $538,653 in "Program Revenu" (shows), a $10,068 increase in DCI Magazine sales, and a $22,919 decrease in souvie sales profit, and a small decline in investment income. Of the increase, Contribution accounted for about 40% and Program Revenue accounted for about 60%. (The other two categories of income had little impact, or "NM" (not meaningful) in financial terms.) While the nearly $900,000 increase in Revenue is a great number, 2011 Net Profit (Revenue minus Expenses) was only around $300,000 higher than 2010. So, apparently, Expenses were up in 2011 by about $600,000 as well. Next, we'll look at where the money went.

Pacific crest at Stanford and Boston also at the same show this last summer played and both lines had horrible tenor sounds. Boston had the better tuning of snares but PC didn't sound too good on snare either. What they played was great but the tone of those drums sound like skid marks. I hate mepex drums.

Can't stand that show.

I could see Blue Knights doing something like that. Possibly Vanguard......?

When I asked Rex if he remembered anything he reminded me that DCI won $125k in the Chase Community Giving program in 2011. That explains one big chunk of it that will be a one-time shot. As for the raking of leaves didn't we see a Garfield's Kid on these forums sometime back?

I'm going to take a guess that one reason for the sudden surplus is NOT paying for ESPN2 airtime.

actually, Mechanicsburg HS has been using Mapex since 2011. Loved them! Some of the older Mapex's, besides being heavy as hell, yeah some issues, but the newer stuff we were very happy with. as far as drum corps connections with Mechanicsburg....you have people there that teach PC and Glassmen, as well as Black Watch in indoor. Staff there, off the top of my head have also marched or taught the following places....Crossmen, Cadets, PC, Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Phantom, Jersey Surf, Cabs, Bucs, Westshoremen, Empire Statesmen, and I am sure I am missing some. They're connected. And it;s a great program. Proud to have been associated with them from 1998-2012, and glad to pay their taxes and have a daughter that will eventually be in the program somewhere around 2026

Let's start with DCI itself. WAY TO GO, DCI! This looks pretty great! TOTAL REVENUE: 2009: $8,592,976 2010: $8,838,914 2011: $9,722, 125 TOTAL EXPENSES: 2009: $8,542,134 2010: $8,875,705 2011: $9,429,827 REVENUE LESS EXPENSES: 2009: $50,842 2010: ($36,791) a loss 2011: $292,298 NET ASSETS: 2009: $205,958 2010: $290,657 2011: $604,119 Wow! By the measures of cash flow and assets, it looks like DCI had a fabulous 2011! GREAT JOB, DCI! It looks like DCI has gotten healthier in the last three years. But we'll look next at the numbers behind these totals to see if we can tell why that is. For now, let's celebrate what appears to be a solid performance by the staff of DCI!

WOW! What a great response already! Thank you to those who have kindly donated to our Truck Fund since yesterday. We still have a long way to go, so anyone in the Drum Corps community that is able, please visit our website at www.cthurricanes.org to see how you can help. Thank you everyone for your kindness as we work to get our Truck back to Connecticut. Bob

MAMA ≠ DADA

I want to see a drum corps do a downright evil, dark, sinister, disturbing show with dark, powerful, and emotional music. I want a theme that leaves no room for happiness, there is no happy ending, and it leaves you with chills. Something beyond Cavaliers "Mad World" or Bluecoats "Metropolis". Darker than Suncoast Sounds 1988 show. If you follow BOA, something along the lines of Broken Arrow High Schools show this year "Surrender to Hope", or LD Bell's 2006 show "The Remaning", both shows that focus on a post apocolyptic hell on earth. Who could do it? I'd pick Bluecoats. Anyone else want to see a show like this? I've been waitng for a show like this in drum corps for awhile. Dark marching shows are my weakness.

I can definitely see Phantom or SCV (I liked the '11 show) doing a great dark show but it's funny that you mention Crown because they actually stuck out in my mind as the last group that could pull it off. That's not at all a bad thing, just not their brand IMO. But I could be wrong.

yeah they sounded great this fall. 2nd at WGI last year in A wasn't shabby either

Forgot about BD 95, that's along the lines of what I want to see someone do. There are too many happy shows nowadays, Vanguard 2011's one of the darker ones and even it ends on a high note.

Phantom

Darker than Vanguard 2011...

It has been interesting reading all the blogs and the biggest surprise has been all of the comments about the Cavaliers show. There were 8 corps that broke 70 on June 23. The Cavaliers were not one of them. They have only broken 70 once so far this year. The rolling average today has them 7th and trending down now that more corps has put their show on the field a couple of times. Yes, it is early and we are talking a small sampling. However, with a trend going down and a show that is not selling with the crowd, I am beginning to get concerned. I am not worried about them dropping much lower. But I am concerned that they could be out of the top 8. Imagine next year TOC without the Cavies as part of the tour. Let the comments begin..............

I just hope they get rid of those mapex drums! Blechhh!

The tenors sound horrible and the snares almost as bad. The bass drums sound excellent though. Plus that pit equipment is cheap and flimsy.

YES.