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Anyone else ever get the feeling they've been around these forums too long? Just me?

I think most original drum corps music is uninteresting. I also think it was more common in the past than it is now.

If it was anything like when I was at UA, he could have been "hammered" before he got hammered... Not saying that's what happened...LOL.

Can't reward content if there's too much dirt to even get a read on the content

i think i would prefer to hear arrangements of great music than music of arrangers pretending to be composers.

I couldn't be happier about these changes. I DID feel like it was Christmas when I saw the announcement, too. Go Regiment! Reclaim your fierce, powerful, passionate identity. Harvey

Not if they take the "Run up and hit the #### thing" approach to the instrument....That being said, the cat barely even flinched.

With the blessing, none.

Most kids who go to Purdue have been kicked in the head by farm animals so many times that getting thwumped with a padded bass drum mallet is hardly noticeable.

BD will drop out of the top 12...

One potential issue with that...the members of DCA corps these days are far younger than in the past. A good percentage are most likely unavailable due to scholastic commitments, be they HS or college, much as with DCI corps.

Soooooo, recruiting at USBands shows isn't working out? Why aren't you PERFORMING at USBands shows? Or whatever circuit you're attending.... Isn't it an advantage for your corps to have the additional performance experience? Isn't it an advantage to show what you can actually do in front of the potential members you're looking to recruit? The show in Bethel, CT yesterday for USBands had a University band in exhibition just before awards. That to me, is extremely smart recruiting. Add in a table with literature and some souvies and you're good to go. That's the grass roots method. It's the harder path, but it is VERY effective!

Maybe it happens so often he doesnt notice it any longer.

Cru had some well written stuff. It wasn't as clean as it could have been but I'm not bagging on them in any way.

ok. here's my $0.02. Point 1. Marketing is one thing, but half that battle is knowing what you are selling. I'm not certain DCA understands it's product and how to pitch it. I love seeing vids from years past, and you could truly identify DCA and it's product. Now it feels and looks a little like DCI, but just not quite. So I think knowing what it's selling to the students its trying to get into the ranks is a key. And maybe it truly is a "start here, we'll get you ready for (insert corps name) in two seasons". Or should it be "come here, we'll teach you how to be the next level entertainer" But it's my opinion that the overall org needs to get a handle on its mission. Lets take a look at the first two points which define DCA on its website. The primary function of Drum Corps Associates is to provide an organization of drum & bugle corps with rules and regulations which provide for continuous progress and growth for drum corps. Using entertainment as a primary goal, Drum Corps Associates performances are unique and represent “state of the art” in mass appeal drum and bugle corps. Once the product and it's purpose is clarified, I think selling it becomes easier. 2. I think the corps shoot themselves in the foot with their scheduling in this era. It's tough to sell a part time activity that takes up 7pm fri - 7pm sun, every other week in the fall, and every weekend starting in may. i honestly think this might be a concern when you look at what how work lives are structured now. I believe it's most certainly a factor as to why the 25+ year olds are fewer and fewer. While I understand you can't limit a corps to how it makes its schedule, perhaps scoring where "layered achievement" takes less presence over "audience communication" could help the entertainment factor, as well as the time needed to clean a DCI Lite show by Sept. I'm certain after a few seasons of this schedule, burnout sets in. Which doesn't help to retain members that the groups just spent a season recruiting and training. 3. I think there's little to no digital presence of DCA. Instagram, Twitter. Yes this is full time job and it requires a strategist that works full time on selling the brand. So maybe its time for it to become a small full time office. 4. The venues and their respective shows, and how they are organized, are simply too far off base in function between operators. Consistency is key. And there needs to a more consistent method of show operations and how information in organized and communicated. 5. There needs to be an actual cultivation of small groups, and helping them grow. When new corps are founded, there should be slews of invites to perform at shows instead of fear of having to pay the new faces in the neighborhood. Help them find ways to develop fanbases, and teach them how to sell it. So they can bring fans to shows. 6. Speaking of payments. Part of that full time office should be helping to generate sponsorship for all shows and the season. 7. Every corps and every show for itself is not an effective way to sell a brand. In an age where consumers expect consistency from a brand, this is paramount that everyone get on the same page to sell it. 8. let's look at a DCA bullet from their page. Drum Corps Associates strives to provide performers with stimulating and rewarding social experiences, to provide a competitive outlet for performers, and to entertain and excite the audience. Are the days of the personalities that I heard about at the bar via stories gone? During finals i stood up top of the stands with a fellow Madison alum, and saw many a friend come through I didn't expect to be at finals, and wondered if the membership ever has a similar experience. Do they know the personalities that help to shape this circuit, or is it only about their 10 minutes on the field? Does their age group have its own personalities that make DCA as accessible to outsiders now that is was known for? How does one change that? Or do they simply remove this line as part of the mission statement?

The 2019 Boston Crusaders beg to differ...

The consistent comment I heard about BK's corps' percussion voicing for 2019 was musical, musical, musical. As a non-drummer it was great to hear something other than aggressive banging working out testosterone over-dosing coming out of a corps' battery. Wherever the dynamic duo lands, I hope their summer efforts of 2019 set a new direction for DCI percussion.

Yeah 05 sucked, would be a shame to win again......

Their 75th Anniversary show is probably as close to a reboot as we'll see from them. Especially since they are Building A Champion.

OUTSTANDING!!!

Someone should do an Earth, Wind and Fire show. I know it would mean they would have to have truly kick ### brass lines, but if they hit the right tone, it would be amazing.

Snare line + hangover = 6 years of "NOPE" in retrospect lol

"Dude, I'm never drinking again. I did shots the other night before the show and got a bad hangover. My head still hurts from it"

P.C. might do a Salute to Cali corps show, perhaps called Tarzania. Borrow Mandies bungee cords to swing from SCV's firehouse poles, Tarzan and Jane need only wear the grey castaways from 2019, and she can swing her locks like BDCG. On djemn drums, the front ensemble can lead us into Africa with the low brass allowing the re-do of Blue Rock's Baby Elephant Walk. Now if only Blue Stars head West in 2020, they might also lend Mt. Kilimanjaro to complete the motif.

I would agree with this statement 100%. And I would truly believe that there are probably folks who are currently or formerly involved that would throw their talents into the volunteer pool to help make that digital marketing take off if DCA would simply ask for the help. I also think you're right in that individual corps should be doing their own marketing in lieu of DCA taking it on. Corps seem to be far more secretive in the last 4 or 5 years. I'm not expecting digital diaries but SOME sort of buzz would be better than not seeing anything until a week before finals.

yes

Everything about that show was flat out fun.

DCA has lost four of its champions in about the last 10 years. Something has to be put into place to help keep corps afloat during lean years or other crises that arise. Without enough corps, there simply won't be enough people in the audience at shows, especially prelims and finals. As for recruiting, which has been mentioned by several other people already, this is the very most important characteristic of any successful drum corps that I have ever been a part of. Recruiting must go way beyond setting up tables at marching band shows. Networking with as many band programs and following up with contacts in a positive way is essential. Drum corps need to have their very best people in charge of the recruiting effort. One aspect of recruiting that I think is sometimes not given enough priority is retention. Retaining existing members is a part of a successful recruitment effort. Drum corps need to treat their existing membership well and let them know that they value their time and efforts. Marketing. I have been a band teacher for 23 years and I have never received 1 piece of mail, email, or any other kind of media regarding DCA. I would guess most band directors aren't even aware of its existence, or if they are, they only know of the stories of past decades, which would it be very helpful for the new image of all-age drum and bugle corps.

The color guard design/show in 2005 PR was one of the most beautiful and interesting things about the show. Everything the color guard did was "wow" - art deco-style flags/umbrellas based on chevrons, multiple period-style costume changes (where every new costume was better than the one it replaced), equipment work that was cheeky and so much fun. And then that closer with that head dress and the incredible orange color. One of the best color guard programs ever put on a field.

Hopefully they don't come out with a show similar to '05 and '06. Yeeeesh!

One of my favorites!!!!! That show embodied so many elements Regiment is known for. Laid the groundwork for Faust and Spartacus.

I agree. Also my source is Mike Jackson, so I’m inclined to believe him. 😉 He has his reasons for resigning (and yes it was a resignation not a firing), but would like them to remain relatively private. He will most definitely be back in DCI when the time and place are right.

Still love watching the sheer speed and demand of this visual package. Talk about cardio...and that mello section. Just crazy the demand in this visual and music program. (1993 Cadets, In The Spring at the Time When Kings Go Off to War)

That's a shame if true. It's to DCI's detriment to not have a percussion voice as unique as that duo's being performed by somebody every season.

I thought they always had a great palette when sage was there previously, especially 2005.

He is focusing primarily on Broken City (his WGI PIW group) for now. I assume this is true for Kevin Shah as well.

Chuck was not the reason Madison was where they were last year... if anything, he was one of the reasons they weren't potentially lower.

marketing, marketing marketing....towards the younger generations. In PA alone there's 5 marching band circuits....partner with them. recruit at their big shows. build relationships with them. 3 of those same circuits operate in NJ. One operates in NY along with NY Fed. You have to get kids interested to march, and face it, few corps are full. You then get their parents to come. Then, from that pie, eventually marching days may be done, but you have the ability to retain them as fans. As that base grows, then you can start to explore different venues for championships since that is a sticking point. Embrace Soundsport/mini corps as a way to grow corps into the competitive arena as DCI has been doing. I have enjoyed the DCA minicorps in the past, but that's been mostly geared towards grous from an exisiting corps, or older alumni. Face it, starting a drum corps isn't cheap, but Soundsport has shown that with time and patience, as well as a sound business strategy, you can get corps on the field during the summer. Standardize the show host and fees process. The every corps for themselves model is old, and it discourages smaller corps from being able to get into shows. And...get public information out about DCA's safety policies.With all of the craziness in the last 2 years, DCA has been VERY silent about this, despite an article last fall exposing a fomer finalist for issues in the past, as well as the former YEA director and how that affected and in several ways led to the inactivity of C2.

But seriously. I want this show. My mind's ear can already hear the hype of the mashup. "...a raspberry bere....liiitle red corvette!"

Today is like Christmas Day for PR fans YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY!!!!

I actually thought Will’s arrangements have been getting better. I thought if arranging was his only job, he might really take off.

I’m not jumping into that pool. I’m just wishing a nice person well.

I think where he’ll really help is just making sure that whatever movement they do is uniform and still looks good. Even in this day of ramps and pedestals, corps still march and I would hope that keeping that looking clean still counts for something. Tony thinks up all the crazy stuff and Bob helps the marchers pull it off.

Bob Smith returning! Clean feet again. I think this is a pretty great team they’ve assembled; hopefully this means they’ve finally turned the corner. Also, my sincere best wishes to Will Pitts in his future endeavors.

Algernon on point again! I'm a little concerned about the program coordinator spot, but Tony Hall is clearly a sharp guy. They now have a lot of talented and experienced folks in the room, so good things should happen.

I am beyond happy. Phantom is going to be my favorite corps year after year again 😄 I think one of the reasons JD Shaw left in the first place is because he was tied to a certain genre of music and couldn't do anything else without backlash. I hope they let JD play whatever the hell he wants to play now!

https://regiment.org/2020-design-staff/

I picked 12 mix and match open and world (with more open because I saw them more). Made it a personal rule to only allow a pick from the same corps once because my first try came up really lopsided: As the Sun Loved the Moon (7th Regiment 2017) The Grid (Legends 2016) Passion in Red (Stentors 2019) Coronation (Music City 2016) Darned (Guardians 2018) To the Moon (Blue Devils B 2016) Caged (Southwind 2019) Experiment X (Spartans 2019) In Pieces (Vanguard Cadets 2017) A Step in Time (Academy 2015) Wild Horses (Troopers 2015) Ebb & Flow (Jersey Surf 2016) Notes: My choices needed to come from the latter half of the decade because I didn't see the earlier half. Also, Darned was not the actual name of the Guardians show, but you get the idea.

The Colts - Dark Side of the Rainbow. The mic didn't work for much of the show at pre-lims, but the Scarecrow still brought it, and the exit off the yellow brick road was magic !

I'm unable to follow the rules, sorry. Just way too many shows, and my brain can't handle it. Some I really enjoyed: 2019 Pacific Crest - Everglow 2019 Spartans - Experiment X 2017 Vanguard Cadets - In Pieces 2014 Blue Devils B - Noir (Nuvo) - I absolutely LOVE the music with this one 2013 Blue Devils B - Warped