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Showing content with the highest reputation on 11/02/2019 in all areas

  1. The key to the first camp deals is to try and see what the total cost is, and if there are hidden fees, or extra fees etc. The point of my post is to show there is a cheap first camp option. Surf is $30, 7th apparently is $10. Both awesome I think. Some corps charge $100-$200 etc to get through the door, they are using camps as money makers. Kids can legit pay $30 bucks to see if they even like it. Other places they can pay $200 to see if they like it. In both cases, if they decide they like it, then they can start paying the total cost. They key is getting a taste without breaking the bank.
    2 points
  2. Re woodwinds - we're about 85% against them, but 95% sure they're coming?
    2 points
  3. And there's the rub. I don't want DCA to die off and I've worked long enough in enough industries to not cling to a the claim that it is inevitable. I've watched business models completely change their profile and footprint in a matter of two fiscal years and change their trajectory completely. But this statement is true enough for sure. DCA has the mindset of companies in the 80's that have all died out. We do things we way we do them because it's the way we've always done them. I compare it to Sears.
    2 points
  4. I know they will still be 'around' but Moe and Kevin pretty much are Crown to me and always will be. They're the best.
    2 points
  5. If you look at the I and E schedule, or happen to be in Indy when awards are given, you can see that many of the young instrumentalists are woodwind players, and they are either performing on brass or percussion instruments in DCI, so many already know how to play more than one instrument proficiently. Adam Vinatieri loved soccer, and as a punter his soccer skills are evident, but he wanted to play football. Should his high school coaches changed the rules and allowed him to use a soccer ball when he played instead of a football? If a flute player who also plays trumpet and makes the cut is not allowed to march because he/she plays the flute, that’s discrimination. If the same flute player cannot play an instrument used in drum corps so cannot march, that is not discrimination.
    2 points
  6. my hunch is you'll see more long time faces hook up with suppliers and manufacturers. it's like people leaving Congress to lobby. they did their time, now they want to make some dimes
    2 points
  7. There is a statute of limitations, but how the actual time is calculated can be very convoluted. In many cases, the statute is "tolled" (paused) while one or both parties are not in the state, because if you're accused of a crime, you shouldn't get to go live in Europe, let the clock run out, and then come back. (Just an example.) If this case were outside the PA statute, the defense team would have moved to dismiss on those grounds immediately. They have not done that to date.
    2 points
  8. Absolutely wrong. Read the filings. They are public records. Call the courthouse and ask for copies. Hopkins' attorneys want the tapes because they want to probe inconsistencies between what is on the tapes and what the victim told the police. There is NOTHING here dealing with bad acts by the prosecutor. This post should be removed. Also, ineffective assistance claims are so, so, so rare. There is virtually no way to win them and no one ever brings them. (Source: I'm a real-life, honest-to-goodness practicing attorney.)
    2 points
  9. 2021 Proposed Rule Change. TITLE OF PROPOSED CHANGE: Uniform Uniformity DESCRIPTION: All competitive drum corps will use the same uniform during competition. Each corps will have their own uniforms, but they will be of the same design. The same style and construction, color and fabric. This includes hats, shako’s or any type of head cover. The same style shoes and socks. The only style and construction differential would be for different sections of the drum corps. Color guard, Percussion and Brass may need special accommodations. These accommodations will only be acceptable, if they are dictated by the needs of the section. These accommodations will be the adopted by all competing corps. No individual drum corps will be allowed to have a special accommodation. Members with disabilities, will be able to appeal the to governing body, to make accommodations. Such accommodations will not be granted if they appear to be requested only to provide a competitive advantage. Drum Corps is a competitive activity. Corps compete with the goal of becoming the best drum corps in the world. Competitive activities require rules. Rules set parameters, rooting out opportunities to cheat or to gain an unfair advantage. With the advancements made in uniform design, corps have sought to use these technical advancements to edge out their competition. Many of these competitors would find themselves with much lower scores, without these technically sophisticated uniforms. It also should be noted that some of these uniforms contain technology that has not been tested, or in some cases, not licensed in the United States. The Color Karma Corp., based in Moscow and funded by the Russian Federation, has worked with companies supplying uniforms to top rated drum corps. The Color Karma Corp. is known for designing uniforms that strategically blend color. Using color blending technics, created by the Russian Army, these color blends are designed to subconsciously alter the perception of those who look upon these fabrics. Spectators emotions can be changed with a simple costuming change, causing one to feel happy, sad, enthusiastic or even confused. In recent years, some corps have sought to create exclusive contracts with such uniform companies, to exclude other corps from this technology. PURPOSE: Drum corps will be judged by the quality of their performance and not by the fabric of their uniform. EDUCATIONAL IMPACT: The focus of the uniform design will not distract from the content of the show design. Show designers will be forced to focus on the content of the shows and not the uniforms strategic design. Corp members will need to focus on their performance and advance their competitive skills in the activity. CREATIVE IMPACT: Show designers will be forced to focus their writing on shows that capture the imagination of the spectators. They will be forced to write shows that challenge the competing members, focusing on outwriting and performing the competition. No longer will they be able to fall back on the uniform design to deliver scores. FISCAL IMPACT: With all corps wearing the exact uniform, they could be purchased in bulk, bringing the cost down. Standard fabrics would be used, which are considerably cheaper than unregulated technical performance enhancing fabric. AUDIENCE IMPACT: Audiences will be able to enjoy a pure drum corps performance. They will not be subjected to unregulated, untested and potentially harmful Soviet Block Fabrics. (*TM) SHOW PROMOTER IMPACT: There would be no impact to show promoters LOGISTICTS IMPACT None JUDGING IMPACT Judges will not be exposed to unsafe color blends. Submitted by : Fans Against Untested Fabrics
    1 point
  10. There has always been those walking away. The biggest was the formation of DCI. I still remember the T shirts saying, DRUM CORPS WAS DEAD . There are samples of this every decade. Nothing new
    1 point
  11. I don't agree with much of what MikeD says regarding instrumentation, but he says it eloquently and sincerely, and deserves the respect of everybody on here. anyway, I really wonder if you surveyed performers and fans 50 years ago asking them to rank what the biggest deal breaker would be regarding whether a drum corps is really a drum corps, how would they rank these? - amplification of soloists - amplification of entire sections - mic'd vocalists throughout entire shows - a mic'd violin - a mic'd solo woodwind - a woodwind section I think both of the bullet points regarding WW would rank high, but I'm not so sure they'd rank higher than A&E. fans were so passionate in their belief that going non-acoustic was fundamentally not drum corps, they got an audience with the DCI board to have their concerns heard. i assure you, they argued their case about what is and is not "real" drum corps 10X more strongly than i've seen from anybody in this thread regarding WW.
    1 point
  12. So the actual bird calls in the pit for Force of Nature weren't enough to trigger this clause?
    1 point
  13. I've not been on here for quite a while, but I've been following the discussion on this topic. I must agree with and bring up something Fran said: DCA had it's own vibe. He's right. I remember some DCA corps would say (occasionally) "we think we're good enough to compete with the DCI corps". Were they? I don't think so... not in that decade and certainly not in this decade. In the 1980's, a DCA corps didn't look or perform like a DCI corps. There were subtle differences. I learned this fact in an interesting way, back when Star of Indiana was competing. Somebody from Steel City Ambassadors in 1987 was marching with Star the following season. At the Centerville show, I tried to say hello (and not thinking) I walked right up to him, when he was in the horn arc. I was stopped by another member who said (and I quote) "He's in rehearsal now". Her delivery was brief and I might add, mildly arrogant. I walked away and said to myself, "this isn't DCA". I was right, too. There was a difference. You may enjoy the DCI corps, but at a respectful distance. They are after all, the top of the drum corps game; the professionals. DCA on the other hand, was the weekend warriors; loads of talent that made it possible to stage a quality show, entertain the audience and do it on a somewhat smaller budget. The genie is out of the bottle and there's no going back. DCA looks more and more like DCI, every year. They still can't compete against DCI corps, but DCI is what the young folks know. In that regard, DCI has the recognized brand identity and the marketing to support it. Something was lost, in the transition to what some have called "DCI Lite". Maybe what was lost is what Fran was alluding to: The connection with the audience, the personalities and the entertainers... the casual approach to the activity. Knowing who and what we were and more importantly, why we were that way. Those days have passed. Fill the corps ranks with young folks, design shows that appeal to them, give them the "DCI lite" experience for far less money and hope they stick around long enough to carry DCA on their shoulders. Perhaps the most telling wake up call I faced was this: There are members of our local DCA corps who weren't born when I won a DCA championship in 1996. The folks I marched with can be found in three places, during finals weekend: The alumni corps, the stands or the judging panel. Those few hearty souls that may be found in the ranks of a competing corps, deserve an award (or free chiropractor services) one or the other. I don't know if DCA will be around in five years. I don't know what needs to be done (beyond a strong marketing effort), to increase attendance. All I know is if people aren't buying your product at the volume you need to see in order to grow your business, you ought to take a closer look at what you're trying to sell.
    1 point
  14. We used to have to run our appliance repairs through Sears (i.e. American Warranty Group) for Homeserve appliance jobs (now you all know who I design training for LOL.) They were HORRIBLE...like customers waiting 3 and 4 weeks for tech's to come and see what was wrong. We since changed vendors for our appliance jobs.
    1 point
  15. 1 point
  16. Right you are, Jim! First you have to get them in the door. Even if that means healthy discounts to local groups and, possibly, be more liberal with comp tickets for promotional use. Next, provide a good enough experience to attract them back, hopefully at regular price. I have no idea what strategies were used in Williamsport so far. I do think there was some sort of reduced price plan put in place near the end. Some of the promotional tools are better done with DCA people who actually live in the community and are available any day of the week.
    1 point
  17. thanks for chiming in and clearly up some of the nonsense in this thread!
    1 point
  18. I don't know what makes me sadder: 1. The fact that I read most of that 2. The fact that someone took the time to write it. Should have spent the time making waffles.
    1 point
  19. Very true. And I think we have all pretty much stated in one way or another, the vehicle for new advertising and the like is already out there. Corps depend on an alumni base. DCA should also see the value added in their alumni base across across the broad activity. There is a tremendous amount of untapped talent who would volunteer their time to help grow the activity we love. They don't even have to reach out...they just have to respond to those who want to help.
    1 point
  20. and hopefully drum corps folks will have achieved more in real measures than those other folks in WDC.
    1 point
  21. I'm following along but don't want this point to go unnoticed: Today's competitive HS marching programs give the same, and probably better, experience and make them more qualified to make the BD horn line than a musician that has switched his instrument several times. Sure, there are exceptions, but MikeD is consistent in saying that band programs today prepare kids to multi-levels-higher talent levels than did band programs of the 50's and '60 just before DCI was formed. Compare the path you took to Kingsmen to that of most MM's who started on a brass instrument in 5th grade and auditioned that instrument to make a corps. Yours was honorable and developed/shows character. The other gave lots of practice time. Please return to your regularly scheduled discussion...
    1 point
  22. So does this mean the traditional white cassock will be replaced with a Hawaiian design? Maybe you can have Color Karma design it for you.🇻🇦
    1 point
  23. Why should they, have to in 2019? Yes, there are some who do. But given the audition approach of today, it is much more difficult to just pick up a horn and make the BD hornline.
    1 point
  24. Just a couple updates to this topic The Color Karma Corp. has been investigated by the justice department. This is not drum corps related. It is related to uniform designs associate with the Hotdog on a Stick restaurant chain, found mostly in malls. The Color Karma Corp. has recently closed its north American operations and no longer has a website Soviet Block Designs *TM is currently under reconstruction. It is rumored that a major accident occurred in their research and development laboratories, but no information has been released. Fans Against Untested Fabrics is a relatively small organization. Due to increasing interest in the group, resulting from a fan lawsuit against uniforms used by a professional curling team. The have closed their membership to new members and have deleted their Facebook page
    1 point
  25. I mean DCI has a few full-time marketers, but they also lean pretty on interns. I've been pretty close to some of the team running it, and a lot of it doesn't require full-time staff. Especially with so many templates, and tools; along with heavy desire for interns to work with the organization they are able to scale up each year with paid staff, and interns along with leveraging things like DCI Ambassadors in the past. I'm not really talking about anything close to that; I mean literally something like what DCI does; get a corps director to take over marketing and then build a team around it. Hell, just build a team of volunteers - I'd do it for free and now lots of folks that would - including one who marched DCA, and WGI and owns a video production company. I know DCI does pay World Class, not sure about OC. It was a hot topic at the last director's meeting I attended. In some cases I know some All-Age Corps can get paid at DCI shows. It varies for SoundSport groups on if there is a participation fee etc, and sometimes the host will provide lodging and rehearsal space to make it easier. I just don't get it.
    1 point
  26. " And the sultan's elite bands were known as the janissaries. " And, as the story goes, one of these bands was sent by the Turks as a gift to Napoleon, who loved pageantry, and thus began the tradition of military marching bands in Europe, and eventually in the good ol' US of A. Mark time, hut!
    1 point
  27. I know I'm a little biased because of the Guardians connection, but Madison looks to be putting together a very solid staff that seems like long-term folks. Mike
    1 point
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