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The financial aspects of the concept haven't been explored in any meaningful way to address the central issue of sustainability. Bands with 200-250 performers have most of the infrastructural expenses of operations covered by their school districts. The band directors are paid for through tax dollars, their rehearsal facilities, etc, etc, are also covered by their school districts. If the average BOA program had to be self-sustaining, they'd never hit the field. Drum corps have to eat all of the expense of putting the product out there, and adding more members actually makes it more expensive to run their operations, not cheaper. As far as the central 'product' element of the discussion, I'd like to see the study that shows that DCI would sell another 10,000 seats on Finals night because BD all of sudden had a flute section.

Much like the Madison scouts with CK, DCI should have canned DA many years ago. There is way too much bando influence in drum corps these days and what used to be a clear distinction between drum corps and band will be completely gone. Who the heck wants to hear flutes and clarinets in a drum corps show? No thanks.

I had a lot of conversations with some people in the upper echelons of DCI this summer. Most of it was about logistics for an open class corps however one thing that was mentioned was getting housing sites, and they said we might have a better shot finding housing for 100 than 150. Most facilities, a gym can do 150 and more stretches it, there are some big gyms, but the larger the corps the harder to find housing sites. Also food trailers built for a corps of 128 is stretched right now feeding 150. Going to 200 would require many corps to get new food trailers with more ovens and more freezer space. I never discussed increasing the size directly but if that were a thing I think they may have at least given me a clue.

do you have to pay for use of indoor rehearsal sites (classrooms, audit., music labs) or is that all done during class time (for which taxpayers get dunned?) do you have to pay the janitors their hourly rate and holiday weekend rates or is that covered under school budget (for which taxpayers get dunned?) Are your musical instruments (all of them) paid for out of the marching band budget or do you borrow from the school or do you have to pay the school a rental charge? Is your salary as an educator paid by the school district or by the band parents, or are you considered only a part time educator? I'm sure if we had some of the super-sleuth DCP accounting buffs on your stalk that we'd find some ways the school covers some of your ultimate costs.

The woodwinds proposal this year doesn't take into account any of the myriad of changes that going full marching band in the traditional sense would cause. If and when the DCI members are ready to go there, you'd hope they'd do it knowing full well that it will lose them a significant chunk of their legacy fan base (probably including myself) and create a raft of problems in terms of budgets and sustainability for the member corps, since adding 50 new woodwinds players would only jack up the costs of the summer tour (each member on the field is a money-losing proposition for the corps as it is - throwing another tour bus and another 10 to 20 techs and staffers into the equation will only make it worse), and cutting 30 horn spots (if they decided to keep the 154 member limit) to put out a few flutes or saxophones on the field would dilute the sound that people like now. The most likely proposal that could pass would be to treat woodwinds the way they do string instruments now; as soloists or small ensembles attached to the pit. If someone really wants an oboe solo in their show, fine, whatever, give them that and then tell them to feel proud of their "inclusion." 😎

Not unusual concerning pre-trial motions. Usually routine stuff. Press is there to stay alert to any surprises, and to stay abreast of next steps.

Seems like deja vu all over again.

There are thousands of competitive marching bands. It is not like we have never seen that end product. Sorry, but for me, I am all in for the brass/percussion-centric ensemble. Change it to band, and DCI will not see another dime from me. I am just not interested in paying to see that. The only possible compromise that would interest me is if DCI committed to preserving the brass/percussion-centric ensemble. That would take a pretty strong statement on their part, as well as defining the role of woodwinds as only an accessory instrument, maintaining the brass caption, and so forth. (And I know that would only last for so long, like their "permanent opposition" to three-valve brass announced in 1976... but I am not in charge.)

Thanks for your condascention, but I disagree with the direction that this activity took the last decade and it continues to destroy everything that was unique about drum corps. I hate to see traditions trampled on.

i heard a rumor that all corps are wearing unicorn costumes for 2020 only 2021, it's back to spandex onesies for all

The next DCI Rules Congress is nearly upon us. Caucuses and voting will take place at the DCI annual meeting in Indianapolis, January 9th through 11th, 2020. Given how close we are to this event, it is curious that we have heard nothing official from DCI about the proposals that will be up for consideration. Rule change proposals are processed per a set timetable from when they are submitted in mid-October to when the deadline for distribution of the final proposals occurs on December 15th. Last time DCI had their biannual Rules Congress, they finished the refinement process a bit early and went public with the proposals on December 13th. This time... crickets. Rumors are rampant that the addition of woodwinds to DCI instrumentation is on the agenda. Understandably, that will be a topic of passionate discussion in the drum corps community. But regardless of where you stand on that issue, the manner in which this change is rumored to be implemented is disturbing: The rule change would take effect for the 2020 season, even though nearly all corps are well into show planning/design and will have conducted auditions prior to the Rules Congress. Another rule change raising the member limit to around 200 is also on the agenda, as a companion proposal. Again, this would take effect after completion of auditions for most corps. These two proposals were developed in one of the DCI strategic planning committees. As rumor has it, member corps were polled and have pre-approved the ideas. In a sense, the fix is in. More importantly, member corps would therefore have had advance knowledge of this while they planned their 2020 shows and conducted auditions, while non-member corps... ? Is this an attempt by DCI to defer the coming public angst over the change by delaying announcement of the proposals? Are corps planning to use this change as an excuse to conduct another round of auditions and "experience camps", with associated participation fees, as a special 2020 fundraising ploy? Or will cooler heads prevail, and propose 2021 implementation with fair advance notice? (Or has the rumor train gone completely off the tracks?) What do you think?

I was freaked out by the electrical cords hanging out of the hoods of their cars. It’s so cold there that they plugged in to keep the engine block warm. 😳

Be careful of the wood chippers!

There is that word again. If "relevance" is really such a concern, why do we call it "drum corps"? We have made dozens of tangible changes in the name of "relevance", yet the name has not evolved at all.

with bd having a violinist on the field and all, i wonder why they didn't change it to string orchestra and drum corps.

No clue, but I've always thought that DCIBands has a decent ring, keeping the past and clarifying the current marketplace.

I did say infrastructure: that would mean your school's admin staff (the equivalent of a corps' Exec Director), a place to rehearse, instruments, (did your boosters buy ALL of your instruments?) your base salary (you do get paid, yes?), etc. It doesn't mean props, uniforms, flags, entrance fees for band contests, or any special items for the marching program. In the drum corps world, those are chump change items compared to the basic costs of being in business in the first place, ie: the "infrastructural" expenses. If any of those significant expenses are covered by the School or the district, then you are receiving funds toward your marching program. Drum corps don't get that type of support.

Not even free facilities for practice or office space? Staff is paid for via activity fees and fundraisers?

I received zero funds to run my marching band. Nothing from district or school. We compete locally and are responsible for all costs. Most bands in my area pay fees to participate in marching band that could rival some DCI fees.

Cool!!! Some tough teams in that league. ND State is amazing.

If the writing is on the wall, and drum corps as we know it is inevitably retired to DVD and VHS memories, then so be it!! Ever since we moved from a neighborhood activity to an international one, the changes suggest that at some point ANYTHING goes as long as it meets with the approval of the mm"s and their supporters..Sadly, those of us from BITD , who thought that we were special because of our uniqueness, will just have to accept that we had a "good run" and that maybe it's over..If DCI goes woodwind, it must be because the appeal to bandos is greater than the reminiscing of neighborhood guys like me..I accept this...don't like it but I accept it..Peace

Please cheer a little bit louder Hook'em so you can cover my absence.

Slingerland - Heartily agree with your analysis! If DCI ever becomes just “Summer BOA,” I’ll have no use for it. Always believed the most desirable items are those which are unique and not already available. No doubt whatever is ultimately put out there will be the best of the best. I do understand whatever fans are lost will be easily replaced by other enthusiasts. Besides, no one is taking away the audio/video products I have at hand.

That would be a shame. I like how in 2019, corps responded to the field judge positioning by coming out of hiding and throwing down their musical highlights at point blank range. In cases like that, I love change!

Yes. They’ve been invited to join that league. North Dakota St, South Dakota State, etc.

It was correction, not condescension. Saying that it's unfortunate that you aren't better educated to the facts is condescension, but I'm not saying that. Your emotional response to losing the unique characteristics of our past drum corps are completely understandable, and I agree with many of them. It's only that you're misdirecting your scorn for those decisions. It was the corps, not Dan A. That's all.

I agree with your last sentence.

The DA ship sailed long ago. He's staying. Get used to it. That doesn't speak to anyone else and the contention has been since the G7 days that the DCI offices need a good fat-trimming at least, or "...let's let the corps run the DCI functions and we'll be Board and Executive at once" at worst. DA is STILL not the correct recipient of your fire and venom for the activity turning toward band. He is, by his own admission, the very best ED that his Board wants him to be. If you'd finally get the structure of DCI through your head, you'd see your ire should be directed at the voting membership of the activity. The activity votes these decisions and DA sets off to implement them and market the shows and promote the activity. The corps make the decisions not the ED of DCI. So, another one bites the dust with you then? Drum corps can certainly be the "Major League" and still be bound to the only other sizable participant in the Marching Music For Kids activity. It's not like when you don't want your food touching on your dinner plate. We won't DIE if the filet mignon is touching the cheesy scalloped potatoes (I'll leave you to decide which idiom of marching music is which). But, your vote is registered now as you intended and you should wait until the Rules Congress is over, and even until you actually see the end product, before you condemn it. There are reasons to be optimistic even as you shoo change off your lawn.

Debonnaires Jeanettes Joanettes Fire-ettes Vacationland Sweethearts

I fear that woodwinds, if permitted, will be described as optional but will quickly be seen by judges and designers as a requirement.

Nothing would surprise me anymore in terms of drum corps’ evolution. For a few years, I’ve been thinking a full-on merger with BOA will come. Not intending to start yet another rumor, but such a move could easily be justified by those in charge these days. More Inclusion of woodwinds is a given at this point, probably as soon as this Summer, I think. I’m willing to give anything a look, but am getting closer to my “drop off” point.

I suspect (with no inside knowledge) the rumor train is quite a bit off the rails. Mike

no announcement but the official 2020 staff page did appear on the website.