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The top level corps will still have top level talent and experience. It’s the mid level corps that will suffer with fewer kids auditioning.

It was called “character building” BITD.

Exactly: As I have said in the past, I am involved in many yearly auditions and I can tell you assuming any auditions will go on as normal simply is not true ( at least as of now ) Vaccine or not. Now ( and I was waiting for someone to say it ) todays member is not the local kid hanging on street corners looking for something to do, like we did BITD and I don't believe many would think it would be worth it. The combo with DCA which someone mentioned in theory is fine BUT remember DCA is hanging on by a thread and can barely get a good number even for championships. I think a lot is unknown and I believe there are multiple scenario's which are possible. I can tell you ALL of those possible situations are being discussed, at least by the smart admins. but a return to some bitd model can not be one of them. The world is different, the staff and admin. is different the member is different etc etc. A return in thinking to the old days imo is not the answer BUT creativity after all this will be essential. I've talked to many groups, summer , winter and fall as well as dozens of members, potential members, staffs and creativity "IF" there is a 2021 season will be important as well as what the day to day functions might be. Mindboggling to say the least.

You can watch the rebroadcast of this talk with Cadets Brass Captionhead, Matt Stratton, with Jay Bocook, Wayne Downey, Jim Prime Jr., Michael Klesch, and Doug Thrower on FB here :

More accessible to try out, but don't forget there are a finite number of available marching positions. Also, some corps have already stated that those who make the corps this year are guaranteed spots in 2021. What would be interesting is to see what happens to current members and 2020 members if the season is reduced in scope/duration in 2021. Would the 2020 roster members think it is "worth" marching if that reduction happens.

Actual marching is an art that few staff understand how to teach and more importantly how to clean it. Which is why we see less and less of it. Takes a lot of time to teach, and learn correct technique. Problem is that there are few who know the basics of marching.

Agreed.............I just think that planning ahead for an abbreviated but still "good" season, with major tour reductions, would serve ALL of the corps' interests, and one would hope that the handful of corps who still have the means to return to "business as usual" would be willing to bend their desires a bit to benefit the ENTIRE activity...........time will tell...............I do think that by the time next Spring rolls around, the level of economic depression may be higher than expected, as the economy is not going to recover overnight. Even prior to the pandemic, the cost of membership was/is prohibitive, and many talented potential members are not joining (or, are "one year and done") because of cost. If the "mindset" is changed, costs can be significantly reduced for members, which would make the activity far more accessible to thousands of potential members, and also assist with member retention.

SOP for just about every DCI corps no matter what class.

Sometimes, things turn out to be even better than advertised. Case in point.

Interesting... The EU is in discussion with J&J to reserve some portion of the billion doses of s vaccine J&J plans to produce of its product currently in trials. The US already has a similar deal with AstroZeneca.

Kind of interesting, but not surprising, to hear Wayne Downey say he liked the trend away from marching and playing all the time. The new style of DCI is truly a different genre, one that values a lot of things that—ironically—are the opposite of the old Cadets style that they all say inspired them to do what they do. While I am always I awe of a player’s ability to march and play at full power and accuracy, I’d rather hear awesome music than something less, whether it’s while marching or not. Also thought it was interesting that Wayne said its important to understand your talent and (specifically) experience level before designing a show. Again, it sort of affirms the fairly obvious fact that you won’t win a medal with an inexperienced corps. Fascinated with the concept of allowing space in a show, both musically and visually. All of them agreed that this is something that you learn the hard way in show design and arranging. This is true in all aspects of design. I would have liked to hear more details about specific show designs, though. Like the whirlpool concept, or Session 44 set design.

All good ideas..............I believe that the season can be condensed (but still with plenty of shows) and travel expenses really cut down..........also, nationals would be very exciting, as nobody could really assume anything until everyone goes head to head. I think that they should consider this even if there is a vaccine and the disease is totally under control...........those who struggle through until then would have a much better chance fiscally then they would if they just start spending huge amounts again. Also, if corps get more frugal, costs could be lowered for members, and fewer will be priced out, as it is going to take the economy awhile to rebound......frankly, I feel that it was getting to be far too expensive even before this pandemic...................

Fantastic discussion by everyone tonight! Hearing about their early years in DB&C and the shows that inspired them was worth it. I could have listened to this for 2 more hours. It was nice to hear some of the corps that we no longer see today that inspired them, like Argonne, Chicago Royal Aires, old Boston Crusaders, even a number of senior corps. Also nice to hear them speak about many of the other arrangers that influenced them.

listening in - this is GOLD

I posted the blurb below as a way to have at least some kind of 2021 season: Just thinking - one way to have a limited 2021 schedule is for the east coast Corps basically team up with DCA for the early season - they are essentially a regional weekend circuit. On west coast there is already a series of early shows in place. Midwest could basically split into northern & southern, with each Corps hosting at least 1-2 competitions. Just compete within these regions until mid/late July. Then have a limited 2-week western tour (1-2 regionals - Denver & San Antonio) with the Corps west of Mississippi river, and 2 week eastern tour (1-2 regionals - Atlanta & Allentown). Tours meet at Indy - this is the first time all Corps are in one place to compete. This will limit the number of housing sites required at the regionals. Corps that are not able to do the complete tour can drop out after either the local or the regional shows. Also - each Corps is only allowed to tour within their region - No BD to Allentown or BC to Denver. This would make semi- & quarter- finals really interesting.

I think there are two issues here. First is the survivability of DCI in the (hopefully)wake of the pandemic. Second is the touring model and budget considerations. While I share the concerns about DCI's sustainability, the original post just feels to me like some folks are using the pandemic to try to revert DCI back to the 1976 activity. Seriously, the number of staff people or the size of props has very little to do with ensuring corps members are able to remain healthy. I do see tour housing as a huge challenge, and the college dorm idea has a great deal of merit. It is quite possible that this will all change very quickly with the eventual vaccines. In Boston, the MODERNA company is in it's final trials, and those folks are so sure that will get the final approval that they already have over 5 million doses ready to go when they get the green light. Let's hope it is soon!

Well, what do you expect when you create a permanent underclass, separate and unequal, and keep it that way for 45 years?

Exactly, Sad but true. So when people complain about how OC or smaller corps don't have a say and the big guys are evil. Get out of the lot, go support OC, stop tailgating and fill those stands. Talk is one thing , action is quite another.

Not all that different from the old Garden State Circuit days when I marched (late 60's), taught (mid-70's) and judged (mid 70's to 80'ish). We often performed to zero people. Corps held shows because the circuit required it, so they did it as cheaply as possible.

I can't tell you how many shows on tour I have seen literally empty stands. Even in WC empty till the big guys come on. Sad, especially for the members

The O.C. show closest to my house, in Avon Lake, seems to draw a lot more people than O.C. Finals does.

It;s to bad more people didn't feel that way. OC would have more to say IF they could get butts in the seats. I've said it many times, WGI learned this with A class. especially HS A's Unfortunately in DCI people talk but don't produce, then get mad when OC doesn't get the same respect. There is 1 way to fix that.

That was a low point of that year, but there were stretches that yr or 04 where we had cookies and canned pudding for many meals. Cold McD’s burgers at least once. Corps crashed and burned hard in 2006 and folded.