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The future of DCI requires that many additional components are able to support the activity outside of those that immediately support people marching together on a football field. The continuity of DCI, even for a "bridge" tour season, requires that those components be in place. Safely in place. You want paying fans? Ensure safety. We have a winter to get through in a period where infections are rising. Everywhere.

Not sure weakness is the right word. Caution is more like it. Caution is the best policy in times like this.

I don’t have any latest news from DCI/Corps, just an opinion about 2021. Even a shortened “Bridge” tour leading to a modified Indianapolis Weekend is FAR better to carry on this incredible activity than having no 2021 DCI at all. The future requires CONTINUITY . One missed season was already put into the past. It hurt. Time now to move forward! The many parts required to make all of this work requires cohesion. A “soft” opening will go a long way. It is critical to keep actively in touch with our foundation. That is, fans, performers, instructional teams, judges, corporate sponsors, media partners, audio/video delivered into our homes, and the list goes on . . . Keep positive. DCI can do this !

Did you have the chance to interview her? I hope you will do us all a favor and share it with us. You seem to be quite sure in your conviction about her

Caution: prudent forethought to minimize risk I thought I’d put that definition out there since @dansseemed to be a bit confused (based on his reaction emoji to my comment) as to why no solid plans have been put out by any corps. Hope that clears things up for ya.

I wonder how successful the recruitment process will be, considering their staff collectively is an open class staff, and they are in about the performance range as top open class corps/lower tier world class corps, and the cost is about $750-1000 more than most corps in their echelon. It’s quite sad, as it will not help them. The board and admin, with its nepotism due to CK’s rubber stamp has literally killed the organization, and we’re watching it bleed out.

Then so be it. There are many, many things right now that are much bigger than the survival of DCI. I agree that the corps that are charging potential members right now should be ashamed. A 2021 season is extremely unlikely to happen. While Jim is right that if the kids understand the risks of the season not happening and not getting their money back it may be fine, but I still find it a pretty questionable practice.

I like her reaction vids, watched several military and football vids before she started on drum corps, she makes it clear when she genuinely enjoys a vid.

I'm still thinking about your cappuccino Jim.... I'm wondering if I can sort of create the same thing by putting a couple of Werthers Originals into a cup of Maxwell House...

Clearly, DCI and their corps have been planning for quite awhile already. But now that you mention it, a "bridge tour" probably has more flexibility built into it than the modern-day full tour.

That sounds so delicious but if I had something like that right now I would never get to sleep.

I got my English Toffee cappo (cappuccino) and the wee beastie Bichon is sleeping so peaceful here..

I know what I want to do.... ....where is my beer? I just had it a minute ago.

I’m thinking things can change so quickly hard to say what you want to do

Yes, because the season can simply be planned out on a whim a month or two before it starts, right? If they aren't, then they are setting themselves up for failure. As Skevinp so succinctly pointed out, the OP asked what the corps have said they plan to do, which is largely nothing so far because of the many question marks, among other things, that I pointed out in my original comment. Seeing as the corps haven't really said anything so far, I guess we should've just left this entire thread empty.

Just a reminder the OP asked what DCI/corps have said they plan to do, not what we think they will do or should do.

I understand that you try to be the positive voice in the face of the many realists (who you would probably call pessimists) on here but things are not looking great right now. In addition to the fast-rising number of cases throughout the country, you can very quickly see just how difficult it is to maintain these activities if you look at the NFL. They’re a multi billion dollar business that is currently trying to play out their season. They’ve doled out who knows how much money in order to test their players and staff multiple times a week and yet they are still finding many players testing positive or coming into contact with those who have tested positive and are then having to sit out. Now keep in mind these players are being PAID to do this. With financials already in a bind for many, just how much participation do you anticipate from marchers being asked to dole out thousands of dollars for a limited season? Do you anticipate schools being willing to house a corps when they’re unwilling to house their own students? Say some corps take a regional approach like Cadets 2, will there be enough people signing up to even justify a season? Will schools allow the use of stadiums for practices and exhibitions when they’re unwilling to do so for their own varsity teams? Who will cleanse the areas after each practice? Will the corps be able to generate enough revenue without an in person audience? If there is an audience, how will social distancing be enforced? What happens if a violation occurs and a school revokes future use? Will corps be held liable for any outbreaks? Wouldn’t most shows violate social distancing guidelines unless marchers are placed 6 feet apart in their sets at all times? I don’t like talking about the potential demise of this activity so nonchalantly but looking at it from a grander lens, the potential loss of DCI seems so minor as compared to the greater losses we’re experiencing in this country every day.

Cool deal. Glad for your Daughters band! Thanks for sharing.

Do you ever stop complaining about them? Don't like their process, go support someone else.

Specifically CA (west coast) and NY (east coast) coach lines are either out of business or going out of business. The ones that are not out of business have not had any revenue since March 21st or near that date. Many of the other coach lines in the rest of the country are struggling to not declare bankruptcy.

If it is up to revenues generated from audition packets to ensure a Corps financial survival then that Corps has no business going on tour.

Awesome parade music! Drum corps!

Thanks for the info. But my caveat is the flu my wife caught and died from 3 years back had an even higher survival rate. So playing the percentages game means squat for people on the wrong side of the percentage. Bottom line is it’s a crap shoot either way....

What do you consider pessimism in the corps related posts Fred? I’ve gone through plenty of health issues with family and have been accused of being pessimistic by some. I was told instead to be optimistic (think good thoughts). IMO I was giving honest thoughts on recovery length, survival, etc. So I read posts with the honest even if it is not good to hear bent...

over 220,000 dead in 7 months....it's destroying lives in many ways.

Woods is one of the most beautiful and powerful ballads in DCI history. Wow.

She's adorable and "likes" Drum Corps just like we do, so who cares? Who else is promoting the activity right now?

What difference does it make if she truly cares or not? All i know is she is introducing more people to DCI thru her channel. I personally know someone that follows her channel that didn't know DCI even existed before the vids started popping up on Courtney's channel. Now she is binge watching DCI shows and is looking to attend a show once we get past COVID. And for that i salute Courtney. Maybe she cares, maybe she doesn't, just keep bringing more eyeballs and relevancy to DCI. Keep doing your thing Courtney.

Here's the specific incident/article that Jeff was referring to: https://www.pennlive.com/coronavirus/2020/10/more-than-50-donegal-high-school-students-quarantining-after-homecoming-party-report.html I wouldn't anticipate that there would be many hospitalizations amongst the high school students. The challenge is they take it home to mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, the elderly neighbor next door and so forth. That's where the hospitalizations end up occurring. And despite best efforts, contract tracing in some areas that are seeing a large jump in cases has been ineffective at best... and suspended/abandoned at worst. Not to mention that people are routinely lying to contact tracers. So it's virtually impossible to quantify how many people are hospitalized in many cases as a result of a specific event/gathering.

You are also patient like Jeff.

If you have to ask.." How Safe " is safe, not much else to discuss...but thanks

You don't move forward with anything until you know how to keep these members, staff, etc etc safe. IMO even the CDC guide lines do not apply when you shove members in a tin can to travel for hours and hours at a time, and everything else I mentioned. Not that it has stopped some in the general public. I think the burden is on those who believe open up, we need to move on, NOT those who believe there's much more to it than that. Personally it's just that I have been talking to staff's, directors throughout the activity and it is quite the burden for all. I think we can or should agree that opening back up to travel and shows as if nothing happened, without a good and safe plan, kids not being 1st on the list of how and why would be totally reckless. Just imagine an outbreak as Jeff said

yeah i want it back asap, but man...imagine an outbreak in a corps during whatever form of tour there is. that would set the activity further back then being patient and waiting would.

Seems like some very reasonable restrictions to me

With DCI , not a problem . I do take issue with those who offer nothing in way of reasonable ideas to move forward and just want everything to move forward for the sake of. I do many auditions over a year, winter summer and fall and was brought in time to time with several corps as an impartial party and I can tell you parents as well as many members have a big issue packing kids into a gym sleeping, packed like sardines into a bus for long lengths of time. We see most every summer corps with stomach virus issues spreading etc etc so what would this do. These are the thing I hear on a weekly basis. To move forward THES people want answers and deserve them. Not , just because. I do want things to go back WHEN POSSIBLE but have just 1 corps become a spreader even just between themselves and no matter how it happened, there will never be a drum corps season again. This I am very sure and has been discussed.

Member safety, common sense, FACTS, not mis information and there's plenty of that, should and must be 1st. I do find it interesting and some who want to ignore alot of this are the 1st to scream if there is an isolated situation where they feel a member is not treated well ( as people should ) but don't have a problem with all that is going on with this pandemic so we can get back ASAP to drum corps. YES you are right this will pass BUT it will never pass without being smart. I laugh when I watch TV and some say " People should have a choice, people WILL make the right decisions, we encourage all the safety precautions and clearly it's easy to see quite the opposite. MEMBERS 1ST PERIOD! For sure it would be nice to get back to normal and back to our activity , BUT not just because we want to, we go back when we know for sure we can protect all involved. Agree, not everything has to be negative but nothing can be ignored and I would think when member safety is of concern, we can all agree on that

I think you are really patient when posting here.

Don't forget Indiana.

Agree Texas is #1...and by a big margin. They are #1 not just in marching band, but also in concert bands. If the top 10 Texas marching bands ever came to BOA Grand Nationals in the same year the biggest question would be who the other two bands would be to make finals.

Not sure about the premise that Texas has the most marching talent, but I've always wondered why they've never produced a top-tier Drum Corps. I've concluded it must be the weather.

Courtney reacts to 2014 Bluecoats (you can thank me...I paid for her to do it)

Just announced...our 2nd lockdown has been extended a month. It was originally only supposed to be 28 days. It's going to be a long winter.

Someone I know tested positive and was asymptomatic. 6 weeks later he now has reduced lung capacity.

Good thing those youngsters are not contagious..... guess my college age nephew should have visited his grandfather when he (nephew) caught it. And I’ve been told no guarantee the nephew won’t have lung issues later in life. His case was that severe.