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Sincere condolences from the Gulf Coast Sound family. Texas drum corps has lost a great friend and fan.

Here's a different slant(maybe, because I'm too lazy to read all the pages): Drum corps in general is losing influence because there is a diminishing base of people who understand the idiom. In the 70s when the number of corps was at it's peak, the fan base was largely those who participated in the process as members, parents, and families. Their continued involvement as fans carried the fortunes of drum corps through the 80s and 90s. Now, with the number of corps at or near an all-time low, there is not a sufficient number of knowledgeable fans who understand drum corps to sustain it. DCI has hit a brick wall by getting what it asked for, to be an elite group of esoteric entertainers. But at the same time, it now is relegated to compete with the Lady Gagas and the Blackeyed Peas of the world for entertainment dollars. The new fan base shouldn't be built with those who will never get the chance to participate in drum corps at any level. It should be built by growing corps and fans again at the community level. I am a diehard baseball fan because I played the game. I love drum corps because I was in a corps as a junior, and I'm still doing it because I understand its complexity and visceral impact. The public majority who don't "get drum corps" because they never participated probably never will.

BAC, Madison, Troopers and the rest of WC may be losers in all of this, but does anybody honestly think that they would refuse an opportunity to join the G7? Outside of my heartfelt concern for all of the OC corps and any WC corps openly stating that they would refuse to join the G7, I've pretty much had it with this "me first" mentality that corrupts everything good about drum corps.

Being from California myself, what really blew me away when I saw the Berry Center is that it also has an arena and conference center, and it was built and owned by the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. That's right, it's a school facility. http://www.berrycenter.net/newphotos2.html#con_3

That's right, folks. If you get yourself down to Nawlins, stay with GCS in their block of rooms (4 to a room) on Friday and Saturday nights, the TOTAL cost to you is $50. GCS will essentially be picking up your hotel tab. We will be staying in Metairie, LA, which is half way from the airport and the French Quarter. The French Quarter is ~5 miles from the hotel. For the price, if you're looking for some serious fun, this is as good as it gets for all our drum corps friends who've never been there or wish to return.

That's right, folks. If you get yourself down to Nawlins, stay with GCS in their block of rooms (4 to a room) on Friday and Saturday nights, the TOTAL cost to you is $50. GCS will essentially be picking up your hotel tab. We will be staying in Metairie, LA, which is half way from the airport and the French Quarter. The French Quarter is ~5 miles from the hotel. For the price, if you're looking for some serious fun, this is as good as it gets for all our drum corps friends who've never been there or wish to return.

Gulf Coast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Houston, Texas, is currently seeking individuals to fill the positions of Brass Caption Head and Color Guard Caption Head. These individuals will be in charge of running the rehearsals of their respective sections, teaching and recruiting. These are paid positions with bonuses for performance. Individuals interested in these positions may contact Tom Huntley at: Corps.director@gulfcoastsound.org. Gulf Coast Sound is a DCA Class A “all-age” drum and bugle corps entering its 9th season of competition. Please visit our website at: www.gulfcoastsound.org. Tom Huntley Gulf Coast Sound Corps Director

Gulf Coast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Houston, Texas, is currently seeking individuals to fill the positions of Brass Caption Head and Color Guard Caption Head. These individuals will be in charge of running the rehearsals of their respective sections, teaching and recruiting. These are paid positions with bonuses for performance. Individuals interested in these positions may contact Tom Huntley at: Corps.director@gulfcoastsound.org. Gulf Coast Sound is a DCA Class A “all-age” drum and bugle corps entering its 9th season of competition. Please visit our website at: www.gulfcoastsound.org. Tom Huntley Gulf Coast Sound Corps Director

Gulf Coast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps from Houston, Texas, is currently seeking individuals to fill the positions of Brass Caption Head and Color Guard Caption Head. These individuals will be in charge of running the rehearsals of their respective sections, teaching and recruiting. These are paid positions with bonuses for performance. Individuals interested in these positions may contact Tom Huntley at: Corps.director@gulfcoastsound.org. Gulf Coast Sound is a DCA Class A “all-age” drum and bugle corps entering its 9th season of competition. Please visit our website at: www.gulfcoastsound.org. Tom Huntley Gulf Coast Sound Corps Director

In case it got by you, check out the "Special Guests" in the flyer below. Playing for a former First Lady and the Mayor of the fourth largest city in the U.S. is what we call connecting with the local community.

Moving into May means getting the last of our drill onto the field for 2009. With the school year winding down and everyone's focus turning to plans for the summer months, there is still time to fill a few drill spots in the GCS line before they are closed. We've still got openings for sops, a snare or two, in the pit, and the guard. We'll be taking our 2009 production of "Texas Suite: a sonic exploration of the history of Texas" to Austin, Atlanta, Nashville, and Rochester. Locally, we will be at the Houston DCI show and will be presenting the fourth Brass on the Bayou. So, hop off the fence and send us a note through our website www.gulfcoastsound.org, or drop me a PM. Our next camp is May 2-3 at our home field at Rittenhouse Baptist Church in North Houston.

The Los Angeles Chinese Drum and Bugle Corps (junior) played "Ben Hur" OTL in 1970 or 1971. I believe that the brass arranger was Bob Bunce, drum arranger was Bob Devlin, and drill writer was Ike Ianessa, hence a strong east coast connection to previous renditions.

Hey, it snowed one evening here in Houston back in November. It melted by the time it hit the ground (details, details). Best wishes to our pals on the Left Coast.

Not to be inflammatory, Tom, but you might want to explain this one. To me, it implies that DCA Finals may be moved to FL if the sponsors would pay the transportation costs of the corps. Does this create a standard that does not currently exist? Has this point always been on the table? Though I am also not happy with the continuing (and growing) huge burden on our operating budget, I am looking forward to traveling to Rochester again this year. I truly doubt that any city can do better.