Fred Windish

Hey, Jeff! This is not the place to be more specific. But, I will say this, very little, if anything involved in marketing and PR is formally voted upon. Most of it is between individuals and requires a great deal of follow-through by all parties. Not enough of this was evident. I don’t tolerate that condition very well.

There is truth in your assessment, Chris. My brief tenure on DCA Staff (2006) revealed much the same roadblocks. While I thoroughly enjoyed DCA and its people in that capacity, the reality was most impediments to my strategy came from DCA itself, and its corps. But, I wanted to “give back,” so was determined to complete the season. It was clear, the chance for improvement was limited, so I walked away. Perhaps, the link-up to DCI helps.

For me, it’s now “I no longer know what the he*l to call this activity . . . but it’s d*mn good and I can’t wait to see more!” 😮

Jeff, as the new Mayor of Pineville, I think some of your own citizenry spent money over there, too! 🙂

Thanks, leed17 ! Thinking about those food trucks, someone said there were 8, the number of food and drink options had to be much greater, and probably taste better, too! Also, most already know, hundreds of fans remain outside the stadium watching warm-ups all through the event. Now, they’ve got food and drink right there with them. No admission tickets required!

You could well be right, Barneveld. I do know, during those 27 corps per day years, the road running through the Park wasn’t even used for corps vehicle parking! Now, it is, so . . .

Random thoughts from a Flo viewer of the latest Allentown event from someone with certain knowledge. DCI.org officially announced slightly over 10,000 paid in the Saturday attendance. I saw an estimated number of upwards to 12,000 sitting, standing in, behind the upper dividing wall, off to the sides on the grassy places, and down on the track. At an event of that magnitude, and the format for this year, so many additional non-paid in the facility is easily possible. I can explain this if requested. To my eyes, this could have been the biggest attendance in 20 years, as stated by DCI. The Friday complete crowd looked to be roughly 9,500. What’s not to like about those numbers in an economy like this? Most issues of handicapped accommodations and movement can be solved by parking above the stadium, being dropped off near the rear of the front grandstand, and entering one of those two Gates. DCI temporarily establishes and monitors about 100 handicapped parking spaces up there. Entering the venue this way can mean having to deal with no stair steps, whatsoever. DCI maintains and monitors a large number of wheelchair accessible seating options, with separate benches for assistants, located between the grandstand levels. Best seats in the house, actually. Of course, you need to know about all this well in advance of your visit. As for accommodating all corps on a single day, rather than using Friday and Saturday, this is exactly what took place for years in DCI’s first half history in Allentown. In the 80s decade, DCI featured 27 corps per day in competition. One year, 57 corps (in total) played Allentown in one weekend! Allentown has space to park, and remain in place, about 150 buses, trucks, and vans owned by competing corps. Besides all of the above info . . . . this year’s Allentown Weekend was absolutely incredible. Easily one of the best of 46 years. I’ve attended/watched every one of these! Unbelievable talent on display! What were your impressions, positive and negative? I would particularly like to hear about the new location for the DCI Marketplace (a decision DCI was forced to make). I didn’t attend in any manner this year, so can’t evaluate. Thanks.

Jwillis35 - I’m not the best judge of performance. I’m not a musician. I watched of Flo, and there is no consistency in the quality of Flo representations over several different events at varied venues. But, that’s been my only measuring stick after watching 5-6 broadcasts. Blue Devils did seem a little ‘off’ to me compared to other viewings. Maybe a little tired, maybe electronics at different adjustment. The first number didn’t blow me back in my chair like it’s done before. Bluecoats looked and sounded their seasonal best to me. Excellent body movements in perfect space intervals and synchronized movement. Seemingly, a steady and flawless music effort. Their colorful uniforms and props looked wonderful under Allentown lighting. I was very impressed with the noticeable growth I saw and heard. I am not at all surprised by the small scoring margin between Places 1 and 2 last night.

My gut feeling for this evening . . . The stars will align tonight for Boston. The Allentown crowd will drive Crusaders and their fans upward to touch the sky. 🌟

I find it necessary to again thank DeanInChicago for his very kind words about the “Allentown Experience.” Always well-written and clearly from the heart. To Dean, and others who express such positives about this moment, I want you to know your appreciation reaches down to all the local volunteers working the event. I’ve seen it often. That hardworking group of 75-80 unpaid workers are a big reason why expenses at Allentown remain low. Not only that, but those folks are a knowledgeable, experienced organizing group like none other in drum corps. Several have served us here for more than 40 years! They are all ages, mostly ex-drum corps members, DCI and DCA. A great number got their “chops” with the Reading Buccaneers. Current Chairman Mitch Huston is one of the over 40 years of service veterans. Also Kathy Eck out in the Gate One info trailer. Barry Seltzer, your announcer, and numerous others helping you in the stands. How ‘bout that Reliable Bernie Brown! THIS is what doing drum corps breeds . . . excellence through sacrifice and hard work over lifetimes. Special people who deserve our thanks, here and elsewhere across the tour.

Accuweather Current Weather Radar looks pretty good for tonight. Of course, future weather can always surprise! What I like about the radar maps for Allentown is lightning strikes are not showing-up for hundreds of miles away. I live 6 miles east from the stadium. It’s been rainy-looking ever since daybreak. But, no rain has fallen in my neighborhood so far. I don’t really see a serious threat to create a condition that all corps would not perform tonight at some point. I’m watching on Flo, so I hope I haven’t jinxed those attending in person!

OooooKay . . . . Nice venue, beautiful campus surrounded by expensive neighborhood real estate. Excellent condition all around, some chair back seats, great press box, artificial turf. bright lights. Been there several times for football day and night. Studied it years ago along with Franklin Field, Old Temple Stadium, former Veterans Stadium, and former JFK Stadium for possible use for DCA Championship. Came closest to an agreement with Veteran’s Stadium. More on Villanova - 12,500 total seats. Concert side capacity about 7,000. However, 2,000 of the seats are beyond the back of the goal line, so 5,000 seats goal-to-goal. As a replacement venue for this weekend’s Allentown event . . . just too small.

Mr. Lesser - Thank you. You have given me better clarity on a solid course of action. I notice 5 moves you believe required before Vanguard can continue the process of returning in good standing. 1. Terminate all key individuals presently in place. 2. Prohibit national, full corps touring. 3. Rehire yourself to manage a rebuild. 4. Continue performing in small group public presentation. And a step already taken by you. That being creating a “no nonsense” website for membership communication. Any plan of action needs explicit and quantifiable instructions. You have listed for us some of those actions. I appreciate it.

Thank you for responding. This is a difficult situation, no doubt.

Respectfully, what exactly do you want? Are there 5-6 specific steps in action you can list for readers?

As magnificent as Blue Devils are (only seeing on Flo) I really can’t see much difference between Blue Devils and the 3 corps also thought to be medal worthy. Surely, each within tenths of a point from beating the Blue Devils. But . . . . without doubting Blue Devils as eventual DCI Champion, their dominance this season certainly makes the Blue Devils the “safe pick” in times of serious indecision. How could it not, with human nature affecting every one of us? I will be quite satisfied with Blue Devils winning the whole thing. They’re great! At the same time, seeing Blue Devils losing one between now and late Saturday night in Indy will surprise, but not upset me. This, to me, is truly an “on any given night” season.

Glennl and rpbobcat make very good points. For personal reasons, I would be saddened to see this event leave Allentown. However, I’m pretty certain some sort of annual drum corps show will replace it. As, jwillis35 states, there is nothing wrong with discussing such a move now. Problem is, the only domed facility capable of hosting this, throughout the entire Northeast Region states, is Syracuse. Been there several times for events. The logistics of operating there are really problematic. Most everyone is school-bused into that place from remote satellite lots. All corps support vehicles will have problems close in, for sure. Sideline room is very small and acoustics not so hot. Upper level seating is quite steep, a little scary actually. Yes, Allentown has many flaws, but the alternative is most likely somewhere outdoors, at least for the next 3-5 years.

Stadium capacity is always a visual mystery. Older, bench-type seating, venues often seat more people per lineal feet than more modern facilities. Allentown is certainly old in most every way. Primarily, its seating is cramped, aisles narrow. Part of the reason is there are no armrests to restrict patrons to equal-sized spaces. Extra cells around the waist must push upward, not outward! No cup holders, etc. Installing chairback seating at newer facilities, while greatly increasing comfort, has the effect of making huge new places appear to have the same amount of seats per 100 yards as older, bench seating places. They do not. Also note, the newer facilities generally have many more aisles, more entry portals and maybe an added horizontal walkway removing out a few previous rows of bench seats. All provide greater creature comfort. As grandiose as Lucas Oil Stadium in Indy is, the amount of concert side seats suitable for drum corps is (just my guess) about 22,000 seats. Great place, of course. I’ve been there a few times, and enjoy it. My expectation is, DCI will be able to relocate affected persons adequately. Thinking it through, possibly any damaged plank sections can be removed. In their place can be temporary fold-up stadium seats like families take to sports events. Who knows how this will be remedied this year? I’ll be watching on Flo. Anxious to hear reports from the scene !

Folks, this is my kind of discussion. Please indulge me for adding again. Philadelphia, right now, is loaded with drug infested areas, homelessness, and great amounts of trash, carjackings, muggings and shootings are frequent even in daylight hours. This blight now surrounds the University Of Penn area. I no longer will go there. Parking is very tight and expensive, mostly in decks. The entire city is overly unionized, generally corrupt. Expect to pay expensive hourly wages for required, often unneeded event services. Philadelphia now has difficulty attracting all kinds of conventions. The stadium in Rochester only seats 5000 on the Concert Side. DCA crowds have gotten smaller there every year since the DCA Championship went there the first year it opened (2006).

As beautiful and well-kept as Lafayette Stadium is, the spectator parking is every bit as challenging as Allentown, probably worse. Corps bus and truck movements and parking MUCH more challenging than Allentown. The stadium and campus are surrounded by a lovely, older neighborhood. This alone would require the closing and clearing of 8-10 blocks of neighborhood curb parking that is usually full on non-event days. Concert Side seating capacity at Lafayette is 12,500. Lehigh has no lights and is natural turf. After recent renovations, Delaware stadium now has fewer goal-to-goal seats on Concert Side (about 8500) than Allentown (14,500). About 4000 of Allentown seats, however wind around beyond the end zones. Bethlehem School District Stadium has 7000 seats Concert Side goal-to-goal. Limited parking options there, too.

I have no idea about the extent of seating damage at Allentown. I can tell you, the Allentown stadium has roughly 14,500 seats on what is usually called Concert Side. However, about 4000 of those seats are in the sections that round around past the goal line. There HAS been a problem there with younger audiences jumping up and down on the aluminum plank bench seats. Each damaged plank seats about 8 spectators. The miscreants also enjoy peeling off the seat numbers which are really just small tape squares. Couple years ago, I went around with a black permanent marker and hand numbered at least 200 seats with their original numbers peeled off. At that time, I noticed, maybe 12 seating planks that were bent down by stomping. The School District has been aware of this problem for at least 5 years, but has done nothing. The Allentown stadium only draws a large crowd for the annual free fireworks show, the DCI Event, and somewhat big College Band Festival. Other uses are school football games that draw only 2-3 thousand fans. Individually marked Reserved Seating is only required for DCI and maybe the College Band show. Honestly, the School District has little need for such a stadium, other than for DCI.

There is a wonderful neighborhood SOUTH of Hamilton Street, just across from Cedar Beach Park that usually has plenty of open street parking up till showtime and beyond. Best place to walk over into the park is at the 24th Street traffic signal. Once in the park, you will be surrounded by hundreds of fans and several corps warming up. This year, there will be the DCI Marketplace and various food trucks on adjacent to the park Linden Street. In addition, Muhlenberg College, located just above the stadium, opens a few of their lots to DCI fans. Then to, the massive Allentown Fairgrounds Lot a couple blocks above the stadium is available. Regardless what you choose to do, plan on a little more walking than you expected.

First of all . . . . YES, we do need a scoring system. A numerical system and not just Good, Better, and Best ratings. Blue Devils are #### good. But, they kinda have been ever since DCI was formed. Being this good requires a strong organization, money, talent, and reputation. They’ve found a way to get that and keep it going. Seems to me, Boston is on the same track. Carolina, Bluecoats, too! RIGHT NOW, in my opinion, the next 3 podium placers at Indy are essentially tied. The corps placing 4-5 are worthy of replacing someone ranked above. So . . . what about those scores? Scores are a cumulative opinion of a very small group of observers on any given night. Generally, they DO correctly get everyone within certain different levels of achievement and quality. The scores (really just ranks) keep everything and everyone interested. The surrounding chatter of each announced result is what keeps this “engine” running. We need scores as motivation. Would not a more precise determination only be possible if all corps played the exact SAME music arrangement, using the very same instruments, marching the very same drill, equipment, and dance moves? All with the very same support budget and instructional staff. Well, that ain’t happening! The best we can do is expect a nightly summation by a small group of knowledgeable observers who hold that responsibility. Even then, this small group of evaluators changes, too! . . . and so, the post show chatter continues on. A GOOD THING ! P.S. - I think either Boston or Carolina will get a win over Blue Devils this year. Boston, in particular. They are always a huge favorite in Allentown and I believe they can play off that to great height. We shall see. Oh, yes . . . my two favorite productions this year are Phantom Regiment and Mandarins. These are my 2023 Champions!

Every grammar school playground needs an adult monitor. He/she keeps all the kiddos from pulling hair and beating each other up over the silliest of issues. When the kids do get out of line, as they will, it’s the monitor who steps in to settle things down, fix the wounds, and make all sides believe they won the argument. THIS is our playground. Dan Acheson was our guy. Good job, Dan, and best wishes on your retirement ! Fred 👍

As far as I’m concerned, the FLO component of DCI’s entertainment distribution system is SAVING Drum Corps International. Think about it. It’s entirely possible the viewing audience on FLO is greater in number than the audience actually seated in attendance at each competition venue! One FLO subscription could well be enjoyed by up to 6 viewers at one billing address. As to quality of the FLO product, I see no negative technical characteristic that would lead to serious damage to the impression of our performers as anything but excellent in what they do. I expect some less than ideal camera shots. I expect variance in sound volume projected by the corps. Each corps brings its own amplification equipment into the same output with no real time to adjust. The quality of our own A/V equipment at home also plays a part in the experience. I happen to use high-end gear across the board. Haven’t experienced any buffering this year, enjoy accurate colors and rich, detailed sound. I find the FLO subscription to be not just a good value, but also quite satisfactory. Frankly, at age 72, I no longer choose to attend in person more than once or twice. I do enjoy FLO broadcasts 10-12 times, however.