Fred Windish

You know, if DCI becomes reduced to just 12 touring "super corps," that's quite alright. At least in the minds of those who are already considered to be a super corps. I doubt DCI was EVER about saving the entire activity, but rather was about advancing its "haves" as far as possible, while the "have nots" look on. If today's, and tomorrow's, DCI product is no longer satisfying to you, do what I've been doing . . . stay away until it is. (life goes on)

perc2100, I appreciate your contribution to this discussion. All passionate customers are good customers, and you are one. Actually, that's my point. Anyone who takes the time to comment upon anything that is intended to be sold, MUST be valued. They are the pro-active consumers. They are the persons who are willing to influence others by their expressed opinion. To ignore their message, yet ASSUME a different message from other (silent) participants is wrong. Thanks again. Let's enjoy the discussion that follows.

perc2100, my view is different. I believe, if DCI administration and Board are NOT visiting DCP regularly to read opinions they are seriously short-changing their membership. As far as I can tell, Drum Corps Planet is the only MAJOR, worldwide source of consumer input on the DCI product. To ignore what goes on here is foolhardy. I will also say, your response indicating "If you don't like the product, shut-up and get lost" is contrary to every marketing and public relations effort I've ever encountered over my 59 years. I believe the kind of dialogue that takes place here is extremely valuable to this activity. For the movers and shakers of DCI to ignore this vehicle, makes DCI unique and special, but in an unfortunate way.

Have to concur, Indy actually has plenty to offer. I've gone to the Indy 500 for the past 10 straight years and am not bored yet. However, unless one stays right downtown (ultra clean and orderly) a wrong impression of the city IS possible. Plenty of restaurant choices within easy walking distance, a large enclosed mall, a world class blues club, high-quality zoo, canal rides, Triple A baseball, plus all the museums already mentioned. Don't forget, the stadium is DOWNTOWN, steps from thousands of hotel rooms and all of the above. Park your car one time. . . . . and don't worry about your "main event" being rained out! Granted, if you are someone who doesn't want to pay more than $75 per room, orders-in pizza each night, and refuses to pay for parking, you'll see a different side of Indy than I do. It's what you make it.

Seems to me, the drum corps activity survives mostly on its ability to market itself publicly as a legitimate ENTERTAINMENT option. Membership dues alone can NOT support the national circuit we (still) enjoy. "Others" need to buy-in to what we do wherever we go to display our product. Our activity, and most others, needs to lean toward MAINSTREAM appeal for its sustenance. We can only answer declining crowd numbers with rising ticket prices so long. There comes a point of decreasing return. For me, that point came to this endeavor 8-10 years ago. Do many posters really believe the current activity has BROAD appeal? So satisfied with what we offer, confident each could convince their unassuming neighbor to plunk down $25 per family member to see what we do, then go home thinking "Gee, that was a great night out for all of us! We were thoroughly engaged, entertained." Our performance medium should be instantly satisfying to the average "Joe and Jill." They should not have to view what we do 3-4 times before they actually start to "get it." An emotional and comfortable connection is required quickly and often throughout the evening. There is no patience for some designer's egotistical "experiment" when we only present ourselves in once per year in each community. Let's start by adding more COMMONLY appreciated melody to every corps' program. Our technical prowess is obviously there but to me, it's being wasted in reach for the wrong goals. We really should not try to do Bernstein, better than Bernstein did himself.

On behalf of Cozy, hairbear, may I say . . . ROLL TIDE ! (Hi, guy!)

Maestro has a good approach. His scheme is doable, albeit a little steep! It probably is too late to get a prime (inside the 30s) Allentown seat through regular channels. Buying outside the gate IS rather easy every year. The reality is this, Allentown is something not to be missed. It's a "throw-back" for sure, but if you haven't done it, you haven't experienced the "whole" of drum corps. Yes, you can purchase a General Admission ticket, stand at the goal line (between the upper and lower level) and ENJOY the event. Also check out the atmosphere on the street and park area outside the stadium. Special.

Just want to say "Hi" to Ron C. Did you "two-wheel" it?

I'm hoping there are at least eight Roman columns along the back sideline. Excellent place to store color guard equipment.

Hey, guys and gals. . . . It seems one of DCA's biggest supporters, the nationally accomplished, Mike Symonds, has stepped-up to advance DCA's audio/video presence. WOW! Get ready for the next chapter!

Mike Symonds is an incredibly talented audio/video guy with an impressive resume on a NATIONAL level. Think ESPN. More importantly, Mike is a "drum corps guy." Thanks, Mike, for stepping up to the plate to take DCA to a higher level. You know, Mike, I really want to be involved in your efforts to advance this product to the next level. This is SUPER news for DCA!

To me, a drum corps event, in its present form, can ONLY be considered a performance. Until every corps marches the same number of persons, the same instrumentation, plays the same repertoire (note for note), marches the same drill (step for step), it should never be considered a true and equitable competition. On the other hand, a drum corps event COULD be considered a competition by the individual corps, the member. Each competing for a standard set for itself.

It is VERY difficult for DCA to ever offer "slick" videos without extensive post-production by someone who has shown proven success with video editing and graphics. Pro-version equipment also helps. The standard of comparison (DCI) is high, and DCA fans expect the best (despite what that might cost)! Even then. . . no effort will satisfy everyone. I'm confident DCA will continue to improve its product, within the parameters of its budget. Isn't that as it should be?

HA! Hi, Jeff! Right now, downtown Allentown is pretty much a wasteland. It's become the scene of gang warfare. Bullets flying, stabbings, an understaffed police force, a mayor in denial, plus .. . . it might rain! More seriously, at the present time, there is no indoor facility capable of hosting I&E, and I&E is becoming a bigger part of DCA each year. We do have a new casino in Bethlehem and they plan a 3500 seat events center, but that hasn't been started. On the possibility of Lehigh. There are no lights, it's natural grass, and the Lehigh folks are very difficult to deal with. I DO live right across the street from the Lehigh stadium, but my vote would be "no."

The fear of using a stadium for Finals that is larger than what DCA is used to, thus making typical attendance SEEM smaller, is misguided in my mind. One goal should be to ensure AS MANY PERSONS POSSIBLE have access to a good, central location seat, so as to enjoy the DCA product under ideal conditions. This is especially true if the activity is to attract NEW fans who then want to return again. Selling a low, goal line seat to a new fan, even if at a reduced price, does little to impress that person enough to return. I was at Winston-Salem. Those 3400 spectators ALL sat somewhere between the 30 yard lines. They also enjoyed the opportunity to move to a higher, or less crowded location if they chose. ALL 3400 fans (despite rain right up to gates open time) received a good, to great seat and saw/heard the corps at their best. The potential for audience growth at such a stadium is high. Had the Winston-Salem show been held at a 4000 seat facility, MANY new spectators would have been seated in less advantageous locations. Smaller stadiums could create a self-limited growth for DCA.

My prediction is . . . DCI will be merged into the Bands of America organization within 5 years. They will share the same administrative staff, the same office building (Indianapolis) and the same all-encompassing instrumentation. This will place the Bands of America product out there year round by offering a new, non-scholastic, summer division. The added division will include many of the same scholastic BOA performers who will choose to participate in two programs, extending their performance calendar. The name Drum Corps International will cease to exist.

Oldscooldbc has it right. People WILL pay for something that is unique, high level, satisying, and not always available. Traditional drum corps (as I know it to have been) WAS that. I also agree with Jeff. It is the legacy fans who have the dollars. Whenever I attended DCI Finals, I typically spent $1000, or more, for the weekend. I did NOT order-in pizza to my hotel room. I attended every year, not just when my kid (if I had one) happened to be marching. There is something to be said for that kind of loyalty, stability. The "new" product might engender the same thing, but, I doubt it.

Oh, boy. . . THAT would be a spectacle! Thanks, Oz. My keyboard is now soaked with gin and bitter lemon!

I agree with the original poster. Evidence seems to suggest DCI is morphing into a form of pageantry that already exists in WGI/BOA, etc. The DCI influence will bring that same pageantry to audiences on a much bigger scale. The new, full-field spectacle WILL require the controlled conditions of dome stadiums. That will allow lighting effects, large set pieces, high tech electronics, laser beams, etc. It will also prevent weather issues from getting in the way of scheduling. Time will tell if the "enhanced" drum corps product will generate an even bigger audience for its performers. I believe it will, but I don't expect to be in that group. I grew up with an entirely different drum corps. Things change, I guess.

HockeyDad- EXACTLY! But, Dan will probably need to run it by the BOD first. It is what it is.

Of course not, Ed. The Colts have NO interest in DCI. What I'm thinking is, maybe, opening the roof will help. If not, maybe, DCI should spend $20K for some temporary fix. A temporary fix like hanging insulation from the rafters, draping over empty seats, etc. I really don't know. Let's at least give them (DCI) a year to try something different.

HockeyDad, Actually, no. I think DCI decided upon what looks to be the ultimate location for its organization, and it's main event. After all, the Super Bowl will soon be held there, it's a magnificent downtown area, yada, yada, yada. My deal is this, DCI had its first year in Indy. To some, it could have been better. Let's give DCI a second year in Indy to make things better. If they can't do that . . . THEN we get crazy about Year 3.

dcpacheco has it right. Compared to NFL needs (and the general public), DCI's wants are pretty much a "take what you can get" proposition. I wish it was different, but, in reality, that's not where we are with what we do.

Look, I wasn't there, so maybe I'm just "shooting off my mouth." There was ALWAYS an anti-dome bias among drum corps fans. Was this dome really that bad? I don't know, but it could just be a matter of some folks wanting it (Indy) to be bad, and that's what they experienced. I'm also considering the problem of those plastic panel, obstructed view seats. There is NO excuse for selling seats like that. Those seats should have been identified beforehand, pulled from the "sales block" and used as comp tickets, staff seating, radio giveaways, etc. That issue can be corrected. Adding an additional $7 per ticket charge to all walk-up sales. IF this was a DCI-controlled decision, it was a WRONG decision. Calling a seat outside the twenties a Premium, highest price seat, was a WRONG decision. Our performances really don't work as well beyond that distance, especially if you are seated low. Keeping the roof closed? Not sure DCI had a say in this, plus, there's no evidence having it opened would have improved the sound anyway. Locating the Marketplace where it was? There was what DCI felt best IN THE INITIAL YEAR. They might now have learned something else is better and will change for next year. Contracting for Indy for the next several years? I believe that made lots of sense to the DCI board, and I pretty much concur. I DO believe a dome Finals is what DCI needs. I hope the sound issues can be improved for year two. Should Dan Acheson be fired? Absolutely not!

Don't know if I've ever seen DCP explode quite like this! Glad I tuned in.