Jump to content

capsounddad

Members
  • Posts

    30
  • Joined

  • Last visited

capsounddad's Achievements

DCP Rookie

DCP Rookie (1/3)

0

Reputation

  1. I guess they will be "cut loose". Unless they can provide a "revenue stream" for DCI. I am still waiting for a reply from Tom about whether it his opinion or the official DCI position that DCI will be weeded out to include only the top revenue producing corps. If it is Tom's opinion, I'd like to know DCI's official stance. The intent of this thread was to discuss the future of the drum corps activity and the leadership role DCI and DCA could have. By knowing what direction each is taking, each drum corps fan can decide whether or not to support either or both. Or, as has been suggested go a different direction. Rick
  2. Tom, Are you voicing a personal opinion or are you speaking for DCI? If Open Class corps are not members, then why are they required to pay membership fees, host shows, house World Class Corps and why are they listed as member corps on the web site? Before this continues to get off track, I'd like to return to the future of the activity. Are you saying it is the intent of the directors who carry the most weight at DCI to jettison the corps who don't provide a revenue stream for DCI and create a closed circuit of touring ensembles like a circus? By the way I have been to guidestar. My guess is that DCI lost money this year like a lot of other businesses, through losses in investments. I'm sure there aren't many people who know that SOME DCI money is used for investments. Rick Melcher
  3. To borrow a line from Steve Martin's character in "The Jerk", "Now I get it. It's a profit scheme. That takes all the pressure off."
  4. I couldn't agree more!! There are a whole lot of ideas out there about restoring that local character to drum corps. I think DCA is steadily cultivating that very thing but at a pace that they can handle both from an organizational and monetary stand point. I have seen and heard many posts on these forums that suggest DCI is doing the opposite. Trying to consolidate its resources to support a much smaller, financially viable circuit. One thing that adds to the dilema is that as the number of corps shrinks, the number of shows must also shrink. This seriously detracts from the already limited visibility drum corps has with people outside of the activity. Rick Melcher
  5. This probably worked well before the era of what I call "free agency". In the past, the majority of members were from at least the general area of the corps home town. My son is in a world class corps that has one member from the state where the corps is located. It's hard to promote locally when most of the corps is from somewhere else. Having said that, I too like the idea and I will see what can be done locally. Rick Melcher
  6. Tom, I am not trying to be anti-DCI. I was responding to a comment made about DCI paying for things that they don't pay for. I am not asking for an investigation of the DCI budget. As a non-profit they are bound by law to make their financial statements available to the general public. I would think that they (DCI leaders) would gladly show their members how their money is spent and what their plans are for the future without having to hunt for it. I personally am not as interested in the bottom line as I am in the priorities for expenses. I have no doubt the bill for finals week is huge and that breaking even is a struggle every year. I just think that every corps should know what their membership fees are and are not paying for just as parents and members should know what their dues and fundraising are and are not paying for.
  7. Tom, I am not trying to be anti-DCI. I was responding to a comment made about DCI paying for things that they don't pay for. I am not asking for an investigation of the DCI budget. As a non-profit they are bound by law to make their financial statements available to the general public. I would think that they (DCI leaders) would gladly show their members how their money is spent and what their plans are for the future without having to hunt for it. I personally am not as interested in the bottom line as I am in the priorities for expenses. I have no doubt the bill for finals week is huge and that breaking even is a struggle every year. I just think that every corps should know what their membership fees are and are not paying for just as parents and members should know what their dues and fundraising are and are not paying for.
  8. Jeff, Terrific input for this important topic. Here are some random comments: I wholeheartedly agree about the various boards of directors acting like boards of directors. The line I hate the most when trying to get things accomplished is, "This is always the way the (insert corps name here or DCI for that matter) does things." I also think that they get intimidated by directors, or feel like if they hold instructors accountable, the corps will fall apart. The organization has to be stronger than the individuals running it. On that same note, DCI should take a leadership role in establishing cooperation among the corps at the business level. Too often the pettiness and one-upsmanship are left unaddressed by the leaders at DCI. No one individual or corps or even group of "elite" corps should be stronger than the organization. It's hard to have the primary goal of each corps as "a positive, li(f)e enriching experience through their performances and interrelationships with their peers and staff.", when the demands of the DCI tour are so expensive and rigid. The way it stands now and for the foreseeable future there is no room for many young people who aren't wealthy or connected in drum corps I realize that money is the driving force in most of these problems. But if money drove everything we did, we would not have weddings or children, they're expenses far outweigh the tax deductions. Rick Melcher
  9. Rather than loose my temper about the "generous part of their (DCI) proceeds", I will simply say this. I invite DCI to publically display their financial report (in a fashion where the average person can read it) and show the entire drum corps world EXACTLY what their $10,000,000 annual budget pays for and how it helps the individual corps. This is the amount Dan Acheson stated in his interview with Inside Indiana Business. When we were "required" to host a show, we were "required" to paid for the housing of the corps and the judges, marketing and advertising, and the stadium. We were NEVER given any compensation from DCI, but we were always "required" to pay our membership dues.
  10. Rather than loose my temper about the "generous part of their (DCI) proceeds", I will simply say this. I invite DCI to publically display their financial report (in a fashion where the average person can read it) and show the entire drum corps world EXACTLY what their $10,000,000 annual budget pays for and how it helps the individual corps. This is the amount Dan Acheson stated in his interview with Inside Indiana Business. When we were "required" to host a show, we were "required" to paid for the housing of the corps and the judges, marketing and advertising, and the stadium. We were NEVER given any compensation from DCI, but we were always "required" to pay our membership dues.
  11. Thanks for what ALL of you ARE doing to continue the greter good of the activity. Rick Melcher
  12. Please tell me it's against the rules for someone to sit in the stands with a cell phone and communicate with the "electronics operator" during the show
  13. Please tell me it's against the rules for someone to sit in the stands with a cell phone and communicate with the "electronics operator" during the show
  14. I have waited until there were a few other responses before I wanted to put my two cents in. I definitely like the idea of reviving regional drum corps organizations and parade corps. These ideas would require less travel and expenses while increasing opportunities. I also think that there are any number of local festivals, county fairs, etc. that could provide both performance and parade opportunities. One last idea; no scores, only critique until the last couple of weeks of the season. This would provide opportunity for improvement without having to regard the other performers as opponents. I am glad to see the responses here are positive and respectful. I know that DCI finals are only days away and I think DCA finals are in a couple of weeks but I really would like to hear from someone from those two organizations directly. I could call them and have a private conversation but I think the conversation needs to be as public as possible.
×
×
  • Create New...