PR_ducky

Start with instructing local HS Marching bands. Virtually all corps instructors are involved in the band activity and if you are any good at it you will get noticed. Also, start in Div II/II and work cheap. Corps are sometimes willing to take a chance on a tech they can get for cheap, or free. The marching activity is a small world and if you are succesful the better gigs will come along.

OK, out of pure curiousity I searched a little on the web and found an interview with Neil Peart. I knew he never marched Regiment and as it turns out he never marched at all: Q. Did you ever march drum corps? Roy Flores Miami, FL NP: This question actually came to me through Modern Drummer a couple of years back, but with no address, so I'm hoping it will make it back to Roy through this forum. In answer to that long-ago question, no I didn't, but I have a lot of respect for the complexities of modern drum-corp playing, and of course, I started out with the same 26 rudiments they do, and sometimes use that style of playing when it suits the music.

Neil Peart marched corps, but I am pretty sure it was in Canada and not at Phantom. I marched Regiment for 5 years and instructed there as well and there was never any mention there of it by anyone although we all knew he marched somewhere. I am pretty sure the guys I was on staff with who are his age would have said something.

Pete Bond, who marched Regiment in the late 70s I believe and was on staff in 96 plays trumpet for the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Lee was a great addition to the staff in 96, but was a small part of the success. Several new visual staff members, including some help from Tony Hall towards the end of the season had a large impact as well, but the horn staff did an outstanding job. When any corps from the top 6 jumps up and wins it is mainly because the corps had a good year, not due to any individual,(obviously). When Regiment finished 10th my rookie year, the corps put together a 3 year plan to get into top 3 and the next 3 years we finished 5th, 6th and 2nd. Hire the right people, get a good design team, and get a group of talented kids that work well together and any corps can get to the top. Problem is, if any one piece is missing it just doesn't work.

I never said I hated the show, and I surely am not cutting corps out of my life, I attended both of the cinecasts this year, but after 5 years of marching and 6 of instructing there was nothing there I didn't know and since the shows are what I want to see, and they are just showing bits and pieces, I can get that elsewhere. I did not say they should not have a broadcast exactly like the one they had, and I did not say that everyone should avoid it like the plague, I just said it was not for me, and I got little out of it, would rather have spent two hours watching DVDs. Please read posts and have an understanding of what they are saying before firing back. PS-I HATE reality shows and I do avoid them like the plague. Cheers.

Thanks for those who responded to my post regarding programming. I understand there are guidelines for espn2 and networks, such as no nudity and so on, but I find it hard to believe that ESPN2 really believes that it understands better than DCI how to market a Drum Corps show. Then again, how much of the design of the program was ESPN2 and how much was DCI? I have no idea so I don't want to be harsh with espn2 any more insight would be great, and thanks again for thos who responded to my questions.

The disclaimer was a nice touch LOL

Gonna need a drum line Irish :)

OK, what if you could build a dream corps out of any pieces you wanted? any sections from any corps over the years? Heres mine (all two valve thank you) -Sops: 86 BD -Mellos: 91 Star -Baris: 89 PR -Contras: 89 PR -Battery: 87 Cadets -Pit: 88 SCV -Color Guard: Any BD Guard from the Mid-80s And we'll be playing: - Festive Overture (the SCV version) - Fire of Eternal Glory - Mambo - One More Time Chuck Corea Who wants to take on my Super Corps? Step up!

I marched Regiment 86-90 so being in the midwest meant always wanting to take down Cavies and Scouts, but my last year, 1990, after barely losing to SCV in finals the year before we all wanted to beat them and we finally did finals week. No offense meant to the fine 89 SCVers I have met on here, but we wanted blood LOL

I think they were shooting for new fans, but missed the target a bit. In my opinion (READ "IN MY OPINION), new fans are created by old ones. I do not personally know anyone who had zero corps involvement who watched the broadcast even though I did my best to spread the word. On top of that, I am now more likely to skip the next broadcast as this one did little for me. Anyway, I hope some new fans come out of it, the more the merrier

OK, this is not meant to be negative, but I am a bit curious about something. I keep seeing that the DCI broadcast was not "aimed" at people on here. I am interested to know how many people think that complete, non-marching music, never heard of corps people watched the broadcast. What I mean is, how many people tuned into espn2 looking for sportscenter, found DCI, and stayed and watched the whole thing. Everyone I work with in a large athletic club knows I was involved in corps, I told many of them it was on, and not a one has said anything to me about the broadcast. Of those who watched WITH non corps people, how many would have watched on their own without prompting. OK PART 2 I am assuming DCI paid for the airtime on ESPN2, if thats the case, why should ESPN2 be able to dictate what is on the broadcast? (this is in response to posts which said espn2 only wanted segments of shows) I am curious how many viewers espn2 thought were going to watch this, I can't imagine they were counting on it to win the ratings war. again, I am not being negative, just curious as to how it all went down because I was generally dissatisfied with the broadcast. As with most posts I have read here, it seems pretty much everyone falls into 2 camps, 1) happy it was on at all, and 2) wish they had shown more of the shows. anyone have any actual answers and not just speculation? (although speculkation is welcome)

Anytime George, keep up the good work

Sorry George, that is good news I suppose. I only read back about 5 pages and there were but a handful of positive posts, most being critical or neutral at best. For the record, I love DCP and don't know what I would do without my lifeline to the drum corps world. Cheers.

Does everyone here take everything so personally? My original post said that "I" felt like I had wasted two hours, not that the broadcast was a waste of two hours. this is the broadcast reaction thread, and I am reacting. I think its great that DCI got time on ESPN2, I think its great that DCI got broadcast on a commercial channel, I had just hoped to actually see some drum corps shows. I realized it was going to be segments and not full shows, but when PBS did segments they least showed whole numbers and edited it well enough that what you saw had some continuity. The sound bite type coverage of the corps, I thought, was just weak. The explanations and background stuff was good, and I liked what I watched, but more of the performances would have been better. At the end of the day I think most people tuned in wanting to see shows. I really hope drum corps gets some new fans out of it (and members and volunteers) but I am still of the opinion that the majority of people tuning in were already drum corpos fans and would have rather seen the shows. NOW: before you start in ripping my posts, and my opinions, please read it and understand that I am only talking about MY opinions, and they are free for you to take or leave. There is no need to disect it and gripe. I am a nice guy and I love drum corps and I enjoy DCP, but I have my own opinions and I have no hesitation about posting them here. (Thought that was the whole point)

I agree Zeke, after all the hype and comparing the DCI trophy to the Lombardi Trophy they could have at least shown all of the winner's show. A friend of mine compared it to watching a football game but only getting to see about one play out of every 5 with lots of talk about the rules and human interest stories on the kicker and the tight end.

Didn't turn it off, but quit paying attention after about 15 minutes. and I think its pretty obvious that no one here knew what they were getting judging by the postings. Have yet to read a post that is much more than a complaint.

Only thing I would have done differently would have been to show some drum corps.

This is going to sound harsh, but I really think I would have rather not seen it at all vs. watching what was aired. At the end I really felt like I had more or less wasted 2 hours.

Theres always one, isn't there?

1. Best Performance by a Brassline - Phantom Regiment 2. Best Performance by a Drumline - Cadets 3. Best Performance by a Front Ensemble - 4. Best Performance by a Color Guard - Blue Devils 5. Outstanding Achievement in Direction - 6. Outstanding Achievement in Brass Arranging - Phantom Regiment 7. Outstanding Achievement in Battery Arranging - Cadets 8. Outstanding Achievement in Front Ensemble Arranging - 9. Best Soloist/solo group - 10. Best Drum Major - 11. Lifetime Achievement Award - Dan Farrell (PR program Coord) 12. Outstanding Achievement in Drill Design - Cavaliers 13. Outstanding Visual Performance - Cavaliers 14. Most Improved Corps (from 2004) - 15. Best Drum Corps of 2005 - Phantom Regiment

While it was a "nice" show, it did not do much for corps. The VAST majority of people watching were already drum corps people, and those who were not would have been much better served by seeing entire shows. I remember when they would show the top 6 LIVE and put the human interest stuff between corps. (anyone remember "on the road again")

Don't know if it makes a difference, but I don't think the mics the battery was using were wireless. I seem to recall they were plugged with audio cable running to the pit.

While the Cadets show did absolutely nothing for me this year (and I am generally a fan of the Cadets), I did think their drum line was excellent. As for their horn line and visual programs, I thought they were ok, but nothing special. I though Regiment had a better horn loine (and book) and Cavies had a better visual program. Cadets had a hard show, and did it pretty well, there was some slop out there, but there is for every corps. For whoever said they didn't do alot, but did it squeaky clean, there is a reason the judges sheets have 2 sections. Basically one for design and one for performance. A simple, squeaky clean show should do well in performance, but weak in design, vice versa for one that is very difficult, but performed poorly. Not trying to say anything about a particular corps, just saying there are 2 sides to the coin. SO, while I may not agree with the judges, I don't let it bother me. I don't go to shows to see the judges, or worry about the scores.