pearlsnaredrummer77

Really these days DCI is the kiss of death for small corps.

The amps-when mixed well-dont bother me so much. I don't really think it's necessary as I've never had a problem hearing a pit even in the days before concert marimbas, etc., were used on the field. The ones folks used to march while playing were often loud enough and even frequently too loud. But I get it: we're an activity of 'artists' now so we need electrification. But the synths that I've heard are just plain distracting, hideously mixed, and introduce (an unnecessar) new instrument family. Really when you add the synths, you might as well throw the woodwinds in as well.

Did each show have to consist of (something like this): OTL: from a certain point in the field 2nd number Concert Drum solo Color Presentation Ballad Was that the general format?

The g horns do have a distinctive and brighter sound. When I hear a b flat horn line it always sounds a bit choked off to me. The g horns also gave more bang for the buck. Today's b flat lines have considerably more members than the g lines. I suppose its easier to have a spotlessly clean line in b flat, but I don't think the average audience member notices the difference in that regard. Only the music majors or would be music majors do. Finally one of the arguments for b flat would be that a cheaper point of entry with a more accessible instrumentation would encourage the growth of new corps. Oddly enough the newer corps (I'm referring to smaller & parade corps) seem to be using the discarded g horns. So at some level it may have worked, but in an oddly ironic way. :)

The dc10s were great for matched grip, but then they made the DC17 which was better suited to jacking up your car. Those were the worst sticks I ever used:big, heavy & clumsy.

I can deal with the amps if mixed well, but the synths I've heard (which is admittedly not a lot) sound like crap. Some music types should remain all acoustic or all electronic.

I still have dc10s from the 1983 season. :)

What is lost is the context. For our day the norm of HS band was high stepping and bad drum lines. So for our day to march uniformly, play cleanly, handle equipment with precision, etc., was just as "amazing" as today's high speed drill, etc. One big difference is that the current folks mostly come from programs that have directly or indirectly benefitted from drum corps. They come to the activity with a different background than most drum corps vets. Relatively speaking, with different contexts considered drum corps demand was high 50 years ago and remains so now.

Hard to compare eras. DeLucia's Bridgeman lines were phenomenal. But the Cadets are certainly excellent.

I was amazed how much the White Sabers have improved: in every section!!! Excellent performance. Members, Staff and support should all feel proud. Well done!!!

I really like Ralphies for traditional grip. Old school DC10s for matched grip (I'm from that region & era).

I think it is possible to see and build new corps playing g horns and more accessible music with no electronics. There are corps still doing that in DCA, SDCA, Alumni corps, and in parade corps. But I don't think a revival of 1960s styles will work. Even the bad HS band programs do not have drum lines staged on the 50 yard line. I agree with Keith on that point. In my opinion the best thing we can do to see a revival of local corps is to encourage DCI (by non-support & active agitation) to complete their transition into Summer Marching Band Elite League, add the woodwinds and be gone. Once DCI is clearly NOT drum & Bugle corps we csn redefine what the activity means: g horns, smaller size local and regional orientation,

Amen!

It was a combination of factors that killed off the great number of corps. Deindustrialization ended working-class prosperity meaning more kids had to work summers and with the shift to a consumer economy, there were paying jobs available. I remember in the winter of 83-84 we had 52 horns at one camp. We ended up fielding 29 as most found they had to work summer jobs. Sometimes we forget the external factors that helped cause the activity to decline. On the other hand DCI policies did not help the situation. By refusing to cooperate with scheduling they helped kill off the regional championships that were often the highlights of the smaller corp's seasons. My Corps director hated DCI back in the 80s because they were deliberately being obstructionist toward the AIO. Elitism did help destroy DCI. A mindset gradually developed that only the elite corps mattered. I can't tell you how many times at shows people- drum corps people would talk through or mock the smaller corps. Eventually kids became less willing to sacrifice a summer to march a smaller corps. The lack of smaller, local corps us killing the activity. As DCI becomes less and less appealing to non-specialists or the truly hardcore there are no longer enough alumni produced to support the activity. People argue that the Alumni corps will die because of demographic problems, but DCI also has a serious demographic problem. In 20 years, how will 75 people in attendance at a show even begin to pay the costs? I don't think local corps will have a chance as long as DCI is still defining itself as "drum corps." If it completed the transition (and we are 90%) there to elite marching band with woodwinds, then perhaps smaller corps with a g horn line up can revive. SDCA already provides an example of how smaller corps could organize. I wouldn't worry about the ghorns. If there's a demand someone will produce them. I think some companies still do? Finally good news from Butler. Rich Zamperini, a Vagabond alumni (also 27th) is now the Corps Director and there had been strong interest in W. Pa. The Corps still owns a large hall, bingo, wedding services, buses and equipment, so one sort of dead (they were doing parades up until about a year ago) corps is reviving. I hope to work a bingo when I go back home!

I lost interest in DCI a few years back: too pretentious, too much marching band elements, electronics-just plain boring. I do still attend DCA shows because you still see a mix of large and small corps. Alumni and parade corps are often in exhibition. Also SDCA is around. So there are alternatives to DCI.

Truthfully, for the drum and bugle corps activity, i think it will better for the current DCI organizations to complete their transformation into competitive marching bands by adding woodwinds and whatever else they do in band land. These organizations are in a limbo state. Their administrations and staff want them to be marching bands with woodwinds, but fear the loss of drum cotps alumni fans. I think the Cadets, etc., should follow their dreams and fulfill every creative whim of their artistic staffs. More power to them. Even though this process would mean the loss of some fabled names, it could lead to the revival of other similarly influential drum corps organizations. After that (transition of current DCI organizations) it may be possible for a new era of drum and bugle corps to emerge. Smaller corps, less cost, g horns (more bang for the buck), more corps, more local and regional competition. If the audience comes to expect smaller organizations there may be a future for brass/percussion music yet.

Plan to catch it on demand!!!

I'm with Alan on this one. Really miss the distinctive (and loud) sound of the horns that were referred to as bugles and simpler, more crowd pleasing shows.

[/url][/img] This is 1984 somewhere-maybe Allentown? Its probably after prelims. Jodi is holding some doll they used to keep on the girls bus for reasons unknown. She was probably 16 when this picture was taken and the guard girls Jodie, Jennifer, Rita and Tammy were probably about 14-15. Paul and Kathy in the background were probably 17. In 83 we had two 19 year olds and those were our oldest members out of 80+ members! Those were the days...

[/url][/img] Random free time shots before or after the Lynn Show in 1983. We stayed at a Catholic Church & Community Center in Swampscott and would rehearse a few blocks down the street. Dina & Bret and Jodi & Kelley were just posing. Snare Paul shows his dubious skills with a rifle. Sharon & Kim got flowers because they were so cute!

[/url][/img] Everyone wore shortie shorts in the 80s, a Percussion Caption head, Tom Milchek (blonde), Corps Director, Ron Crusan (beard and shades), snare drummer Larry Lutz and Xylo Kathy Milligan either in Chicago suburbs or maybe Marion, 1984.

[/url][/img] Harold Washington a GBV Baritone in 1983 on the bus probably before or after changing from a show.

[/url][/img] General Butler Vagabonds on the Bus 83 & 84

Very cool!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!

Blatz beer? You probably paid for your choice the next day as well.