WindsorGman

So many ideas as to what is best. I think that the G7 have been called on their "this is how its gonna be" bluff. Now they are into the we could co -exist mode. Sounds a lot like riding the fence to you see the right oportunity. I remember when DCI was formed, they existed along side VFW, American Leigon, and a whole host of small regional associations. Then DCI slowly becomes the more "Dominate" assn. Where are all the other now...gone. If you don't kick the mutineers of the ship they will take over. I remember when corps members had a contract to their corps and if you wanted to jump ship you needed a release from your corps to go to the other corps. Something simpler would be like Stock Car Racing. There are many race circuits, and they all have different rules. Your car may be legal here, but not there. You need to commit to one, or the other.The G7 are determined to turn DC into band, and if thats what they want, so be it. We dont need to be lemmings blindly following. I've read here on DCP that many people don't understand this or that show. If WE the past and current fans don't get it, how does the G& think they will educate the new or unknowing fan. Or will they just TELL THEM this is what drum corps is.There is a market for small regional corps but the rules, tour schedual, equipmeny costs and show design have pushed so many small corps out of the picture. I remember when all you needed was an interest to participate. Now you must audition, and gwhat should be grass roots members are now excluded. We are so deep in the forest that no one can see the trees anymore. Their there because I tell you they are is not good enough. The G7 have cast off Drum Corps in favor of their own needs, reguardless of how it affects other corps.In the early days of DCI there weremany small mom and pop corps , but like now, they were drawn into the"if you don"t follow us "bubble. So many small corps folded because they chased the we gotta go to DCI dream. Now it has become the G7 dream. Those who ignore the past WILL repeat it.

Ok, I see it.

Ok, I see it.

Where on DCI.org is this, how about a link.

I hope Boo reads his blog later. I pray he does and invests in a Roget's Thesaurus. I think the phrase "I cherish..." is becoming redundant.

I thank you very much. Yes, if DCI wants to promote they need to be more in your face. Had I not read it in another post, I wouldn't have known.

I read on another post that tonites Retreat is a free webcast. Yet I can find nothing about how or where to see it. I see nothing on DCI.org about it. Is it really a free web cast or just rumor. Anyone shed some light on this? I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't know and I'm sure others would like to see this also. Someone fill in the Blanks, please.

Bump....Vote while you still can.

Bump. Everyone needs to make their voice heard. Vote now.

I hate to be the "I told you" guy.when I first heard about the "winds" rumor a while ago(this has been discussed for some time) I could see rocky road for DCI. now some time later we are again hearing about winds, and the guitar and synth did happen. If the G7 do break away, Hoppy can talk them into the winds part and they could become a member of BOA. This is an excerpt of some thing I posted from 1yr ago. Posted on: Jul 18 2009, 11:08 AM "Conspiricy theroy, the economy hits DCI hard and it is overwhelmed by stadium costs and low revenues and is absorbed by BOA, same city a coincidence? then all of these "thats not drum corps" disussions end and you can march anything you like." Low revenues could be DCI after the split.

Pro-drum corps, or pro-drum and bugle corps? Yes, such a slippery slope. Is a move forward better, or just a move forward for the sake of change? I think its all said in the organizations name, DCI- DRUM Corps Int. The only commonality of the way it was to the way it is, IS drums. Its not called Drum And Bugle Corps Int.(hell, there not even called bugles, maybe Drum and Trumpet Band) and by the way things are changing every year drums will be the only commonality. DCP is supposed to be a place for people to enjoy and share experiences and discussion. But only if you share the same opinion. Mike I beleive you are sincere in your beleifs, maybe a little misguided. If DCI said all corps will wear underwear on their heads and dog doo in their ears YOU would be at the front of the line chiding anyone who disagrees. I sometimes think you don't have an opinion of your own but merely spout what you believe to be what DCI wants us to beleive. I recall you saying in another post that you thought it would be cool to hear BD doing Channel One with saxes. THIS is not Drum and Bugle Corps! This very well could be DCI, along with amps and mics and narration and synthesizers. Everyone has an opinion and your doesn't have to be the WORD. And on an off topic... Conspiricy theroy, the economy hits DCI hard and it is overwhelmed by stadium costs and low revenues and is absorbed by BOA, same city a coincidence? then all of these "thats not drum corps" disussions end and you can march anything you like. And feel free to reply in anyway you choose because IMHO i'm right.

Iron Brigade 1973 From Left to Right: Karl Melbartis, Henry "Hank" Baker, Joe Abati and Jon Joyce This is the photo used for programs in 1973

I think the guard should go. Everyone should wear tuxedos and sit in chairs. Wait........oh, sorry, its been done already, its called concert band. Why are people so intent on changing things?

You guys rock. thanks for brings us the play by play. Its not like being there but its sure better than waiting for someone who went to relay the stories. Live time broadcast rules.

Hey, wheres that photographer.........We NEED to see some pics of this. Pleeeeeze1

Sorry, your right, I couldn't resist. What is a "joke " today could become a reality that we can't escape :angry2: , just like electronic keyboards. ( remember, they were voted on last year, but were defeated, Will the same motion be presented again this year?) Hats off to all I&E participants, you devote so much time above your actual full corps activities, whether you win or not, you give beyond 100%. Let's just not adopt all things DCI. DCA should remain "DRUM & BUGLE CORPS"

Who won the saxaphone and flute classes ? Oh, sorry I thought I was reading the DCI forum.

Audition? I'm one of the OPs, so tell me what year did corps start this practice? Has anyone here on DCP not made the cut, I'd like to hear from you. Again, when I marched, you just showed up, talent or not, and you had a spot. Yes corps today are better, their filled with pre trained talent. How many horn player today can't read music? Back then it was alot, we were kids of the street and instructors (many who had no other training to instruct other than having march themselves.did the best job will the skill level they had. School bands should be good, involuntary tax dollars help. If corps had the same ability to reach in your pocket then the field would be level. the budget for one DCI DIV 1 corps today would have funded the entire top 12 in 1972. This is something overlooked alot. In racing, speed is proportionate to the distance of your hand to your wallet. DCI should maybe level it all by fixing a budget cap and restrict the total cost out put of all corps. This would stop the guys with the most money being the best. If I had a giant expense account (top 12), and your limited (lower eshlon) you KNOW I will build a better nicer house, I'll hire the best contractors, and loads of people will want to live in MY house. But, it we all had equal funding, then your house COULD be as nice as mine. You have to understand that corps today SHOULD be better, everything that affects them is. I don't think that anyone is saying corps today aren't high quality, the issue is the inability to recognize that corps of the past were challenged to produce their product by funding, member talent, instructional talent (many instructors only qualifications were previous marching experience), equipment design and the plain fact that a corps that couldn't fill its ranks, probably wasn't that far from another .1972 Michigan American Legion had 21 competing corps, now I don't think Michigan even has a competing corps. ( Apologies Lakeshoremen, I didn't include you since we are discussing DCI. Good Luck At DCA ) DCI is not dying, it has just evolved into a corporate finacial machine more concern with the final product and profits and self promotions, regardless of how many people fall by the wayside. Think of DCI as FORD Motor Co, you can make a profit if you lay everyone off and run the company with smaller numbers. What DCI has'nt done like the auto industry, is use feeder plants to help augment the reduction in the work force. I will repeat what was said already, if sooo many people audition, why aren't there more corps?

This is a very easy topic to become emotional over. Those of us from the past have our opinion and those of today have theirs. It is very hard to compare the two, but some key issues of then vs now. Many corps were youth activity and your only requirement was show up. Now it seems as if unless you are a college or university musican there is no place for you. If your corps doesn't have a massive budget or sponsorship, you won't be able to go on tour. Corps use to be happy in their own back yard, how many small circuits have disapeared? There is no backyard anymore, you have no choice but tour. Controversy is nothing new to corps, 1971, Madison and Cavaliers both drew the ire of many fans as NOT being drum corps. 36 years later corps is still around. Is it the same, NO. I just wish it was still about kids, any kids, talented or not because its about all kids NOT just the privilidged few. "Hey you, you want to learn (key word, pay attention) to play a horn or drum, spin a rifle?". You be here every week and we'll teach you." Now, with auditions and a musicans only attiude, it is no longer an activity directed at local street kids. To those of you who think old schools is so bad, I expect you'll be disgusted after the Kingsmen perform, "they didn't have amps, or microfones and why did the color guard have to wear the same uniforms and shakos, and their show had no "theme". This show is what DCI was in its inception and if you watch the crowd reaction after AK , Tell me, "no one wants to see old school", or, It was boring. Yes corps is very different today, its corporate and if your good enough you might be allowed to participate. It is no longer and activity for inner-city youth or disadvantged kids, theres no room for the small corps from corncob county that exists as just a youth activity.I've said my peace, remember, if you think old school is so bad leave and get a hot dog when the Kingsmen appear, they will have nothing you will like. You WILL be missing out on why us OP are so passionate as to our roots. I'm sure just as with the Madison Alumni corps, and 27th, there will be those who hate old school but will jump on the bandwagon (bandwagon, thats almost a joke on it's own) and say how great the performance was. I don't take anything from todays corps, its just not a kids activity like it was. Corps is not dying its just not the same. I'm done I'm finished. I now wait like a bleeding man in a shark tank for the "YOUR Wrong" bashing from the "how dare you say anything I don't like people ".

Hey all, been awhile. Sorry to see Old Ohio's pics gone. If your out there, we miss all the info you had to contribute. I been finding pics and have had to clean some so they were good enough to post. If you come across a bad pic, I probably cleaned it as much as I could. Now, Here are a couple more Great Lakes corps........... Vanguard, St Clair Shores Mich., at 1971 Regina Blue Angels Guard show, Harper Wood Mich From The Diane Young Collection Praesidium, Riverview Mich, at 1971 Regina Blue Angels Guard show Harper Wood Mich From The Diane Young Collection

Northern Dream..Windsor. Corps was a DCI A-60 class. 85, maybe 86. Corps Director was Ed Warren a former Windsor Guardsmen (damm, I hated the Rose City tag) and current DCI judge. B)

In the mid 60's to early 70's, Windsor Guardsmen's home show was"Drum Across the Border". The Mariner were there 2 or 3 yrs.(gotta dig out those old programs and look) This corps was entertaining and the Dm was hard to forget. The saber throwing antics and crowd appeal placed them at the top. With no disrespect, they were not the winningest corp, but after all this time (Mariners folded in early 70's) so many people remember them. Is it better to be a winner, or to be remembered? It's roughly 35yrs later and we're dicussing a man and his corps, most of us never met Jim, but it seems that many of us 'knew" him, acknowledged him, and respected him. There was more than one Dm in Mariners, I guest regardless of who we saw on the field, we're now thinking of Jim. He IS a part of our memories, our youth and drum corps history. His passing makes us realize that the bonds we share as drum corps family are stronger because of people like him.

The First Amendment is great................... unless you disagree.

Yes, I remember reading Drum Corps News waaaaaaaaaay back, and the east and midwest had alot of circuits, and the list of corps was huge. How about the south, and the west? Where did your corps compete b/4 DCI. There were corps from Louisianna, Iowa, Kansas and many other places south or west, and there must have been an association you corps belonged to. Was there an ALL-Girl circuit?

Sadly as with many of the people we knew and loved, John has passed on, not sure of the details. I can still hear his speech during retreats," God bless America, God bless Canada. Give these young people enough to do and they'll be too tired to get in trouble". God bless you John :angel: , aka "Mr. Drum Corps"........................ Photo from the Charles Johnson Collection