Vagabond Skyliner

Matt: I hope you were not meaning my post. I stated that whatever you were doing was "fine". (or OK, if you prefer). and I quote from my post, "The more different things the better." But, I do stand by my comment that the "Head Line" was a bit miss leading. Made it look like you were CHANGING to be a DCA Corps. Where as you are ADDING a, All Age/DCA Corps. (Either of which is fine.) AND I do wish "ALL" your groups the Best of Luck to Grow and Prosper !!!!!

Well "Good Luck" to you. You are going to need it. With what you just posted. St. Johns Cadets – Youth from the ages of 6 to 14 St. Johns DCI – Youth from the ages of 15 to 21 St. Johns DCA – Active ages from 22 and up St. Johns Winter Drumline St. Johns Winter Guard Your DCA group is going to have a TOUGH time. " From 22 UP " age thing. It looks more like an Alumni type group, that is going to compete in DCA. Guess the "22" thingie was to please DCI. Which is fine if that is your Priority. But, that does put your "Head Line" of " St. John's Drum and Bugle Corps Goes DCA!! " wrong. It should be, "St. John's Drum and Bugle Corps ADD'S a DCA Group " which looks to be more Accuate. Hope all works out for you. The more different things available the BETTER!!!!

The DCA Season begings today. What could be a better place than WILDWOOD, New Jersey. On a field ( in a stadium) that has had so many National and World Champions compete than almost any where else. Lights, Camera, Action, Beach, Boardwalk. (not to mention, practice, Sweat). Good Luck ALL !

Tom; You must have the patience of Job. Talk about making something out of Nothing. Having different scoring and awards at Contests has been done for Years and Years. First Senior and Junior. Then Senior, Junior Open, and All Girl were added. Then Senior, Junior open, All Girl, and Class A and or B. All over the USA and Canada. As too how things are done at the DCA World Championships. The Directors of the groups competeing and the DCA Administrators will take care of that. If things need to change, go to the NEXT Rules Meeting where those things are done!

St. John's. Please do not fall for the DCI Elitest people Propaganda. Drum Corps CAN be, without the Ring Chasers. Although having some of the top talented people that DCI has, would be great. You will still be able to put out a group of QUALITY. Hard work and Dedication will get you going on the right track. So what if it takes some time to be a Contender. DCA offers a WIDE varity of styles in BOTH "Open" and "Class A". YOU will fit in just fine!!!! Slow and Steady is better than Flash in the Pan and Gone. Thanks for staring up. Good Luck. Helping to build a DCA-Canada Region. Maybe one day you will have more than one DCA Region up there.

One of the BEST reply's I have read on DCP. EXACTLY how I feel.

And Shenandoah Sound in VA. OR South Jersey Vagabonds Both have web sites you coud check with.

"OH CANADA" Great News!!!!! Sure hope this works out. DCA with TWO Corps!!!!!!!!!!! Next thing you know we will have a DCA Canada Division. Hey Quebec !!! You also have a Great Drum Corps History. How about it? You too might want to get something going.

Thanks Brassomanic. I am not sure about who was having an argument either. I was just explaining about The Alumni movment. Eastern Style and Active DCI Corps Style (SCV, Cavaliers Classic).

In the East. The Alumni movment is very different. UN-like the current DCI Elitest Alumni's. Being a past member of the Corps is NOT manatory. The Idea seems to be more like "Cival War Reenactors" A Living History group, if you will. Many if not most members of groups like Blessed Sacrament, Skyliners, Reilly, ETC,ETC. are past members. I for instance belong to the NY Skyliners. I march when I can. Health prevents me from doing more. So some times I go just to be with my Friends. BUT, I also belong to the South Jersey Vagabonds. I was Never in the Vagabonds and they allow non past members to join. They can not even march in a parade. They ride on a float. (So people in wheel chairs and use canes can still play. Very well I might add.) You should see the great crowd response we got! This Sat. we will be in the New Jersey State American legion Parade. It will be the first time in that one, since 1966, for me. The Whole Idea is to have FUN and Entertain people. In BOTH case's. You get the Look, the Sound and the feel of groups that once were. We KNOW we can never equal the glories of the Corps we represent. We do the Best we can to give the public a sample of the History of Drum and Bugle Corps. Now, I will admitt some are Bigger and Better than others. Corps like Hawthorne Caballeros lead the way. Groups like NY Sky, Blessed Sacrament, Reilly, Archie, Y. Rebles, St. Joe's Batavia, I could go ON and On. Getting Excelent Reviews by the public. Then some that just make to each event. But so be it. All of us having FUN and enjoying each others company, and the Public's response. I know that arch Rivals of the past all get along very well. Party often and Enjoy their Corps, as well as the Others. So if it Bothers the Elitest to call us/you an "Alumni Corps" just call it an Alumni TYPE Corps. "Where almost everyone is an Alumni from some Corps" Who cares which one.

Boy what a nice contest that would be. Central vs East. Kilties, Minnisota Brass, Empire Statesmen, Crusaders, Brigadiers,Govies, Chops, maybe more! (like Reading, MCL, Lakeshoremen) Boy if that shouldn't bring out a Crowd. How big is your stadium?

'oosop Good response. I am about as old style as you can get. BUT, when change NEEDS to be made. "Talking" and "Listening" is the way to go. "Discuss" come up with a "Salution" that can work for the "Long Term". Not just Change for the sake of Change. I have been saying for OVER a year. That DCA should add at least one more Class A group to Finals night. If for no other reason, it would put some pressure on the third place group to Stay third or move up. But to be honest. I think the 4 Class A groups will get some REAL insentive to get in front of a Big Crowd and show their stuff. Maybe even Grow in an Open Group if that is the Direction they wish to go. I do also understand how some groups "Need to" and some groups "Want to" stay small. For all the reasons many have said here. It can be the right move to stay put. (Be Big Fish in Small Pond, year after year.) I like the Diversity of DCA, more so than the "Other" organization out there. I can go get a hot dog or go to the bath room when one of the "Other" type units are on. (Although I will say at DCA Championships I try to see ALL the units. Even in the Rain and Wind of a Hurricane like happened. Yes, I was one, still there, in the Stands from Start to Finnish!) "Grow The Regions" Good Luck to ALL.

Why was the following Post so bad. I posted it at 10:18 am today. Someone please explain why it is not showing? "I agree with you two (Tom and Bunny). Just finding bad things is getting old. Try and explain slow steady growth to someone who wants it all at once is hard for us old timers. Some how I find it hard to believe that going 500 miles or less is not better than going 1000 miles or Not Going At All. I am sorry that many areas of the US and Canada let most if not all of your Corps die off. I am NOT sorry the North EAST kept theirs going. Specialy Sr/All Age. Which is why we have More Contests. But, contrary to the way some of the Newer less informed think. It is not all that much cheaper to run a Corps. Like I have said in almost ALL of my posts. Progress is being made. Corps like Minn. Brass in Centeral, and CorpsVets in the South. Now also by Corps like Music City as well. Reading and Hurks Going to Virginia. E. Statesmen going to Ohio. Renegades going to Winston Salem, NC (along with CT Hurks). All the new groups making more Connections. Like Masquarade in Baton Rouge, LA and Prairie Sound on Olatha, Kansas will be coming soon to a show near you. Maybe not this year but soon. Groups that are connecting Regions. Lets hope Cincinnati Tradition keeps things on the up swing. Good Connection for Centeral and South also. How about High Country Brass. Maybe one day Denver might be a big show connecting Calif (DCA West/Pacific) to DCA SouthWest . Give things time to work out

I agree with you two (Tom and Bunny). Just finding bad things is getting old. Try and explaining slow steady growth to someone who wants it all at once is hard for us old timers. Some how I find it hard to believe that going 500 miles or less is not better than going 1000 miles or Not Going At All. I am sorry that many areas of the US and Canada let most if not all of your Corps die off. I am NOT sorry the North EAST kept theirs going. Specialy Sr/All Age. Which is why we have More Contests. But, contrary to the way some of the Newer less informed think. It is not all that much cheaper to run a Corps. Like I have said in almost ALL of my posts. Progress is being made. Corps like Minn. Brass in Centeral, and CorpsVets in the South. Now also by Corps like Music City as well. Reading and Hurks Going to Virginia. E. Statesmen going to Ohio. Renegades going to Winston Salem, NC (along with CT Hurks). All the new groups making more Connections. Like Masquarade in Baton Rouge, LA and Prairie Sound on Olatha, Kansas will be coming soon to a show near you. Maybe not this year but soon. Groups that are connecting Regions. Lets hope Cincinnati Tradition keeps things on the up swing. Good Connection for Centeral and South also. How about High Country Brass. Maybe one day Denver might be a big show connecting Calif (DCA West/Pacific) to DCA SouthWest . Give things time to work out

Also of Importance is the Growth of Class A. The Bigger and Better the Regions become. The less Expensive travel becomes. Corps like CorpsVets and Heat Wave had to travel up to the Midwest or the Northeast just to compete. Then as DCA South grew and started to have thir own contests it Helped cut "some" expenses. Same for DCA Centeral. The Renegades and SoCal have the Biggest problem. (at the mersey of DCI inhibiting growth out there). Soon DCA South West will be a reality. (Texas, and Kansas maybe Oklahoma and Denver) with Louisiana being able to be DCA-SW or DCA-S. But, I also think that DCA-North East should do more to become like a Division of DCA. Granted they may be more powerfull due to the Size (number of Corps) and Quality of those members. Then the DCA Governing Body over ALL, their many Division's and Region's. With the rise of the Kilties getting better and better in Open Class, each year. perhaps soon giving Minn.Brass a run for the top Central spot in the Open Div. Then the Govies and Chops fighting it out in Class A. BUILDING is going on in Central goes on and on. Lakeshoremen, Cin. Tradition etc. Who would have believed 10 years ago that ATLANTA would have TWO Corps. (CorpsVets in Open and Alliance in Class A) With Nashville's Music City also in Open Div. , Derby City and Sun Devils being added. Soon maybe Johnson City Presidents, and Masquarade(Baton Rouge) Who would have believed 10 years ago TEXAS would have at least 4 Corps in DCA at all. (Frontier, Gulf Coast, Austin and maybe another Next year) GROW your REGION. That is the Key to everything. Then it will not matter at all whether the Championships are in Rochester,NY or Madison,Wisc. or Atlanta,GA. The Best Corps that can make it will, for that ONCE a year Contest. Yet they will be able to Compete all summer in their REGION.

You know, when I marched with a "Competing Corps" I was Very Good at staying in step. I am sorry, but I can NOT (and do not want) to use all these DCI Terms. Drum Corps ----- DCI Members = Students Instructors = Designers/Arrangers and Tech's Judges = Adjudicators Dues = Tuition Contest = Show/Event Bugle = Trumpet Contra = Tuba Just to mention a few. YET, they will NOT change some things that DO need to be CHANGED. Color Guard should be "Visual Dance Ensemble" Drum and Bugle Corps should be "Brass Band Field Theater' or "Corps Band" (what ever!). (Sorry Cozy, it just get's me some days more than others.) :big hug:

In the NJ "ElksParade" (best in the Nation). From what I understand; NY Skyliners Alumni Yankee Rebels Reilly Raiders Archer Epler Musketeers Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights Light Brigade (27th Lancers +) Brooklyn United (usualy also there: GrenaDears All Girls Alumni Melrose Black Hawks of the Alumni Type Corps Then add Fusion Corps - DCA Usualy there also: Jersey Surf - DCI Raiders - DCI So most likely 12 or more groups. Try to catch some of the Concerts all over North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and Wildwood. Many of the Alumni type give one or two FREE concerts at their hotel and or the Sponsoring Elks Lodge hotel. Most Corps stop at Kelly's during the Parade and at the Reviewing Stand (Between Astor and Cardinal on Atlantic Ave.)also Many of the Stores on the Boardwalk Sell T Shirts with photo's of the Corps in the Parade. Corps Party's all over the place Sat night. What a weekend it is. You may even, "Meet and Greet" people that you have not seen in DECADES! A DO NOT MISS for sure!

Having grown up in the North East. All I will say Publicly is. I am OFFENDED, Sadened and hope that YOU will be Happy with the BIG "Ring Chasing" Money people in the "Brass Band Field Theater" Org, of DCI.

GOOD FOR YOU - DERBY CITY !!!! Unies look Great and News sounds Good. Keep it up!!!!

rosski47 SORRY, You are RIGHT. I Mis-Read the post. (I thought I was Defending the three mentioned.) I do think that the three mentioned Corps will give some of the lower World Class Corps some Good Compitition though. Sorry again for my last post.

DUMB post removed, by me. SORRY

"Well Good Luck", to them. Seattle Sounders - Brass Attack. Hope it helps expand more Drum Corps start ups to the Northwest!!! Question! Would they be allowed to compete in DCA if they so chose to do so?

CONGRATS to the Sun Devils !!!!!!!!!!!! ok, will you be at any of the following contests?: Duglasville, GA Alpharetta, GA (sp) Nashville, TN Mannasas,VA Rochester, NY

Another thing you could think about. Is to just have prelims for Open Class. Then after Semis eliminates 5 to make Finals 10 W.C. add the Top 3 or 4 Open Class to the Finals show. (competing for Two seperate Titles. Like DCA) I am sure I have read that the (Div II/III) Open Class Finals is not a big money maker anyway. I also know from seeing the Top (Div II) Open Class groups. They are pretty darn good groups and the Fans could get a new look at them. Maybe Helping that area DCI grow.

"DITTO" that ............. and we look forward to seeing you in "Wildwood , NEW JERSEY" !