cybersnyder

If you plan an event without a contract can you really blame the stadium?

Corps size should be the maximum number of members you can fit into n buses without needing to go to n+1 buses where the last bus is partially filled. And that number will vary based on the bus company used and how their vehicles are outfitted. Was also thinking that woodwinds are usually lower cost members because they being their own instruments with the exception of Bari sax, usually. Nah, just raise fees.

But that seems to be a shrinking number.

I the above this is more of an argument that DCA will remain in the North East. I think the bigger question with the thread is if it's a dying category in general, not just a geographic location for finals. DCA is down to 10 Open corps and 4 Class A corps. Personally, I think people would rather just play and do parades so you don't have to commit every weekend to learning drill.

If housing goes away and they need to "house" in hotels / motels, that's either the end of drum corps or the end of long tours.

How much do you think they're "wasting" on transportation? My guess - very little to zero. They're going with regional solutions and if you bid it out to a national solution, I really don't think you'll see a drop in price. One easy way to drop costs is to make tours shorter, but there's really no need for this. Some potential member can't afford the fees, but plenty can. Drum crops is a failed business proposition from the start. Take a stadium and do something that cuts out 3/4 of the seats as "Undesirable" - yeah, that's a smart plan. But they don't need to make a profit, they need to break even. The best way to raise money is schmoozing the donors, but even that has limits. The premise of this thread is that the business model needs to evolve and then assumes that individual corps are idiots and unable to search for low bidder. Of course they're doing that already. Going to a national supplier isn't guaranteed to cost less.

Looking at some figures from various 990s, it appears that food is about 10% of the annual budget and transportation about 40%. Does that seem accurate? I'd focus on transportation costs and reeling those in even if it means a shorter tour.

Maryland mandated that the school year cannot start until after Labor Day, a gift from the governor to Ocean City - another week of hotel / rentals for them in the season.

"Artistic Differences" was the name of my last band. In retrospect, not the world's best idea unless you love foreshadowing.

Can they raise the maximum membership limit much higher? The field is looking cluttered at the current level.

Good to know, but I think the ship has sailed for me. Maybe some low commit - brass caroling around Christmas.

Drum Corps International EIN - 36-2754480 Charity Navigator has their 2017 990, but not their 2018 filing

Add in transportation on both ends and needing a place to stay. I looked at the Bucs a few year ago and decided that I liked my "life".

Well, when looking at the tickets for the Big Live and Loud semi finals at my local theater, with reserved seating, there were only 6 seats taken. The market isn't there I could get more views doing an unboxing video of a popular video card.

Nike pays to get the NFL jersey contract, because butts in the stand want to wear the same thing and will pay $150 for a jersey. I'm not going to wear a SCV uniform or any other uniform ever. As far as bidding out food supplies, you could try that, but you're effectively 22 taco trucks and 24 smaller taco trucks that are only in operation for a few months out of the year. You will not get much better pricing than at Costco, but it's probably worth a shot. Purchasing would be centralized (and billing). I would not want to be responsible for paying the bill and collecting funds from the 46 corps to cover the bill. I think that part would kill any group purchases.

The fans continue to come. I would not want fan appreciation to be a point category. That gives an unfair advantage to whichever corps is closest and has the biggest following for that show. It would also encourage everyone to sit on their hand when their favorite show isn't playing. I would like to see shows written for the crowds instead of the judges, but I don't see any way to do that unless you go into the season realizing that you're going to be shooting for a 10-12 placement.

Yeah, possibility.

In doing trip planning for the band, our charter buses were 55 seats. So we always tried to fill that last bus, but not need another. Going to 56 students on the last bus means needing another bus and kills the budget. The key to stuffing the last bus to capacity - early chaperone signups and taking as may as we could fit. Chaperones had to pay park entrance and bus cost as well. But by managing the final bus capacity, we were able to set a lower price than the previous years and make a small profit for the organization.

I was also shocked to see how few corps remain. I would put the five year survival odds at slim. The remaining senior corps will just do parades and local stuff.

I don't think it's true for me either, rather a fork in the road. 2018 "Babylon" was my 100% perfection show, so I'm not trying to live in the past of the 80's or 90's.

Is it ok that I didn't see much that I liked this year? Just hit 50, maybe that's the point where you're set in your ways?

If DCI becomes like WGI, it's because the market and fans like it. Not this particular fan, but I also realize that I'm a sample size of one and I'm fine with hitting concerts instead of DCI shows.

You always have to worry about the "russian judge".

Seems like anything short of complete adoration is smack talk. Even when a show sucks, you can't say it sucks.

When 5G hits maturity we’ll just be able to find a Facebook, Instagram or YouTube live stream. Then we’ll complain that Becky can’t hold her phone steady.