Mello Dude

So, basically you have affirmed everything that we have been saying. DCI, and a few talking heads, are driving their base away in a niche activity. Seems like a pretty definable trail of mistake after mistake driven by..oh we just don't have it perfected yet THAT'S why it isn't working..we need to change this and all will be well. Reminds me of people that still think Communism is a viable form of government..til they actually join the rest of us in reality and the human condition. As a side note...what precisely was so broken about drum corps that they thought they needed to change it into brass marching band on steroids? I would like to meet the person also that actually thinks Indy is such a wonderful place to vacation for a decade...

...and THIS is why DCI is failing. It's like the 1000 elephant (dinosaur) sitting in the room...and you are ready to rearrange (again) the deck chairs on the Titanic. Market stategy AND customer service go hand in have to develop a business model. If you aren't listening (or frigging so unaware to whats going on around you) and are unwilling to CHANGE (theres that word again) to what works..the free market system does the rest.

Yep, they anticipated, re-invented.....marching band. WooHoo!

Yep..definitely BD influenced.

Digging the Tuba design so they can see..what a concept!

Ya, Indy is such a good place to go on vacation..year after year..LOL. Nothing against Indy but ..please....

This is the same circular argument made over and over. It's like trying to explain G bugles and WHY the key of G was used..and they will concur valve=no bugles=Bb was always valid (of course they won;t talk about the overtone series..that would be science and reality). But hey, right now there is no difference between Drum Corps and a good Brass Marching Band in everything..oh wait I forgot personal experience..yep theres a qualifier for the difference!

Used to be a couple big names at each show to get draw. Also, with local corps that usually gets draw from supporters and families that don't want to travel all over the country to see their kids compete or cannot afford it. This is like economics 101. It's like..yeah gas costs more..well hell the answer is have them drive further...doh.

Why are some peoples taste so poor as to think they will lose out for some odd reason?

Actually, it's more of pandering to ONLY those that are champions and screw everyone else. If all you are pushing is the best of the best without anything to support it..it will fail and fail big time. If drum corps is to survive it HAS to be able to have corps that AREN'T champions and have a place to compete. The absolute WORST thing to happen to DCI is when they eliminated the local circuits and started to import talent of those that could pay to play. If you want to be a semi-pro professional brass marching band than so be it. But, PLEASE quit pretending to be a youth centered activity with the interests of kids in mind wrapped in a drum corps robe. As a side note, it could be all the drum corps elitists that are driving drum corps into the pit as well. We can clearly see from the Pioneer thread that it's not acceptable to some to simply BE there to compete and offer a great experience. I would also place a bet that a TON if these talking heads would not go to a show that did not showcase a top 12 corps..no matter the price or place. Unfortunately, we exist today in the generation of instant gratification rather than reality. As a thought drum corps could be in the shape it is simply from these people not accepting anything but top 12 quality..all the time. As a former music educator, I find that rather disturbing (if not MOST) to say the least.

1. Costs. -Tours are too long and too far in between. DCI needs to re-focus on local circuits (perhaps a resurrection of DCM/DCE etc?), parades and shows. Corps need to start doing other gigs rather than making a show so difficult they need to practice 24/7 without performing in other events to make money. Corps should be FORCED to take local talent over imported. Perhaps this would force the issue of a more local approach and bring costs int line. 2. Defined product. -DCI needs to find itself and have an identity. If it's nothing more than glorified marching band without woodwinds they are in trouble. They absolutely need to have shows that people WANT to go and see en-mass. Drum corps is already a niche activity, there is NO sense trying to be even more so. 3. Kids being left out and potential fans and revenues lost. -People that want to march, and don't make the corps they WANT to march with simply will not (for the most part and for good reason) shell out 3k for a summer. Unless DCI starts taking a ground up approach they will not survive. Right now DCI is simply living off the VFW corps(e) and now we are down to the last few. Not every corps needs to be a top 12 wanna-be and should not always try and be.

I would have added olympic style retreats.

Yep. I watched Crossmen a few years ago and pretty plainly half the corps didn't know the closure at the beginning of the year. Phasing, out of step..it was pretty awful.

This has already been disproven. Pioneer has not "always been in last place."

Who uses frames anymore?

Precisely. And if all top 12 were more "entertaining"..everyone is happy (well save for small few that think they have been snubbed).

That was then, this is now. If you are having issues of keeping the audience (as a whole) into it then you need to address this in a valid way. It's always been silly games with scores, where have you been for the last few decades? I don't see the problem with an excellent show that is very entertaining and accessible to most if not all people in some way. Sounds like a win/win to me. Quite honestly I'm not worried one bit. If the designers are worth their salt they will make it happen. FYI..I had the Cavaliers a point OVER BD last year on demand and exposure alone...not simply crowd reaction.

Without rules changes this won;t happen. With money/scores/judging sheets/judges driving the activity, without rules changes there is no incentive. I don't see the conflict. Those that can do it all well, will win.

LOL. I think some people read entirely too much into what is actually going on. You should hear what some people think they hear or see after a show then sit with a designer sometime to get a few laughs.

I wouldn't count on that. Some that do will be told it was better, by some that think they know better. You see this on DCP quite a bit I dare say.

This. Someone gets it.

At the point there is no difference there is no difference. It's brass marching band...period.

Actually there have been all brass marching bands for quite some time. It has..already, "Jumped the Shark".

Where precisely, in this thread, has this been mentioned?

My sig covers waffles....