Bandguy

On the surface I see your point. However, I spoke about this in another thread. If a staff member is not returning to a corps it doesn't necessarily mean that the staff member quit the corps. There are plenty of good reasons someone doesn't return (family obligations, career opportunity, corps moving in a different direction, even getting fired). I, like a whole lot of other people, can't wait for the website to be up and running again. That should answer a lot of questions.

From what source did you get this information?

Need to be careful when discussing something like this. When someone says a staff member or a director is no longer with a corps, that usually leaves someone thinking that something may be wrong with the corps the person left. In addition to retirements there may also be people who got fired from their responsibilities, too. The only true way to find out about any staff/director changes is to simply contact the corps. Let's leave the rumors for the soap operas, OK?

There is a previous thread on here concerning the desire to bring back full retreats at shows. While I was throwing my two cents in the subject a thought occured to me which I think will be a lot of fun for us all to debate. Here's the scenario: There is a full retreat scheduled at the end of a show. Every participating corps would be lined up on the field just like Fainals night. As in the past, each participating corps is given the opportunity to play a retreat piece before leaving the field. What ONE piece would you like to hear from your favorite corps, and why?

I would love to see full retreats at shows. However, there may be other things that play into the current situation. For example, I wonder if there is a longer distance from show site to show site now. Longer distances mean more road time, and I'm sure some corps like having the extra time to leave a site because they didn't have to "suit up" for the retreat. I can see an abbreviated retreat during a show that happens during the week because of it being a work night for a lot of the paying public. Perhaps it would be a cool thing to bring back full retreats on the Friday and Saturday shows, and compensate for the time commitment by starting the weekend shows earlier (say, 6:00?). Wouldn't that also cover the regional shows as well as Finals? I was at the Bluecoats home show last summer. During the retreat time they arced up and did "Autumn Leaves" and it sent chills through me. I wondered then about how much history has been lost because a lot of today's drum corps fans have never heard Madison do "You'll Never Walk Alone" live, and we all know this is just one example. I know they are now based in Alabama, but what fan would NOT give just about anything to hear Spirit play "Georgia"? I guess that could be a thread of its own - what would be the coolest retreat song from your favorite corps? Honestly, I think Phantom could pick almost anything they've done and it be a hit, although I would be very partial to "Amazing Grace"...................

Thanks all. I want to show it to my daughter. Am I bringing this kid up right, or what? lol

I'm thinking this won't take very long - what year did BD do When a Man Loves a Woman, and is there a video clip of it available on Google?

I, like a lot of other good folks, have an opinion about what should happen with Capital Regiment. I also think I need to give my opinion a bit of qualification. I've never marched a day in drum corps in my life. By the time I knew about the activity I was to old to be in it. I fell in love with the activity, which was very easy to do because I was a music education major. I've been a high school band director for over 25 years now and STILL wish I had the chance to march. The reality of it all set in, and I started doing what I could to be as close to participating as I could. In my case it evolved into hosting drum corps at my school. My first corps to host was the Spirit of Atlanta in 1989. That was also my first experience in how a drum corps on the road manages to take any kind of misfortunate and live through it. The first five kids ran off a bus and started heaving up their guts. It appeared that the corps got a hold of some kind of bad food the previous night. The bottom line is the corps' projected 10 hour stay with me turned into over three days. My band room looked like a MASH unit with members who couldn't even sit up, let alone go rehearse and perform. Through that time I watched as every one involved (members, staff, director, volunteers, etc.) helped heal each other. I heard NO complaints - just learn from the experience and move on. I have been hosting drum corps every year since then. Over the past 17 years I have been fortunate to host over 50 drum corps ranging from D1 champions to D3 survivors. I've seen a lot of different ways concerning the running of a drum corps. I'm also proud to say that Capital Regiment has used my school as it's camp home for the last six years. I have a close relationship with Rick Bays (the director), and I consider him a dear friend of mine. And despite all the negative things I've read about him lately, my friendship with him hasn't wavered one bit. Do I think the current way of managing the drum corps is the best way? I do not. What has led to the current situation (as more than one person has put it in various ways) is growing pains. The current system of running the corps in essence hasn't changed since the days it was a D3 corps. You will find the same dedicated group of people from 1999 (and even farther back) trying to do all the things that the corps needs done. No one could possibly doubt their sincerity to the corps. However, the corps has outgrown even their best efforts. I've learned over the years that observance can be a wonderful tool. If what is desired is a revamping of the front office-business-logistics for Capital Regiment, simply look to the other drum corps. It sure looks to me that there are a lot of drum corps out there who seem to be getting it right. For example, simply take a few Cap Reg representatives and see how the business end of things happens with Cavies, Cadets, Phantom, or whoever else would help serve as a model? Perhaps look at several programs, and then pick out the things that will benefit Capital Regiment the best. I would also strongly suggest that they spend some time with D2 and D3 corps. Sometimes I'm amazed at the magic these wonderful people do. Much as it probably strikes fear into the hearts of all the directors and staffs, the new season is not far from beginning (November isn't that far away, folks). Time to get going........ Now that this issue has been addressed I need to get something off my chest. I've read all the posts from both DCP and the Capital Regiment website (when it was available). I have also been privy to several conversations stating several different sides to the issues that occurred last summer with Capital Regiment. I have heard things from the director, from the members, from the staff, from the volunteers, and the front office people. I have come up with a few observations: 1. Trying to make one's self look good by making someone else look bad is a very dangerous thing to do. 2. Discussing the problems with the drum corps can be a healthy thing; turning it into a Jerry Springer-like mud throwing session doesn't do anyone any good. 3. Nothing is as good as it seems, and nothing as as bad as it seems. 4. No one is interested in seeing the corps fold. 5. Like a head football coach, the director seems to get the most criticism for the failures of the group. Unlike the football coach, this director doesn't seem to get the accolades for it's success, except for being named a DCI Director of the Year once. 6. There is only so much one can do for an organization. When one's passion turns into too much work, help is needed or one needs to look into other ways to be involved. 7. There are folks who are like hyenas - they are jumping on the prey because it seems to be the thing to do. Simply ask - is what I have to say going to make the corps better? If I were in a position to choose a drum corps to go to for the '07 season, it would no doubt be Capital Regiment. It's experienced a dramatic growth in a short time, and there is no reason that growth should not continue. And since all the "family secrets" are out there for everyone to see you can bet all eyes will be on the corps next year. I cannot think of a thing happening (good OR bad) that won't draw major attention. CapReg will no doubt be the safest group in DCI, simply because of all the watchdogs and vultures. One last thing - to the members - you have forgotten my annual speech to you. When you were in Kansas or wherever and you were experiencing all the terrible things that were happening, you should have called me - I STILL want to march - just one day....... OK - I'm standing here - let the beatings commence........ Mendell Hibbard Band director - Walnut Ridge High School Columbus, Ohio