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cfirwin3 last won the day on November 5 2022
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Profile Information
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Your Drum Corps Experience
Bluecoats 2001
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Your Favorite Corps
Bluecoats
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Your Favorite All Time Corps Performance (Any)
Madison Scouts 1995, BD 1999, Crown 2013, Bluecoats 2014
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Your Favorite Drum Corps Season
1993 was good... 2011, not bad either.
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Gender
Male
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Location
Somewhere in New York State
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cfirwin3's Achievements
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A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
You're right. There's no hope for cost cutting. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Sure... But, condense the pit. Desperate measures, and such. (Which isn't all that desperate, really... as a group can still sound phenomenal with far less). -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
You don't think that they are overspending on materials and resources for their shows? (Replacing equipment, horns and uniforms too frequently; quadrupled transportation needs; expanding specialized staff; frequent long haul trips to attend competitive shows, etc.) Running out of cash with the fees that they are charging means that they are over spending on the thing that they are doing... which is the show, and the resources that they put into it. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
It sounds like the 90s-2010. Last I checked, those were some hot programs... by today's 'standards'. My corps, at the turn of the century, had 2 trucks. Our program wasn't easier... it was just designed to the regulations of the time. But what's wrong with 'parade corps', if it means being active and relevant while the organization gets stabilized? What's wrong with 'Brass Theater'? Being active has many forms, known and unknown. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Never, because corps at the so-called 'bottom' exist. See another post I replied to in the thread. There are not just 5, or 10, or 14 drumcorps out there. There isn't even just 1 association for drumcorps. Kids that want to march will march where they can. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
One for horns, flags and unis and one for chow. Gotta have 2... but I contend that a working drumcorps needs no more than 2. But they have to settle for a traditional program rather than a contemporary one. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Bloo spent decades in the black long before they were winning medals. Kids that don't get in the contending corps want to march where they can rather than not march at all. It's not like they have a lot of opportunity to finally get in where they want. Most kids don't march because they can't afford it, not because they can afford it and they choose not too. No 20 year old that wants to do DCI is selective enough not to march when they can't get a spot in BD, Bloo, Crown, Boston, Cavaliers... they will ultimately get in where they can (and they are often called based on camp lists). I got called by Kiwanis when I couldn't make subsequent camps at Bloo in the 90s. I was 16, and didn't have the necessary independence to commit at that time. It wasn't about selectivity... and it wasn't about talent (because Bloo wanted me). While we often equate this activity to the NFL, it isn't the NFL. And among music achievements, it's a great experience, but true elitism resides with conservatories and academic institutions. Getting into BD is walk in the park compared to getting into Eastman, for example. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
I understand. But the bottom line doesn't lie. Plenty corps exist outside of the top 4-5 perennial contenders, and they do just fine not winning the big show. Bluecoats, for example, had a very strong business model for decades without even a glimmer of championship success. If anything, it's the drive for championship success that is most likely to threaten their financial stability today... that's a high bill to pay, year after year. -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
That's part of the cutting loss. They will have membership, but they will absolutely lose some top talent. But, they will "be". They might even make a point in doing so. I suspect that a number of folks that may be shut out elsewhere would love a chance to be in 'Vanguard' or to be a 'Cadet' regardless of the circumstance. What good is a fear of status that ultimately causes one's total demise? I suspect that the hope will be to survive to recruit top talent another day... but I also suspect that day will be hard to attain once everyone is comfortably placed elsewhere. Who will want to take the risk? -
A Cost-Cutting Proposal
cfirwin3 replied to IllianaLancerContra's topic in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
I think it's obvious that organizations are operating on an assumption of competitive standing. If they don't have the financial backing to pay for the attributes that they feel will lead to competitive standing, then they conclude that they cannot operate. I don't mean to be absurdly reductive... but there are few reasons why a drumcorps cannot operate on a more traditional design approach (less material overhead and transport requirements), later start date, fewer performances (less travel) and still be a stellar performing group (even with 'second tier' staffing). THE reason not to pursue this route is simply because groups choose not to re: the presumption of competitive standing. The obsession over the "subgenre" of the product (CONTEMPORARY drumcorps) can be self-limiting. I'd rather see any drumcorps start the first week of July, with cheap uniforms, and no accessories beyond a good music and drill book than not see that same drumcorps at all. If you can't pay for all of it... then just buy some of it, and buy it a little cheaper. Budgeting 101. -
Looks to me like the reduced number of tour shows and the gaining of performance scores to content are paying off. I hate to say that performing a little less means achieving a little more... but it often does. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions, as the introduction of BAC and Crown have thrown the line-up into a blender on a given night... but Bloo has had a point boost coming to them with some of the others scoring much tighter than them in perf. v. cont. across the board so far.
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When I marched, the East show was in Philly... it was awkward. There was a sense of doom throughout the 'lot' warm-up (which took place in a sketchy overgrown embankment under an overpass). We did not find Jimmy Hoffa... but we were fairly certain he was there. As a Rochesterian, I can confirm that Buffalo is a far better venue... but also a very poor drumcorps atmosphere in both towns. For a state with so many historical drumcorps, NY does NOT know the activity like folks in Pa or Oh do. The vibe of the event would be totally dependent on traveling fans, and the venue staff would be pushing popcorn and peanuts loudly during every balad. The Buffalo show was always a real drag, with few fans and mostly intrigued locals. Buffalo does have a couple of nice stadiums though, and Highmark (formerly Ralph Wilson) Stadium has a ton of space and nearby housing for corps.
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My retrospective critique... Brass book needs a few more 'runs'. That kind of technicality reads better in proficiency and GE than timing and syncopation focused material (even when the timing and syncopation stuff is more difficult and better executed). That's all. It's going to be another highly competitive season. Bloo!
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With... ehem... 'art'... it's never actually 'cutting edge' and innovative... not really. It's just messaging. Either it's aesthetic pleasing, coherent, both or neither. And to some or many, it is indeed just weird, over the top stuff. For me... the entire activity is and has ALWAYS been just weird and over the top stuff (and I'm good with that, most of the time). My question is "when does it become pretentious?" 🤔
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Just saw a run through online. It looks more aggressive in multiple captions than what they usually do, while not sacrificing the happy Bloo vibe, and I can't ask for more than that. We'll see how it all stacks up, but I am fairly pleased with what seems to be (early on) a greater focus on a more classic visual design and technical playing than what they typically field. It's a good thing too... because... Boston Crusaders and Blue Devils. Shows just have to be tougher these days! Hopefully their advances in drums and their strength in GE holds up. Brass and marching visual sounds/looks more technically competitive, and that's saying a lot, given how good they have been for quite some time. 2 thumbs up, Bloo!