TrainWreck

In spite of my hammering on the unfinished show. I am a huge SCV fan and wish the corps great success this season. I would love nothing more than see the team from the East Bay and the team from the South Bay vie for the top spots in drum corps. Now's the time the South Bay team, veterans especially, to step it up and lead the corps beyond its wildest expectations. If there is a corps and organization that can exceed expectations, it's the crew from Santa Clara. Step it up!

Having marched many years ago in a corps that others strove to beat. I've witnessed the exuberance other corps have felt in achieving something extraordinary in their organizations history. Congratulations to the Blue Knights and Bluecoats on besting an iconic drum corps as well as one of the expected corps to beat (SCV and Crown). Regardless of the outcome at the end of the season. Cherish these moments. You're setting the drum corps world on its ear. Enjoy! Rob Blue Devils 81-85

A bit of brevity. Congrats to BK to their victory over SCV in Ogden. Their first ever.

Shhhh....that's a secret. Todays corps are not supposed to know that DC was actually bigger way back when. The solution that's been proposed by many on this thread is to not go to shows....so.....the trend shall continue. It's about the individual corps, not what draws people to the shows. If it were... Well... Wouldn't things grow? Guess not. So.....the spiral will continue. 5 years from now, will things improve or not? Based on the opinions of this thread, the spiral continues to go down and things like the G7 go into action to protect themselves. And many will wonder what happened. Basically, they forgot about the people who actually paid for tickets. And when prompted about what problems exist, will cough up responses akin to "you don't like it...don't go".

My proposal was intentionally meant to be extreme. Makes people talk about it (look how many pages and views). Yes, there would be ramifications if my proposal were implemented. However, I bet that you would see full shows at the start of the season......

Thanks for the clarification. Expect corps shows not to be finished or don't pay to go to the show. I failed to see that listed anywhere on the advertisements. "Please, we only want spectators who don't mind an incomplete product. If this bothers you, stay home". Drum corps really has changed if this is the attitude.

It seems the main point is being missed. People pay to go to the shows. Reading part of this thread, it's apparent that that's not a concern.

Never mind. My DCI season is done. I shall spend 0$ Enjoy the season, all.

There is no excuse. Period. There is no reason. Period. The schedule is well know. Meet the schedule.

Instead of attacking me, attack my argument.

I don't go to WGI shows. They don't interest me. Nope. Almost went to Stanford. What I saw of videos, reviews, live viewings, nothing inspired me to go. Sorry. Perhaps. Regardless, my point of view stands. Over the years, regardless of the corps that was not finished, I argued about it. If it was Blue Devils, I would have made the same argument. The corps / organization is not the issue. The fact that it's allowed is. Cool beans for you. I was not satisfied and chose not to go to any corps shows this year. Perhaps if you knew my background you might be concerned about that. The main reason I'm posting and arguing is that I'm extremely disappointed. I love drum corps, but I won't blindly support it, just because somebody says I need to. Regardless. Nobody has been able to refute my point of view. There is simply no excuse for a corps not to have their show ready for the start of the season. What can be done about this? Make it difficult for those corps if they cannot meet the DCI schedule. Currently, there is no incentive other than a score. So....are you going to attack me or my position?

First off, can't take away something they never had. So your question makes no sense to me. Secondly, if they need that money to survive, that implies they are expecting payment for something they signed up to do. Namely perform their show. It's an appearance fee for performing. Where did this appearance fee come from? Perhaps the people who's butts are in the seats that paid money for the tickets to see a drum corps show? Considering that the problem is confined to a minimum number of corps, why is nobody asking how other corps are able to meet their schedules on time and some are not? Yet those that are not able to meet their commitment, it's not a problem for some people?

What should happen is they go on in exhibition or prior to the official start of the show and receive no appearance fees.

I was a member of the Blue Devil B corps a long time ago. The try-outs then, as I'm sure they are now, were the same for everybody the showed up. It didn't matter where you came from. You had to make the corps on your own accord.

Each year we read about all of the things that drum corps teaches kids (which includes those of us on the board that grew up in drum corps). Hard work, learning to work with others, setting goals and achieving them. Apparently, after reviewing the thread, meeting a schedule that's known months in advance is not something that is strived for. Some posters have decided to attack me (they don't know me) yet they can't attack my position. So they get no direct response. Some posters equate show rewrites to incomplete shows. You can't argue with somebody who does not understand my argument. Here's a couple of quotes to read: Assume you paid this much in California reading this type of advertisement off of DCI's web-site. You can honestly sit there and pontificate your point of view (opposite of mine) that it's perfectly acceptable to want to spend this kind of money to go and see a drum corps show knowing one or more shows are not complete? Really? If that's not true why would any of you expect this to be true for a show in California? Another tidbit from DCI's site: Well - competitive start for some. Others, we just won't say they are not quite yet ready. 9 months after auditions. And even an advertisement: I'm sorry, it says if you missed the show you can spend money to watch the show. I see no mention of if you wish to watch incomplete corps shows. Maybe I'm making a big deal about this. So be it. Sure seems quite a few people have read this thread, so I hit a nerve somewhere.

My statement is simple. You either enjoy and tolerate incomplete shows or you don't. I don't.

Or make a statement that corps with incomplete shows don't get paid and go on first. You still get to see an incomplete show. But I bet what would happen is corps would not wait until sometime in July to finish their show. As far as rewrites. I'm baffled that people can equate a show rewrite with an incomplete show.

I propose to Hopkins et al that come up with rules proposals to propose a rule such that corps with incomplete shows by the time the season starts must appear in exhibition during intermission or prior to the start of the show for every show they are not prepared to compete in. They also receive no performance fees until they have a complete show. Can't believe this is tolerated by DCI (i.e. SCV show not finished by the first week of July).

Stunned. No further response warranted.

Frankly - that's ridiculous that SCV's show is not finished. I propose that Hopkins or somebody come up with a rule that if a corps is not able to compete with their FULL SHOW ON THE FIELD (i,e, marching too) then they must go on during intermission in exhibition. In addition to that, they receive no money for their appearance. I can't believe this is tolerated by DCI. People are paying for show tickets and the top corps at the doesn't even have a complete show? That's considered class? I find it ridiculous.

Wait a minute. The show still isn't finished? Nice review, though. Thanks.

meh. I'll let my dollars talk versus arguing here.

Consider this then. Go to shows with the knowledge I won't be attending and be sure to buy 4 extra seats. You know, for the privilege.

Frankly - my statement is simple and clear. I don't like the show. I don't like the fact a corps can't have a finished show, let alone their home show. I certainly don't need to be chastised for my opinion. Read this loud and clear - I don't like the show. I decided not to go to the two shows because I don't like the shows. That's about $300-400 with the price of tickets, concessions, souvie purchases for me and my family. I'm sure I'm not the only one not attending shows. Go ahead and challenge my opinion and my lack of desire to see todays drum corps. My statement is simple and clear. I did not go because I did not like the shows that I saw and heard. Perhaps somebody else bought the tickets that I would've bought.

I hate to say it....I'm uninspired to see a show. SCV's not finished? That's not classy to me. Sorry. I've seen a couple of videos online, considered going to Stanford but just was not motivated to drive an hour+ to hear music that doesn't inspire me plus an incomplete show from one of the shows hosts. That's ridiculous. After reading some of the reviews, thought about doing Stockton. But, don't feel like driving through the Delta on a work night. I don't know, I'm disappointed. I really like seeing drum corps but I find that I don't like the music anymore. For me it's always been about "that sound" and driving music. With prices and driving distances, "that sound" isn't going to make me go to shows if I just sit there thinking "well, they're certainly talented but I don't like the cut/paste method of design". I don't know. I don't get it.