dsb2007

Hmm. Don't recall us disagreeing on anything. If we did (and we probably did and I just don't remember), it doesn't stick out in my mind.

Well, all personal ego aside...DCI IS much smarter than me and I'm sure if an idea like this was implemented, they would know how to word it. Very true. And there is nothing wrong with that. Just like some corps start in Open Class to move out of it and into World Class. Nothing wrong with that either. In fact I think it's the pattern that has made Open Class corps as strong as they are. Just like kids using Open Class corps as springboards to gain experience have makde them as strong of an individual performer as they are. Oh dude. Nothing wrong with that either. Holy CRAP you should have seen them last year. I saw them ONCE and all I could do was... They aren't even the same corps anymore.

This is the bottom line. Open Class needs to be marketed better or it shouldn't exist. Now, if in 10 years it doesn't and we are down to one division, I would actually be fine with that. In fact, it might be the best idea for the health of the whole activity. But for now, the Open Class activity does exist and it carries some DARN good drum corps who ARE as good or better than some of what we see in World Class Semifinals. As long as this is the case, Open Class needs to be marketed better so that it's actualy making the activity (and the corps) money. Otherwise, screw this Open Class model and lets consolidate it ALL to one division right now.

You definitely get it.

LOL! Ok! I can't argue with that. :) I liked Madison too. BUT...."Spartans kicked ### too!" And people need to be aware of that. Not for the sake of Spartans...but for the sake of selling the full scope of the drum corps activity.

What you are saying makes sense. But touring is really not the difference anymore so I don't know that it would be as strong of a sell marketing it that way. There are World Class who only tour on a regional/partial level. So once kids find that out, we go right back to the drawing board of trying to find a new way to market Open Class. Now I agree with that for sure. It's pretty much been my suggestion from the beginning.

That's why DCI shouldn't try to please US (me included) :). They should please themselves by implimenting ways to make the activity more money. I believe that airing Open Class would do this because the awareness of Open Class would increase and boost ticket and merch sales for the activity.

Ehh...but that lowers the prestige. I wan't people to see that corps like Academy, Blue Stars, Magic, Spartans and Jersey Surf exist (or have existed) in Division II/Open Class and are just as strong as some of the hard contenders in World Class. It's true.

I agree with the reasons why you suggest this. But I don't agree that it would be as effective as actually airing part of the corps performance. Tell the audience on some sort of documentary that there is a second division, they will imediately develop a misconception that these are corps that are not very good. Show a 20 second clip of the top two Open Class (who Academy,and Blue Stars have proved are easily finalist contenders), they will see those corps for how good they really are and increace the level of prestige to the Open Class activity. I agree that people need to know about the other corps. But people have to SEE them if they are genuinely going to develop an interest. But again, your points in and of themselves are very valid in my opinion.

You know I actually agree with this. I too am more interested in the really strong Open Class corps with full shows. But the reason I wanted to vote the whole thing was because of the cost. You pay more money per corps buying just the singles than you do if you buy the whole thing. So, I choose to usually buy the whole thing. At least then, I have my choice of who I want to watch. I don't have to watch them all (and usually don't).

Spartans. They can sell more tickets to Open Class shows and develop a larger fan base for Open Class. World Class has enough fans. Open Class doesn't. If Open Class sold more tickets, DCI would make more money.

Which is exactly why the Open Class Corps would be the best fit. It would bring an awareness to the Open Class activity and "put more butts in the seats" of the Open Class contests and sell more Open Class merch.

Boy, that's the best explaination I've heard yet. Tom, where are you? This is it man! This is the difference that I don't think you are seeing.

LOL! Sorry. I not the strongest when it comes to text/chat language.

I wish East Coast Jazz ALL THE BEST with this event!!!!

Good for you! :) Keep up the great attitude and HAVE A GREAT SEASON with Teal Sound! I can't WAIT to see what you guys will put on the field this year! Telling him that is like telling it to a brick wall. He won't listen. He will continue to try and find things wrong with the whole thing and find reasons to make you and himself (mostly himself) believe that the Open Class activity is not as strong as the Division II/III activity he was once in. Maybe it's time for the mods of this board to start an exclusive "Open Class/Division II/III Historic Forum" so the Open Class purists can sit around and complain about how much worse the activity is now compared to "the good ole days" too. Sorry Tom. I don't mean to be so harsh...but you OFFEND ME! Especially when you are trying to shoot a KID'S dream down. It's one thing to post so much negativity at an adult. But when I'm sitting here trying to give encouragement to a current drum corps kid and then you come in and spit on it...it really pisses me off. Say what you want to me...but stay away from the kids with your negative garbage. They don't need it!

I completely agree that philosophy. And this is exactly WHY it would be so beneficial for the top two or so Open Class corps to have air time. More potential corps members would see that side of the activity and would become more interested...making Open Class more marketable and then putting more money in the pockets of DCI and the Open Class corps. And in case you didn't know, DCI likes making more money.

Don't be. I'll be very honest with you. I jump on your posts for several reasons. 1. Much of your negativity on Open Class offends me. 2. Much of what you say has no evidence to back up your statements and in many cases is just plain false...yet you try to shove it in other people's faces as though they are wrong. Even though much of the people you argue with are people who are actually CURRENTLY INVOLVED in the Open Class activity and KNOW MUCH MORE THAN YOU DO about what really is going on. 3. You are inconsistent (as shown in the above). Ok. It's becoming clear now. You are just an old school purist who wants to deny that what the activity HAS "become" JUST MIGHT BE better than it used to be. Got it! You are one of those. I completely disagree with this! What you are in denial of is that every year when someone moves up...the next Open Class corps who are in line for the top spot step up and develop the exact same quality as the corps that just moved up. IT'S A FACT but you just DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT! I'll prove it to you though. - Magic leaves...Blue Stars step up and makes a strong run to the top 3 of Division 2. - Blue Stars leave and then places 15th in 2006...making a strong run at finals. Looks pretty clear to me...they were just as strong as the last one that left. Then Academy steps up and wins Division 2 in 2006. - Academy leaves and then places 15th in 2006...making an even STRONGER run at finals. Looks pretty clear to me...they were just as strong as the last one that left...maybe better since they BEAT the last one that left. Now, Spartans and Jersey Surf have stepped up to the top 2 of Open Class. I'd say they are just as strong as the last ones that left. Just open your eyes and watch their shows from last year. Full corps, mature look and sound. An easy canidate for Semifinals if they moved up. Will they? Who knows. But if they do, you can bet your last dollar they will contend HARD! And if they do, someone else in Open Class will step up and become just as strong as they were when they left. Teal Sound is already pretty close. It's been the pattern for the lower divisions for years. You would just rather put the blinders on and deny it though. You know why I think you do this? Because I think you are one of those old school purists who want to MAKE yourself believe that the activity of old that you were in was better than it is today. That's called "insecurity". I already addressed that in another response to you. I can't accept the "I'm being realistic excuse". I HATE it when people use it. It's a cop out...designed to justify your negativity. YOU HAVE BEEN PROVED WRONG ALREADY...so NO! There is NO REALIZM in what you are saying. Sorry, I'm not impressed with your "been around awhile" blah. You are NOT in the activity NOW and DON'T KNOW ANYTHING about what's currently going on...as has been proved several times in the last two or three weeks alone. Maybe it's time you listen more and let what OTHER people say make "YOU think". Especially when some of the people here that you are challenging are actually INVOLVED in today's Open Class activity.

You know what is interesting to me, Tom? I flipped through some of your posting history just to try and see if I could pinpoint where some of your negativity on Open Class might come from. You know what I found that interested me? THIS.... Talk about hypocrisy! You post that...(one more time in case it was missed) But then you post THIS... Which way do you really want it, Tom? Do you want people who "earn something" to get rewarded (regardless of WHAT the reward is...air time...one more performance...doesn't matter)...or do you want people to get a "gift" for just showing up? I mean shoot! I'm confused now. Tom, please understand me. I'm not trying to make personal attacks. I just want to know why you are so negative about the Open Class activity all the time and I also want to know why you change your story so much like in the above example. Help me out here man. I just can't seem to figure you out. I'm sure you are a nice guy and all, but you don't make sense and your negativity grates on me because frankly, I love the current activity and am especially excited about the new Open Class idea. But every time I read one of your posts, it's like you are trying to smash my excitement (as well as others). It really does bother me and I know I'm not alone.

Right, but they are the top 17 which is why I said "SF" and not "QF". If that is what you are implying.

Thanks! I needed a good laugh!

Ahhhhwwww crap! I voted wrong!!!! I meant to vote for the entire package but voted singles. Oh well. Just minus one for the ""singles"option. I want the whole thing!

I'll bet it might be somewhat possible if you cut it all in half. How about something like this? My Satuday Audition Itinerary 10:00PM - Impulse 12:00PM - LONG lunch and drive time 5:00PM - Velvet Knights (I know they are only right up the road but it's Southern California traffic so you had better give yourself five hours to get 4 blocks) My Sunday Audition Itinerary All Day - One other additional corps of your choice You can't squeez in everybody this way but HEY! You just auditioned for 3 corps in one weekend. NOT BAD! b**bs

I'm just sitting here wondering what else is going to change in Open Class staffing. You know there have to be some ideas and possible shake ups brewing in various places right now.

Yes, and I believe he is trying to do it deliberately. Though he did re-post it in the Open Class forum too. Again, my recomendation is for you to read the thread that motivated him to start this one. It's right here.. http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=105814