Bob P.

I joined Les Dips at 17 in 1964. Played FH and was the youngest in the corps. I don't think that anybody knew my age, since I had already started college. Salut, Bob P.

The trick is to determine who your audience is to be and to be flexible in designing different shows for different audiences. Salut, Bob p.

We at Les Dips ran into exactly that problem last year. Low membership due to aging members. This year we managed to recruit some 80 new members, mostly from the 1980s and '90s DCI and DCA corps from the Quebec and Ontario region. We should be some 60 brass, 15 drums and 16 flags. In Quebec, there is absolutely no market for Drum Corps style brass marching or shows, except for parades. Going to the 'States for normal alumni drum corps style gigs is prohibitive, so we adopt our music to a more modem idiom that is entertaining to all, whether they know about Drum Corps or not. This means no 'old' drum corps music, not even our old 'greatest hits' such as Ben Hur, Nutcracker, Espana, Cavalliera Rusticana, etc. The style of playing is also different - no 'Park and Blow' stuff, more like a 'light' version of Blast. We do present ourselves in a Drum Corps manner - precision playing, with spectacular drums and full colour guard visuals and that is well received by the general population. Not sure what a traditional drum corps fan would think, however, since we have added saxaphone, guitar and cello, to accomodate younger non-drum corps experienced players! I guess what I am saying is that Les Dips aren't really an alumni corps, but closer to what Reilly is doing, but for our Quebec audience. It is the only way for us to continue to do 'drum corps' today for us older drum corps veterans! Salut, Bob p.