hairbear

This right here! Nailed it!

I know exactly what you mean and who put us in the stands that night. There's a tree at the Econolodge in Allentown with a scar on it, where a limb used to be. 😉 I've calmed down considerably, since then.

Ohio Brass Factory, Alliance Ohio. 1980 to 1983: Four years in a row, sitting in the stands eating hotdogs and watching DCA finals instead of competing. Four years in a row just south of 12th place. How do you convince your corps members that this is a good way to spend a weekend? The corps closed its doors after a 13th place finish in the 83 season. A corps that was very well funded and managed. A corps that was loaded with talented folks. A corps that might have opened the Midwest up to DCA competition, years ago. DCA was a hard nut to crack, in those days. Anyone from OBF that wanted to compete in DCA, went east. Yes, I was one of them.

I tried to respond, but something went south on me.... I'll try again. stand by. 🙂

Why would a corps from New Jersey spend a truckload of money to travel to say.... Ohio or Georgia, to compete in a regular season contest? Why would they do this when traditionally, they've been able to have a full summer contest season and a championship finals right in their back yard? Is there a reason to spend that money? what are the benefits? If I was a corps director of an east coast DCA corps, those are the questions I'd be asking. Carpool 45 miles up or down I-95 to a contest, or charter two busses and go to Georgia for a contest that's held on a Sunday? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they'd be going to the contest that's only 45 miles away.

Deleted, because I felt my response was too far off topic. Carry on. 🙂

Doing alright, Fred. Staying close to home these days.

Which was my location for 2019 finals, due to health issues.

I've not been on here for quite a while, but I've been following the discussion on this topic. I must agree with and bring up something Fran said: DCA had it's own vibe. He's right. I remember some DCA corps would say (occasionally) "we think we're good enough to compete with the DCI corps". Were they? I don't think so... not in that decade and certainly not in this decade. In the 1980's, a DCA corps didn't look or perform like a DCI corps. There were subtle differences. I learned this fact in an interesting way, back when Star of Indiana was competing. Somebody from Steel City Ambassadors in 1987 was marching with Star the following season. At the Centerville show, I tried to say hello (and not thinking) I walked right up to him, when he was in the horn arc. I was stopped by another member who said (and I quote) "He's in rehearsal now". Her delivery was brief and I might add, mildly arrogant. I walked away and said to myself, "this isn't DCA". I was right, too. There was a difference. You may enjoy the DCI corps, but at a respectful distance. They are after all, the top of the drum corps game; the professionals. DCA on the other hand, was the weekend warriors; loads of talent that made it possible to stage a quality show, entertain the audience and do it on a somewhat smaller budget. The genie is out of the bottle and there's no going back. DCA looks more and more like DCI, every year. They still can't compete against DCI corps, but DCI is what the young folks know. In that regard, DCI has the recognized brand identity and the marketing to support it. Something was lost, in the transition to what some have called "DCI Lite". Maybe what was lost is what Fran was alluding to: The connection with the audience, the personalities and the entertainers... the casual approach to the activity. Knowing who and what we were and more importantly, why we were that way. Those days have passed. Fill the corps ranks with young folks, design shows that appeal to them, give them the "DCI lite" experience for far less money and hope they stick around long enough to carry DCA on their shoulders. Perhaps the most telling wake up call I faced was this: There are members of our local DCA corps who weren't born when I won a DCA championship in 1996. The folks I marched with can be found in three places, during finals weekend: The alumni corps, the stands or the judging panel. Those few hearty souls that may be found in the ranks of a competing corps, deserve an award (or free chiropractor services) one or the other. I don't know if DCA will be around in five years. I don't know what needs to be done (beyond a strong marketing effort), to increase attendance. All I know is if people aren't buying your product at the volume you need to see in order to grow your business, you ought to take a closer look at what you're trying to sell.

Himbad, Pfunk, Big Irv, Hairbear. Collectively: "The Brothers"

For the record: Terri is 100% correct, Big W. Please... give the credit where and to whom it is due. That is to the Director, his management team, Nick and his team, Tim Snyder for his arranging skills and I might add: several donors who made it all possible. My part in their success is smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. I'd appreciate putting this to rest, now. Thank you.

I rarely post here anymore and am surprised to hear my name mentioned. (well, my nickname) Big W, don't assume that I have (or had) so much influence and input in C.T.'s success. While it's true that I performed a particular task, that task was accomplished several seasons ago. If any accolades are due, they should rightfully go to Nick Angelis and his team. This is an entirely revamped organization, well managed and taught by a stellar staff. My current duties within this framework are as follows: Paint stuff. fix stuff. deliver stuff. pick up stuff. If I'm not doing that, I can usually be found sitting on the sidelines, where I belong. :)

Prelims before the birds are chirping, after an all night bus ride and a run through in a parking lot, circa 1983. :)

Yep! That was Sandy!

As a public service: (humor implied and hopefully recognized as such) Some folks not from here, will occasionally get the spelling wrong. It's all those N's and I's that make it difficult. "Cincinnati". That's how to spell our fair city's name. Follow Cincinnati with Chili and you're as close to nirvana as you'll get! For reasons that escape me, we see more Pittsburgh "Terrible Towels" here in town, than we see Bengal tiger stripes, but that's another story. Just have a 5 way and a cheese coney and enjoy our riverfront. It's been said that you need a passport to travel from the eastside to the westside, the dividing line being located halfway around the I-275 loop. If Cincinnati is just too cumbersome to employ in a conversation, here's the generally accepted alternative: "Cincy", which is considered polite slang. A cooler version is "The Nati". The correct abbreviation is as follows: "Cinti". If you book a flight to Cincinnati, you'll land at the Greater Cincinnati Airport, which is located in Kentucky. (don't ask) We know who we are. :)

Up here in these parts, we say "Cincy". :)

This topic might be misplaced, but the all age forum seems to be a suitable location. How many of you have been to a show or a rehearsal and had a chance to talk to a young DCA corps member? I'm talking about a conversation lasting more than 5 minutes. Maybe you are involved with a corps as a volunteer or as a management team member. Lets say you have been around the activity for more than 20 years. Here's a sample of what I'm on about: A young corps member with a few years of marching band, WGI, or maybe a season or two of drum corps regales me with their vast experience in all things marching music. They don't know me. They don't know my history in the activity. (this is season number 50 for me) When I try to contribute to the discussion, I'm interrupted and reminded that they know what they are talking about and of their past accomplishments. They weren't born when I won a DCA championship in 1996. How do you handle such a conversation? There are two ways of responding; You can forcefully remind them that you've been around the block more than a time or two, listing every win and every corps you've been a member of (going back decades) until they realize they sound ridiculous. What will that accomplish? At precisely the time that you and others are trying to grow their experience and skills, you've made them feel inferior. I remain silent. That's how I respond. I try to keep in mind that this is their day in the sun and as such, a chance for them to achieve what I did, so many years ago. Doing that takes all my patience, but the end result is (hopefully) a successful marching member of a corps that's on it's way to greatness. I think the "old stories" are best shared with my peers and not with today's young members. They can't relate, having not been born when the stories originated. The reality seems to be that what we accomplished in our day(s), eventually becomes irrelevant and uninteresting. I paint brake drums silver, run errands, repair broken things and sit on the sidelines, whenever I'm not doing anything that needs doing. That's reality enough for one lifetime. :)

To return the thread to the topic at hand: With a history of sound business decisions and wise planning that they're known for, I think Minnesota Brass can get past this hurdle in fine form.

Just watched a video of C2 in the parade. That is the biggest "35 member horn line" I ever saw. LOL! I'm no mathematician, but my first look says there were more than 35 in the line. Everybody is looking to fill spots in their corps. Getting those last spots filled, takes a considerable amount of effort. Same as it ever was... same as it ever was....

How much rain did we get at 87 finals? When I got home (Cincinnati) on Monday night, I was still wearing wet clothing.

1993 season with Brigadiers: Get in my van and drive to Pittsburgh and pick up Sandy , Dave and Irv, then drive to Syracuse. That's the first part of the trip @ 14 hours. Arrive in Syracuse and get on the bus to Boston. I didn't know how long that took. I wasn't doing the driving, so I didn't care. Do the rehearsal and the show, then back to Syracuse. Members that lived in Syracuse got in their cars and drove home, went to bed, got up in the morning and read the Sunday paper, had cornflakes and muffins or whatever. In the meantime, I'm still driving back home (through Pittsburgh) and on to Cincinnati. I didn't go home. I drove to the parking lot of the factory I worked at and slept in my van. When my wind up alarm clock rang, I got out of the van and clocked in and did my 8 hour shift. I don't remember Monday night, but I felt okay by Tuesday morning. :)

Not intended as a slight, but more along the lines of humor: When Williamsport was announced as the 2018 DCA championship city, I went online to have a look at what amenities might be available. I looked at attractions. Kinda slim in that department. Bar/lounge in the hotel I'll be staying at? Yep. That's good. I don't drink, but I still want someplace to hang out and have a Coke. Culinary establishments? Under Seafood, here's what is listed: "Long John Silvers" and "Red Lobster". :) Now I get it; Williamsport Pa. is fairly landlocked. There won't be seagulls or crab cakes. I'll have to make do with one of the two options available. (You'll find me at Red Lobster) I did see one "pub grub" establishment that looks promising and I'll give it a shot, too. The stadium looks great for the corps. If we don't have to push pit instruments up a mountainside, that's a big plus in my book. The seating is a tad problematic for us older folks. If somebody were to set up a barbecue venue at the stadium, I'll bet they'll do plenty of business. (that's a hint) We're all in this together, so lets give Williamsport a chance. :)

Drove past the stadium this past labor day weekend and waved. :)

Somewhere around the house here, I have a recording of the crowd noise at the 1981 DCA finals show. What can be heard from that old cassette tape is nothing like what you'd hear today. There's a guy walking through the seating, shouting "Snow cones! Get your snow cones here!" Much like vendors at ball parks, selling beer and hotdogs in the stands. This is going on between (and during) corps performances. Cheering sections abound, throughout the tape. Today, we only have the unified Bucs "cheering section". On that tape, you can hear supporters of the other corps, as well. It was common for drum majors to holler to the audience and the audience hollered back! Pepe Nataro hollered out to his corps saying "I got a blue feather! at the 1980 finals. Whenever George Parks mace went up in the air, the crowd shouted when he caught it on its way back down. Lets not forget the pandemonium when Westshore let the birds loose at the 1980 finals contest. The audience was laughing, Walt was shooting his blank pistol at the birds, I stood up and waved a rubber chicken in the air, gave it a toss and caught it and the folks around me cheered. If anyone at all had a complaint about some staff members cheering in those days, it was likely drowned out by the audience cheering en masse. In the 1982 season, I asked my (ex) wife to record our performance (Ohio Brass Factory). She cheered loudly throughout the recording, ruining the effort. I put the tape in the player and after the recording was over, I tossed it out the window of the car. In those days, I heard my (ex) wife every day. I wanted to hear the corps. Maybe it was a case of youthful exuberance, but it seemed that the audience was more boisterous in those days. Everything changes. I expect audiences change, too. I'm far more reserved at 65 years old, than I was at 35. If todays audience(s) expect not to be annoyed by cheering staff members and they paid for their seats, then we ought to give them exactly what they paid for.

I think it all boils down to this: shows are won or lost on the rehearsal field. The class A contest results would seem to support my opinion.