drumzaway

I have a better idea. What if Div. II/III, instead of competing with the Div. I drum and trumpet musical extravaganzas, did something radical? What about starting a new "circuit" of Div. II/III drum and BUGLE corps? This could be fun and economical. There must be about a million real bugles floating around former drum and bugle corps storage rooms in this country, so startup costs would be cheap. Get those bugles back in action. Next, eliminate or substantially reduce the pit. Costs once again would plummet. Don't spend a dime on amplification or any other electronics. Limit travel so that local kids with average family incomes could once again afford to march. Transportation vehicles and costs could be sharply reduced. Do snazzy, but less complicated marching shows to eliminate costly drill designs and extensive practice times to learn the drills. Implementing all of these factors would also reduce staffing costs. You don't need a huge staff to keep it simple. Play recognizable tunes to build public support and bring people into your shows. Our little community concert band plays the same patriotic tunes year after year, yet the public turns out in droves to watch the same old show. Do joint shows with DCI, DCA, BOA, and whoever at every opportunity. Establish community presence at parades, fairs and local events. Put a corps in every city! Surely with the number of former marchers in this world support could be gathered, and startup and operating costs would be cheap. There are thousands of kids who would jump on an opportunity to march without giving up their summer incomes. The talent pool is huge. But seriously, it really is all about the money. As costs rise, the number of corps drops. Simple economics. Corps can't afford to get on the road and field, and kids can't afford to march. Tickets to shows are pretty expensive these days too. Make it more affordable and appealing to the mass audience and it might be a whole new world for the activity. It's just a thought. Never mind.

Early 80's, DCA, we had a snare player who was six months pregnant in our line! She, who will remain unnamed, could really play, the doctor said it wasn't a problem, and she kept on going! We took her to shows in a motor home so the ride would be smoother than the bus. Her husband played soprano in the corps too. So....we are doing a show and there she is, the baby all out in front on her tiny frame, and the snare is propped way out on that big belly, and the judge finally gets the picture. I think it almost killed him, he about fell over in shock, struggling not to drop his clipboard, and his review tapes kept us laughing all the way home. I guess you don't often see something like that in a drum line. I never did hear what happened to them all, but I'll bet the kid has musical inclinations now! :)