En929

The truth is the average Chinese don't have a lot of time for drum corps and music. They are always studying for exams, working, playing video games and if they did have time for things like music, they'd prefer more mainstream things like rock bands, orchestral, guitar, drum set, piano or their traditional things. Much of the culture is locked into a certain way of doing things unlike here in America. The Chinese also don't have a lot of money and are usually lazy (this next generation of Chinese are).

Some of the memorable moments I had is when we were camping on the countryside. The sight out there was awesome. And after practice around night, we'd just go running around in the forest.

Yes, Mylar snare drum heads and very dark sounding bass drums.

Yup, most of this would describe the time in which I marched. When I marched, it was a time in which the drum corps I was in had to work with what they had.

Thank you, this is the exact information I was looking for. I'll put the word out in case there are students that want to march there this summer. I'll show a few past clips of the corps to some to try to generate interest! Sounds like a great opportunity!

Thanks!

What are the Pioneers doing this year, how are they coming along, and did those who marched with the Glassmen take the Pioneer’s offer and decided to march with the Pioneers since the Glassmen will be inactive this year? Thank you!

Yes, because it's colorguard

Here’s an analogical story that describes some of the logic and mindsets I find here in DCP with some people: Me: There’s a truck coming, watch out!!!! Response: It’s not truck it’s a Mack-Truck. Me: The truck is coming NOW!!! Get out of the way!!!! Response: It’s a Mack-Tru (before they could even finish the sentence) SMASHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Moral of the story: Truck or Mack-Truck, I was telling you that something was coming. So, you should have got out of the way!! And the question then becomes did it have to end that way? Was all of that arguing even worth it? ------ Anyway, back to the topic:

Thanks you!

I'm not a troll. Just asked an honest question. And frankly, I stopped reading and responding to those posts that don't seem like they're trying to answer my question and know what I'm talking about. It's just not worth getting bogged down with, it's a waste of time, it's kind of silly too - that's one problem with this channel. The Pioneer (or Pioneers) whichever you prefer. Obviously, there are those who know what I was referring to.

That's ok. They knew who I was talking about. I don't get so bogged down with names and petty things like some people on here do. The Pioneers is actually one of my favorite corps for what they are and I was just wondering more about The Pioneers and what they're doing this year (especially since they're taking the Glassmen's membership). Did any of the ones who marched Glassmen or who were going to march with the Glassmen take Pioneer's offer? That's what I was wondering initially.

I was wondering what is the Pioneers membership looking like this year? I saw their offer here for those who were going to march with the Glassmen, to go to the Pioneers. That’s one corps I would love to see go up further. I think they deserve to do well. I myself think it will be an interesting year for them and look forward to seeing what comes out from them this year.

Well, I try to add diversity. I'll be the one to post from the perspective as someone who is always broke lol.

It's ok. We're talking about band and music here, so it fits.

That would be a brilliant idea. I definitely would like to see some of the more famous corps (like Southwind) come back in some kind of way and I still find it hard to believe that the Glassmen is going inactive this year. So something like this would be good and I think the Pioneers if I'm not mistaken is trying to grasp on to some of the Glassmen in terms of membership resource this year - something I thought was a brilliant idea for them. I can say the same about some of those old Division 2 and 3 corps looking to come back or that want to gain Division 1 status much faster. They could implement an idea like this and go from there.

Somehow, I knew before I saw this list that Alan Greenspan played the Clarinet. He just looks like a Clarinet player.

Celebrities who Marched I know the above link isn't drum corps, but it's still interesting. It makes me wonder how many were in drum corps.

But where are they going to get the money for all that?? They said that they’re going broke! Let’s not forget what you said in your thread above about corps and businesses spending and going beyond their means. That was a brilliant post and I agreed with it! So thus, stick to that!! I think part of the reason businesses fail is they try to be all things to all people; try to focus on too many things instead of just a few major things and instead of trying to keeping things simple. I never understood why some Americans just have to have an entourage worth of stuff; entourages worth of staff, and stretch themselves thin in that way. The Chinese EXCEL in knowing about the above concepts. And this is why in my neighborhood, a lot of our American born businesses are shutting down while Chinese businesses are steady going up, taking over, and staying up (heck, in my neighborhood now, we mostly have Chinese businesses and Walmart)! And yet, when I go into some of those businesses, I look at their practices!! In a Chinese restaurant, there’s a manager there making sure that nothing gets cooked until someone buys it, or in another store the business is in a storefront so they work downstairs and their home is upstairs so that rent goes all in one places; it saves gas, and so forth and in turn, such keeps prices low. Others businesses take the cheapest, worst, blandest looking building on the block that nobody else would take, fix it up themselves, and run their business through that) and many have booming business by just doing the same general things forever. In China itself, the business just sell and concentrate on a few things and no more than that. A lot of what they do is funny, but right!!! So, what’s up with our American businesses?? In my post above, I said “I think the role of DCI should be just scheduling events, initializing a few general rules, initialize the judging panel, and make video tapes of the finals.” What more do they need to do than that?? And I thought that’s mostly what they did in the past anyway and it seemed like they were doing fine back then. And in my saying about the above, goes with the old adage, “less is more.” After scheduling, setting rules, judging contests, and making videos, the rest would take care of itself; they're not the ones playing the horns, drums, and doing colors on the field. The kids are! So, in my reasoning, I wonder what’s the real reason DCI is in financial trouble? What do they do with the money they get??? Heck, they get millions worth in ticket sales each year (and those tickets aren’t cheap), and a lot of us buy their DVDs (I know I bought many of their DVDs from their legacy collection; the 2008 season, some of the bottom 17 corps that didn’t make the cut to the top 12, and some of their small division 3 corps videos) and that goes up to more than $400 and there are people more fanatical than me that probably buy thousands of dollars worth of stuff each year. So, what could possibly be going on??? As you said at first, they're most likely are spending beyond their means!

I just think that DCI has become too big for what it should be for. I think the role of DCI should mostly be just scheduling events, initializing a few general rules that corps will have to go by, initialize the judging panels, and video tape the finals. That should be about it!

A lot of great points here. I agree that either the corps are either spending beyond their means OR I add making things more complicated than what they need to be and thus, create uncontrollable situations like debt, unmanageable situations, etc. I think some need to follow and bear in mind the words of Einstein: "Things should be made as simple as possible, but not any simpler."

Speaking of 1990 and below, I guess their drills were more simplistic drill (that is, they were not always simple but I think more simpler than today maybe) and I think their drills were more accessible too and I detect maybe there was more emphasize on the music aspect. I don't know what it is about old school drum corps, but I tend to get sucked into watching those more. I like the deep and dark aspects of corps back then.

I totally agree with everything said here.

I’ve been seeing a lot posts here on Drum Corps Planet and other drum corps sites, and a lot of people seem to wish ill-will on Hopkins and I think that’s just wrong. I definitely do NOT! I think he’s an excellent corps director (I actually met him); I think he’s very passionate about the activity, his group, and does care about the kids and about winning (there’s nothing wrong with wanting to win and be the best: I mean, who DOESN’T want to win and why not try to win if one has the capacity)?? Ok, let’s look; I myself like old school drum corps. I will always love the old drum corps style of the 80s more than what I see now and I too don’t like too much amplification (but the Cavalier’s Samurai show is an exception, they made it work, they sounded good and that’s actually one of my favorite shows – And I actually thought they won that year). Now sure, Hopkins made proposals in DCI that people don’t like that are manifests today but 1) I think he’s just trying to invoke more possibilities IN CASE there are corps that want to do different things or do things we haven’t seen before 2) why not blame the corps that are actually implementing those new proposals because after all, they don’t have to implement the new things. If the corps want to, they can just keep everything old school but corps are not choosing to do so 3) why not also blame the people who votes to pass those proposals and thus have them pass. Hence, it’s not just Hopkins. I think it’s the voting party inside DCI that votes in the new changes (for whatever reason); rule changes that some of us on here don’t like.

I wonder if the people running DCI actually comes in here to Drum Corps Planet? I'd say especially major corps directors, Hopkin (I personally have NO ill will towards him) but there's a lot being said about him; I also think some major people who runs DCI should come in and read some of these threads and find out what people are saying about them, especially on the idea of amps. I saw what was said about DCI now in financial troubles, and maybe they could come in to find out why (i.e. why people are not going to their shows or buying their DVDs as much). And besides, there are all kind of ideas being thrown around from varying perspectives (and some of these perspectives I'm sure are anonymous and anonymous people and-or people who are not using their real names here,as we know says EVERYTHING on their mind and they get to really hear what people think about them). So thus, from a business point of view, Drum Corps Planet would be one of their bases. But, I guess since amps are continuing, I guess they don't come here. But, this is just a thought.