En929

Sounds like a great idea. And I would like to see that. Drumlines is one of the BIG reasons that many people go to see drum corps shows (it's another reason I go). So I can see a drumline competition between the corps being a big venue and I don't know why they didn't have them all along, put them as part of the dci individual contests at the end of the year or nevertheless, have them throughout the year at the end of shows.

I think that DCI has the G7 vs the rest of the corps backwards. They need to listen more to the rest of the corps than the G7, because the rest of the corps might need more help than the G7 corps does. In my saying, they should listen to those with boots on the ground not boots in the air.

I would say my high school band director who while wasn't in drum corps per se, he introduced us to Marching bands, had us in parades and field shows, and put us in competitions so that we could see other bands and drum corps and see what was possible beyond what our band could do. He also took us to audition for great marching bands, played drum corps videos, took us to drum corps and shows with marching bands in them, and all lead to my interest in drum corps. The other people are my drum corps directors who expanded on what my band director showed us.

I agree with this.

Those are some nice links. They portray some very different styles of dance and music. Some of it reminds me of Beijing opera.

I’m starting to think if it comes to this it may even time to create a new circuit and to where the drum corps venue is restored to supporting all corps who want to participate. We need to go back to the days in which there were many more drum corps instead of just the top elite. I don’t like this idea of only a few controlling everything and being represented. Either the above happens or we hit the reset button for DCI to go back to its basics. I would think the role of DCI should mostly be just scheduling competitions amongst corps who wants to participate and videotaping them at the end of the year more or less. Let’s keep it simple!

This sounds like the same things that are going on in Washington

I'm not so sure about that. Spending is part of the reason for incurring debt. This idea about there must be a reason for spending so I'll just trust them is part of the mentality that has gotten our whole country into debt too. If there's debt, that means someone has spent beyond their means. So, I wouldn't put so much faith in that way. We don't know for sure where all the money is going or whether the excess spending was necessary or not. But, based on many things that were said in this thread, I think there's a lot of unnecessary spending going on throughout drum corps and I tend to believe the opposite. But anyway, I'm done with this topic. There has been a lot of great things said here from both sides. I just wish the Glassmen well and I hope they get back up and running. I myself would volunteer for them if I lived in Toledo. I personally wouldn't want their money because I'd want them to use that money in other places, save it, or so. Taking their money would make me feel guilty and make me think I'm part of the reason they're incurring debt. So, I wouldn't.

Going to Lithuania??? Heyyyy, wait for me! lol

In my saying, anything is worth a try

And I'd like to add that the corps below the top 12, don't have as much money as the corps in the top 12 do. So thus, if they're looking for answers and ways to remedy their financial situation, then they need to hear from the side that is not as well to do.

And one last thing about the DCI vs. DCA arguments is I wish that whoever came up with the labels of DCI vs. DCA would have never created the distinction and just simply called it “Drum Corps,” because making distinctions have people focused on the wrong things (i.e. the age, etc.). There are PHENOMENAL groups in both including our U.S.Marine corps, Yokomama Scouts and so forth. But anyway, this would be another thread.

Yes, based on the things I’ve been reading in this thread, I think drum corps itself needs to hit the reset button and go back to the time in which many more volunteers were used, to where many more things were done and-or gotten locally (local talent, etc), and to where it didn’t have to cost millions to run a drum corps; they need to follow the above models of WGI or DCA model or do something. I never will be convinced that it HAS TO cost millions to run a drum corps. When hearing that, something just didn’t add up other than what others posted above about them having to have different uniforms every year, having to have huge semis AND buses, or not having students bring their own instruments And lunches or enough money for those things, cutting touring and having entourage staff, etc). Drums, horns and students should be the main focus of what’s needed in a drum corps. Everything else should probably be left out or should be much less of them or borrowed. Heck, give me a million dollars to run a drum corps. We’d run it with minimal amount of cost; budgeting it and the rest will go straight into my pockets!

This is a brilliant idea!

We all agree perc2100.

That’s just not true. DCA members “focus on the joy of music amongst their peers” too. Why would the enjoyment amongst friends and all that be any different in DCA? Heck, that’s a reason people join drum corps besides playing the music; honing skills, strives toward excellence, and the enjoyment of the drum corps activity itself. I’ve actually been in one of those groups and to me it honestly wasn’t that much different! The kids didn’t give a darn whether adults were around or not. They did what they did and did what kids do! Everyone was practicing and performing like what all do in drum corps. How many times do we see kids go to DCA to get experience to march DCI? ALL THE TIME!!! When I was in a DCA corps, half the kids in there were marching in the DCA corps just so that they can have enough experience or get the skills they need to march their age-out year in DCI and the corps gave them a venue for that because they didn’t have any other place to get the skills (for example, the DCA corps was closer to home, etc). There were other kids who got into the DCA corps and stayed in! “Why go anywhere else and I can get the same experience and march as much as I want, do what I enjoy and not have put up with that about age out stuff and “why waste talent?” etc.” is what some said! And by the way, some DCA corps DO kick ###. Go see some of their shows!!

Who says the members in DCA don't march drum corps for the same reasons and don't have as much fun as those in the DCI circuits do?? The DCA circuits DO have fun!!!! They have A LOT of fun. And trying to say that DCI members can focus on the "joy of music" more than the DCA corps do is just completely untrue. And how can the perception be that much different? For one thing, people are people. Whether mature or immature the whole spectrum exists in DCA too! Nevertheless, people march DRUM CORPS (and I emphasize DRUM CORP) whether DCI, DCA, DCE, DCJ, etc. because they enjoy the activity or want to improve on their skills, etc. So in that aspect, I don't think DCA is any much different except for the age requirements and DCA rehearses mostly on the weekends; their schedules are shorter than those in DCI, and members in DCA can march as much as they want. But the drum corps aspect and reasons people march drum corps are generally all the same.

This here answers my question as to why corps need millions and millions to keep themselves running. At first, I didn't understand.

Well said. A lot great points made here too.

Well said!

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I don’t get why corps don’t follow this model and-or got away from it so much. I’d like to add, there’s all kinds of talent going in and out of the Glassmen and DCI itself by the thousands. So thus, why not tap into some of that talent and-or expand on it. I have a problem believing that the ones who get the biggest salary to teach drum corps are the only talented people out there that can make the corps do what they do. There are a lot of talented people out here!!!! And some people would love working with the Glassmen just to keep that corps a float and because they love the Glassmen and drum corps itself and yes, volunteer. That would be a huge honor for some people and not just for their enjoyment of drum corps, heck that could be a good spot on their resume and bragging rights too! Just think how that would sound: “I taught for the Glassmen’s Drum and Bugle Corps!!!”

Actually Michael, there are some people who would take that offer lol. One gets to eat, sleep, travel, watch drum corps and participate in music and all of the other great stuff that goes along with it for free??? That's a great deal!!! I can see some people jumping on that bandwagon especially if they don't have anything else going on at the time lol.

Baja, I read your original post and it didn't say anything about you saying staff don't deserve to get paid. You made some valid points that made a lot of sense for an organization (the Glassmen) who is having financial trouble at the moment and you were putting forth an idea worth considering (and things that were done before in drum corps). Nevertheless, a struggling organization has to consider everything. But, I just came to say that you'll find that here on Drum Corps Planet some people will twist your words, inject things that you didn't say, say immature and unreasonable things, and not really give true consideration to what you said (and I'm convinced that some didn't even really read what your original post said). So that's why when I make posts here on drum corps planet, I either just make my statements and keep going or just skip over the ones that don't sound like they're trying to be within reason of what was originally said or those who don't seem like they want to have a mature discussion. I quit responding to those. No offense to anyone, but that's just something to remember when trying to have a constructive discussion here.

Speaking of parades, I wonder when they're going to have another All-Star drum and bugle corps like in the clip. The above seems like an awesome idea.

I'd like to bridge these two statements. I'd support the poor and starving kids there in Ethiopia and support the music and a drum corps program there if they had one.