En929

I agree John

What I said is applicable to any business. I guess you've never run a business or school music program so you probably wouldn't see the applicability. I don't know what the situation is with Glassmen, but I'm saying think of how many school band programs are run with just a single band director or a minimal amounts of people and yet are able to have outstanding and successful programs with much less than $1,000,000 at their disposal. How do they do it? I guess I'm missing the boat on what's really going on with The Glassmen. But again, I'm just saying.

Our drum corps were part of public school programs that were started as extracurricular activities for our school, we didn't really compete ( I wasn't interested in competing), and I got it going for less than $1000 when I started it. But if we wanted to compete, we would have just invited some groups to come to our school and participated and if we had to go out of town, we would have just organized a school bus. As I said, the drum corps that I had was local. We didn't make any money off of what we were doing. I had my teacher's salary that's it (and yet some corps make over $1,000,000). My point was we did our drum corps with the means that we had without spending tons of money and without an entourage staff, etc. and we could have added touring and competing too if we wanted. But, eventually I changed jobs and became busier with work so thus, I was unable to continue what I was doing with the corps, but I'm just saying.

Yes, it can be done and yes that's the way some corps has done it. I don't even understand why it has to cost so much to run a drum corps. For one, I was running a corps and I did a lot of things by myself. I did all the teaching by myself (except color guard-- I had some girls do that), I bought stuff with my own money, brought some kids to practice with my own car and other kids who were dedicated found a way to practice, and when we sounded good, things were donated and given to us (including instruments, uniforms, more places to practice, invites, etc); people were willing to help out (because it was a constructive thing for the kids and everyone involved). I kept the corps going and did everything because I enjoyed the activity and I have a friend who had his own drum corps who also did a lot things by himself. He had more help than I when he started (including a bus driver), but he didn't pay anyone and his corps sounded pretty good when it got off the ground. I mean, running a drum corps by oneself is kind of what some band directors do when they have their own high school band right? And they somehow find a way to make their band work against the odds (i.e. school administration, distractions; knuckle-headed students who don't practice, and so forth). Thus, I don't see it being that much different. I don't know, maybe the mentality of doing an all (or mostly) volunteer drum corps is not here today because there are so many who think (and I emphasize think) it can't be done, and maybe I was successful because everything I did in the corps was localized (we didn't do as much touring, etc), but the way I was successful is I found ways to do things, was creative, and was constantly thinking of how I could do this and that without spending a a dime. I'm sure there can be at least major cut back so that it won't cost as much to run the drum corps. My idea is if a person has to be paid a huge sum of money to become a instructor for a drum corps, then that person is not dedicated enough. I know that some people have to pay rent, have kids, etc. But so did my friend who started a drum corps and who had volunteered to help his organization and so did some of his volunteers. They all found a way to do things all because they were truly dedicated and wanted to see the corps get off the ground and I'm sure there are people like that around. Since the Glassmen is a fairly famous corps, maybe they can just post something that says they need volunteers to help their organization out and I'm sure people will flock to them (and I would too if I could) because people love the Glassmen and don't want to see that organization fail. So yes, I'm sure it can be done (or at least could be done much cheaper). Let's not forget their former members, people who has been with the Glassmen for a long time, spectators,etc. I'm sure they can have something in the near future and yes,hopefully could revolutionize (reboot) the way drum corps has been put together. All it will take is a few people (maybe 2 or 3 or 4) who was as dedicated as I was and who has the talent and the Glassmen could carry on!

Well, if you want parades, here's one!

Actually, don't feel bad or anything. What you said was right! In your original post, you didn't say that drum corps shouldn't try to entertain, engage, and-or even interact with the crowd. You were talking about the performance aspect and how they look when performing sometimes. And you were right on that! I think part of what adds to the awe of our activity is their ability to also inspire through music and performance and part of that could be looking sharp in parades and in performances. I mean that's what gives lesser bands or people who don't normally see our activity something to look up to. When people see drum corps, you want kids saying "wow, I want to learn how to do that" or "I wish I could be in a drum corps because what they did was so cool." We want to give people something different from what they see everyday, as well as them sharing their sentiments with their friends, co-workers, etc. with them going everywhere saying "man, did you see what the Blue Devils and what those corps did yesterday??? The drums, the sound, and everything was INCREDIBLE")!!!! So yes, performance, interaction with the crowd (via educating them or making them feel like they are a part of the activity), and doing things well are all factors that adds to this activity!

I watch this clip over and over.

I don't think you need millions of dollars to start a drum corps. Heck, I got something going at my school with stuff I got from the pawn shop, hardware store, borrowed stuff, or things that were given to me. But, it took a good musical ability (I played all the instruments I taught from drums to horn); the ability to teach (but this comes with experience when you're working with the students), you'll have to be able to think outside the box and one must think for their self; one would have to enjoy the activity enough to do what it takes to keep it going (for example, for a few students who didn't have transportation to practice, I had to drive out far distances to take them to practice). I think running a drum corps is essentially like being a band director (and it is more or less). Grant it, your corps won't start of being like the Cavaliers or Cadets at first and don't expect that, and in fact it might even be rock bottom of the barrel at first , etc. and would be totally unlike what you expect. But the main thing to do is to have enduring patience and consistently do things to keep it going and never give up!

I don't call it getting carried away. You had a lot of valid points.

Well said!

I’d like to add to this. Part of what got me interested in drum corps is what I saw them do in parades. I’ll never forget when I was in high school and we were in a parade and had such a mediocre band, but then we looked over and saw a mighty impressive drum corps come down the street with big sound, looking sharp, in step; with deep and dark sound, incredible drums and they meant business!! Me and my classmates saw that and were saying “omg, I want to be in that!! I wish we could play like them.” Coming from a mediocre band, we never really seen anything like that before and all the events of that day i.e. the parade and field show we saw later with a great band in it, is part of why I’m here now. Hence, we don’t want people seeing a drum corps and thinking “oh, it’s just another band.” We should be trying to inspire people and set an example. For there could be dozens of people watching that sees a drum corps vs. the bands and be so awestruck enough (like I was), they’d come in, be a part of, and support our activity (as I’ve done).

I'm sorry, but the guy in this clip looks a little bit like Dennis Kucinich lol

That's a good question. I'm betting either Blue Devils, Bluecoats, or Carolina Crown lol

I totally agree with you. Drum corps should be showing people the elite marching units that they are when compared to high schools and lesser marching units that are in the same parade with them (the other marching units who actually don’t take what they’re doing seriously). I mean, people don’t get to see drum corps everyday. Also, it frankly looks better and adds to the greatness factor when corps march in step and take their parade performance as serious as any other performance. I know exactly which clip it was where one of them played Earth, Wind and Fire. They played a nice arrangement of that song, sounded great, but they ruined the performance by not marching in step, getting out of line, and doing unusual and unnecessary stuff. Half of that corps looked good and the other half clearly didn’t look like they were taking their performance seriously nor looked like they knew what they were doing. I never forgot that clip. I think one can have fun in parades and still look great too. I mean, when people compare drum corps to marching unit, we want people to be in awe and say “wow, was that a drum corps” or “is that what a drum corps does? That’s pretty cool!!!” We want to bring the crowds to their knees in parades too. So, I agree with you 100% on this. If they need to relax, then they should relax after the performance or have a bit of free time until the next event or something.

This is sad news to me as Glassmen is one of my favorite drum corps. I like how they're run and I've always enjoyed their shows since 1993.

It seems like these days I'm taking more interest in watching University Marching Bands perform more so than drum corps, or I tend to watch more DCA or drum corps outside of the USA. To me, such seems to be more entertaining and more old school.

You got my point correct. Sadly, some people have a tendency to make things out to be more than what they really are (I’m not trying to be rude or anything, but it’s just what I see sometimes). Either one is going to go forth with their plan or not. To the original poster, I encourage your ambitions and simply do what you have to do to make it work somehow. Someday, I’m going to try to get a drum corps back up and running and I guarantee when I start, I won’t be worried about an entourage staff, taxing, politics, and whatever else. I’m simply going to be worried about getting a few instruments, signing on people who are interested in joining, getting a sound place to practice, and when it gets decent enough, we’ll go and have some places to perform. That’s pretty much it. Ok, thank you, I’m pretty much done with this topic. I gave my two cents. One can spin it how they want! Peace!

This is actually no surprise to me that so many people attended. People love drum corps. I just think there's not enough exposure of it. But when they're is, people do watch and listen.

That doesn’t matter!! I was naming some ways for if someone wants to make a career with drum corps more or less and have one without having to spend a crap load of money. Sure, one is not going to make lots of money with a career in drum corps (maybe or maybe not) but those are a few ideas and they can be mixed (but I have to disagree with you on street performers: if you’re good, then that money will come. It just has to be done right)! Among other things that one can do is also teach some of the drum corps instruments. For example, be a brass instructor, drum instructor or guard instructor for a school with a marching band or like venues (it’s close enough to drum corps) as well as performer (whether it’s street or what have you). There are a lot of things that I can see that haven’t been done with the drum corps venue. People think just because they aged out of drum corps, their drum corps ambitions have to stop there. Heck, drummers can get together with some friends who play drums drum corps style and go out on the streets (but, follow the laws) or somewhere, get some cadences together and play them, and watch it draw crowds, and so forth. Heck, make original music with drum corps instruments (afterall they’re brass instruments right)? One has to think, be innovative, be creative, be original, think outside the box, don’t always follow the norm and do a mixture of things. The hell with talking about taxes and all of that. Just go out and do what you got to do!!

To answer that question, I'd listen to drum corps and/or marching band anytime, any place, and from anywhere!!

It seems like kind of a New Orleans concept and I enjoy seeing street bands and live entertainment as such and I think there needs to be more of that (and live music as a whole) in our communities in some form or fashion. I mean, with all of the band programs and people in bands, I would think more people would be trying to have more bands and do something with what they learned in them and/or with their talent instead of leaving them at school. And I’d say why not make use of more instruments that are traditionally found in drum corps and marching bands? And it seems like that’s part of what they've done in this video.

This might sound like a crazy idea, but I'm serious because I've seen it done. But if a person wants to have a career with drum corps, another thing that I could suggest is street performer (or performer somewhere). And YES, I've seen some kids with some drum corps styled drumming and they made buckets of money doing that and had crowds. People love drum corps more than some realize. So that's another suggestion. In that way, one wouldn't have to worry about tours and what have you. Anyway, that's another idea.

Great post. Everything said here is some of the greatest advice and very well said, and you beat me to it.