smarttguy35

After reading all of this, I have a couple of observations. Now speaking from a different vantage point than all of you who have commented on this thread, a modern DM (08-09) of a finalist corps, Jim Jones runner-up,a non marching member, I think I am entitled to probably what may be the most accurate synopsis of this situation. To start, most of you are incredibly off base, the veracity of some of the claims is FAR from an accurate description of what the DM/Conductor/Principal Conductor position is these days. I can assure you for almost ALL of the top 12 corps our position from a functional stand point is not very different corps to corps.If you question that, I can assure we communicate on tour every night with each other, before/after retreat, e-mail, etc. In fact Gene, made us almost incredibly accessible to each other. It is hard to read and see somewhat base-less arguments from people honestly who have never held the postion. As mentioned prior, DMs aren't afforded the opportunity of a bad day. But also recognize, they are paying members that are held to an incredibly HIGHER standard than everyone who walks through the door as a MM. They are, part tour director, cheif student leader, motivator, liason between the staff and students, the director and the students, the volunteers and the students, the housing site contacts the staff and students, and the list goes on. Imagine 5 worlds colliding and that is the typical day of the modern drum major. It's fun and exciting, but again it's not a job, they pay just like every other member, have a seat partner like every other member (with a few rare exceptions) and so on. That being said there has to be an intrinsic value of "education" that must come from there experience. I personally looked at an education from a corps operations/music education perspective. I was blessed to learn from some of the best directors/a tour director/ brass caption head/and a percussion consultant in the activty, that CHANGED how I approach my own teaching and judging, non profit management, leadership etc. When there is something that threatens that educational experience, like most paying individuals when you yourself pay for a service, you take your business elsewhere. Further, from a MM perspective, if the corps can no longer meet the educational requirements a member seeks, they leave. I know the inline DM who left to go to Cavies. He's a great guy; I personally worked with him for 2 years. I also know him well enough to know that his education was better served at another ensemble. It has nothing to do with loyalty. He spent all (I'm pretty sure 7 years) of his marching career with that prior organization before he left. Don't tie anything to "my generations lack of loyalty and committment" We invest thousands of dollars (for some of you, it's your money) for 3 months out of the year for an education. We would be remise to make imprudent judgements on that investment in an environment that isn't enriching or cultivating. Imagine I take your entire 401k and Roth IRA and invest it in bit-coin. I'm pretty sure you'll be upset when I tell you I lost your life savings about 6-12 months from now. Which by the way at the rate in which we blow the activity into a financial behemoth, thats almost exactly kids have to do to march, that is to dump thousands of dollars into the activity. Or invest in a college degree for basket weaving for your son or daughter, and see if you don't feel like they just wasted thousands of your dollars. I'll be honest being on the side podium sucks (I've been there, and you are just a metronome). You don't learn much and if your emphasis is on a well rounded education from the DM persepctive (corps/tour management, music education, leadership), you aren't getting it. I can count the number of organizations I have been a part of that I have seen the Asst. get cultivated on one hand, and that's because I'm having to help do it. So why not leave? I tell you what, go work in a dead end job, where you aren't learning, you aren't being cultivated and built up, you don't get any sort of praise (if you don't think it's a thankless job come spend 8 hrs with any one of us, I've been fortunate to be on both sides of the coin and you cherish the other side when it's there),you have a personality conflict with someone or a few people you are dotted line to, and see how unbearable of a situation that becomes and quickly. Drum corps is supposed to be fun. In the least fun job that exists on the field, and I've personally been told by my directors in the past, "Your job sucks.", we find fun in doing what we do. DMs thrive on the stress the excitement and the opportunity.2% of what we do is on the podium. I remember numerous sleepless or 30-45 min nap nights to keep the corps going. When it ceases being fun or educational, like most normal people, we seek to find enjoyment by doing what we do elsewhere...

Laser.Lemon, I'm the guy that njthundrrd was talking about. I spent two years as the Blue Stars DM and 2009 age out. I was a Chemical Engineering undergrad, with about 4-5 other minors to throw in there. It took me 5 years to finish school because I wanted to. I NEVER had an internship, co-op, or anything else while I was in college. I did get the opportunity to do some incredible cutting edge research that landed my name on a few papers and patent. I work for a Fortune 50 company, PepsiCo and I graduated in the peak of the recession in 2010. I had secured that job WELL before I graduated, in Nov. of 2009. PepsiCo was attracted to me because of the various leadership roles I had taken both in and out of school...cough cough...drum corps. Follow your passion, and your dreams and desires will take care of themselves. I met so many people that have become an instrumental part of my network. One staff member who worked with us worked for Raytheon. Another random person in the audience heard I was an engineering student and gave me their card to contact them after the season. The list goes on, literally, staff, volunteers, you name it, I was getting connected to awesome people who knew someone who knew someone, that could help me build a phenomenal network. People I still call and leverage to this day. The point I'm making is there is realistically 4 more years before you graduate. You have a finite amount of time to march drum corps and the rest of your life to work, and believe me there is plenty of it. Engineering students across the country have the LOWEST unemployment rate of college graduates. I'm not telling you finding a job will be easy, especially when you take into account your personal lifestyle, but what I am telling you is that you can find a job. Also I drove 14 hours to Indy to make it to Blue Stars camps, so find a corps that interests you; location is not excuse to not march there. You'll make it work if you want it bad enough. All the best man and good luck as audition season approaches! FCO! -JP, EI 2008 & 2009 Blue Star DM DCI Age-out 2009 BS in Chemical Engineering

Wow, I would say some of you truly have missed the mark. I was a rookie and the Principal DM/Conductor (title changed year to year) of the Blue Stars, back in 2008 and returned in 2009. 2008 was the year the corps went from 14th to 8th place. I was a not only a Rookie to the corps but a rookie to the activity as well. I had just auditioned at Phantom and had got cut in the final round and was asked to come audition at Blue Stars, that was about the extent of my "experience". As an organization, when the members see ANYONE that can come in on their level, work with them, care and respond to them, works well with the staff and admin team, and really has the experience outside of the corps to be a valuable asset to the organization, it absolutely DOES NOT matter whether or not that DM has or has not been a member of that organization or not. I think with multiple organizations that I have helped run or been a part of, staying in house for something does not always produce the best results. I am constantly told by veteran members now that the season has passed how unsure they were of me until they saw the way I responded to them, how rehearsals ran, and how I helped the corps run and my first official camp. But I honestly can say it was not without the support of the veteran membership that I would have been successful. The key to true leadership, especially when coming into a new organization where you are the "leader" and from the outside, is to invest your time in those who have been at the organization far longer than you have. I have built long lasting friendships with these people. One of them was my seat partner (yeah I shared a seat too in the back of the bus) in 2008. I have seen some terrible vets make their way to the podium, and I can assure you the corps was worse for their presence there. I have seen some outside rookies to an organization come in and do some incredible things there (John Lee and Madison this year). Anyone who has some conducting ability but a true heart for servant leadership can be a DM/Conductor of a corps and it doesn't matter whether they are a rookie or a vet. The true passion of a DM is selfless-sacrifice and a willingness to serve. You can hang my Jim Jones runner-up award on that, and the shoulders of the members of the corps that earned it for me. I did nothing without them. FCO! -JP 2008 & 2009 DM Age-Out 2009

As a rookie DM, of a World Class corps two years ago that landed itself back in finals, its what you make of it. Realize coming in the staff will have incredibly HIGH expectations of you and your veteran members' will be even HIGHER. Your learning curve is about all of the hour after the announcement, and then it wears off and you have work to do. I remember being put to work, the morning after we were informed at camp. Always remember, that for that first year, regardless of how much automatic tenure the corps director may grant you, you are still the new guy. Be willing to learn from the vets especially with regard to the corps traditions. Lean on their understanding, because it is vastly greater than yours. Especially with regard to the corps and the activity if you are new to the activity like I was. It's ok to ask questions, but you definitely can't come in and run the corps. It will take time to build a relationship with your vets that allows you to lead (and if you have done your job, that should be done before move-ins).

I would like to see David Gillingham's Galatic Empires, check out the French Horn parts in the first movement. It would make for a killer brass book.

...bump.....

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Eric, I like seeing people try to guess our show concept. It makes me laugh on the inside.

From dci.org posted at 10:30: The current DCI Board of Directors voted on the proposals. The new board that came about as a result of the new governance structure will become effective upon the close of the DCI Annual Meeting. Double the adjudication effect panel for the World Championships This proposal was passed unanimously by the instructors’ caucus. The DCI Board of Directors also passed it unanimously. It will become effective for the 2008 season. Allow for use of water on the field (for 2009 implementation) George Hopkins, the director of the Cadets, was asked to explain the proposal to the board prior to the vote. Hopkins explained that as currently written, the rule prohibiting water also includes a prohibition on use of water in the pit for effects such as water gongs. The proposal passed 17-4 in the Instructors’ caucus and passed 16-2 by the Board of Directors. Amplification of brass instruments (for 2009 implementation) Hopkins explained that this proposal would allow for soloists and small ensembles up to 12 members. The proposal passed 16-5 in the instructors’ caucus and passed 11-7 by the Board of Directors. Use of electronic instruments (for 2009 implementation) In discussion prior to the vote, George Hopkins spoke of a presentation offered on Saturday by the Tarpon Springs High School band, which demonstrated the possibilities and logistical concerns of electronics on the field. Greg Orwoll of the Colts addressed concerns about the financial and competitive aspects of the use of electronics. The proposal passed in the instructors’ caucus and passed 11-7 by the Board of Directors.

From dci.org: The current DCI Board of Directors voted on the proposals. The new board that came about as a result of the new governance structure will become effective upon the close of the DCI Annual Meeting. Double the adjudication effect panel for the World Championships This proposal was passed unanimously by the instructors’ caucus. The DCI Board of Directors also passed it unanimously. It will become effective for the 2008 season. Allow for use of water on the field (for 2009 implementation) George Hopkins, the director of the Cadets, was asked to explain the proposal to the board prior to the vote. Hopkins explained that as currently written, the rule prohibiting water also includes a prohibition on use of water in the pit for effects such as water gongs. The proposal passed 17-4 in the Instructors’ caucus and passed 16-2 by the Board of Directors. Amplification of brass instruments (for 2009 implementation) Hopkins explained that this proposal would allow for soloists and small ensembles up to 12 members. The proposal passed 16-5 in the instructors’ caucus and passed 11-7 by the Board of Directors.

Do what is best for your health. But the Blue Stars doors are open for anyone willing to give it a try. Hopefully you will make out to our camp in two weeks.

my bad...double post

Then you should! I have visited a lot of different corps. I am happy to say I finally found home this year with the Blue Stars. It's an experience like none other and I can say that after ONE camp. And unlike some places the staff WANT to see you succeed. It can't hurt and they don't make cuts; they give you suggestions to improve your chances of making it in. Download the music on the website, www.bluestars.org look to the right and there is a link to Audition Materials. Come out and give us a try. See you on the Jan. the 18th

You must be referring to the show where EVERYONE'S scores were SUPER inflated...