jeff danchik
-
Posts
1,062 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by jeff danchik
-
-
20 hours ago, C.Holland said:
PIttsburgh's last success was the Golden Lancers. Somehow was able to make use of the VA hospital gym and field. But again, money in, versus money out. Band directors who don't want their members doing drum corps, and brass players who weren't interested...
But even in Pittsburgh, school's have more options for kids to do now than when I marched. Even the cruddy ones.
Lancers had the advantage of drawing on the membership of the local PAL parade corps. At the end all I saw were out of state liscense plates at the Baldwin indoor show. Around here its contacts that get things done. After that its up to the groups to strengthen those bonds or lose them.Money is the biggest factor, we have people who think our $400 a year is expensive. Vagabonds were active at that time too and they were free. Have re-invented Mon Valley 3 times and still going. Pretty much the last group left in Pittsburgh. Watch more than enough groups come and go during that time, Drum Corps, Drumlines, Indoor guards, stick teams and baton corps, all gone. Instead of bemoaning dropping a placement at Sound Sport we are more energized to come back stronger. Staff changes made, equipment upgrades ongoing and more emphasis on the Winds program and adding a indoor guard.
-
On 9/3/2017 at 3:33 PM, C.Holland said:
kids have so many more options of places to invest their time and money beyond drum corps in this age, than ten years ago, twenty years ago, and more. Schools organize studies abroad for summers terms now, sports have camps all summer from football to fencing, swimming, equestrian, volleyball, lacrosse, dance schools, and some band programs have summer rehearsals now. its not as easy as get the band kids, its trying to find the band kids who want to dedicate enough of their time to music that they don't want to do anything else in the summer.
Many auditionees cut themselves from a corps because they have other summer activities they are unwilling to give up.
This is all on top of the point that no space is free anymore. Schools charge for using their spaces to rehearse, sleep, and shower. Often a la carte. They are also increasingly suspicious of outside groups using their facilities unattended. They don't want issues to arise that could become a security concern, or a liability concern.
It's like sales if you make $100 on a sale and want to make$100k you got to do it a thousand times. I've learned alot in 20 years and there are ways to do it, but when someone says I'm starting a corps and doesn't heed good advise their program is doomed. We had two groups in this area try to start never succeeded, they thought they knew everything. Hype and promises don't build or sustain programs. I've made plenty of mistakes but none of them proved fatal and I learned alot.You can learn alot more from mistakes than success. First I had to learn to be Mr No! The internet has alot more resources today that 20 years ago. I've tried to bullet proof my program but still can't control human nature so its a tug of war. Each year is an oppurtunity to make another step forward, not leaps. Long Island is less of a blackhole than Pittsburgh!
-
1 hour ago, Grenadier said:
Jeff, I agree that money is a problem, a big problem. The organizations that used to sponsor corps like the Catholic Church, VFW and American Legion don't have it any more. But, here on Long Island, NY the volunteer fire departments, which sponsored many corps in the 50's and 60's still do. They are tax payer funded and have million dollar trucks. Each department has an aerial ladder which could be shared by several departments. Each chief and assistant chief has personal vehicles. They get retirement benefits. Back in the 50's and 60's it was all volunteer. They have enough cash to sponsor a band or a drum and bugle corps. But, the model you are talking about is not the model corps of the 60's. No one had to pay to be a member. They were given a uniform and an instrument. Corps were small. They could be as little as 20 or as large as 80 or 90 members. They started out small and grew. The staff was all volunteer, except maybe a drum instructor and bugle instructor. The drum corps started out marching in parades, providing marching music for the fire departments.
But that said, I have come to the opinion that even if I could find a sponsor and organize a drum corps, I don't think today's kids would want to march. They are too busy playing with their video games, playing soccer or other activity to want to march with a drum corps. Sadly, I think know the days of the local corps are gone. Times have changed. The local community spirit has gone. The hundreds, maybe thousands of local corps are gone. I know believe those days are gone.
there are kids out there you have to keep trying. We use to have 3-4 recruiting events. This year 10-12 recruiting events. Each year we attract 8-10 new people. Secret is to retain more of your current members than you recruit new ones. We're going a different approach this year with a dedicated social media person and recruiting at band festivals of non competetive bands. We have a track record and good revenue streams.Getting knocked down a peg at Sound Sport this year has kicked some of the complacentcy in the rear too!
-
Biggest problem is money, when considering starting a group anywhere. With out the community parades paying big bucks no program can exist on dues/tuition alone.Sound Sport and SDCA both have lower starting costs due to minimun size rules. Even starting a Minicorps has the issue of Labor Day and HS Football being Friday night.No one is going to plunk down $1,000 to be in a newbie group. Less likely is someone going to mortgage their house to buy equipment. More times than enough someone will post a new group starting, with new horns and drums, huge staffs and boards. They fail and kids get turned off. Its like growing a plant from a seed. Needs alot of care and tending to reach being a plant. Even then the odds are against it, that it will grow and eventually flower.
-
7 hours ago, BigW said:
Well, we go from LI to Pittsburgh.
Jeff, a lot of what you said puts more pieces together from information I got from an interview with a long time and knowledgeable friend out that way for a college paper.
What I know:
Late 60's, roughly- The Drum Major of the Rockets and the Color Guard Captain (at one time the CG Captain had also been a DM) did something a bit different. The Drum major got his Mus.Ed. Degree and with the Color Guard person took what he knew, applied it to the HS setting, and took Norwin HS to the top. The Color Guard person was also involved with the Royal Crusaders (aka Finleyville for those who are confused).
I find it interesting that there was a friction with kids with Royal Crusaders and certain band directors, but in some ways, I'm not too surprised. Why? Read below. The skinny, Ego, Jealousy.
I'm also not surprised about the issues with egos. Observation of many of the personalities out there has led me to apply the old adage that a lot of them would rather choke on their own ambitions than dislodge the crumb in their throat because they're too proud and their egos are too big.
I'm happy that Mon Valley's doing something. It's better do do something grassroots where one is successful rather then overreach and fail miserably. As for SCDA... if they had some internet presence, some of the events I think are close enough they would tempt me, but they're running under the radar like a B-2 in today's environment and they appear to me to be also a bit taciturn rather than trying to actively promote their end of things in a positive way.
The drum major was actually a Finleyville drum major. Best thing he did was bring alot of Finleyville staff onboard. He was LJ Hancock and Kathy Rosa the guard person. Also ad former Rockets DM Ed Cagney to the staff. My city school band actually tied them in 2 captions one night and they almost blew a gasket. I had a staff of all Finleyville age outs.Last show in the books, recruiting starts in 2 weeks.
-
1
-
-
3 hours ago, Florida Sun said:
Loved Finleyville always a great show from them .
Went bankrupt trying to get back in finals. Spending money that wasn't there. The trouble I had dealing with the local music shops because corps before me still owed them money.They killed it themselves by merging the Senoir corps out of existance, for that one great chance to be relevent again. Finleyville had such poor relations with band directors in the area. Some even marched corps like the Rockets, but had horrible issues with the kids egos. Allowing the better kids from other corps to join, killed off the smaller corps.
-
12 hours ago, BigW said:
The Pittsburgh area has issues, Jeff. Been out there enough over the years (I'm from there) to realize there's a very slim niche of enthusiasm for this activity and the school version. More interest in the WPIAL god and the Stillers. Seen band contests out there with very few people let alone any parents in the audience. Staying at home watching football. People prefer the big loud droney-baloney non-competing 300+ member show bands like Pitt, Ambridge HS, and NA to what the better groups out that way offer. They have more fluff than real substance, which it sadly seems folks out there go for in spades.
Tough enough out here to guide any kids to the activity. Yes, there have been some directors keeping kids away and injuring the activity, those are thankfully dwindling. Cost, commitment are two factors also that make it hard to recruit and keep individuals.
Yes its been tough, nobody in the history of the area ever had a full group that I'm aware of, I have been a part of two of them. Finleyville and Steel City We've been stuck on 25-27 for 4 years. I've seen a half dozen or more local corps, come and go during our existance. Sadly we had more people this summer than GBV and SCA combined. Thats not to knock them but its were the activity stands now and I hate that. After many years of trying we've found a niche in Sound Sport. As to the WPIAL thing. We found out that Labor Day weekend was a major conflict. Even this week going to Sheffield we're scrambling for members because of band camps and college move ins/ oreintation. As to enthusiasm, kids dig DCI, don't know DCA or SDCA. SDCA has been good to us, their name doesn't draw people. Sound Sport has the DCI name behind it, plus they've made a good attempt to reach out to small groups. We've added TOB/TIA winds last year and hopefully a winterguard for 2018. As to costs we're cheaper than my church's Boy Scout Troop and still have to be on top of the members for dues. We didn't place as well as we wanted this year. Already made a few changes and its spurred a renewed desire to get out more and recruit. We'll see!
-
5 hours ago, ironlips said:
I hereby challenge everyone who feels so strongly about the lack of "community" drum corps on Long Island, or anywhere else for that matter, to quit kvetching and start one.
I did and it sucks, long hours, no money and lack of support.Most people now adays go to a show tell everyone how great their corps was and then proclaim they supported the activity. Its the people from the 80's and 90's who killed the activity by not supporting it and not sending their kids.
-
Sadly many groups starved out of existance when parades stop paying good money. Only one parade in the Pittsburgh area pays well. The rest think firetrucks and little league teams make a parade. They rarely want to pay, most think you owe them the public service to perform for free and some have even not paid. They forget we have expenses too. Yet small towns in the middle of no-where, pay very well and attract corps from all over.
-
1
-
-
Wanted, Battery Percussion Instructor, Pittsburgh area. Candidate should have solid battery skills and be able to work with membership that includes High School, College and adult players of various abilities.Group does TIA Winds and DCI SoundSport One all day Saturday camp and one Sunday sectional each month. Remaining schedule will be determined by performance schedule.No touring weekends only.Good opportunity for someone who wants a position where they have full control of what happens.
-
1
-
-
I have a member who's family is unable to attend finals. Tickets are in section 245. 3 tickets and parking pass. If interested email me for parents email. They are willing to sell at a loss. You can negotiate with them.
-
I have both a 2valve piccolo and a 3 valve flugalhorn. have anything to trade?
-
17 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:
I'm sure at some point. I don't follow most corps on Facebook
We're doing TIA winds 3 shows and Championships. Should be fun!
-
1
-
-
February 4th on their Facebook page! You judging in Pittsburgh this season?
-
Steel City is having rehearsals this weekend and next. If you want a fun and talented group to play with come on out. 2-6 Winchester Thurston upper school 455 Morewood Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213.
-
Steel City is having rehearsals this weekend and next. If you want a fun and talented group to play with come on out. 2-6 Winchester Thurston upper school 455 Morewood Ave. Pittsburgh PA 15213.
-
The only thing that stops a restart of a Corps is the name public and no one owns the name. Other than some grief from alumni that would rather see it dead, go for it. You will be compared constantly to that Corps. If you don't measure up to the bitter alumni and arm chair Corps Directors expect some grief. As to Starting a Corps cost wise, you can equip a guard for less than 1k, drums and a small 2v horn line for around 2.5k. Small pit will coast you about 5k. Be creative and uni's will be about $50 a person. Insurance about 1k, copyrights $5-600, a place to practice and a staff will be the most expensive. But get at least 4 serious people to pull it together or you'll be doing everything and burn out fast.
-
1
-
-
If you go to the site and click on products and only brass accessories show up.The local Dynasty dealer I deal with the current catalog doesn't include brass horns either.
-
No one seems to have Dynasty horns forsale and they are missing from their web page!
-
FS 150 2nd place commemorative t shirts with cadets logos.
-
Speaking as a performer and staff member, I can say that for us, the experience was fabulous. Good start and the audience was receptive and the performers drew strength from their acceptance. Can it be better yes, but for a first time event, it made a great impression on us. Can't wait to go back there next year. As for how many actually made it, just remember not every founding DCI member corps went to finals the first year.
-
Southern California is a big place.
What was meant by locally oriented marketing, by the way, was the idea of linking events with larger community festivals that already attract a huge amount of people. This was a strategy often used back in the day. If there are already tons of people in town, and you can siphon off several thousand of them to pay admission to see your drum corps contest, the corps involved can do well financially even if you fail to reach every living room and basement in SoCal with your marketing outreach.
When someone says $800 - $2500, I take that to mean at least $800 and at most $2500. If that statement was inaccurate, and there are corps being paid less than $800 (or no pay), then my conclusion must change accordingly.
Yes the shows are local and they are usually teamed up with community events.There have been 2-3 shows per year the past couple years in western PA.The community provides the format and SDCA provides the corps.Each corps, as in our case, is compensateted for our costs. As to how much each group gets, that's negoiated up front, so I don't know details of the others.But whatever is promised, we're paid, which has not always been true in the past with other sponsors.Thats usually enough for one school bus, a cargo truck and fuel for the truck.We've had the option to go out of state numerous times,but most of those events have been later in August and conflicted with band camps.Its been a great enviroment to grow and mostly small corps, community audiences who don't care if you're DCI, DCA or SDCA.They enjoy the free show. The Mass finale gives everyone a chance to come together as comrades in this activity.Sound Sport will open up a couple local/regional appearences for us. Staying local builds notoriaty, a fan base and keeps costs down while offering the membership, more of an drumcorps experience.
-
Having had a printing company in the past,it doesn't matter if the customer is rude.Get the job done and on time,deliver it and spend your profits on a drink or two.The rude customer goes away and you enjoy happy hour,win win.Thats why this should be in the hands of the experts.Law enforement, if there was a crime, small claims, if its just a contractual issue.My own experience the cops will take the easy notch in the belt and if it goes to court you have only a year to file.Once you win there's still no guarentee.The bus company that left us stranded in 2004 lost the case, and when we went to sheriff sale his stuff he filed bankruptcy.We were out more because of the filing fees.
-
2 Valve Contras for sale
in DCP Marketplace
Posted
2 valve DEG contrabasses one chrome the other silver. $375 each,great shape for 40 year old marching horns. Scratches and minor dents. No major cosmetic issues. See pictures. If interested include zipcode so I can figure shipping. Sorry no overseas sales, most be Continetal US address only