xrock80

I remember that. Who knows. Perhaps someone at DCI will come into the digital age and realize there are many more ways to reach out and build a fan-base, other than hits on a website. It's all about the $. Music Education... what's that???

I was thinking that also. If I were a developer, I'd work on a DCI Fan Network App for Roku and submit it. It would be a great asset for DCI to expand their reach and give fans a great additional outlet for content, not to mention all the people who might just happen across the app in the channel store and take a look, then all of the sudden.. a new DCI fan (isn't there a "GrowDrumCorps" campaign going on???). I would not hesitate to pay for the app, or a little more in the FN membership for that kind of access. No more hooking the computer to the HDMI connection on the TV... just point and click my Roku remote. Wishful thinking??

I have to disagree. My daughter has been with the Academy for 4 years. Many of her Corps-mates have been there since she started, and I have not heard of an unusual percentage of people moving on to other Corps. Academy has made a name for themselves and I think their continued success has much to attribute to the peer leadership within the Corps vets. There have been staff rifts and changes that were questionable at times, and the economic situation surrounding the Corps is awful, but still they are a thriving force in DCI WC, and the kids ARE staying in the program. I wouldn't call them a "stepping stone" when your well in the hunt for a finals spot almost every year since moving up. Just my 2 cents from what I've seen and heard.

I'm SOOOOOO steamed!! My daughter is in the Academy Guard and I have been waiting to see the full show. I was watching on FN and it was going well, only a few buffers. THEN... ALL OF THE SUDDEN, in the middle of the Colts performance it started buffering more. By the time The Academy took the field, it was so bad I kept losing the feed. Didn't get to see ANY of the show. I'm pretty sure it's because of the crappy ISP connection I have but WHY, did it only start getting bad when it got to the part I REALLY wanted to see... will have to wait till tomorrow and watch it "On Demand".

I'd be happy to see Academy with a 13th place finish this year. That would make 2@13th ('10, '07), 1@14th ('09), and 1@17th('08) in their 4 year WC history - a force to be reckoned with, unlike past AZ Corps. Even happier if they squeak into 12th. Mark just has to find that "one thing" that pushes them over into a strong 2nd tier corps. Who knows what can happen... it only took Star 7 years to get a championship...

I agree with you Tom. Glad to see your a bit more optimistic this year. Troop a close 14, Academy in 13, and on the heels of the Glassmen, hopefully overtaking them by August. No one is saying that the Glassmen won't improve, of course they will, but as they do, so will Academy and the Troopers, as will all the corps. Maybe Crown might overtake BD??!!

I guess I'll keep from ensuing further flaimage. If you are going to enjoy the activity, then enjoy. Please, don't let your disgust with DCI so encompass you that you miss what's going on on the field. Isn't that what it's all about? -FIN

I'm not telling anyone how to spend their money. Do what you want with your money. If you have other interests, then by all means move on. If one intends to be a part of Drum Corps in whatever way one chooses, at least be there for the kids, and yes, being a part of it does seem to include spending money. "Not opening the dome" is just a lackluster excuse to me. A person who has been a part of this activity for the better part of their life, either participant or spectator, can not simply just stay home. I guarantee most of the people in these forums who said "they will not go back to LOS", will be there next year, buying the aforementioned $12 (more than once) hot dog/popcorn and a coke, spending $40-$50+ at their favorite Corps' suvi booth and enjoying themselves at an evening of fantastic performances involving the best youth musicians/performers in the country, perhaps the world. If you want to blame someone, blame DCI for poor judgment. Write letters, contact corps directors, be active and do something.

Corps perform in parades, and most marching bands sound horrible in parades, let alone a Drum Corps who's music and genre are geared at "Press Box side" performances. I bet if your favorite Corps was doing a parade close by, you'd go in support. Most music acts get their start in clubs and bars, which are acoustical nightmares, but some how, they fill the place, and some even make it.

I'm sure research would reveal that they have performed in open area venues (imperfect venues, acoustically). They have been around far too long for them not to have done so.

No, not a morale imperative, I am just very supportive of the time, sweat, tears, and energy the kids put out in order to do this activity IE: Entertain you. What would you think would happen to the activity if the kids all of the sudden said "I don't want to be in Drum Corps this year because Lucas Oil Stadium won't open the dome","I'm not going back because they are switching from G bugles to Bb instruments", "I'm not going back because they are allowing the pit to be on the sidelines, instead of the field", "I'm not going back because they allow the corps to march up to 5 yards beyond the sidelines", "I'm not marching anymore because the Blue Devils won again..." Seems like drum corps should have suffered major loss of participants years ago.... but i believe it still thrives...

Yes. Bad example... absolutely no comparison, however, I'm sure the LSO has performed in thousands of venues, open, closed, outdoors, indoors, and I can probably safely assume that they were sold out.

This is the one, and similar ideas, that irk me the most. Since when did this activity become about the Corporate entity (DCI) and not about the kids?? I don't care where, who's in charge, or what the judges are into that year... or what George Hopkins is pushing to add, I'm going to any and all Drum Corps activities I can fit into my schedule because IT'S ABOUT THE KIDS!! I fully understand that there are things that could be changed, eliminated or improved to make the activity more competitive and more attractive to the ordinary (non-band geek) man on the street. I can write letters to DCI, George Hopkins, or whoever influences the activity most, but to say I'll never go to another Finals show because of the #### roof??? Shame on you... My 2 cents.

I saw the '91 finals in Dallas (Cotton Bowl). The seating was great, the sound was great, there was a HUGE crowd, and DCI never went back there. Anybody know what gives with that?

I'm all for a Crown victory. I think that would be VERY cool!!