Jump to content

ranintothedoor

Members
  • Posts

    756
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    4

Posts posted by ranintothedoor

  1. Update from Virginia... 

    All sports (Fall, Winter, Spring) will be moved to second semester.  2 months each.  

    Also, trying to create meaningful content for our all-virtual opening.  Now I'm teaching 5th grade general music, no beginning band, 7-12 band, HS guitar, HS contemporary music...

    Needless to say, I will try and do something for marching band starting around February... mostly pep band and playing fun patriotic stuff for "half time" of whatever games at which I can get the kids to perform.   

    We'll see how it goes.  🙂 Prayers would be appreciated!

    • Thanks 2
    • Sad 1
  2. I submitted a plan to my administration on a standstill, music only model for my "marching" band (Virginia) kids. 

    - Sectionals after school with the kids who are at school that day (1/4 of all kids come Monday, 1/4 Tuesday, 1/4 Wed, 1/4 Thurs, and then a teacher work day Friday to contact kids who can't come to school in person) and one combined rehearsal Thursday nights.  

    - Perform in open air venue in town, open to the public.

    - Parades (if there are any)

    They responded with requests for more details on specific logistics on how I'd keep the kids safe.  Still working on it.

    So, FWIW, the schools are allowing us to do this marching band thing as long as we keep the kids safe, at least where I am.

    This is the perfect opportunity to show our education system that things like marching band don't need football to exist.    🙂

     

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 3
  3. 22 hours ago, DrumCorpsRadio said:

    Thanks for sharing that. For some reason, I feel like it might have been Kris that taught at Scenic City although he lived in NJ so I'm not sure. I can post the trumpet pages from the yearbook to help figure it out!

    That sounds right... he was one of the screamers? I think he mentioned being one of the last trumpet players to release the high note at the end of "America/O Canada" as a badge of honor.  🙂 lol

  4. 39 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

    Sweet deal. Yesterday got an email from Sheetz they will deliver. After over a month since last full up have less than half a tank of gas in the Forester. Maybe Sheetz will deliver about 10 gallons and some cash....

    Honestly, it'd still be cheaper than shutting off the oil rigs.  🙂 Once the pumps are off, apparently it's wicked expensive to turn them back on again. 

    If anyone in the drum corps world has huge storage capabilities, you could drop $10 right now and fuel every single drum corps for next summer.

    Shoot... it might be cheaper for every drum corps to buy a tanker truck, fill it up, and then tour with the rest of the corps next summer!

    Crazy insurance costs though... eek...  

  5. Corps have buses, trailers, food trucks (unless they rent them?).... are there any assets the corps have that they can leverage for cash aside from just selling them? 

    What do corps have on hand to generate income? Online lessons by staff where they split the proceeds? Get the top local corps members (less than 10 of course... $1 to CDC) to produce high quality videos of small ensembles playing stuff they already have the sync and mechanical rights for, then monetize the videos on Youtube, Vimeo, etc.?  Do tiny 1 minute drill in a small room? I mean, there's going to be a LOT of corps fans DYING for corps-like content this summer.  And a gazillion marching band kids who couldn't finish concert band this year at their schools since they closed.... 

    One of my kids messaged me today and told me he's bored out of his mind... watching old DCI shows. 😄    

  6. https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/trends-policy-issues/initial-analysis-of-the-coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-act-cares

    This analysis, from what I can tell, looks like there's not much direct relief for non-profits, but those who donate to corps (individuals and corporations) will see significant benefits.

    (I'm a music teacher... could be wrong!)

    Are corps 'educational' entities? States were given several billion to help 'education.'  Not sure what this will be used for... probably paying salaries, etc., for school employees.  I'm still getting a paycheck even though I'm positive Virginia's economy is struggling right now.  Very thankful, by the way!   

  7. 14 hours ago, garfield said:

    But you don't have to sound so disappointed about it!

    :whistle:

    The drum corps will need to do everything they can to increase revenue in any way this season.  Shutting things down and sending everyone home does little to help that.

     

    Sorry... I'm not disappointed about agreeing with you! It's the subject matter. 🙂  We cool, bruh.  lol

    And yes, you're correct.  While it's prudent for DCI to hang it up for the season, corps must be creative in how they ensure their future survival.  

  8. Unfortunately, I'm inclined to agree with Garfield on this one. 

    Let's say we get a mixed bag.  Things improve drastically in May.  DCI doesn't cancel the season.  Corps prep the best they can. 

    BUT...

    Let's say several states remain locked down or hard hit so many shows or even individual corps seasons are cancelled.  Many people stay home from shows and therefore make very little money.  Many school systems refuse to allow housing.  A corps or two get taken out mid-season by contracting the caronavirus, which would be a PR disaster.  

    "Soldier on!" some might say. 

    I'm not sure DCI could financially absorb a season like that.  MLB and the like could (they have TV deals n' junk, after all), but not DCI.    

    I'm hopeful things change, but financially risking putting corps out there with small crowds and the potential for non-participating states or cities would be an absolute disaster for the financial health of the organization. 

    OTOH, cancelling the season may also be a detriment to DCI's financial stability after 2020, I get it... I suppose I could be convinced either way.  Right now, though, I"m with Garfield.  😕

      

  9. Two cents... I heard a report mentioning that COVID-19 may be less transmittable as the temperatures go up, like other viruses.  

    I don't know about you, but rehearsing in a stadium in Texas sounds fairly safe to me.... 

    (moment of levity...  now, back to the doom and gloom...)

  10. Has anyone ever put Indoor Guard through the process to be evaluated and added? 

    I tell you what, there's a whole international cultural apparatus behind gymnastics, skiing, and the rest of the olympic sports... could you imagine what it would do for WGI if it were ever approved?

    It would surely become Winter Guard International.   "World" class would eventually be flooded by state-sponsored ensembles.  Could you imagine somewhere like South Africa's or Indonesia's WGI World Class Guard competing against the US National Team? Duuuuuddddee....... 

×
×
  • Create New...