dcifanforlife
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Posts posted by dcifanforlife
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2 hours ago, wolfgang said:
Starting new thread as this isn't about the last 24 hrs. If YOU were the new Corps Director or new BOD member, what demands or suggestions would you make to keep the organization afloat?
Legends are a test case, but any now-defunct struggling corps could be used. Obviously, an honest financial assessment is in order. Finding a way to get necessary funds AND the right people in place is top priority.
One travel-related tidbit that has crossed my mind: To the best of my knowledge, Open Class corps are not required go on extensive tours.
With regards to Legends specifically, there are local shows (Cavies Michigan City June show, several in Michigan and Ohio) a corps could compete at while otherwise staying close to home. Championships are also in their neck of the woods. A corps in another location may not be blessed with so many performing opportunities within a few hours.
Back to original question: What would YOU personally demand be done if YOU were the new Director or BOD member? Maybe the collective wisdom of DCP can generate great discussion to avoid past mistakes of ghosts of DCI past.
DCI assigns what shows both World Class and Open Class corps can attend based on a criteria that has been established over the years. For the past two years in order for the Legends to have any shows they have been forced to make the Florida swing. It is an extremely costly and difficult group of shows to attend. George Hopkins has already stated that The Cadets will not make the Florida swing in 2018. Other corps have refused to make this swing the past two years. DCI needs to rethink their presence in Florida. Without shows to attend both Open Class and World Class corps have no reason to exist. Previous years placement is more important than ever when determining your tour.
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5 minutes ago, Cainan said:
In my opinion?
DCI should employ an independent accountant... with ZERO ties to the activity... to look at finances and say what each corps CAN and CANNOT do... regardless of what class they are in. If they look at Blue Devils books and say nay, then nay it is.When is the independent accountant do his evaluation? During the Winter months most corps books look pretty lean. Cash doesn't start coming until members start paying their dues and fund raising starts. Wait until April or May and then you have to pull the plug late.
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What Ibe is not telling everyone is how the 100K is going to be spent. Is he going to use the money to pay off old debt or use it to pay upcoming expenses to complete the season? How much is needed to complete the season? He should state that he is taking no salary for rest of year and that no staff or other people currently being paid should receive any payment for the rest of the season. All money should be spent on the needs of the members. Pay bus company, drivers, fuel and food etc. All current debt holders need to wait until end of season for payment. DCI was aware of Legends financial instability before season started but they apparently made the wrong decision in letting them go on the difficult Florida tour this season. DCI is going to end up being owed money by Legends which in fact has to be shared with all the other member corps. I hope everything works out for the members.
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Attended ensemble rehearsal last night in Bellevue IA. The Academy has made major changes to their show. Overall show has better flow and staging than in past. It is going to be a fight for 12th place in Indianapolis.
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14 minutes ago, MikeRapp said:
Is the Blue Stars program that much more challenging than Crossmen? Really feel like Crossmen is the better show.
Has to be frustrating for Crossmen staff every night it is something different. Tonight it was percussion. Blue Stars still having issues with GE scores and Visual scores. I am afraid that these two corps will be neck and neck for the rest of the season. Good thing is that there is a good spread between them and the next corps below them whomever that will be at end of season. Madison, Mandarins and The Academy probably can't beat Blue Stars or Crossmen.
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With 100% of the concert side seats sold three weeks before the show this could turn into a nightmare for spectators. Restrooms and concession stands will be crowded and parking will be difficult to find. How is DCI going to keep corps staff's and volunteers out of the sold seats? How is DCI going to keep the general admission ticket people out of concert side? Your front side ticket is going to be priceless. Flomarching is the answer for those you don't have tickets yet.
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1 hour ago, barigirl78 said:
Interesting to see Madison slip ahead of Blue Stars in GE.
Blue Stars show has been generating no GE since first show.. Putting in a new ending is not going to solve the problems. Nothing innovative about the Blue Stars show they are the last of the old school corps. Unless they can come up with a way to generate GE and improve their Visual scores it is going to be a long season. Saturday is going to be an important show for Blue Stars, Madison, Crossmen and Phantom. Someone may emerge as the clear leader of the pack.
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Bluecoats are on the field no rain yet. Even if Madison does not complete their show we will get scores for those that have performed.
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Prop crews and pits are going to get a workout tonight. Steep ramp to get down to field level. Takes everyone to get props and equipment back up to parking lot level. One of the few show sites where the Bluecoats will have trouble moving their ramp in and out.
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Next weekend will be important for the Crossmen. They will go head to head against Blue Stars, The Academy and Phantom. Five shows in a row. It is going to get interesting.
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For Sale: 4 Fifty Yard Tickets to Night Beat Tour of Champions, July 30th, Winston Salem NC
Section 6 Row AAA Seats 12-15. Face Value $ 65.00 each will sell for $50 each or best offer.
Charlie
SOLD SOLD SOLD
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57 minutes ago, Poppycock said:
The intent of this thread was to stimulate awareness and just how easy it is and how many ways to bring in something to cause harm. The souvenir areas and around the concession area is always congested, as well as the club area concessions. Let's hope for a heightened level of security and a greater presence of armed officers. Stay safe! Tah tah
The threat level at LOS during championships is low and security is provided for that level,. Who is going to pay for extra armed guards? You are taking money from the corps pockets. If you don't feel safe at any event you may attend stay home. This whole thread is a bunch of garbage.
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8 hours ago, Vdad76 said:
Dark Horses down and up -
Crown/BD - one will fall to 4/5 slot
SCV/Cavies - one heads into top 3
Blue Knights/Cadets - one falls down to 9/10
Blue Stars/Phantom/Boston - one heads up to 5/6
Academy/Crossmen - one or both falls out of top 12
Madison/Troopers - both are back in top 12
Troopers only two top 12 (11th 1986 and 12th 2009) in past 31 years so this is really a stretch.
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1 hour ago, soccerguy315 said:
guess that is why they are turning the old equipment trailer into the prop truck...
does everyone have a prop truck now? meh. seems expensive.
Nine of the top 12 will have three semi's this year
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11 hours ago, mjoakes said:
Anyone know if the public is welcomed at Westfield High School to watch from the stands?
Yes it is open to the public. Cavaliers and Blue Stars will have their souvie trailers set up so you can get 2017 gear in advance of the Thursday event.
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20 minutes ago, Madcityscout said:
Do we know Blue Stars, Crossmen and Boston would crush them on the way out for sure, or is this strictly conjecture and opinion? And even if they get beat by them the first week out, are you inferring that Madison's competitive season at that point should be written off as a disaster after the first week? Please help me understand that rationale.
Madison needs to be close to or beating corps that finished ahead of them once The Academy arrives in the Midwest. Placements will be fairly defined at that time. Boston, Crossmen, Blue Stars and The Academy are all going to be better than last year because they each had over 600 audition and they had the pick of the best. Madison's staff has a huge challenge ahead and I hope they succeed. With the right program anything may happen. Remember except for Madison's three home shows Madison will always be on early before intermission making it difficult to score higher than latter performing corps. Everyone wants Madison to be good yet moving up is difficult these days.
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2 hours ago, BlueStainGlass said:
What are the thoughts of the alumni and fans on starting moveins much later than the groups they want to jump?
Madison is taking a big gamble starting so late. There are no indoor practice facilities at Trafalgar so if there is bad weather for even a few days they are at risk of not being ready for their first show. Not being ready will be a disaster for Madison. Blue Stars, Crossmen and Boston will crush them first week out. Money was the reason for the late start. Trafalgar is super expensive and the Scouts need to delay arrive of their leased kitchen truck for as long as possible.
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14 minutes ago, Liahona said:
IDK...but this was just posted only 2 hours ago...
I don't understand why some corps don't offer alternate contracts. With so many issues arising these days one needs to cover all situations.
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1 hour ago, BRASSO said:
I don't know. Practice with even just 50% of marchers present is still far better than no practices, with nobody present, imo. Practices do not include just drill. They include brass and percussion sectionals too. And sectionals practice is better than no sectionals practice.
All this said, Corps with lots of college aged marchers in their ranks, all things being equal, are far better off than Corps that have lots of H.S. marchers in their ranks. No matter how talented a H.S. marcher is, if he or she is in H.S. English class learning how to appreciate Longfellow, while his or her competition is out on a football field somewhere learning how to appreciate Liszt, the latter Corps will always have a distinct competitive advantage in competition that summer.
From a fiscal standpoint it is pretty hard to justify a 41 day spring training when the average is 33 days for all other world class corps. Spring training is expensive. Your fixed costs are about the same regardless how many members are present. Oregon Crusaders are showing four different sites for spring training and for the June 25-July 1 week that have yet to find a location. For me it is all about an organization spending their money wisely. Oregon Crusaders income for the season will be the same if they have a 41 day ST or 33 day ST. Gaining competitive advantage comes at a cost.
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19 hours ago, luv4corps said:
As per their website: All-days are 5/26 - 7/7.
You should not start All-days until you have at least 80% of members present. Too many holes to make drill learning effective. Volunteer staff is strained to the limit. Would you want to arrive at All-days only to find out that the majority of members are arriving later?
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4 minutes ago, chris7997 said:
You pay extra for a "fan experience." DCI could set this up. What would that entail?
Say you are a fan of the Cavaliers. They are your corps. If you pay the premium fan experience for the Cavaliers, you get ...(included, but not limited to)
1. Free Cavaliers gift bag, including t-shirts
2. Cheer them on in the tunnel as they come out onto the field. Be RIGHT there near the line.
3. Sit up front with the instructional staff during the show
4. Take selfies with some of the players after a show
5. You congratulate them on Finals night at the end of the awards ceremony.
It would be marketed as the "total fan experience."
DCI would love it because they'd have the opportunity to make more $$$.
Completely unworkable. Having a decent seat on finals night should be your fan experience. DCI is not interested in making money with something like this.
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1 hour ago, DrumManTx said:
http://www.flomarching.com/events
Question answered. DCI events are listed at the bottom. I REALLY hope they have improved since BOA this fall or I am going to be incredibly dissapointed in this. I will give it a chance but I'm very cautious right now...
I believe the two events listed showing Flomarching are a test. They have not improved at all since BOA. This gives them the opportunity to show DCI what kind of production capabilities they have. WGI productions have been terrible. DCI has three years left on a contract with their current provider for all the major DCI events. My predication is that Flomarching will fail in their attempt to get DCI to switch. We will see.
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4 hours ago, DawsonBurnes said:
My personal guesses for World Class uniforms...
New
New
New
2016 w/ module changes
New
New
New
New or 2016 w/ module changes
2016
2016 w/ module changes
New
2016 w/ module changes
2016
2016
2016
New New
2016
New
2016
New
2016
2016
Doubtful Bluecoats will have new uniforms in 2017. They have been on a three year cycle with Stanbury for many years. Winning a championship does not necessarily mean new uniform the next year.
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I have been sponsoring members in different corps for over thirty years and many of those members moved to other corps after a couple years. I have also given funds to many scholarship funds. Sponsorships are not tax deductible but scholarships are only if they are not for a particular individual. Donors should never get their money back under any circumstance. I don't care what the individual or the corps does with my money.
Contracts are awarded in the fall and winter months. Most scholarships are awarded just before spring training or at spring training. A corps has no way to know if a member is going to need a scholarship until they fall behind in their dues payments not when the contract is signed.
No member or parent should sign a contract with Crown if a revoking scholarship provision is part of the contract. We are talking about a corps here that collects thousands of dollars in registration fees and camp fees from hundreds of auditionee's that have no chance of making the corps. This is petty and vindictive on Crowns part. Crown should redo all of their 2017 contracts.
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Wave of the future...
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Several corps already have this type of bus for staff and volunteers. With only 24 beds per bus you would need 7 buses for members rather than the current 3. To expensive for any corps to consider.