GUARDLING

Many for 2 straight weeks, others may actually go away a week, and that's beside auditions ( for some ) I've taught bands that leading up to band camp in Aug. had 1 night per week sectionals all summer.

Best of luck to you. Better to know the harsh reality in any situation. I've done many auditions and talked to literally hundreds of people and sometimes lead with the realities. IMO it's best to know up front than lead people on or make promises that can't be kept.

That is so true and then like we all do , choices have to be made. Doing any part of the activity today is certainly something not to be taken lightly. The other side of this also is, many programs, winter and summer have gone under because when some need recruitment they take anyone promising to pay , then don't. Another reality which programs learned the hard way.

The activity for sure has become difficult for an average person to shell out so much BUT where can one get instruction for several months, housing, transportation, food etc for the price. You can't. Now I know it doesn't make it easier to know that and that some activities can be as bad if not worse. The best I can say is work, find creative ways to get sponsors, work, save in advance, work, plan ahead, work, look for corps with a scholarship program, did I mention work? If you auditioned for Battalion then went over to Bloo, did you think it would be less? No. Every year the cost of running a drum corps or even a winter program just gets higher and higher unfortunately. That is the reality of the activity today. The good or bad of that. Good Luck to you

it was a question...thats all.

Ahhhh WEll a question can also be IF a sponsor knew of the diversity within an organization would " THEY" donate. I have seen that in several states, especially lately.

Guards pay a fortune. I have paid a fortune, especially when you think about money coming in. That's " IF " members pay as they should" Over the years winter programs have had the same issues some drum corps have had. Anyone getting free today, even reduced I bow down to you...lol BUT I do see the point you are making.

It did happen..lol

It could have all gone away.

WOW! welcome back, been sometime. Hope you are well and Happy New Year

All it shows is that the guy collects old drum corps buttons...Thats it!

Great then people shouldn't be clutching their pearls over Cadets. Right?

The activity is small. If it weren't cadets reaching out it would have been someone else for sure. How about some in the top who in the past reached out to staff as well as staff to members.DURING THE SEASON...hmmmm Talk about shady

well thank you. I'm not sure I've actually done anything other than my perspective which of course could and like anything challenged in the past. At least for me, wanting a great product, achieving high, being the best doesn't have to be exclusive. Now I am not saying there aren't others who do and feel just like you said. I am also not saying that there haven't been students time to time that moved on from me because they wanted that quick satisfaction without the possible weight of pulling someone maybe with a little less talent up to success. For me, at times, looked at the so-called talent God's who I just pushed out of a final's and watched the members no one would want, with a medal on their neck, while the others who smugly dismissed them has given be great satisfaction. AS far as the product, as I said I don't think (others might debate) it has to be exclusive one way or another. A good teacher or designer lets their students shine, which makes their product shine. At least for me THAT"S when product as well as student looks, feels, and projects and even commands success. JMO I do get when you say, just be an entertainment co. I know there were some in the past who wanted exactly that. While we are still competitive activity, teaching and learning is important and that goes for staff also. The staff person who can't learn from others anymore is of no use to any staff IMO SCV 2023 announcement may have nothing to do with this but with your experience there maybe it does.

Well, there's a lot to unpack there. I think some is accurate and I think some of what you say is based possibly on your experience (which can be valid) only you can answer that. A lot of what you say is also based on which class (at least in WGI) you speak of. The higher the class the more it is about teaching the show, as it should be. If a student in WC needs to be taught, then Maybe they don't belong in WC. If a staff person presents something that a student does not come in doing (as I think you said) the is the staff's responsibility to TEACH that person, not hang them out on a limb alone. This is at least my way of approaching a student. AS far as a teaching career. There have been many who have made a good living if they have the talent to diversify throughout the activity. You're right, a music major (drum or brass people certainly have more opportunities available to them than guard people but at least for me I have and do have many students throughout DCI and WGI teaching, successful and making some pretty good money. Career? maybe, maybe not time will show that. The odds? probably slim. I have found over the years the ones who last in the activity have been the ones who watch and listen and NEVER think they know it all and continue to grow. One needs to be open year after year and willing to have an open mind. I also have found those who do the opposite fade away or classically say I have had enough and left the activity. Now that may be valid BUT I will also tell you in many cases I have seen over the past decades some weren't done with the activity; the activity was done with them. Now of course there are also some who the activity should have been done with them..lol Now what's important IMO to or for a student, only one could decide for themselves, what's important to them, what philosophy, what mission statement, what's important to a given group, and much more. One needs to do their own homework and decide what's best for them. Groups can be different from each other just like the potential members themselves. All Just my opinion and personal experience Someone's personal experience, good or bad can certainly affect all what I just said...one way or another

I get it when looking for the best of the best or an image for a specific part etc etc and have been around long enough to know that we can all do anything we choose but that doesn't mean we are all cut out for everything we may want in our heads but with that said, me personally, I am proud of the fact I was able ( with the help of others ) to take a lot of potential members who others didn't want and made them into DCI top 5 members, WGI finalists as well as multiple medalists. There's my satisfaction 😁

Yes, there is teaching, even at a higher level BUT it's teaching the way their staff member wants things done. Which isn't a bad thing for a top level. Actual teaching (from scratch) happens much more at the OC level.

You make some real good points and not wrong at all. I often wonder how they do it also (some don't but that's another topic) In some cases you are also right about instruction. In many cases its instruction on the program but on WC level you're not teaching actually how to do but how to do what staff wants. Do these kids today need drum corps? IMO the answer is NO! these young people today have way more at their fingertips then we ever had BITD. That also becomes part of the problem, constantly trying to entice people into the activity.

There are many who go to auditions just for the experience..I've been involved in a lot of auditions and many of my own students in the past went to multiple auditions just for the experience. Then, not thinking they would make it did and then were faced with, now what do I do, lol That 1250.00 isn't enough today to march in most winter programs anymore. Trust me ( I hate when people say trust me...lol ) 1250 for a winter program doesn't come close to enough to run a program let alone a drum corps program. YES , the cost is crazy, there's no doubt of that BUT I have a cousin who's daughter is in competitive dance programs..OMG, the cost, Aren't you a dancer ? or involved? I thought so , I'm sure you know what I mean, the cost is so crazy

remember that hot mess? 🤐

Oh, I know how complicated it was. I deleted my post because I noticed from another thread you were support staff back then and many staff deserve the respect. It's very sad, many loved Magic, including me. I PM ed you

Let's remember the disaster Magic created to achieve what they did that year. They started the beginning of the end with members as well as staff etc etc. There was no returning as much as some good people who tried but the damage was done, and they literally became the black cloud no one would go near. Sad to say.

I have avoided expressing my own opinion on Vanguard but after the video now is a good time. I by no means am saying for those who have been critical that valid points have not been made BUT I will say how terribly hard it must be to put a pause on a corps, especially a corps with such a rich history. Personally, and it's only my opinion, as much as I do not want to see Vanguard stop, not even for a minute and how missed this storied drum corps IMO will be missed I, give them so much credit for doing what they are doing. How many corps have done just the opposite, take their members on tour knowing they would never make it till the end, had to beg other corps to help feed their members, did not take care of their members as they should have been, didn't make it till the end of the year, beg for money on tour, how many make promises to members and staff and never follow through. Over the years there have been many who have done exactly that. (No need to hash up who they are and the past mistakes of some still within the activity) There may have been others who have credited SCV for this very hard decision in the thread but if not, I have been wanting to do it. Have SCV made mistakes? Probably, hindsight is always 20/20 but they could have headed out again, made promises, increase debt and end up where many others have. Doing the right thing IMO should be celebrated especially when we have seen quite the opposite over the years. It is quite easy for some to criticize and claim to know all the answers and for those who figured out how to do this and to flourish, I congratulate all of them, we need more of you and your ideas that have worked but also have to remind some that they may have been in the opposite position for years. So many things can affect lucrative funding situations and it does take a special team to think beyond what they have today but also think about what if it dried up. I like to think SCV , or hope that is what they are doing right now. I truly will miss SCV presence in 2023 but are hopeful a stronger SCV returns. Best of Luck, your success is good for SCV, good for past and future members and good for the activity.

Yep, its like I said...someone takes over and does what needs to be done, and a good leader knows no matter what the circumstances the buck stops with them..ahhh and the blame if they do nothing or not enough

Just like I said, how something is handled, treated with respect and seriousness even if a staff person feels they need to move forward with other members, there is or should be a director,The Boss, the big kahuna needs to step in and take charge of the situation. Then responsible leaders investigate the how and why something happened and how that immediate staff person also handled it. At least that's my opinion.