drumlaw80

Hey folks. I tried to do my best to give you straight and honest answers on here. This is my last comment on this matter, hopefully I explain myself well, because this is it. I hope. lol. My involvement in this chaotic matter came out of the blue, and came down to making an appeal to the DCA Board on behalf of the Renegades to get their final decision reversed. As a matter of principle and strategy, I treated the appeal as if every allegation and rumor was true. In other words, I wasn't defending anything or talking about anyone -- our discussion focused on the policy of kicking a corps out of DCA for any period of time, for the alleged actions of a few members -- whatever the underlying reason was, and whatever corps we were talking about. It was not a personal battle, it was a policy argument. If you think about it, it had to be, because I wasn't at DCA 2012. Ultimately, I failed to persuade anyone to change the decision, which was made difficult because my predecessor (who was not at DCA 2012 either) agreed with the decision on behalf of people that had no idea this was happening. My apologies to everyone concerned that I failed to get the decision reversed. Now, buyer beware -- the formal precedent has been set. If a few of your members allegedly screw up bad enough in 2013, your corps is out of DCA. That's the rule that applies to every corps now, I believe. Which is not a good fundamental approach for DCA, in my personal opinion. At this point, a public witch hunt or DCP thread review of any 2012 DCA rule violations will do nothing but hurt people. There are issues to solve going forward for DCA and the Renegades, for sure. Not on DCP. My friends -- please don't get caught up in spreading or believing rumors of outlandish renegade episodes of destruction and rock star orgies ... it didn't happen. Were there some bad decisions made, like any other corps every year of DCA? Yes, by a few. Was this followed by a bad decision by DCA = Yes. So, we lost. By we, I mean drum corps. Us. My friends, that's it. I stand behind every word I put on here, and I hopefully did not enrage too many people by speaking out. But, I thought it was important to explain this with so much bad information and personal attacks out there. So ... We're moving forward and the Renegades going to Europe. Don't expect some vanilla wimpy cadet corps to come out of this. There are issues to address, but the Renegades are the Renegades, and they're always going to be the Renegades. Thank you for listening The end. Rant: over Lee

Crunchy Frog was technically the first.

Andrew, I was not at DCA 2012. But let me put it this way -- Assuming every single rumor or allegation ever made against the Renegades since 1999 made was true and then some ... and every other corps was in bed by 11:00 pm at DCA 2012 .... and assuming there were no mitigating factors whatsoever, and then on DCA Finals night, a Renegade cymbal player burned the stadium down to protest 10th place ... In a million years I would not have kicked an entire corps out of DCA for the actions of a few people. And in a billion years, I would have never accepted that punishment on behalf of an entire corps. Maybe that example is a little ridiculous, but look -- I am not saying I would not hold people accountable, and I am not defending any behavior by anyone, even if it is behavior I have personally seen from most other corps. But holding an entire 100+ person organization accountable hurts DCA. And it's not smart. Yes, people took the moral high ground and showed everyone who is boss ... but DCA fans and corps are dwindling, so maybe that is not the best course of action to address an issue. Anyway, what's done is done. Everyone got punished, now we move on.

I started that thread to point out to DCA that their marketing efforts were failing, and that the loss of Renegades this year, and with another big corps leaving next year ... the future does not look bright for DCA. These arguments did not work. I have since stopped trying to convince anyone of anything in regards to DCA, and am now solely focused on getting the Renegades on its feet and back into rock star mode.

Everybody is bummed, DCA as well. For me, it's weird, because I have been, and still am, friends with Gil, Glen and Red. This was a chaotic series of consecutive bad decisions by a few people that impacted a lot of people in drum corps, and will for a long time. Truth be told, there is a big part of me that thinks this is the greatest thing to ever happen to Renegades. Not leaving DCA, of course, but this type of instant adversity and change either results in greatness or devastation. The momentum I have seen in the last few days towards getting behind the corps and pulling off a miracle is inspiring, and makes me tend to think this is going to result in something genius at the end of the day. Personally, two weeks ago, drum corps was the furthest thing from my mind. Now, I find myself calling Renegades alumni and finance buddies to figure out how to go on the coolest Renegades adventure ever. We were all literally forced into this, but maybe that's the only way something like this would ever happen for the corps. It's chaotic and crazy, but what hasn't been that way for Renegades since Day 1? It's what the corps is. Personally, I think this is all going to work out, and when and if the Renegades return to DCA, we'll come back with a full evil corps and guns blazing. Lee

Sorry, Jeff - it's all good. Just trying to give everyone a response to what's going on and the correct information. If anyone is still concerned, I am happy to jump on the phone and explain everything (keep in mind, I was not at DCA 2012, so my involvement is solely focused on the resolution of the situation and moving the corps forward from here)

That's not quite right. DCA made the decision that Renegades will not be around, and I personally thought that this was one of the worst decisions in the history of DCA. I told them this 100x, so this is no attempt to stir things up now. Unfortunately, the person talking to DCA on behalf of the Renegades at the time did not make good decisions either. So, here we are. Everyone lost. Why bash anyone now? Let's wish DCA the best for 2013, and let's hope the Renegades can pull this all off so maybe they come back to DCA some day. Or not ... the real key is that we all love drum corps, and trying to hurt people over something that is done, decided and over ... is not really helpful now.

This situation was handled poorly by both sides, and the final decisions that were made were bad for DCA. I can honestly say that I have never tried so hard to get a group of people to reverse a bad decision, and that includes my prior work as an appellate attorney. I not only approached the line, I went over it by 700 miles. I made every argument that could have possibly been made, and then some, including pointing out that the NFL kicking out the Saints this year would have hurt the NFL. When the dust settled, a bad decision made by two misguided parties was still in stone, and there was nothing I could do about it, other than return to the Renegades and help them. There is no point in attacking DCA or Renegades right now, there are no winners here. Renegades don't get to compete in DCA, and there will be a lot less people from the West Coast at DCA and one less corps. But, when I am faced with a crisis, my professional response is to throw the ball into the end zone, so to speak, to try to turn chaos or adversity into success. We may fail, we may succeed, but we're giving the 2013 Renegades 150% and not looking back.

Oh, you're not throwing rocks Liz, you're asking valid questions. But there are a few people determined to ruin our efforts right now, some alumni. I know that sounds conspiracy-like, but you can see this online. They rant and rave, while others are figuring out how to raise 150k for a drum corps.

That's not correct, my friend. Please read my post above the reason for this trip. That is the true first-hand reason. Also, please make no assumptions about what is, and what is not, being done about the situation so it never happens again. To assume this is a conspiracy or coverup is just wrong, without substance, and hurtful to the corps right now. I also think that every DCA corps needs to go through some sort of analysis here, because the allegations made were not anything I have not personally seen from just about every other DCA corps. That's not finger pointing, just saying that the reality is not one corps run amok and everyone else in DCA is choir boys. It's all the same thing, for the most part.

That's a really great observation, Liz, and a question asked by many. Will we succeed? Time will tell, but I think so. You read the reason why this decision was made (scroll up). To say this doesn't smell right .. I can only tell you that my words are the first-hand truth, unlike many of the other analysis you might read about this situation. I was on the phone with DCA Board members and Renegades for literally hours last week to try to resolve a situation that was not handled very well by anyone. Moving forward, I can tell you that I am typically involved in raising sums of money much higher than the 150k we need for Europe for entertainment projects, as are many of my colleagues. We are bringing together a large group of dedicated people, and we are going to give this our very best shot. High school bands and other groups make this trip all the time. As far as I am concerned, we're going. Some people will continue to throw rocks at the corps and me, others will get behind the plan. Personally, I can tell you that behind all of this chaos, the momentum is incredible, and people signing up to help are not taking that commitment lightly. We'll see what happens.

Hehehe. Too funny. Thanks Jeff.

Breaking News. NATO puts European forces on alert after rumor of Renegades invasion. ;-p Folks, I know there is a lot of emotion and chaos in the air right now around DCA and Renegades. Speaking on behalf of myself, let me share a few personal thoughts for the record. 1. Please know, I was not at DCA 2012, but I was in discussions with the DCA Board and the Renegades every day last week to try to resolve things, so I have first hand knowledge. Everybody tried hard, but DCA was just not in the cards for the Renegades. There are no villains, it's a lose-lose. There are issues to address so chaos never happens like this again 2. The DCA Board members are my friends, and they know this. We had direct, intense and candid discussions and ultimately disagreed. That's okay, it's their job is to make those calls. I respect the DCA Board and their decision. With all of this change, you may see some emotional venting online for a little while, especially from a few Renegades, and frankly, maybe that's healthy right now. In any event, please know the Renegades are officially moving into 2013 with peace in their heart and goodwill towards DCA. Maybe Renegades come back to DCA some day -- right now, it's way too early to think about that. 3. With the Renegades no longer participating in DCA, it became our mission to create the best possible experience for the season to bring back the membership and have a great and meaningful season. Frankly, if we did not have a plan other than "we're not going to DCA," maybe we don't have a corps. Anyway -- we all love Europe, Europe has drum corps championships, and thousands of years of history which could provide our members with a once in a lifetime experience. So, that was the decision, a no brainer. I could be wrong, but I think we have a large corps this year. You should join. 4. Despite chaos you may see online, please know we have a talented and fast growing team of professionals who are committed to financing and producing the 2013 Renegades. This team is hyped, drama-free, and putting together a solid plan. I have personally committed myself 150% to this effort, as have a number of entertainment colleagues. Panic, zero. I've been told to f*** off a few times this week, it's all good. I'm actually having fun, if you can imagine that, and not planing to fail, if for no other reason that how crazy it all is and the next Renegades book is writing itself. I also think we really should finally hold a turkey raffle. Really. 5. The Renegades are returning to the evil uniforms, and these will be purchased for the corps before the first rehearsal. We're also making the winter schedule easier, so we can have more out of town members. 6. If you ever want a unique and chaotic drum corps experience -- Renegades 2013 would be it. In honor of all of this chaos, The Renegades novel is on sale this week on Amazon Kindle for .99. If you're baffled by Renegades, this is a good starting point. Someday, I think there's probably going to be a movie, but we'll see ... 7. Seven Thank you for listening.

Hey folks. I'm sorry I said anything at all, there probably wasn't much point to making this point, makes no difference. I wish everyone in DCA the best of luck for a great and bright future. Sincerely, Lee Rudnicki

Analyze 2012 Blue Devils all you want, they were simply playing a different sport than everyone else this year.

In the history of the DCA Championships, when was the best paid-attendance, ever? It was a while ago, no? 1990s? I could be wrong, but I think it just might be possible that our DCA fan base is not growing. In fact, I suspect that if we do the math, DCA just might actually be going backwards in terms of number of surviving corps, shows and fans. Maybe it is time to ask whether or not the DCA strategic marketing vision is capable of growing the fan base and whether things might be done in better ways to move the activity forward. Maybe we need to collectively accept the fact that a plan that worked for events like the 1993 Atlantic Coast Band Championships simply does not work in the world of drum corps 2013. Maybe the technology, people and entertainment landscape have changed, but our business model has not. Someone should explain the plan to grow the DCA fan base to all of the DCA corps. Personally, I would love to hear it, because if there is no current plan ... DCA looks a lot like the Titanic, with the corps sitting on deck chairs hanging out. So, how are we getting the DCA fans back? What's the plan? The grand vision? I think everyone needs to know Lee Rudnicki, on behalf of Lee Rudnicki

THE DREAM It all started with a dream. In 1996, a rag-tag group of seven people decided to form a senior drum and bugle corps in the San Francisco Bay Area. This was either a very brave or a very stupid thing for this little group to do. First, they didn’t have any instruments or uniforms, nor did they have the money to buy them. They were also 100 people short of a drum corps and 3,000 miles from the nearest competitive circuit. Their odds of success were above zero, but somewhere in the void between astronomically small and tragically insignificant. Apparently, this didn’t bother them one bit. Needing a name for their new drum corps, the group met in somebody’s living room to narrow down the list. After much debate, the name came down to a hotly contested runoff election between Barbary Coast Corsairs and Bay Area Renegades. When the dust settled, “Renegades” won by one vote, and the guy who thought of Barbary Coast Corsairs quit and went home. The group picked green and white as their official colors, and the Bay Area Renegades were thus born. Over the weeks and months, the little group worked hard and every member bought, begged, borrowed, or stole a drum or bugle to play. Since they had no uniforms, they simply wore jeans and white pinstripe baseball jerseys with RENEGADES written in green script on the front. The Renegades drum line—which temporarily consisted of every member carrying a drum whether they knew how to play one or not—debuted in a parade in Clayton, California on July 4, 1997. In September, the Renegades appeared with horns for the first time at the Fog Fest in Pacifica. People scrambled out of the way as the Renegades marched down the street playing Magnificent Seven. The music didn’t sound good, but their enthusiasm made up for it. Amusingly enough, many Pacifica residents were convinced the Renegades were a local softball team that just happened to find musical instruments. Despite a constantly fluctuating membership and no instructional staff, the Renegades kept the dream alive as they performed in small parades and community events. When they needed someone to carry the American flag or corps banner, somebody’s wife, husband, or kid would be drafted into duty. Over the holidays, the Renegades temporarily replaced the baseball jerseys with some old beige cadet-style uniforms and Santa hats. They assembled on a front lawn in snare drummer Al Chan’s South San Francisco neighborhood, and played Jingle Bells for anyone who would listen. The performance was ragged, but the little corps played their heart out and even made a few bucks by passing the Santa hat around. Like I said, it all started with a dream. THE RENEGADES - The Story of an Evil Drum Corps, is now available on Amazon Kindle and NOOK.

And was just released for THE NOOK as well.

Just released for Amazon Kindle.

Coming soon ... evil drum corps novel. This book is not a product of the San Francisco Renegades, Drum Corps International, or Drum Corps Associates, and no endorsement or affiliation with any of the foregoing is to be implied. WARNING. This book is not for kids. There are adult situations, adult language, adult beverages, adult people, and several extremely chaotic international incidents described in this book.

Disclaimer: This is a parody, no offense to anybody.

The landscape of film, video, television and music has evolved dramatically in the last 5-10 years, and most of the new content and media is very fast paced, aka made for short-attention spans. Kids watch videos on YouTube, for example, and if they are not engaged in the first 5 seconds, they’re on to the next one or twenty. As an entertainment lawyer and producer, I spend a lot of time talking to clients and colleagues about the importance of engaging the audience right off the bat and avoiding dead-time in any entertainment production. It dawned on me today at the Bellflower show. As the entertainment landscape has changed so fast, the basic format of drum corps show has not changed significantly in 25+ years. And our drum corps shows – DCA and DCI — make one HUGE fundamental mistake in terms of entertaining today’s audience. The time between each drum corps performance is dead air. It’s as if we get to watch 10-minute episodes of our favorite show on television, but between each one, we have to watch 10 minutes of white noise. Who is going to stay tuned to that channel in today's entertainment environment? The result of our “down-time” approach to the time between each corps performance is that Fifty-Percent (50%) of the time you spend in the stands at a DCI or DCA show is really, really boring — by definition. Our performance model is broken relative to today’s standards in fast-paced entertainment. What do we do? PLAN A — After each corps performs, the members go to the track. Then, the panel of DCI or DCA judges tells the corps and the fans (on microphones) what they thought of the show … then they get their score. The corps leaves, the next corps starts immediately. This is untraditional, American Idol approach, but the fans would go crazy and be engaged if they got to hear the judges address the corps after each show. The competition would get exciting, fans could cheer and boo as the judges evaluate the corps. The judges might run off into the forest before they would try this, but this would be a game changer for the drum corps fan’s experience. PLAN B - Have an “alternate lineup” of small jazz bands, singers, rock bands or whatever to perform on the track or small stage while the corps are leaving/taking the field. The concept is that other than a official “break”, there is no down time for the audience to sit there get bored and bake in the sun or whatever. This would improve things a bit. PLAN C – Status quo with the 50% boring events until we have no fans left.

Evil Drum Corps Show Review

Evil Drum Corps Review

Teal Sounding folding mid-tour is sad, but by definition, the ball had to have been dropped by both DCI and the Teal Sound board of directors for something like this to happen out of the blue DURING the DCI tour. This sucks for everyone, including the show sponsors. But DCI should have been on top of this before it happened. If DCI is somehow "not" supposed to be aware of a bad financial condition of a member corps, then the DCI system is broken, and it should get out of the way of the activity before it kills it off. Point of fact, those Teal Sound kids should have never went on tour. They should have had a chance to march somewhere else, -- in January. How many DCI age outs just had their last season of drum corps ruined? I'm sorry, but this is low rent business organization at its finest. How many corps do we need to lose to wake up here? Lee Rudnicki