Xsnaredrummer

I personally have gone back to help my old high school director and have begun helping him with his drummers. I am learning to teach music (i already teach in other parts of my life) and its very interesting. I wish you the best of luck with this, when a corps gets this kind of opportunity both the kids (who learn) and the organization (who get members) are benefited greatly. If you feel so inclined and get ahold of some basic drum stuff I am always searching for such feel free message me. Thanks

What shows announce this differently? and who chooses? (it seems Jeff you and I are talking to each other on 2 threads haha) I can not think of a reason why separation at every show could be bad. Except maybe that the open class corps wanna say they are "1st outa 6" rather then "1st outa 3".

Thanks for correcting me, I dont know much about bucs but I had assumed they had the best players from this area go there so brand new, never marching before musicians dont occur there. I know my corps taught me to march when they were in their parade corps phase because my school didnt have a program that did such.

No, of every corps that I have friends in they have all been recruiting heavily. People actually becoming members doesnt seem to be occurring as much. As to why? That is up for a lot of debate. I think the idea that corps can sit on their hands and just let people come to them will cause them to go belly up FAST. There are TWO corps in my opinion that may not have to focus on recruiting as much as others. Those are bucs because they WIN and Empire because of their west coast trip (and history). Again not saying anything about any organization. I love bucs and Empire they are great organizations and nice people. (please dont attack me )

With this rule change, why is it all shows but finals are just one class. As in: bucs 1st place, brigs 2nd, cru 3rd, govie's 4th, grenidiers 5th" Why isnt it announced govie's first in CLASS A???

I personally agree with you totally but others have the impression "I dont wanna march class A, because______". I enjoy class A, knowing EVERY PERSON in the corps first and last name and having their numbers on my phone. I, being 20, and not being very experience in drum corps can sit down and ask those with much more experience WHY and HOW drum corps function. Sorry, rambled for a second. IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED DO NOT KEEP READING THIS. I personally think their are two kinds of people in drum corps: "Leeches and builders" -"Leeches": go to who wins, and is there just to say "I am a champion" even though the corps would have won one way or another. -"Builders": go to the corps they love because of the people, staff, ETC. and wouldnt abandon the corps if they had a bad year, or were down in numbers. These guys/girls are also known as the CORE of the CORPS. Should a corps take a year off if they are just down on numbers? Honestly I think they may lose a lot of people who want to stay in OPEN class. Just my 2 cents, not saying anything about any organization, in fact being a drum corps nut, I love all drum corps. From 3 members to 300 it doesnt matter.

Agreed!! Only thing I dont like about marching Class A is I dont get to see all the corps perform. I find Class A has so much variation. By that I mean you get to see new arrangers/composers coming into play. New people write the drill and you get to see what new design teams come up with. I know I've said this before, but a personally believe the individual member in class A matters far more then in Open class. Looking forward to a wonderful season, See you all on the 50!

What an interesting thread.... Couple things I noticed: - Someone mentioned that the top (I think the word used was "member") corps should help the smaller corps. LOVE THE IDEA, to bad I think its a pipe dream. If a corps recruits someone they are going to use that person and asking someone to go somewhere else would just not go over well. Would any corps (especially class A) love to have all of brigs or cru's members come to them SURE but alas I think most will either take the year off to get some money (since we ALL seem to be hurting) or they'll stick around the organization to play in mini corps etc. Those that do go somewhere will be few and will probably try to stay in open class. - There should be a board of people helping corps stay afloat (paraphrased). This is a great idea, but we should also remember each corps goes through an evaluation by DCA. Should this occur every season? (does it? I am unsure personally) I think a better idea is to form this bored of people NOT INVOLVED IN ANY CORPS but have drum corps experience. DCA should evaluate corps, and then based on the evaluation help the corps out with money that DCA raises itself. Pipe dream? (yea I think so) but I think this would be better then the almost, "sink or float on your own" idea thats in place now. - My money idea, if the right ways to bring money into DCA were in place it could work. I sadly can not think of any way to help with recruitment. Lets face it, I cant think of a corps that doesnt have a spot that they'd like filled. "I'd like one more contra bass", or "I'd like one more snare player" is so common these days its almost sad. Its not even confined to class A anymore, where I personally believe each member matters FAR more the open.

Well to those of you who dont want to compete I wish you the best at achieving your goals (even though I dont fully comprehend why there isnt a desire to compete). As for "most of us did march with Excelsior", Excelsior has gone through many changes since the beginning. I'd wager to say that many people will call us a different corps from even LAST year, so 6 years ago? Huge changes.

So what is the reason some people haven't announced their shows yet? I know of a few corps here that have had multiple camps and told their membership their shows, but haven't announced them on dcp or their website. Thoughts? ideas?

Honestly I was just formulating a hypothesis out-loud (dangerous on dcp haha) but I think my point was missed WHY is it cuts seems to just give up without marching somewhere that is more their speed to work them-selves up? Some the best, and smartest, drum corps "youngsters" I know started in DCA or and open class DCI and worked themselves up. I guess what I wanna leave here for those of us with A.D.D. (I can make fun of it I have it haha) is WHY to so many people try out for upper world class then give up?

Completely agree, but I feel its a pipe dream because I know of many (and I dont think my experience here is just mine) "kids" that try out for an upper level corps and DONT make it, say F*** it and dont march and improve those skills at all. Is it because incompetent staff? (from say high school level, again no offense to anyone) Or parents blindly looking at their childs playing? I dont know, but seriously if you get cut from a world class corps its because you need to practice more thats all.

I disagree with the local corps idea. In that I mean, "if there were more local corps people would go to them". I disagree because unless you are someone like phantom, devils etc. many people, nowadays, feel a local corps is beneath their skills. Sadly when they go out to a world class corps cold (as in never marched drum corps) they get rejected most of the time. I guess what I am getting at is that we live in a day of instant gratification. "If I dont get the reward fast, whats the point?" Where does the "I am better then local corps and deserve world class" come from? I believe its usually incompetent staff and/or parents that dont actually look at a kids skills and talk realistically, instead of giving them advice on how to improve as a player, they put them up to trying out for things they are not ready for. Ok rant over, not trying to upset anyone just my experience. Thoughts?

If anyone can go inactive and come back stronger then ever its Cru. See you guys again soon, I KNOW it.

So question, how do shows work? Like, does the top ten corps HAVE to have their own show? who has to put one on? dca rules say? etc etc. thanks!

I have one that says "Weapons of mass percussion" ha ha bought one for one of my best friends too.

So I am sitting here trying to figure out who you are madHungarian, but I am at a loss. CLUES?

Correction 9-6 sat. 9-4 sun. ha ha but thanks Mr. Hungarian

Looking forward to seeing you on the 50! ... good luck on your first competitive season!

Are you guys looking to compete?

I hated those words because what i didnt know DID hurt. One of the most memorable trips and I would do it again in a heart beat! Have fun guys!

I am so X-cited about this show, the staff's creative ideas are just amazing

wow almost 400 views already

Good luck this year shen! looking forward to seeing u guys again. SEE YOU ON THE 50

You should just keep your eyes out, a lot of people are selling older vans, take a mechanic friend to check it out. My corps got a bus donated free of charge from a friend (still dont know how we pulled that off). We give it to the caption head that is closest to the people who need rides. That specific person may change every season but words cant describe how beneficial it has been.