SirJarlsburg

This just was sent to me. It's pretty cool, it kind of lays out how drum corps works for people that might not know. I assume it's being used as a recruiting tool. If not it should be. It's about 10 min, worth a few minutes It's on YouTube And They have it embedded on their webpage www.7thregiment.org So it's ok for me to post this YouTube vid right?

Speaking of rumors about VK. I heard they're marching 149 horns and a drum major. It must be true!

Learning drill on a particularly miserable rainy day during move-in. In retrospect we found out that the visual caption head had a newer version of the drill sheets than we did, but nobody knew that at the time. So he's chewing the sopranos out for not going to "their written spots" ("are you getting paid?? are you trying to write the drill?") and he's practically foaming at the mouth as he screams for us to do it again and lets loose with the now infamous: "If you don't get it friggin right this time JESUS IS GOING TO COME OUT OF MY BODY AND KILL YOU!!!"

So I just took a look at who's heading out to indy, and saw 19 corps. But then I noticed one of them is Blue Saints, who aren't coming out this year... Meaning there's 18 corps. and 17 will go to semifinals... Am I the only one that thinks that kinda sucks? Normally I'm all about earning your spots and such, but are we really going to send ONE corps home without getting to play in the big stadium? I think we should open semi's for 18 corps. So the judges will need to get there 15 minutes earlier, so what?? As someone working with a corps that just barely made semi's last year, it's SO COOL for the kids to get to play in the big house, even if it is the "butt-crack" of dawn (we started our warmup in the dark...and walked on the field just after sunrise!!) Whoever ends up being in that 18th spot...Come on DCI (I'm looking at you Dan Acheson), they're forking over all the money and effort and sweat to haul themselves to indiana, let 'em play another show!

Whoever is selling a CD or DVD pays mechanical licensing, almost always, regardless of what part of the industry you're in. Meaning DCI needs to pay the fees. They are extremely small however.

I'm sure they're doing it because the cost of production outweighs the income made off producing corps 13-18. I can kinda understand that...they'd probably sell a couple hundred copies at the most (probably less than 100). And between sound engineering, video editing, graphic design work, copyright verification, and mass printing, I'll bet it costs them a hefty chunk more to produce than they'd make selling 100 units... But I don't think that's an excuse. I'd be fine with losing Al Chez's rendition of the national anthem at opening ceremonies if it means they'll have the cash to produce a DVD for the hundreds of kids, instructors, support staff and families that worked just as hard as any one else involved with the activity, but get nothing to show for it from DCI.

So, yet another example of DCI taking a dump on open class. I work with an open class corps that didn't make finals. The kids worked their butts off all summer and couldn't have cared less about their placement, they were just psyched that they made semi's and got to perform in the big stadium. So cool, their performance was great (though holy crap early in the AM), and made sure to stop by the DCI booth later that day to purchase a copy of the individual show video. I was told: DB at the booth: "We don't do that anymore for copyright reasons, we haven't since 2002" Me: Excuse me?? Then why do I have a copy an individual video from 04 when I was marching...that I purchased from you guys... DB: "Um, well I don't know, but we don't do that anymore. We only sell videos as packaged products." Me: Sigh...ok fine, I guess I'll have to drop the cash, I'd like to order a copy of the top 18 DVD for open class. DB: "Um...well we only make a DVD of the finals for open class." me: What?!?! That's stupid. Fine, how do I get a copy of a semi-finals open class video? DB: "Um...I don't know" me: You've got to be kidding me, so you're saying I should have brought my camera and made my own video. DB: "NO absolutely not, that's completely against the law!" me: ............ DB: "I think they might be loading them up on the Fan Network, would you like to sign up? me: ...........you guys are a terrible excuse for an educational institution. Kiss my____. I signed on to Fan Network with a friend recently, though, just in case, and sure enough; not there. Now, I love DCI, I've been part of it and a supporter for years. But this is a complete load of bull. I don't care if this corps isn't a big ticker money-maker for you, making it impossible to get a video of their last performance is border-line criminal as far as I'm concerned (speaking as a teacher). Even if it loses you a little bit of money, it should be part of the cost of doing business. Hell...send me the raw footage and I'll edit it for free so those other 5 corps can get a copy of theirs too. I've called them a couple times and have received various answers and suggestions...none of which were any help. Anyone know if they even recorded any footage of open class semis?