Crassissimo

Agreed. Crusaders have a great design and are achieving its difficulties. So is BDB though. I believe, if anything, an open class corps is given more credit than necessary to try difficult things and not perform them cleanly. In world class you have to execute to get credit. Open class is a little more lenient in that aspect. The top 4 corps in Open Class however are all pushing their member's talent boundaries with design but they are ACTUALLY achieving and executing unlike several other top 12 placing open class corps. The top 3 or 4 corps will all translate well enough on the world class sheets to make semis I think.

Prelims Placement Predictions 18 Pacific Crest 19 Oregon Crusaders 20 Mandarins 21 Blue Devils B 22 Vanguard Cadets 23 Teal Sound 24 Cascades 25 Spartans ------------------- 26 Jersey Surf 27 Revolution 28 Pioneer 29 Genesis 30 7th Regiment

Can this be confirmed from another source that this Northstar program being talked about is geared to be a competitive DCI corps? That would be great news for the area if they have the right resources. And is this in the near future (2 years)? or unforeseen future?

I can't possibly read 65 pages of banter so I'll just say this if it hasn't been said already: According to what evidence and information we all have, the facade of "for the good of the activity" is not being bought, otherwise this conversation wouldn't be going on. The most inclined of the G7 should take the Star of Indiana approach if they want to focus on nothing but themselves and really explore the activity. Find some other creative venue of performance and make your money that way. Do not drag everyone else down.

I believe this has been a discussion before on here. This is what I have found in the past... 1997 Braintree Braves: Medford Show 9.000 and this wasn't a typo. Same year... Fitchburg Show: 20.200 Athol Show: 11.700 If I am not mistaken though, this was prior to the minimum limit. The corps was 3 or 4 little little kids. Snare, Soprano, and 1 or 2 flags. I saw a video about 6 years ago of their show that season.

For Christmas all I wanted was 45 healthy Open Class corps back in competition. I think Santa accidentally skipped over my house last night. Crap.

Agreed but this is something that probably won't change simply because it has become the norm. (In World Class)

Then use this as your first post. I don't know how I am suppose to gather all of this information from your original statistics. I realize there was an outcry with rule changes but how many fans really stopped going to shows besides the 10 radicals on this board who once claimed they will never support DCI again? There is no solid evidence that a fan base was lost. It could also be argued that for every one "Legacy Fan" that was lost, there were two new customers because the shows were more engaging for young students who were used to electronics already being used in WGI and BOA. There isn't evidence to support that either. However, I do need to come back and edit this post because I don't want to sound like a complete jerk. This is because I DO agree with your observation of how drum corps has, in some cases, devalued communities in their local area and instead have embraced the opposite platform. Who am I to say that the opposite platform of shipping kids in from all over the place and having auditions hundreds of miles from your offices should be stopped, it is just the way the activity has evolved.

We're not trying to sell Old Navy Fleece Jackets here... Your statistics may be true for Mom and Pop's Family Diner but not necessarily true for EVERYTHING in the marketing world. And if we hold these stats as true for everything, is this supposed to dissuade DCI from marketing the activity to local communities? Is this supposed to dissuade any business from marketing to new customers? According to what Bobby has been saying, DCI does not over-advertise because it just is not in the budget. No one is wasting their time trying to attract new customers.

Well, the schedule is up (although it is not set in stone) and as of now there are only 13 Open Class corps out in the Indiana area right before finals week. (This most definitely won't be the the real number) -Blue Saints and Mystikal do not have their schedules up yet. -Thunder, Spartans, and Forte, assuming DCI allows them all to field, will probably go to Finals. -The other possible new corps: Chippewa Valley Brigade, Platinum, this Genesis that Chris Green mentions, and who knows what other ones are in the process of building and being approved may go to Finals for all we know. -It seems as though Vanguard Cadets will be ending at San Antonio. For the roughest estimates ever... From the names here, there is a possibility of having 13-21 corps at Quarterfinals. Assuming all of these corps are given DCI approval and none of them go inactive for the season, there is a possibility of having anywhere between 21-27 Open Class corps competing at least once this season. I am not sure of what other corps are trying to get approved by DCI so even that maximum may be low. Note: None of these numbers include Teal Sound since it looks like they will definitely be okay'd for WC status. They are signed up for almost every single WC regional on the East Coast/Midwest.

I have a feeling that 14 is a very silly number. If this were the worst possible year ever for OC corps attending Quarterfinals I think the lowest it would probably drop to is 17, and that's if this "trend" is as bad as it can get. I hope to see 19 coming out again.

That is great news to hear!

I noticed that they will be speaking with DCI soon about re-emerging this season and have scheduled a December camp. Any idea about who is lined up for their staff?

That is good news. The next step would be to offer this 350 page resource to more than just the Open Class directors; offer it to anyone who requests it with an interest in building a corps from the ground up like the OP suggests. It may play a factor in helping the future rise of sustainable corps (those that can endure decades of seasons and decades of students).

I think from the posts you made earlier this week everyone has their own view as to what your profile is. As I'm sure people have also formulated their own profiles of Richard. What you say on here IS your identity. So, if you are worried about your character and what people think of it, you should watch what you say because words are the only thing that characterize you. And I'll let you in on a tip, if you post anything, you will be judged by at least half of the membership on here. That's just how it is.