Glenn426

I think this was a great move by DCI. Strong assertion that it is in control and not in Turmoil. And with details and PDF's and all. Great. Makes you wonder what the G7 intentions were? If their whole reasoning for implementing the G7 was to save DCI from Doom. Hmm..

Since I havent posted my thoughts on the G7 proposal itself anywhere else Ill go ahead and post here in this non-flame environment. I think the main component of the G7 proposal is fixed around the Talent (G7 corps) being unhappy with the amount of money that DCI (Management / Owners) is bringing in compared to the amount of money that the corps bring in.(All of this screams to me of the Players strike in MLB or the proposed Standoff in the NFL in 2011.) And the G7 corps got together and thought, Hmm how could we justify getting more money for what we do, without seeming unfair or greedy. And they came up with the Model of having the 7 corps do "special" Value-added shows where their profits for doing the shows are almost 4 times the amount they would regularly get from a normal show. And to maximize the amount of money they get from these shows, they limit it to only the 7 corps. Justifying it by saying that they are the top talent and the top draw, and other corps would not attract the maximum amount of people. (read; MONEY) The G7, also unhappy with DCI, about the amount of money they made, and other issues like Indianapolis, look to severly decrease the operational power that DCI has. Proposing to cut non-essential staff, and bacially "trim the fat" off of DCI to the point that they are doing the bare minumum operational things that the G7 would not be able to handle themselves. All in the name of justifying that DCI is "wasting money" that could be going to the Corps. The proposals of having 2 votes per G7 corps is to protect themselves after this happens, from the other non-G7 corps who after looking at their 990's and looking the G7's 990's would scream foul. But at that point having relinquished their power to the G7 would be powerless to do anything about it. ________________________________________________________________________________ _ Being that my views of the reasoning behind the G7 proposal, Here are my proposed changes; ---DCI does in fact need to reason and negotiate with ALL of the corps to insure that the "talent" remain happy and a viable/ functioning organizations. BUt it is not as big an increase as the G7 have proposed. If they are rumored to each earn a reported $2,400 for each show I say increase that by $1,100 to $3,500 per each show for each corp. --- Dci Regionals (Saturday) shows change format to become a Value added events. Regionals become the big draw, and the Must see shows. To include, Fan freindly Demostrations in the Parking lot. Some planned hands on exhibitions in the stands where small samples from the corps interact with the fans. But this includes all corps. All corps understanding that they need to be "more fan Friendly" on these Saturdays. And each corps provides at least "value added" Product to the saturday show. (exp. BD Drums and allows and interactive session where fans all able to drum alongside "the line". The cadets allow fans to do a visual Basics Block with the fans.) Each corps are creative and get to showcase something that is "special" about their corps. All of these activities are in the lot, in the stands, during intermission. So there is a show, away from the field. hence value added. Corps would also get a higher cut for each regional. ($4000) --- and Finally, Corps based on their finishing order get "compensation" in decreasing value from 1st place. 1st $15,000 2nd $12,500 3rd $10,000 4th $7,500 5th $6,000 etc.. This is just an example (values be higher or lower, based on what is feasible for DCI) With this model the Corps are rewarded for finishing higher and excellence. But it is spread out around all of the corps. (similar to the NFL, where the winners of the Super Bowl receive major compensation) Following this business model I think all points are addressed that the G7 have. The Fans get a closer experience and Regionals become mega shows where the majority of the "band" audience attends. THe corps get a bigger piece of the pie, Therefore allowing the corps to relief some financial stress while maybe being able to lower corps fees?? And the "talent" and excellence are rewarded. Everyone is happy, Everything is fair, Drum corps continues to be something that everyone can enjoy and cheerish and support.

from the looks of it in the posts here, The BOD has met yesterday. To do what? who knows. But I'm hoping there is another leak or further information in the coming days.. I'm sure this is a huge concern and an urgent matter for all parties concerned within DCI. To the point that it seems that media outlets have been silenced by DCI, To help with the damage control.

NOOOOOOOO they have forsaken my favorite CHORD!!! the 7 Chord!! ARRRGGGGHHHHH

I have 4 students in BAC this year, Their move-in starts tomorrow. And I can tell you first hand, that they have fire in their eyes.

Well going to the OP's question. Yes I have several students of mine marching with a couple of G7 corps and they have confirmed from early last week that they did have a corps meeting to discuss the G7 and effects of its announcement. As well as announcing that their corps director was no longer on the BOD of DCI. Obvouisly with these members are working hard at move-in and having very little contact with the outside world, they are surely not experiencing the effects of the proposal yet. But I suspect that will change once they hit the road.

Thank you for this information.. I wonder how much you had to pay to get this?

so I read this a couple of times and it is still not computing for me... You say the current make up is of; 4 member corps + 2 at-large unaffiliated members. So that leaves two corp member slots open which you say will be filled shortly. What is the make up of the G7 corps? You say 2 g7 members where "recalled" and subsequently two other G7 corps directors resigned. So If i got this right, then the G7 have no representation on the BOD? Thanks,

Well they did in fact get dooped.. the proposal has the closest G7 show in Texas.. How they plan to take all 7 corps to the West coast is beyond me. The amount of money to do that would offset anything they hope to make from the G7 shows..

Penske? as in a moving fan? Any word from your source when they will announce something?

That 12-9 vote was to restructure the BOD. 9 against changing the board. of those 9, 7 are believed to be the G7 corps. With the other 2 being Who knows.... And one corps who Fell asleep (did not vote)

I am really pulling for Blue stars and BAC this year. I have close ties to both corps with BAC being my alma mater and Blue Stars having all of my old instructors and directors from my BAC days. I know they will be pulling hard and not dwell upon this G7 controversy and will only use it to fuel the members as a positive. With the overwhelming anti G7 sentiment, I am sure they will enjoy taking the role of "underdogs" along with being "fan favorites" and have a great summer in the process.

I know for sure that HOP has already had a full corps meeting explaining the events of G7 and the big ordeal that it has caused. The ones that understand Drum Corps and how it works are aware of what it means. Some vets of that corps I'm sure are used to being controversial and will not have a problem taking that role. But the other G7 corps will be in this role for the first time.

I think this now becomes a dangerous avenue. I think that DCI needs all the support it can get right now. The smartest thing for all of those oppsed to the G7 is to go out to the shows. Support DCI. Show them that the way things are now are just fine and they do work. I think not going to DCI shows and buying the Fan Network is only going to fuel the Fire that the G7 have started. I think the way to approach it is to go to the shows. But do not but any merchandise from the G7. Hit them where it hurts, In the pocketbook. As others have said walk out on them before the shows. Imagine the unified message of BD or the Cadets perform to empty stands? The message will be loud and clear. The part that really sucks is for the members of these G7 corps that will have to bear the brunt of being the bad guys when they did nothing at all to deserve it.. But they will just have to be the "casualty of war" I'm sure if they are displeased that much they move on to another corps the next year. Having about 5 of my current students marching in these G7 corps, they understand the situation and are fully aware of what this summer will be like for them.

Reading through the lengthy conversations about the G7 and the proposal. I have not seen this topic discussed. According to the DCW article; DCW Article What this tells me is the NON-G7 corps acted quickly to make sure that the BOD was not dominated by the G7. A source close to the Cadets tells me that Hopkins was indeed removed from the BOD that day, As I would assume also that the remaing G7 directors where removed from the board as well. Does anyone else have information confiming the fact that the G7 Directors where removed? Also another topic, who are the remaining people that are left on this board? Who are these Interim replacements for the G7 BOD's? What affiliations if any do they have to the Member Corps. So this meeting will be of the BOD only? If the BOD is not comprised of G7 representation, How likely would it be that this even takes of the ground? A point of interest in the press release is centered around this; Does this mean that the BOD have already decided something that will in effect removed Dan Acheson as the Executive director of DCI? This makes it unclear to me the role that the BOD has in passing and legislating the rules concerning DCI. If the voting memebership of the World Class corps has to vote on all matter for them to be in effect, What exactly does the BOD do? Do they decided what passes the proposal stage and moved to be presented to the voting membership? If that is the case, then with an Interim Board consisting of non G7 members what is the likelyhood that this will even make it to be voted on by the Voting Memebership of the WC corps. With the (deserved) uproar that the G7 created, these points in the DCW press release have been missed.