Drumdad
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Posts posted by Drumdad
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Drumdad, please do not take this personally, I am just attempting to get an accurate picture on the internal workings of Revolution according to your involvement from 2009 - 2011: So, a) You were involved with ponying up to "save the day" in 2009 when the corps was being financially mismanaged at that time?; b) You continued to have a child perform with Revolution throgh 2011 even after you discovered their gross mismanagement in 2009?; c) The 2011 Revolution Administrative Staff were already accustomed to, based on previous situations, running the corps in the red and therefore already had the expectation, based on that 2009 experience, that parents like you would once again just rush in to save the day in 2011?; and d) You blame the problems of Revolution solely on the Administrative Staff?
A,B&C) My son's first year with Revo was in 2008. He wanted to get started in DCI and chose Revo, since they were 5 hours away from home. In that year, Revo came asking for money, mid-season, and I paid-up (as did other parents) because I wanted my son to experience OC finals. In 2009, my son returned to Revo solely because of it's percussion caption head and the rest of the corps' percussion staff. I wasn't thrilled with his decision, but he was 19 and was paying his own way that year. But, again, Revo came asking for money mid-tour. In 2010, he returned to the corps for the same reason as 2009. The difference this time was that Revo didn't come asking for money. Did they have financial difficulties? I really don't know, but they didn't come asking me for money. Then, in 2011 (his age-out year), my son went to a WC corps... didn't like it and decided to go back to Revo to finish out with the percussion staff he knew and loved. And, of course, Revo came asking for money again... except this time it was late in the season. Unlike before, this time I was not willing to pay-up. Could the case be made that parents who pony-up are acting as enablers to a corps administration that has management problems? It could. But, at the time, it's more about a parent doing what they have to do to help their your child than it is about bailing out a money "mis-manager". C) Revo is run by two men. If there is a board of directors, I am not and never have been aware of it. I actually had a parent tell me (at 2011 finals) that she paid her child's tuition this year... only to get word that it had not been paid. It turned out that the check had been lost. So, she canceled the first check and wrote another one. A short time later she got word that her child's tuition was still not paid. She refused to pay a third time. My son's tuition has ALWAYS been paid, in full, by March 1st. This year, my son was pulled aside during all-days and told that he still owed 500-dollars. We had to show the canceled check to prove that he had paid. These are just a couple of MANY examples of money mis-management at Revo. So, do I blame Revo's administrators for the corps' problems? Yes, I do. I certainly don't blame the parents.
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Tour scheduling and management is key in keeping a corps financially solvent. It is the responsibility for the individual corps to request a feasible tour which will not push them into the red, and it is the responsibility of DCI to make sure that each corps is able to meet the requirements for said request. Revolution could have requested to just perform at all Texas shows, a few shows in surrounding states like Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Arkansas, then possibly make it to Finals. So, if the Revolution Staff member was telling the truth, this begs two questions: 1) If the Revolution staff knew the corps was in financial trouble from the start, why did they request such a massive 21 city plus Finals tour schedule?; and 2) Was DCI aware of the Financial problems within Revolution when they agreed to place them on that massive tour schedule in the first place?
Mid-tour financial issues are nothing new at Revolution. In fact, in 2009, there was a HUGE thread in this very forum on the subject. Someone (No, not me.) posted an internal email that was a plea, from Revo to it's parents, for more money. The email said (paraphrasing) that the corps had thousands of dollars in outstanding dues, and that Revo's tour was in jeopardy of ending in San Antonio rather than in Indianapolis. Parents, like me, ponied up extra money to "save the day". The exact same thing happened the year before. I suppose it's possible, but not likely that DCI was/is not aware of this.
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See Bold Above; the ultimate responsibility falls on the corps administration.
I was done here, and you guys managed to drag me back in.
Here is a piece of information that is relevant to this part of the thread. One day before this year's San Antonio show I asked a Revo senior staffer (who would know) why Revo was not participating in the Denton show, just up the road from S.A., as it did in 2010. He told me that, because of Revolution's heavy touring schedule (21 cities, not including Michigan City or Indy), DCI would not allow it. He said DCI told the organization that it had enough shows on it's schedule.
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This is my final post on this thread.
Last night, I was downloading Michigan City video from my camera to my computer. The video was of Revolution's last run-through, just hours before it's OC finals performance. Corps members responded as staff members worked to motivate them. If they were tired and worn down by the long tour, they certainly weren't showing it. After all, it was almost showtime... time to do what they'd spent a long, hard summer working toward. They ran through their entire show as their teachers applauded and cheered them on. As I watched this it occurred to me that, at this point in time, neither the kids nor their teachers had any idea of the chaos just around the corner. That's all.
Dan Delgado
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Drumdad, all I can say it to get involved and get other parents to get involved as Boosters and Board Members and dont let Revolution fold due to this. We cant lose another corps period! Corps have there ups and downs and alot of effort will need to be done to insure that this never happens again for future members.
Best Wishes
MC
MC,
My Revolution days are over. The events of the past week aside, my son aged-out this year and I do not live near San Antonio. That said, I hope those members and parents with years to go will get involved... on a level greater than making sandwiches and sewing uniforms... and that John Rodriguez and Mike Quigley will allow it. Afterall, when it comes to running a drum corps (or most other things), ten good heads are better than two.
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I think you got exactly the reaction you were looking for by bringing it to a public forum. Why not go right to the directors via email or snail mail? If that didn't work, then go to the next step and take it up with DCI. The tour just ended, so even if you went through the usual channels, it seems that you would be a bit more patient to get the answers you were looking for instead of posting it here. And if your experience with Revolution has been less than satisfactory, then why allow your child to march with them year after year after year after year?
I won't waste my time responding to what you think and don't think. It's of little consequence to me. I will, however, answer your questions without regard to your satisfaction.
I was there, as these things were happening. It did not occur to me, as I don't believe it would occur to most people, to say, "Perhaps I'll wait until next week or send a snail mail to try and find out why the staff was fired, why the battery is protesting and why they are being left to fend for themselves as a result of their protest". I began seeking answers immediately. But getting those answers, directly from the horses mouth (so to speak), was not happening... despite the number of methods I used to try to obtain them. And, again, I was there... watching my son, his friends and certain staff members go through this mess. What's more, the people responsible for it were miles away... on their way back to Texas... accessible only to those to which they chose to be accessible. In my opinion (and there's nothing humble about it), they hit and ran. So, the morning after I returned to Texas, I went looking for answers and I got them... right here (post #19). Do I believe them? Not really, but that's for me to deal with. I knew what happened, but I know MUCH more now about how and why things went down then I did when I first wrote the post. So do other Revo parents who shared my outrage and cocern. It, in a sense, removed the muzzles from the mouths of a lot of reputable people.
My son marched and played for Revolution, in 2008, because he wanted to get started in drum crops. My son returned to Revolution in 2009, 2010 and 2011, solely for Carlos Botello and the rest of Revo's now former percussion staff. Where he marched and who he marched for has always been his choice. That said, just about anyone who has been through Revolution can tell you it's not perfect... and no one should expect it to be. Revo had many of the same issues this year that it has EVERY year. It was what happened in the last four days of the season, and how it happened, that we had never experienced before and that I hope Revo members and their parents never experience again.
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and now for something completely different --
You know, I've already stated my feelings on the subject a few pages ago on this thread. What's bumming me out now is that this is the biggest story thread in the Open Class forums this season. Not that it isn't big news, but, you know, there were a great deal of success stories this season as well as a very close battle between 3-4 very good drum corps. Rarely, if at all, were people in here discussing those topics. But now that there is a little bit of gossip, this place turns into Times Square. HAHA.
Not a big deal, really. Just an observation. I hope some of you come back next season to discuss the positive side of Open Class!
YAY, OPEN CLASS!
Now, back to your regularly scheduled program.....
I have to agree with you. This is nuts! I started the thread, but never thought it would garner this much attention or stray into all of the areas that it has. I came here demanding an explanation, that I wasn't getting through the usual channels, and ended up getting a whole lot more... the beauty, and sometimes perils, of a free society. We don't all agree, but we all spoke our piece. Kudos!
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I have just completed my third year in the Revolution Front Ensemble, and although I don't want to get into this argument about who should be in trouble or not, I would like to clear something up.
"As stated the pit members who had no loyalty to caption just their tech decided to step up and complete the parade."
We do have loyalty to our tech as well as our caption, and I (personally) have an amazing amount of loyalty to Carlos Botello. But us stepping up to complete the parade had nothing to do with those loyalties.
We put on drums and made up some grooves and tried to make it work for the good of our fellow members, the people that needed to get home and that we'd been living with and bleeding for for the past 2 1/2 months.
I didn't do it for Carlos, John Rod, or Maverick, I did it for all of the members that asked me to. This is NOT Carlos's, John Rod's, or Maverick's drum corps, it belonged to the members.
Tis a Gift
I was at the truck when you guys (and girl) were getting your drums. Regardless of what I think of the things that happened and the battery's decision to protest, Kudos to you for stepping up.
Dan Delgado
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Stu and Drumdad....sorry, but it's all a "he said, she said" at this point...no amount of posturing by either side's gonna change that until there's a formal investigation with provable evidence presented.
In the meantime, Revo's rep goes down the toilet...good job.
Your passion for your position is commendable.
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Which brings up a most important point....let's say these accusations are totally bogus. Now the director's been painted with a brush that could keep him away from the activity entirely, his reputation in our fairly small world utterly ruined....that's not defamation? That's not libel? It wouldn't cause him harm if he applied for a real-world job and didn't get it because these accusations hang in the background??
Also...regardless of the truth of these accusations....you don't think this kind of thing damages the corps?? As an example...SCV 89. It's been shown time and again that the 2 overage guys from the UK forged their ID papers and fooled not only DCI and Gail Royer, but US Immigration as well....yet there are STILL people out there who claim SCV was cheating with overage members....HOW many years later??
The same could be said of Revo on the future if people don't want to join up...they won't think the director did these things....they'll think the CORPS did.
'84BDsop,
The major difference between my original post and your posts is that mine is based in fact and yours rely on hypotheticals. Anytime you preface your thoughts with phrases like "let's say..." or "what if...", you're not dealing in facts. If you care to take the time to go back and re-read my original post, you'll note that I accuse no one of anything. I do, however, demand answers. It is a time line of events and conversations of which I have first-hand knowledge. Events and the contents of conversations, I might add, that are confirmed in John Rodriguez's posting entitled "Clarification". Do I agree with what happened, or how it was handled? I most certainly do not. That's what prompted the posting, in the first place. Whether people share my feelings of concern, anger and disgust (at what happened) is up to them. But, it happened... all of it... and there is nothing hypothetical or accusatory about that.
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After having read everything that has been posted on this thread, here is what I have to say.
1. I was a member of Revolution DBC pit during the 2002 and 2003 summers. If you don't know anything about MY corps history, let me refresh you. 2002 was our third year in existence. What did we do? We won the title of Division 3 World Champions. There were a LOT of things that the corps had to overcome, as a group and as individuals. During 6 weeks of all day rehearsals, we spent the majority of it indoors due to a flood that was happening in our home town of San Antonio. Instead of having an equipment truck that we owned, we rented a Ryder truck for an entire summer. We didn't have a cook truck. We had some amazing people that volunteered their time and talents to make sure we were fed, and we were always fed. We may not have had a feast, but we were ALWAYS fed, and we ALWAYS had housing. There were many, many, many times that John Rodriguez, Doug McCarroll, and Mike Quigley and others on the staff had to beg, steal, borrow, and beg some more at a show site so that MY corps could have some basic necessities that other corps took for granted, including but not limited to pit equipment, a four wheeler, and trailers for some of the pit equipment. The staff that year literally helped by taking a piece of pit equipment on and off the field on their own. We overcame a LOT of obstacles that year, and we still won the whole shebang. Now, thanks to one particular individual, the 60 members who gave their blood, sweat, and tears to make that happen now run the risk of seeing all that dedication and work and effort go down the tubes, not to mention the members of the corps who have come before and after me.
2. John Rodriguez, in the two years that I was a member of the corps, was never anything if he wasn't responsible, hard working, and the most dedicated individual of the entire corps. That's not to put down the efforts of the entire staff and volunteers of those two summers; everyone that volunteered their time and talents to the corps was amazing, and gave me the best two summers that I have still ever had in my lifetime. Why do I say volunteers? As mentioned above, John Rodriguez never has been paid a DIME for his hard work and efforts to make sure that the corps' best interests were met and that the corps was taken care of. However, after observing the behavior of the staff at times while on tour, including some who drank regularly and showed up hung over to a rehearsal the next morning, I can say that there are many more evils that ocurred than what has been said here. Unfortunately, John, as the leader of the corps, is taking all the blame. Knowing John Rodriguez, I have to believe that there is a #### good reason why he would leave a tour early. Not only that, but I also have to believe that there is more to this story than what is being said about him alone, because again, I never went totally without food or housing in the two summers that I was a member of the corps.
3. The parent(s) who have aired their dirty laundry and complaints about the corps on this public forum can go to hell. All of you keyboard quarterbacks that sit behind your computer screen and state that, "Oh I would never have done this, I would never have done that, we never could have...." etc. etc. can just go ahead and shut the hell up. I would LOVE to see you start up an organization like Revolution from nothing and turn it into something even half as successful as Revolution has been in past years under John Rodriguez. Before you even start about "I'm a CEO of a company, I do this, I do that..." A) You get paid, and B) you don't put in thousands of hours of YOUR time for a non profit organization. To the parent that started this thread: thank you for possibly causing all my hard work, as well as countless other alumni of this great organization, to go down the sh*tter.
Bottom line: Unless you were there, you're getting your information third party, which is hearsay, and not permissible in a court of law (since everyone seems to be a fan of crying "libel!"). So shut the hell up, ESPECIALLY if you have no ties to MY corps whatsoever. You have caused enough damage already. I only can hope and pray that MY corps does not have to fold and never again return. If it does, I am proud to have been a member of Revolution, and always will be. It really is true, a few bad apples can spoil it all.
I fail to see what your experiences in 2002 and 2003 have to do with what happened at the end of the 2011season, but you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I have known John and Mike, and been a Revo parent, for four years (08,09,10,11). I have put in my time and more than my share of money, over those years. There have been many times, off and on this forum, when I have sung John and Mike's praises as well as those of Revolution. I've been in Michigan City and Indianapolis every one of those years... as I was this year. What I wrote in my original post actually happened. Regardless of "why" it happened, the fact that it happened in the manner that it did is unacceptable to me and MANY others who have spent a varying number of years as part of Revolution.
Kudos to you for speaking your mind. More power to you.
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Sorry, I do not mean to argue nor distort the facts, BUT the director knew the funds were not there before he left. My son called me the night HE talked to the corps about it, even stating it was HIS fault and he was resigning!. My son was ###### to say the least and telling me Revo was asking for money. I already paid!!!! Towards the end of the trip, far away home, is NOT the time to let everybody know the corps is broke. I spent the remaining hours anxiously awaiting news when they would be home and where. Iwas not until they were leaving Tulsa that I knew where I would be able to pick him up! There is ALOT more to all of this, but I am sure there is much left to be said.
I would just like to point out that the quote above was posted by "DrumMERdad". I am the author of the original post, "Drumdad". I just wanted to make that clear. That said, I feel you Drummerdad.
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Mea Culpa.
I have now verified through an unconditionally-qualified-to-answer source about 65% of Mr. Delgado's post.
It sounds as though the primary faults were communication, business-sense, and staff conflict. It sounds pretty nasty but, in the end, a few key staff pulled together to gather support and protect the kids.
Staff qualification to either teach or interact with young adults was specified. As was the director's inability to properly communicate what he needed, wanted, envisioned. His early exit had been planned but, apparently, few knew about it.
I'm still not convinced that this is the appropriate forum for such a discussion but, since it's here, the facts are important to preserve the integrity of the people involved. My understanding is that DCI is knows all-to-well of the problems, and has known so for more than this year.
I would suggest a letter from Mr. Delgado to DCI is a more appropriate solution.
I would also think a staff change, mostly top to bottom, would be appropriate.
It's good that you have been able to verify "about 65% of the post". Keep digging and you may soon verify the rest. As for a letter to DCI? It has already been done.
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That's for a court of law to determine if it gets that far....right now it's an accusation without definite proof (no matter how many people claim they have it). A libel charge could be in the offing if someone thinks so.
I run a television news department, for a living. In my world, the potential for a libel suit is always in the offing. We work closely with lawyers to make sure we are on the right path and are, as a result, well versed in the law. I foresee no problems here. Does that mean a person can't file suit? Of course not. Anyone can sue for anything. Meeting the burden or proof, however, is an entirely different and far more difficult matter. I have the truth and, if need be, the proof on my side. That said, I appreciate your concern.
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I have wanted to comment on this topic several times. However, I have held back. I was not in Indianapolis this weekend, so I could not see what took place. So I will not comment on those events; that would be nothing but hearsay.
I will simply say this: It is irresponsible and unconscionable, for this amount of unpaid dues at the end of tour. $11,000 is a lot of money, for an open class corps. It may be chicken feed to a WC outfit, but to an OC outfit like Revo, it can be the difference towards financial survival. This amount should have been collected, before the members stepped on the bus, at the start of the tour. If it is not paid, then it threatens the ability of the entire corps to tour.
Honestly, I would like to see Revo (and all corps, OC and WC) to implement a rule: if you do not pay your dues, by the end of move-in camp, you cannot tour. Period. Marching in drum corps is a priviledge, not a right. And if you do not pay your dues, you do not march.
What happens if a rule like this is not established, and enforced? Someone else needs to pick up the tab. Or the corps runs out of money, and then no one gets paid. Or the tour gets cut short. Or the corps folds.
Didn't DCI use to enforce a rule, that each new MM, at the start of the season, had to sign a paper, stating that a) they did not have a contract with another corps for that season, and b) they did not owe any outstanding funds to other corps? Wasn't this part of the standard documentation, that each new MM had to sign, along with the age verification? Or is this rule no longer enforced? (I remember signing something to that effect when I marched, but that was before cell phones....)
Whoever did not pay these dues this year should not be allowed to march with Revo, or any other corps, until they make good on their debts. Honestly, this is where DCI itself would need to get involved. If someone marched with Revo last year, and didn't pay their bills, then shouldn't be able to just walk into Forte/Genesis/Crossmen next year, and pull the same stunt. Maybe these delinquent MMs should be "black-listed" by DCI for what they have done. That may sound harsh, but the line has has to be drawn somewhere.
I do not want to see Revo, or an organization like Revo, fold. But unless these types of rules are established, and enforced, then that may be inevitable. And that really would be sad. This organization has done a lot to help young musicians in South Texas. I don't want to see that legacy come to an end.
While this strays from my original post, you are correct. In fact, I personally suggested a very similar policy to Revo's leaders two years ago. The difference was that I suggested that all dues be paid by or before move-in. This would allow the staff to work the show around the kids they know they will be touring with... as opposed to spending two weeks crafting a show then ending up with 15 holes, when it's time to hit the road. That suggestion never saw the light of day. In fact, during the corps meeting in which Rodriguez and Quigley resigned their day-to-day duties (Tuesday night, after OC finals), they sited as "part" of the reason their inability to crack down on kids who don't pay their fees.
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Drumdad...I understand your concerns....but I have one word for you....libel.
You could be opening yourself up for legal action here, since this is a public forum....just sayin'.
I appreciate your concern. I have spent 23 years working in an industry where libel (or the possibility of libel) is regularly taken into account. Everything I have stated I know to be true and can be corroborated by other people.
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I'm pretty sure there is a section in the member contract where it states members can be thrown off of tour and required to find their own transportation home for things like refusing to perform. Since every member has to fill out this paperwork (and parents too if the member is under 18) then the members and their parents already knew if they refused to perform then they could be kicked off tour and required to find their own transportation home.
You're "pretty sure"? Don't be. That is not how the contract reads.
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Mannie,
Normally, I agree that we shouldn't air our dirty laundry publicly, especially when the 'discussion' is just unfounded accusations being thrown about. I only felt the need to comment on a statement made by the director himself, and it seems that that statement is now what concerns several people. This is no longer a baseless personal attack, it is a discussion about the publicly-stated attitude of a corps director.
(edited to direct this directly to Mannie, whose name I saw in his signature.)
Short of what he calls a "miscommunication", John Rodriguez's post was simply a confirmation of the facts in the original posts. A lack of confirmation on his part would not have made the facts less accurate and certainly not "unfounded". Those of us with first-hand knowledge of what happened don't need a statement from him to be concerned and/or angry.
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Clarification:
Yes the corps had problems with the bus company on a small remaining balance of over charges and the bus company was making threats to terminate early. Under the recommendation of staff I did allow them to solicit funds from members to help those that were unable to pay their tuition to finish contract and many stepped up and did salvage the season to go beyond Open Class Finals. Every year the corps struggles because we can never fully collect a tuition that is already low for the amount of touring we do but we always manage to make things work this year was just more difficult.
As I told the kids that night the last time this happened back in 2006 it was a much difference situation and I forced those in charge to resign and even though this was different I would still follow suit and remove myself from the day to day in order to find someone who could be more tough and hard lined when it comes to collections and other issues. Just for info the balance was @9000 and there was 11000 in tuition still outstanding. Once again thanks to all that stepped up to contribute to those families unable to pay their bill so we could pay the bus company. Also for the record I never let that balance affect the food lines and due to a great response at the beginning of the summer to our canned food drive and the work of our food staff, the corps never went without a good meal all summer.
After world quarters, that night I left $50 for food staff to do a Milk run in the morning and took a student to their flight arrangements and made plans to stay in Indy that night rather than drive back (1hr) in the dark in my car (the corps was housed out in Trafalger). There was some miscommunication and some thought I had left and only left $50 which was not true. Those that knew the plans were not aware of the some staff judgements and were asleep and unable to correct these assumptions until the morning.
Friday came and since we have no cook truck and we are not allowed to cook in the lot and with our housing assignment 1hr away, we made sure to leave more food rations at the bus said our goodbyes as the plan for our departure on Friday afternoon was part of the plan since Day 1 and left a 4 year senior staff member who had asked to step up to a Admin position the instructions and direct contact with me for their ride back to San Antonio and instructions on using souvie funds to continue to feed the corps heading home but most meals as it has been in the past on Free time would be on their own and food would be at busses for those that need it. I fired no one. A discussion I had with another staff member was mis-interpreted and he communicated to the staff that I had fired them. I have never been with the corps on the ride back in every year since my return in 2007 as I am not a paid position and have a full time job that has me due back first thing Monday AM. Vacation time only takes me so far and this year I have school orientation and a very important Dr. visit which after my battle with colon cancer the past two years I do not miss.
Saturday morning I get a call saying that the percussion staff had left cause they were fired and the battery decided it would not do the parade. I did tell Bryan that the parade is a required performance and anyone not willfully participating would have to find their own way back since the average age of the battery was 20 I was not going to let that defiance ruin the trip back because if they did not follow directions here I did not want Bryan to have to deal with their behavior on the ride back and give the younger members reason to ignore the rules. As stated the pit members who had no loyalty to caption just their tech decided to step up and complete the parade.
We have had problems with this bus company since day one and it did not surprise me that they left to their hotel early and locked the busses. This has been an issue all summer from running over tubas and luggage to locking busses, smoking on school grounds and going into forbidden areas at housing sites. Bryan tried to contact them to get back over to busses to re-open but they had turned their phones off. We sent and email to the owner and got the driver to open the busses but at that they had heard the rumor that all staff was fired and worried that the trip back would be unsupervised even thought they knew bryan and other staff were still there.
That evening the bus company decided to finish the tour in Arlington and told the kids this as they were loading up the busses because a 3650 over charge balance was still due. After several calls to the owner and our lawyers a settlement was reached and the busses are due in San Antonio this morning. So even while I am not on tour I have been working to resolve the issues. We have had a great long tour and it is sad that it ended this way.
The busses are traveling back with the Genesis busses just in case the bus company tries to do anything else (Bryan made these arrangements with Chris Magonigal) and I was just informed that 1 bus has a radiator problem and they are packing all remaining members into the other bus to finish off the ride.
I just love how no good is ever exposed on this forum when in regards to Revolution but when something goes wrong, it explodes. I walk away from this knowing the truth and that is my comfort. On to the next chapter in my life. Enjoy your rantings I will take part no further.
John R.
As I write this, on Monday morning, there are still (former) Revolution staff members who believe they were fired (I have heard from some of them). As far as they know, they are no longer part of the corps. Why is that? IF it was nothing more than a misunderstanding, why has the record not been set straight? Texts, emails and/or the grapevine are not the way you handle things like this. And, when you realize things have gone awry, you step-in and fix them... immediately.
The battery is like no other section in your corps. You had numerous veterans (which explains the average age of 20) who returned to the organization solely BECAUSE of the percussion staff. When you pulled that rug out from under them and didn't stick around the explain it, or clear-up the "misunderstanding", they lashed back in protest. That's what 20-year old men do when they feel they've been wronged and there is no one available to tell them otherwise. Did they have an obligation to march in the parade? Sure they did. But, choosing not to do so hardly compares with the corps basic obligation not to leave them stranded on the side of the road, 1,000 miles from home, regardless of their age. If for no other reason because they literally paid for the bus ride home.
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After finishing 5th in last week's Open Class Finals, Revolution erupted. Just hours after the event, the corps chief administrators, Johnny Rodriguez and Mike Quigley, announced they would be resigning their day-to-day rolls with the corps. They pointed out, however, that they will retain control of the corps from behind the scenes. During that same meeting, they told the corps that their participation in the World Prelims was in jeopardy as the bus company was threatening to head back to Texas, for non-payment. Corps members were asked to each contribute an extra $100 to help pay the bus company. We've been part of the corps for years. Last minute financial solicitations, like this, are not uncommon at Revolution. I'm not sure how much "extra money" was collected, but an 11th hour deal was apparently reached and the buses rolled-on from Michigan City to Indianapolis.
In the wake of that news, on Thursday... the day of the World Class Prelims... news came that revolutions entire percussion staff, as well as several other staff members, has been fired. Anyone who has followed Revolution knows that it has historically been a corps built around it's driving percussion section. Now, all of the professionals who were responsible for that drum line, are gone... just like that. In protest of the terminations, all members of the battery refused to participate in Friday's parade. They (especially those who had been part of the drum line for years) wanted answers that they could not get. To save face, Revolution gathered a few of the corps front ensemble members, strapped drums to them and had them play in the parade.
As if all of this was not enough, on Friday morning a remaining staff member, who was put in charge, told me he was trying to get other corps (especially Crossmen, because they're from San Antonio too) to try and get the kids, who refused to participate in the parade, a ride home. When I asked why that would even be necessary, he told me that Rodriguez had left explicit instructions that those who did not participate in the parade would not be allowed on the buses and would have to find their own way back to Texas. When I asked where Rodriguez and Quigley were (I wanted to talk to them), he told me they had left back to Texas the night before.
Make no mistake about it, John and Mike, this post is designed to both expose what happened and to call you out. I hope you will see it as an opportunity to explain your actions which, on the surface, seem neither rational or acceptable.
Dan Delgado
4-year Revolution Parent
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Don't count out Revolution. I don't know that they can win, but they are poised to be the spoiler with a strong show and a dynamic drumline. They have climbed 2-3 points, per performance, since getting back on the circuit last Saturday. If I'm not mistaken, they made a 3-4 point jump from semi-finals to finals last year. This is a solid, scrappy corps that is always in the hunt and cannot / should not be overlooked.
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The DCI schedule shows the OC Championships starting at 6:00 p.m. If you figure 12 corps at roughly three corps per hour that would end things around 10:00 or 10:30 (with award presentations).
Hey all, just wondering if the Open Class Championships are now going to be a night show as opposed to the afternoon format. Now that we're at our own stadium and such and would think that that would be the case.
Also, will there now be a DVD or Finals performance recording of Open Class? I would think so seeing as there is plenty of time for the recording folks to do their thing in Michigan City and then have a day and a half to get set up in Indianapolis.
Just a few random thoughts.
by the by, GO OC!!!
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Just returned from the Southwestern Championships. Great stuff! As for this year's "top five", Revolution finished fourth last year, and after seeing their revamped 2011 show this weekend I believe they will return to the top five this year. As to who "falls out", I know better than to think that it's for me to say.
Drumdad wrote:
Hmmm...and you should also not lose sight of the fact that the larger Corps being predicted to finish towards the top will look to counter-counter with size AND quality.
Which of these top open class corps do you predict will fall out of the top five?
Blue Devils B, Vanguard Cadets, Spartans, Music City, Oregon Crusaders.
Cali.
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Thanks for that. I appreciate it.
There have been 2 things going on this year:
1 - DCI changed the scoring model for the 5 judge panel and it took us a few days to accommodate the random method of selecting the 5th caption. Those changes have been made to our code and should now be resolved.
2 - The early part of the season is always a bit difficult to get 'credible' ranking, because of the change in judging panel sizes (some 5, some 8) - plus our ranking computes a weighted average spread over several shows. If the corps does not have the a number of scores in the database for this year, it will cause the rankings to be less 'realistic'. Once we get a number (at-least 4) shows per corps, things should become more accurate.
-john
Revolution Erupts
in DCI Open Class Corps Discussions
Posted
Stu-
You seem to have lost something in the 20 pages of posting. I am not now, nor have I ever sought "support and sympathy" from you or the other members of this forum. I don't need it and don't want it. I came here looking for the answers I couldn't get in Indianapolis, and I got them straight from the horses mouth (post #19). I don't accept them, but I got them.
Over the years I donated scholarships, privately paid the tuition of several kids (other than mine), donated food and provided shoes and clothing for some kids who needed it. Some of this turned out to be the result of money mis-management. Some of it was just kids who needed things that they couldn't afford and it wasn't the corps' roll to provide. I did this because I wanted to and because I could. But, after doing all of this, my son was one of the battery members who, had I not been there, would have been forced to find his own way home from Indy. This was not acceptable to me.
If you think that Revo's problems exist because of me and parents like me, so be it.