lcarlton

Thanks! We've taken a slow path to sustainability and community engagement first, and may look to consider Open Class submission in the coming years.

The 2016 Columbus Saints held their Audition Camps for their 2016 DCI SoundSport season recently. Building on the excitement and energy of the previous season the corps is happy to welcome new staff members from numerous DCI World Class corps, new members, and a tighter relationship with community organizations. Along with a Drum & Bugle Corps, the Columbus Saints also run an OIPA Independent Regional WinterGuard, and Community Programs in partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America and the City of Columbus. Learn more about what the Columbus Saints offer during this short recap of our Audition Camps. To learn more about the organization visit http://columbussaints.org/ or their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/columbussaints or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn, or Youtube - @Columbussaints

Go Sonus Theater :) Great organization and very friendly!

YEAH! So happy to see Ignition growing! Look forward to seeing you on the field again this year!

There are two components that I see in this: Saturation and Quality. Encourage people to post short clips and videos online to saturate social media. Use existing tools like iPhones/iPads and iMovie to create simple projects based on themes (for those who don't have skill or training). Even if you don't want to do that... just strap a GoPro to someone's head and record a run through or drum warm-up. We need to see more videos, more often, and they need to be shared online. Also, from a promotional standpoint, it doesn't hurt to create videos for social media (if you have the staff) and spend a little bit promoting it on Facebook or Instagram. It can help get the word out on an initiative and at least put the corps in people's minds.

Glad to see City Sound still moving forward!

Looking good so far. They've taken their time to amass equipment and facilities which is great!

Indianapolis Washington DC Baltimore Granted any city could support depending on focus and strategy.

Hate to get off topic on SoundSport.... SoundSport has held numerous standalone shows in England, France, Colombia, Guatemala, China and Taiwan just none state side as the market is slightly different. In Columbus area we have 15 shows within a 2 or 3 hour driving distance which gives us some options in asking to perform at local shows. The closest DCA show is about 7-8 hours away which costs considerably more and forces a change in logistics and planning for travel. I've performed at the Douglasville and Racine shows and the crowds have been ok. It was an honor to perform on Horlick Field for sure. Still had more people in the stands than DCA Prelims :P

I don't disagree with you from a fan standpoint but from an interest standpoint consider the amount of parents or alumni that may have been served that are not engaged anymore. Plenty of parents join DCP and post messages or experiences from time to time. White Sabers have grown. Skyliners returned. Alliance returned. Chops and Thunderbirds are back so it's growing but still hasn't hit that 23/24 corps number from the 2012/2013 season which includes personnel. In the wake of Tampa Bay Thunder, Sun Devils, and Shenadoah Sound multiple DCI SoundSport and Open Class Corps have formed and competed which is a loss to DCA in total participants and fans. With High Country Brass folding we lost a regional program (that thankfully is paying it forward with their dissolution), and Heartliner folding their corps for marching percussion that's another International participant that's taking time away. So while I agree on the draw for fans, I ponder the impact of the loss of these regional and international DCA partners and more members moving to DCI for SoundSport over DCA which I believe is just as an important of an option for performing for young and old.

You also have to consider that 25% of the corps from the 2012 and 2013 season have folded, gone inactive, or stayed in their home countries that means less organizations are involved and less fans in some cases. We're talking about 500-600 performers not including staff and families or fans who are no longer involved. This is what was lost since the 12/13 season: Class A Shenandoah Sound High Country Brass Centurions Sun Devils Tampa Day Thunder Heartliner Open Class Windsor Regiment Empire Statesmen Renegades

I agree with you Brasso but moving them into OC would effect their income and potentially lead to those corps folding due to a massive loss in "income". So it's a choice of moving a corps out of World Class due to poor performance and low scoring potentially leading to them losing more members and being forced to take a year off. In that... I just say "Pioneer is Pioneer" and they exist in their niche. Should they be in World Class? "Shrug" probably not especially that year they couldn't field a tenor line but that's not my business. As long as they keep pulling members, funds, and can field a corps that meets the World Class Standards (or any potential caveats made due to the DCM merger) it is what it is. In my opinion this is where the 3 class system worked a little better and could help some of these ensembles (especially if ran more like WGI) and allow ensembles to garner titles and bolster their programs ala 9 Time World Champions The Mandarins. Granted, I was always a big Division 2 & Division 3 fan any ways and see the value in those programs for their pure love and desire to just perform and be apart of a corps.

Lake Erie Regiment Dimensions Quest Pride of Newark Cincinnati Glory Marion Cadets

The rule was put in place to keep corps from taking a year off and then instantly jumping back into World Class aka sharing more of the profits from ticket sales without having a solvent program. World Class status is supposed to be a privilege for programs that are solvent and mature enough to push the activity and have enough design, music, and business support to drive ticket sales. With that being said, Magic of Orlando and even Capital Regiment had to go Open Class to prove their programs were solvent. As was discovered both programs were unable to maintain their World Class status in the years after their return and thus folded. IMO Genesis and probably 7th Regiment should be in World Class as their completing full tours, and have solid design and music performance.

Largest SoundSport competition ever this year! A growth of nearly 70% from 2014 (5 teams) to 2015 (19 teams). The performers range from Current and Former DCA Corps, WGI Winds Ensembles (Lakeshormen), International Ensembles, and more! If you're in Indianapolis Saturday, August 8th, come enjoy this free event and support the performing ensembles. Here is the schedule and I've included links to social media of the groups: The competition is scheduled to begin at 9:00am. The performance order is: 9:00am – Brass2 – Greensboro, Pennsylvania 9:10am – Rogues Hollow Regiment – Doylestown, Ohio 9:20am – Cincinnati Tradition – Cincinnati, Ohio 9:30am – Thunder Brigade – Gaithersburg, Maryland 9:40am – Mon Valley Express – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 9:50am – Florida Xpress – Orange Park, Florida 10:00am – Diplomats – Windsor, Ontario, Canada 10:10am – LakeShoremen – Brownstown, Michigan 10:20am – Southeast Sound – New Albany, Indiana 10:30am – McMaster Marching Band – Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 10:40am – Intermission: INpact Band Exhibition Performance 10:50am – Sonus Brass Theater – Woodbridge, Virginia 11:00am – Jim Ott Brass Ensemble – Stockton, California 11:10am – University of North Georgia – Atlanta, Georgia 11:20am – Xili Primary School – Shenzhen, China 11:30am – Columbus Saints – Columbus, Ohio 11:40am – Motif Music Staff – Shanghai, China 11:50am – Star United – Indianapolis, Indiana 12:00pm – Chien Kuo HS – Taipei City, Taiwan 12:10pm – Calgary Stampede Showband – Calgary, Alberta, Canada 12:20pm – Encore and Scores http://soundsport.com/soundsport-indianapolis-lineup/ Feel free to post and promote your ensemble below so people can learn about your show!

For the Dublin show we leveraged social media heavily. Primary contact with schools came from email to directors. All other promotion was done through consistent social media. Also, worked with Bluecoats and received permission to film and then interview members for personalized Facebook promotions. Worked with local ensembles, alumni groups and drum corps Facebook groups for cross posting and then spent money on promoted advertisements on Facebook through very strict targeting.

Thanks moma. I was speaking in general terms and not towards continued experience. I can't tell you how truly angry I am about this situation and how it must be affecting the kids.

You can still purchase tickets online at http://emeraldcitygames.org/ and beat the crowds and secure the best seat!

This explains some but still not how for a second year in a row the same urgent plea went out for nearly the same amount of money. In my mind, with the timing it shows a lack of forethought in logistics costs and touring associated costs at least.

I also like to throw out that leveraging community events like parades and such are an easy way to make up fees. SDCA has been GREAT at helping small corps make money even going so far and putting us up overnight at some events at no cost to us. Not an option for a lot of people but Blue Saints, Pioneer, and a handful of other Open Class Corps have done it in the past.

Eleran, it depends on how you leverage the experience and what you're getting out of it. If you consider the registration fees are usually just the price of discounted tickets then you get to see a show and perform at it. The real cost will be getting instruments, paying staff, and insurance which can be done for cheap if you have a group of people willing to buy in. If you're diligent with your social media, recruiting, and more it's a great way to get into the lower level DCI / Drum Corps Sphere, garner interest for growth and begin to develop your program. Guardians, Watchmen, and Southwind are 3 good examples of what is possible with sustained growth and focus. Nearly all of the SoundSport groups that we (Columbus Saints) Competed with last year have shown a large amount of group in a year.

Just adding my SoundSport two cents based on 3 years in SoundSport and DrumLine Battle. SoundSport is a combination of registration fees, paid social media push, and beginning experience. Set your sights low and reasonable.... if you live in the SC or GA area you can do a DCI Competition for SoundSport and spend a low amount and have a good experience: Here is an example financial summary at $5500 25 members @ $200 dues = $4000 Performance Income from 3 Parades = $1500 Liability Insurance = - $500 Instrument Rental/Purchase (G Bugles) = -$2000 Assuming you're playing public domain music, using borrowed/rented or already owned instruments, volunteer staff Finals DCI - at a 2-3 hour radius - 1500 Registration Fee at $37x25 for DCI SoundSport Indy = -$925 2 Rental Vans plus Fuel = -$400 Assuming someone drives a pickup truck and you rental a trailer $120 Exhibition DCI Show - at 2-3 hour radius - $770 Registration Fee at $10x25 for Open Class DCI Show = -$250 2 Rental Vans plus Fuel = -$400 Assuming someone drives a pickup truck and you rental a trailer= - $120 Total is $4770 - the rest that can be used for staff, and other such things. Meaning, SoundSport can be an affordable option if played right and is approached from an affordable manner. This is just the operational costs and not looking at some of the inventory costs like acquiring owned instruments etc. The other component is that you have to leverage DCI and SoundSport's Social Media to expand and talk about your program.

Just shared it in DCP Facebook. The members said they were trying to do a flash fundraiser of $30,000 in 24 hours to go to Finals. They did the same thing last year and ran a fundraiser to raise $30,000 only raising $6,000. I voiced my opinion on Facebook but I really feel bad for all of these kids who put their heart into the program only to have it fold 3 weeks before Finals. With so many regional corps on the West and Gulf Coats it makes more sense to stay local and nimble until you can afford to go to Finals instead of trying a tour the first few years out.

Glad they took the field. Reminds me of old DIV3 days with corps going out without drumlines but full hornlines or pit. Keep pushing Racine!

So far Sound Sport has spawned the following corps Guardians, Southwind, and Watchmen (I'm forgetting one). There are also corps who compete that are in DCA Class A or DCA Mini-Corps such as Cincinnati Tradition, Star United, and The Rocketeers. There are some groups like mine, The Columbus Saints that compete in Soundsport and SDCA or Mon Valley Express. In my opinion, Sound Sport is a great experience if you take advantage of what it offers. If you want to go from SoundSport to Open Class DCI will help you and get you on the path to build out your by-laws, grow your membership, develop your business plan and structure all while giving you a cheap way to get on the field and start recruiting. The other component of SoundSport lies in marketing. As a member you gain some access to DCI marketing power by the occasional social media retweet, repost, highlight in a magazine and more. If you treat social media as an integral part of your membership strategy then Sound Sport is great because they love to see and repost corps generated media. They like to hear about the positive elements, the experiences, and things that let participating organizations make their own story. With the Columbus Saints; we've been a community drumline performing in the HBCU style since 2003 until expanding in 2012 to add horns and competing at SoundSport Indy in 2014 with about 20 people. Since then we've grown 130% in less than a year; have acquired more instruments; started new community music programs through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club; and continue to focus on keeping our members engaged while focusing on a local grassroots experience. Thanks to Sound Sport we can tell our story to a wider audience, and then provide a good experience for our members. In the words of our founder "the kids that want to march World Class will march World Class. What about the other 75% who can't march; can't afford it; won't make it; or can't make the time and money commitment to a full tour? Who looks out for them? What about the ones with raw talent but need that extra help to get to that next level?" Our Founder on the role of G-Men and community in Drum Corps: The biggest complaint I hear about Sound Sport is the lack of rules and how it's not really drum corps. In my opinion this shows a lack of understanding or desire to understand what the concept is; and it's growth. In the last year they've had shows in China, Ireland, England and will have some in Columbia, and Japan this year. This is taking the DCI concept and inviting drum corps but also other marching arts ensembles to perform in a way that may fit their region. It also introduces a low impact; cost effective way to bring ensembles to the US to perform like Medlin Gran Banda. The other aspect of it is SoundSport isn't just an exhibition at a DCI Show. The goal is to take SoundSport and plant it anywhere that would fit with the performance style. That means, we could see a SoundSport competition during a national festival, or a huge sporting event. Something that having an Open Class Corps wouldn't work. The thing is not everyone in SoundSport wants to move to Open Class. Those that do, and asked for assistance have done well and grown. If you're interested I can share more about our experience and yes there are issues but it's all about expectation. If you expect it to be DCI Open Class but smaller then you'll be disappointed. If you expect it to be something under the DCI umbrella that's very open around communication, support, and performance then that's what it'll be.