brianella

Back in the 80s when I marched Scouts, it meant, shove it up their ### lol

God I loved the show! Especially when considering the adversity pre season

Thanks for the info on Dreams..... just bought it on iTunes love it

If u think 2018 Scouts is exactly the same type of show as 2016 Bluecoats, there is a lot u didn’t observe

I’ve been critical of the corps for several years. With the programs especially. Completely fed up, but tonight I saw something different. I saw a corps and a leadership that wouldn’t give up. I was done with them for this year, but they made changes that made the show enjoyable for me. The corps performed well and the staff made significant changes. I get that they are trying to compete with what is expected by GE today so I for 1 and am cutting them slack and making a donation.

I got the information from the forward performing arts link that was posted by Chris on the FAcebook page Madison Scouts Ciffee house. In the past he has worked without a salary and if I remember is receiving 2/3. The staff payment info I got from several members who left for more lucrative employment at other corps. They have financial needs. I hope that helps

With all due respect if the prior levels were adequate the Scouts would be in a position to pay the Executive Director his full salary to start with , then it would also be sufficient to pay designers and caption heads a fair market salary . So I guess I disagree that these prior efforts were close to sufficient in the past. It needn’t be the way to go but if the corps is to become a viable competitive entity in the future, new revenue will need to be sourced. I’d love to hear your ideas.....

Idea, the base problem seems to be financial. It is not like they don’t want to field an artistically competitive program they have a 15 and below budget it seems.. The activity has changed dramatically over the last 15 years and especially in the last 5. I read the financial info on forward performaning arts, they strive for financial stability in 3 years. While that is good and really unique in the history of the corps since the 80s, it is only a million dollar budget. That is what is the typical budget for their competitive level. There are options I think, the worst is going into debt to afford the staff they need. It is natural to imitate the leaders in designs well imitate them financially too. bD and SCV have an incredible cash flow from bingo. I think the Scouts tried it and failed in early 2000s. Alumni another option but they are a short term fix I think, they’ll never get an amount to make a substantial difference on an annual basis. So ideas are needed. Imitate the SCV bingo but in a different area. One that can work in Madison. Off top of head, perhaps a food truck, they are big in many cities. Get the truck, park it around the square, offer brats or burgers, etc. it would require capital, and a lot of organization, but it could yield permanent and substantial cash flow. It would also fulfill their mission of education of the youth. Chris has an entrepreneurial background. Just saying. It doesn’t need to be a food truck but the profit and investment is attractive. Think badger games, the entire downtown is a street party. Any other ideas? There must be something low initial investment and high profit margin. I felt it was time to change the feel of my posts here. I’m done venting. I think they get the message from us all.

The show should be a record breaking high score.

Good God that was a fine show. Well done take it all the way,

Agreed but quite mysterious

I see Jim Mason as the perfect person to get the branding and all the other issues sorted out

So if u go to The Facebook page of Madison Scouts Fan Group, Chris posted it there. Yesterday evening.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/madisonscouts/permalink/10156495225868917/ this is a link for getting your input directly to leadership and the board. I did and was brutally honest. It is a more direct way than blogs to bring much needed change. I agree with your sentiments by the way swmstom

Good God that was a fine show. Well done take it all the way,

Spot on

I see the benefits as keeping Madison’s name off the list including 27th Lancers, North Star, Bridgemen, Guardsmen, Kingsmen, velvet Knights, you get it. I’m sorry but it is unavoidable this playing out in public, it’s the show and the scores that are public. I also feel that seeing how this is going on for numerous years and has gotten worse, keeping leadership’s feet to the fire is beneficial. It’s becoming now or never. If I’m the only one or there is a minority who fear this then fine. In my view that is the trajectory they are on .

Sorry Brasso wasn’t aware u were not an alumni. A little background is good, I think. The Scouts alumni page at Facebook was a closed group that was the proper place for sentiments such as mine. I assume I’m the villain in your post. Anyways, the group was closed instead of dealing with the conduct of a few members on an individual basis. Someone with 1st hand info I spoke to said it was done as a suggestion from the leadership team. What got me with the alumni page is it seems symptomatic of the very problem of the leadership. Too much bMaybe your efforts would be welcome to reopen a closed page for alumni. Before I fully switch allegiance I wanted to give my 2 cents to the debate. So if this is a final break at least I tried before I walk away.

Don’t worry about the Alumni, if these discussions were an anomaly and not the new regular, fine. The alumni page was shut with direction from the leadership. So the remaining option is public..... this is going on the 5th season of this and I for one have had enough drama. This is probably my last post or reply and unless I see a substantive change I’m out. This situation has been ongoing and been screamed in the face of leadership. Maybe coed will solve it, but not the artistic deficiency. For the last 3 years I’ve found the shows unwatchable. Maybe it is just me I don’t know. I think I watched last years show 2x. I don’t like it on any level and I know what I feel. I feel like the corps is like a belligerent child. I’m not gonna support it unless it’s behavior is changed. But I like drum corps so what is my option? Block me if you want, but if you don’t want this public give a closed option reopen the alumni page. It is bothersome that discussion is censored at a time when the corps is at all kinds of junctures.

Love Crown this year and so many years past, I’m a Scouts Alumni from the 80s and I’m in the process of shifting support to Crown, both verbally and with my donations. I’ve loved watching the direction Crown has pulled the activity to, especially with brass. Thank you so much for what u have given.....

I think we have been in a precarious financial position for a very long time now. So little fixes like shaking the alumni tree or a golf outing or such little fundraisers aren’t enough. Even if there is a calculation of if 500 alumni give $1000 or something it is not going to be a permanent source of annual revenue . Even if it happened once and they got the cash, there is still the creative deficit that needs to be closed with the other corps. So no it’s not easy and no I don’t see leadership able to solve it.

Whatever it takes, as for pride, it commeth before the fall...

Difficult or not isn’t the issue, the continued viability of the organization is the issue. It seems to me that it is delusional to assume the corps can continue too long on this path and not fold. How many corps have stable finances and able to invest in world class designers. What are they doing that we aren’t. If coed leads to Corp funding go ahead, if the city of Madison lacks funding move to Indy or somewhere else.

I think that ck needs to leave artistic direction to others, there is no they must go, they haven’t done anything which necessitates their termination. They do need to bring on a NEW artistic team in September. They have failed clearly in their shows and to continue with them as creative is reckless and endangers the viability of the corps. Jim mason again has the design ability to develop shows that are both Madison brand and artistically innovative. He uniquely has the leadership and respect for the scouts Brand. Give him a chance.

I believe we are in agreement more or less on this blog. Well could be this week, could be last month, last year, the year before, could be over the last several years. It could have been me, it could have been someone else. Clearly there is a fork in the road now and after this season. For myself, I prefer clarity. I’ve sadly watched too many fine drum Corp go under to silently watch it happen to the scouts.