Eleran

I imagine that may also be a reason there is little traffic in the Open Class Forums - for those that never make it to a World Class corps, they probably feel their opinions, or the topics relating to Open Class, won't be valued so much, so they fly under the radar instead. And as far as using Open as stepping stones to World, I read a recent online discussion where at least one of the Open Class corps members attacked those who leave the corps for World Class, which I thought was rather an immature comment to make. Until you are in Drum Corps, you cannot have a good idea what it will really be like in general, let alone specific to that corps, yet that person expects people to remain with their first corps (regardless of the reasons they chose it - proximity, $$$, heck even uniforms!) not just for the first season, or two or three, but for the person's entire corps career?

Speaking of what people will pay for marching band ... this past Fall was my son's first year with the high school band (he's an 8th grader), and of course I can't recall what the financial arrangements were back in my own high school when I marched. But I've been heavily involved with youth sports for a decade, and people drop hundreds to thousands of dollars a year on youth sports for their kids, starting before they are 10. So I truly was flabbergasted when I heard at the first parent's meeting that some people were balking that last year's $50 fee to march with the high school had risen to $100, even though all of it would be reimbursed if they obtained that much in ads for our tournament's ad-book. Flabbergasted, and more than a little sad, that people think all that time being educated in music, and all that time the kids will enjoy, is only begrudgingly worth $100.

Son is doing that, though he has a few more years of eligibility than you. Raiders this season, and probably 1-2 more, before taking his shot at the World Class corps.

Father and son using this account. Father: Not marching DCI is one of the bigger regrets of my life. Two years on mellophone and two years as drum major in high school. Watched DCI on PBS until they took it off. One of the greatest joys of fatherhood is seeing my son develop his own love for marching (and not because I pushed him), and being able to share in that. Son: Age 13 - trumpet. Loved first year marching with High School last Fall while in 8th grade. Marching with Raiders for 2014. Considered Bushwhackers too, but was afraid my Dad might be tempted to join! Would love to be based in Concord, CA some day.