LabMaster

Wow, ST is nearly as long as their competitive season.

My apologies for coming across as condescending. That was not my intent. Posters have agreed that props, although they can be a big cost for some corps; isn’t the significant driver of rising cost/budgets. At some point, the ROI of props will be realized and more restraint will be the challenge. I was serious about running realistic numbers. Corps aren’t managing costs as much as they can and should. Boston and SCV have minimized prop use, but you don’t see other corps following suit. Some are simplifying, and many are not. It’s a choice. There is a lot of opportunity for orgs to improve fiscal management. Props is not the first place to look. For perspective; $125k for props on a $3.5m budget is 3%. I’m guessing many corps spend less than $125k

I didn’t say it wasn’t. And I think I explained the cost issues clearly. Read it again. Slowly. Just stop the complaints about prop cost and focus on the MORE SUBSTANTIAL costs that drive yearly budgets. I’ll not go over them again. And it’s not only me that has pointed out costs that have the most impact on corps finances. Maybe try the exercise of creating a realistic line item budget and see where costs fall. While you are at it, let us all know what each top 17 corps prop budgets were each of the last 3 years.

Why exactly would they be unable to do this? There is nothing preventing any org. to be fiscally responsible and prudent with spending. However, in the age of “need it right now”, patience not only is a virtue; it is a necessity. It takes time. The right people in the right positions and being disciplined and patient, along with logical planning, will get the job done. This has been proven. Success is due to good management. Failure is due to poor management.

It’s not the props! Maybe for some corps it is. But props are discretionary and cost can be managed. The biggest day to day costs on tour are fuel for busses and trucks (13-15 vehicles for up to 10,000 miles each, paying drivers for some) , housing (45 days) food @ 4 meals/d for 200+ people for 45 days =6.429 weeks 36,000 meals) health & safety costs (doctors and therapists on tour) insurance for vehicles and people while on the road. And this scenario doesn’t include Spring Training for 3-6 weeks. So let’s drop the prop concern once and for all and look at all these other items to find some solutions to control or reduce costs. It’s not props. Say it with me; “It is not props!”

We got to a 5 week season (6 weeks for some) because of an intended effort by corps to reduce overall seasonal costs. If not reducing costs, at least making an effort to hold them flat. Which is a tough battle because as much as people complain about the cost of staffing, props, uniforms and electronics. Those costs are not what has added to the cost of being in a corps or a corps touring; as much as fuel, housing, food, health and safety elements, insurance, have added costs, and they increase yearly. Fuel is a big unplanned increase this year. Limiting the season to 5 weeks helps. The amount of shows within that 5 weeks doesn’t change the cost as much as adding a week of travel, housing, food would. But we’ll still hear the #####ing about props and uniforms, from people who don’t really understand the variables of associated costs for a touring corps. 5 weeks with 16 shows costs less than 6 weeks with 16 shows.

But it’s the song that gives you the maximum Red Sox, Fenway Park experience. You don’t like it?

You mean it wasn’t because corps were sick of bag jobs with certain orgs running corps shows. Yes VFW/American Legion, looking at you.

Same numbers of players on each instrument? Like one player on one snare? One player on one bass?

I’ve tried to find confirmation of it but I think possibly Boston did in 1974.

This years start to BAC’s season just gets better and better. Concert In the Park to 2 preview shows, partnering with Spartans (very cool by the way), now a 4th of July celebration in Boston with The Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell on The Esplanade. They should hit their first show hot as last year. LFG BAC. Eat em up Boston.

I believe you are on target with a team effort. This is a wonderfully collaborative group and once they had a few seasons together, the creativity and quality of the design, design development and performance expectations and quality blossomed. The collaboration is strong enough to withstand staff changes and the creativity is intact. The expectations of design and performance should remain the same. This is a talented staff, experienced as a unified staff, that has a high regard for each others abilities as teachers and humans. The freedom they have as instructors has allowed this success to thrive.

BD is usually quiet about any staff changes. So it’s doubtful any changes will be hugely noticeable. Or very publicly known. There have been rumors about role changes. And it’s possible that some folks listed on their staff may not be in the role any longer. I guess you would have to know through personal connections what their staff roster looks like for this year. BD is not resistant to make staff changes or program changes. They are well thought out and long range planning is a strength.

I’m going to guess that BD is modifying their approach a bit this year as I don’t believe it has been working as well, the last couple of years. The ”unstructured” process of putting their drill out to mm’s, might need to be more directed to ensure the skeleton can be grown, over the season. Which is not tremendously shorter than it has been in recent seasons. Look at the number of performances the top 6 corps have had, each of the last 2 -3 years.

I always thought there was raw power in BD’s brass lines in 70’s & 80’s.

Maybe not better for you. But very possibly better for others.

Well, 4. And BD’s 3rd, looks like Bloo’s 1st.

Boston just finished the “winter” so to speak. Brass and perc are set, guard should have been set at this camp. Ready to go. MM’s have what they need and now have a month to go to ST in VT (May 31 move in). They’ll be in ST for about 3 weeks, then to Boston for first public performances and a little fundraising. Let’s go Boston! BAC2BAC.

Right here right now!

Don’t expect details from Boston to be made public. At least not for a few weeks and maybe not until after ST starts on 5/31. Most likely the membership learns more about the program at this weekend camp. I believe a good bit of music is already in their hands. They'll be sworn to secrecy I bet. This camp is a production camp and prep for ST, typical for this camp. Final guard auditions too and contracts for guard will be given, since WGI just wrapped. All the best to all corps having camps this weekend. 9 weeks to go.

Oh oh. Logic and sensibility. It’ll never work!

This WAS a thread about busses right? So it makes sense to discuss judging panels, sheet revisions, design issues.

You are def a preparing kind of person to plan drum corps visits 3 full seasons out.

The focus and discipline of rehearsal and knowing the difference between rehearsal and practice. Along with well run rehearsals.

It was not intended to be a comparison. It was a comment about Bloo not needing to respond in any way. It is a reach to think the t shirt wearer, has member access. No more than anybody who has purchased a tshirt at a show or online, or was perhaps gifted a shirt. So a comparison no. A logical reason to not respond; yes.