OldSnareDrummer

Yes, that's her. That one instance was the only conversation I ever had with her, but it did stick out in my mind when you mentioned the Bandettes. I've had no subsequent contact with her since then, so I can't help with contact info. Just Google Mary Wilson Bandettes and a whole lot of things pop up. Maybe there's something in there that can give you a lead. She's apparently quite the legend in the Soo. Good luck.

There was a really nice woman I met one time at a show in Michigan were were in around 1980 or so who from what she told me was the original founder and Director of the Bandettes. We had a long conversation about drum corps past, current and future and she was one of the most interesting people I ever met while involved with corps. I want to say her name was Mary (something)?

Friggin' spectacular.

That might be neat and fun for us dinos, but is there even close to enough interest/members/dollars to have a "Classic" division?

That's a great explanation of today vs the days of old.

From a completely unqualified drummer's POV, you can't have this conversation without Madison in the 70's being mentioned.

I know of at least one person who agrees.

For an activity is as niche and niche can get, there sure are a lot of ticket shenanigans going on as of late.

( In my ultimate curmudgeon, dinosauric voice) I don't even like instant replay and overturned calls in sports. I have zero use for AI in drum corps.

Wow. With Friends like this...

One of the small corps I was with had two competing corps in the same town. Ours was the better of the two so there was frequently members from Brand X crossing over to us, but it was done in the off-seasons. I do remember one kid who marched in both corps over consecutive weekends during the season. He always joked he wanted to be remembered as the answer to a trivia question and I suppose he was.

I think the only Brazillian music I recall that I actually knew was Brazillian and not some other Latin flavor was BD in early 1980s with their closer Dindi.

I'm sure they will and I wasn't implying otherwise. But if it comes down to would I rather have 6 shows worth of experience and more importantly, feedback or not have those things, I'll take the experience and feedback every time.

Wow. BD will have like 5 or 6 shows under their belts by the time BAC has their first.

Don't forget the Exchange Rate. Attendance of 30,000 in Canada is about 23,000 in America.