ContraFart

And again like a broken record and say that we do not have the number of corps needed to sustain a regional model. You would isolate corps like SOA and Troopers and make things worse overall competitively. We are stuck with the national model.

I wouldn't say that. I have a pretty good idea through context.

I say that because props and uniforms are ALWAYS the first thing mentioned. When it is pointed out that they are the smallest part of the budget it doesn't matter, they should still be cut. Maybe I should ask them their opinion on them before I go off on them, but the people in question have not pushed back on my assumption.

so lets keep moving the goal posts to fit what you want and not what the organization would deem a successful season.

Out of all of the stuff on DCP and social media I have read in the past 24 hours, this is the first that is actually smart. Doing a cost/benefit analysis of the souvie truck is brilliant? Why bring it if its losing money? As for staff, I believe most ancillary staff is somewhat local to camp sites, only the bigger heads need to be transported. Over the summer they switch out staff quite a bit so air fare can be a concern, so possibly looking for labor that can stay on the road longer would help, but IMO labor is the most fixed cost of a tour budget. I would love to see some innovation in how corps assets are used. we need to think outside the box to find ways to find revenue. Bill Cook started 5 or 6 businesses to support Star, but only one stuck (and I think it still exists today)

I dont know exactly the opinion of the original poster either, but when you make the smallest line item on the budget the biggest problem, my guess is pretty good. I started on this thread saying that the brain dead posts blaming props and costumes were coming and I was right.

The only ways to cut food fuel and housing costs is to have shorter tours with less shows. DCI has already shortened the tour by 2 weeks and fewer shows is detrimental rather than useful. We no longer have the amount of corps required to sustain any type of regional model and new corps are not going to appear out of nowhere to create that infrastructure. We either have to learn how to amend the current national tour model or shut down all together. I am not going to have all of the answers and to expect me to is the ultimate straw man. Corps such as BD, Crown, Colts, Music City, Bluecoats, BAC and Cavaliers have all created organizations that can withstand the current model and diversify revenue. Can every corps do what they do? No, but they are at least models to start the search.

Yes I deny the costs are worth cutting, because they are not the problem and account for the smallest line items on a touring budget. I find it both suspicious and frustrating that the things that the vocal minority seem to hate the most are the things that people seem to want to cut first. You have no idea what is causing Cadets to fold, but I will bet you every penny I will ever make for the rest of my life it wasnt effing props and uniforms. I am not deflecting anything, you are moving the goal posts by making me solve the troubles of the entire activity for you to even listen to my argument. If I had those answers, I would be DCI CEO. NP boards have been struggling with this issue for years, you arent going to find the secret of revenue from me. Who I have I called names? I have used the term "dino" in the abstract, but never directed it an anyone in particular. I also clarified in another comment that I use the term to describe a mindset and not an age.

Cost and safety are 2 different issues. If members are being injured or something looks dangerous, of course that conversation is in good faith, but when the first reaction to a corps folding is uniforms and props cost to much, A they are not dealing with the facts, and B their agenda is not out of concern for cost, but to sermonize on why they were bad in the first place

As was my original argument

I must have read that differently than you because I understood it as people knew Cadets were making this call a week ago and referred to those posts, but I could be wrong about that

Those people aren't on DCP anymore. They are on Facebook. They even have a group called I hate modern drum corps or something like that.

Yes it should be ignored because that side of the discussion is not in good faith. Their issue is not really the expenses.

Are you breaking some news?

Is there or is there not a loud vocal minority who hates modern drum corps? And is it or is it not true that that parts of modern drum corps they hate become the focal point of the discussion any time a corps folds? I'm just calling that correlation out. That's all.

Uniforms are also only about $150-$300 a member retail. Not to mention sponsorships which can bring that cost down to $0 Those who think uniforms are an issue only say that because they don't like modern uniforms

They also do that in a controlled environment, they aren't going to do spring training all scattered around. BD does their spring training in Wyoming. BAC in New Hampshire. Local recruiting has nothing to do with housing costs

I use the term "dino" for any person that uses a tragedy like this as an excuse to blame what they don't like about the modern activity regardless of age. I have not specifically referred to anyone as a dino.

Payroll is one of the most fixed costs in the activity. The cost of travel and background checks is considered in the final budget. If travel is too much of an expense, longer availability would be a priority when hiring.

I meant scale down cost wise. BK and Academy are fielding corps next year so maybe their large props weren't an issue.

So the word dino gives great offense? All I am saying that when all cost is the issue, making the smallest line item the focus maybe has some agenda behind it.

But they are hand waved so they can have the argument about the things they don't like.

Maybe you should make yourself available to sit on a BOD. They could use you

Well DCI already made the tour 2 weeks shorter so there is a start.

I think because corps boards see those grants as small potatoes and they need a bigger influx of revenue. a $10k grant would be HUGE for my local community theatre, but would pay for less than 1% of a world class DCI tour. However I do agree on the donor bases and alumni relationships. BAC has a huge alumni donor base.