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frontline99

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    2011 Uniforms

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    This past weekend during the Bluecoats family day they had a history display for the corps and within the display they had a uniform display that showed the various uniforms the corps has worn through the years. I was surprised to discover that the dark Blue jackets the corps bought in 1992 were the same jackets they were still wearing in 2003. In the picture below from left to right 1974-1978, 1980-1982, 1984-1988, 1989-1991, 1992-2003, 2004-2006, 2007-current. Below the uniforms are and original plume, a shako from the 1980-1982 years (only time the corps wore a shako), 1984 guard uniform, DM uniform 1984-1988, 1988 guard uniform, 1994 sash, helmet and plume from the 1992-2006 era, jacket from the 1984-1986 era.

    251707_10150638077800710_180000990709_19191623_6401590_n.jpg

    I LOVE this. I wanted to wear that '92-'03 uni so badly.

    Will BD 2010 Be Forgettable?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Not if you're Phantom '08... zing!

    I don't think there have ever been two more evenly matched corps ever. The ticks were in different areas (Guard for Phantom, brass and drums for BD) but Phantom had the better design and emotional connection with the audience. The only legendary show I can think of that wasn't extremely fan accessible is Cavies 2002. That is the only show I have been stunned to silence by technical achievement.

    Will BD 2010 Be Forgettable?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Important Note: You really can apply this to any and all corps that produce shows that are not so "fan friendly." It just so happens that the Blue Devils are the lightning rod right now.

    BTW: Here is the Halftime List:

    #1. 1993 Star (Barber and Bartok)

    #2. 1984 Cadets (West Side Story)

    #3. 2008 Phantom (Spartacus)

    #4. 1989 SCV (Phantom of the Opera)

    #5. 1988 Scouts (Maleguena)

    P.S. Interesting to note the years of these "legendary" shows.

    Will what be forgettable? :lookaround:

    The only one of those shows I'm not familiar with is '84 Cadets. Sorry. I am "youngin'" and my knowledge base is a bit sketchy pre-1995. Even though it's only 2 years old, Phantom '08 is the most intense drum corps experience I've ever had. I was through the roof with that show and I was on Staff for BDB that year. Legend implies age, but I have no doubt it will be remembered as one of the all time greats.

    I would add:

    1996 Phantom (Defiant Heart)

    1995 Scouts (Drum Corps Fan's Dream? I was never clear on whether or not that was really the name of the show)

    2002 Cavaliers (Frameworks)

    New Unis

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    And they totally admitted this back when, but -

    ROY-MUSTANG.gif

    bluecoats-2009a.jpg

    Mike

    did they fess up to it? I remember jumping on that as soon as I saw pictures, but I don't remember them ever saying anything.

    another perspective on the uni, just popped up on my minifeed..

    34023_1525443015291_1211103419_1478270_6153788_n.jpg

    I don get the weird narrowing thing. It looks weird to have the sash end in the middle of the body. I know they are trying to make them look tall and thin, but I dont think the effect is strong enough to warrant the change.

    Official DCP G7 Proposal Discussion Thread

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Am I the person severally distressed by the fact that there is no refference to helping educate the members? Yeah, sure, you can have a little meet and greet mini clinic before the show, but does that really replace the education you would get in an Open class corps? I am shocked (though I probably shouldn't be) and find it offensive that these corps could be so nonchalant about their desire to rid the activity of the scourge that is open class and non-finalist corps. How dare they soil the reputation of this fine activity by only giving their members a great experience and life lessons. That has no monetary value! That doesn't feed Dave Gibbs ego! Are they out of their minds?!

    I have my own plan, it's called the 'Go to H***, G7' plan. It's simple. It calls for a reset of the activity. A reset back to the pre-DCI days of the 50s and 60s. Where there were more corps and education and member experience were the priorities, not feeding the inflated egos of a handful of directors. A regional, weekend touring model based on local involvement.

    There must be changes. Drastic ones, too. That much is clear. But sacrificing the smaller less comepetively successful groups like a virgin on an alter to save those with better brand recognition? That's not what drum corps is about. That's dispicable. Get over yourself, G-holes.

    Capital Regiment Inactive

    in DCI Open Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    And Crown is doing it on less than $1 million. Another interesting fact: Kevin Smith, Crown's Executive Director earns $0 from Crown while Rick Bays makes $57,000 a year from Cap Reg which is more than most WC directors make from their corps.

    I don't know how old that number is, but when money got tight the first thing Rick cut was his own salary. To $0. Even if he was making 57K that would work out to about $0.18/hr

    Most people will give to a needy organization before they go to a casino.

    If only this were true. The state of California voters basically told the Charities, "We don't care what happens to you. We want more casinos!" in November of '08. (Thats a whole other conversation with the insane greed and injustice going on there)

    And from the looks of the neighborhood that Cap Reg's bingo is in the middle of......I don't know how well that area is doing right now. It ain't fancy.

    No, It's not Brentwood, but it's not Compton either. It's just an average middle class neighborhood.

    I've been helping CR since the 1997 winter drumline - including doing concessions for their bingo, twice/week from 1998-2001. Then I moved to Wisconsin. Now I just help with home show program book and marketing materials...

    I was actually employed by CR from January-May of 2006 as Dir. of Marketing/Development, but left before tour because (1) I was unable to obtain a written 2006 budget or 2005 corps financials which were required by most grants/sponsors (my hands were tied and I could not function in my role), and (2) it was clear Rick could not afford me beyond June since I could not land major grants/sponsors (because of #1).

    A basic problem is smoking laws. Smoking is now banned from public places, such as public bingo halls in that area. This has killed many bingos.

    Capital Regiment Bingo had to transform into a PRIVATE CLUB to get around the smoking laws -- you have to join and get an ID card, etc. This discourages new walk-in players.

    Also, the bingo player demographic is dying off (literally) faster than younger people are getting into it. The era of old, widowed pensioners dropping $400 every Thursday night is going away.

    Economy is another big pinch.

    Neighborhood: "Capital Regiment Centre" was built smack-dab in the middle of a middle-class residential neighborhood (former community pool site) with a very high bingo player demographic -- and bingo market share grew quite a bit from 1997-2002 as other area bingos failed.

    For a while CR Bingo was one of the most successful in Ohio.

    Smoking laws, change in demographics, the economy and future Indian casinos all factor in.

    The bingo gravy train is over.

    So, true. Capital still has one of the biggest bingo games in Columbus, 2nd only to the mysterious and shady BT Bingo, but that doesnt mean what it used to. The last two years this country's disposable income vanished. That means not a lot to gamble with. Bingo revenues have been reduced in half. The casino is another factor. Part of the reason behind going inactive for the season is coming up with a more long term plan since bingo (across the country, not just Columbus) is disapearing as a means of fundraising on a drum corps scale.

    And that's precisely the attitude that's led to Capital Regiment not fielding.

    There was no 'attitude' that led to CR not fielding. They took time off to pay off debt and came back once the financial situation got better. Unfortunately the country plunged into a recession shortly after and they played it safe by not coming out when the economy is so unstable. Rick always looks at the big picture and the long term. He is concerned with keeping the organization alive and giving the best drum corps experience possible to as man kids as possible. Competitive success is not how he measures success, no matter how much the rest of us got caught up in it.

    For those of you who like numbers.

    According to their 990 for the year ended 9.30.08, the end of the second season of inactivity, they spent $440,809 on program services and management in general. That does not include their bingo expenses which are included under the fundraising column. Bingo looks like it netted them $419,209 after expenses.

    For the year ended 9.30.07, the end of the first season of inactivity, they spent $431,849 on program services and management in general. That does not include their bingo expenses which are included under the fundraising column. Bingo looks like it netted them $459,484 after expenses.

    For the year ended 9.30.06, the end of the last season before their inactivity, they spent $1,106,738 on program services and management in general. That does not include their bingo expenses which are included under the fundraising column. Bingo looks like it netted them $472,108 after expenses.

    So if the basic cost of operations is $440,000 (using the approximate cost of operations during an inactive year) then the added cost of operating the corps during the 2006 was about $650,000 ($1,106,738 - $440,000). Since bingo only covers about the basic cost of operations, they have to raise the added cost from other sources, primarily show pay and member fees. For the 2006 season they only had about $330,000 in non bingo income. You can see one of the reasons they had to go inactive after the 2006 season.

    You can see with such a high basic cost of operations that there is no way Capital Regiment can sustain an active drum and bugle corps unless they drastically change how they operate - which one would assume they would have done for their return this past season. Wouldn't DCI have made that a condition for their return?

    This past year's 990 will tell the story and likely it will be the same story told after the 2006 season.

    By the way, here is the board make up for each of those years listed on the 990's

    Year Ending 9.30.06 Rick Bayes, Mark Holm, Gregg Smith

    Year Ending 9.30.07 Rick Bayes and Mendall Hibbard

    Year Ending 9.30.08 Rick Bayes, Mendall Hibbard, Darius Kandwala

    From their website five board members are currently listed: Rick Bayes, Darius Kandawalla, TJ Vasselo, Greg Smith, Mendell Hibbard.

    A small board could work if every thing is hunky dory but financially things look far from hunky dory. Looks like they should have really beefed up the board during the inactive to help put things in order financially - like spending much less on the basic cost of operations.

    During their seasons of inactivity, what could they be spending $440K on? It seems a bit much for an inactive corps. Any ideas on what Southwind is spending right now?

    The actual corps expenses are a only a small fraction of the expenses the corps has during the season.

    They went inactive in 06 because of mismanagement. DCI had to step in and take over the tour midway through.

    The staff issues in 06 were simple. They all quit at the end of the season due to the corps mismanagement. Not that it really mattered... everyone knew the corps was going to go inactive at the conclusion of the summer.

    DCI DID NOT TAKE OVER THE CORPS. EVER. They sent in someone to observe and thats what he did. He observed. He made no decisions, he gave no orders. He watched. That's it. Capital Regiment went inactive because of financial reasons due to a flood of expenses occuring all at once in the 2006 season. If most corps were managed half as well as Capital Regiment a lot of the corps we lost would still be around. If you think that Capital is alone here, you're out of your mind. Many of those corps people have mentioned here as being models of well run are in deeper holes than Capital. They have just kept it out of the news. The DCI model of drum corps is no longer sustainable. With the increased operational costs paired with increased difficulty of fund raising I am certain that DCI as we know it will be gone in 5-10 years. It kills me to think about this, but it's the realty of things.

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