Jump to content

cmchandler

Members
  • Posts

    157
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by cmchandler

  1. I was personally told by FloMarching last year that if Open Class Prelims and Finals were well-watched, they would look into expanding into Open Class shows/performances this season.

    Yeah. I guess that was just lip service.

    I'm probably not re-upping my yearly subscription, especially since I'll be in Michigan City and Indy this year. WGI and the indoor stuff just wasn't enough for me to get my bang for my buck.

  2. 1 hour ago, Ghost said:

    What were the numbers when the DCI Finals were in Buffalo? 

    I don't know what the announced numbers were, but having performed in Buffalo, Dallas and Madison (and Boston in '94 as well), I can tell you the most well attended one from a crowd/fan standpoint was definitely Madison in '92. There seemed to be more competing corps in Buffalo, though, especially in class A and A-60.

    That's all anecdotal, though, and from my personal perspective and experience. I don't have the recorded hard numbers.

  3. If you're willing to spend extra money on shoes (and if there were ever a reason, drum corps is it), go to a specialty running shoe store (there are different ones all over the country). You'll know you're in the right place because they will inspect your gait by making you walk, jog and run while watching how you move, they'll look at the shape of your foot, and they will probably place you on a special machine that gauges the amount of pressure you place in certain areas of your stance. Then they'll pair you with the brand most likely to meet your needs.

    I used to run quite often and I was developing shin splints. Being fitted by a store like this made ALL the difference, and I won't buy another cheap pair again as long as I'm remaining highly active. It costs money (usually just over $100 per pair or so depending on what you get), but it's money well spent to keep you from injury.

    And yes, don't wait to break them in. Get them and start using them often enough that you won't be hurting when you're using them all the time.

  4. Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps is seeking two musicians, a guitarist and drum set percussionist, for its 2018 production.

    The guitarist must read music (not just tablature) and be versed in classical acoustic guitar. Prior drum corps or marching band experience is desirable but not required. The percussionist must be able to read music. Experience performing with marching ensembles is preferred. Both individuals must be able to meet the time and financial commitments required for a touring DCI drum corps. Rehearsal and touring schedules are available upon request.

    For more information and audition packets, please mail southwind@southwind.org.

  5. Here is a list of Cavaliers collectibles I found in a quick search. I definitely recall the rainbow patch pictured at the end of that section - it was pretty much on everyone's jackets back in the day as the universal sign of drum corps friendship - but I don't ever recall seeing one with a bluebird on it. So maybe not prevalent in the late 80s/early 90s.

    IIRC, Cavies and Sky Ryders both sold the rainbow patches back then. Some of the Cavies members had really large rainbow patches they'd place on the back of their jackets. Everyone else placed them on the front pocket area (above where most corps had members' names embroidered).

  6. For those in the various performance threads who were interested in buying a "Toxic Mind" tour shirt, we're taking orders! We received so many requests for shirts after the season (and our stock was so decimated) that we decided to print another run. If you would like to order one (or two or ten!), please email Jeremy Johnson at jeremy@southwind.org with the quantity and size that you need so he can get you squared away.

    Thank you all again so much for all of the support this season. We are beyond proud of what the corps accomplished this year and can't wait for next season.

    ETA: Only taking orders through Labor Day (Monday)! So if you know someone who was interested, please pass along the word.

    • Thanks 1
  7. 39 minutes ago, Jeremy Denzer said:

    With a score that barely would have them in open class finals it may be time to reconsider staying in world class....are the kids really getting the best experience? At least if they were to compete in open class they would get three performances during championship week.

    They would also get no money for their shows and lowered recruitment. It's very unlikely they'd choose to go that route.

  8. 20 hours ago, Tim K said:

    I'm not sure the performance order played that much of a role. For one thing, there is an intermission between OC and WC at prelims. Also, I did not say that they should have placed higher, but the score should have been higher, a bit closer to Guardians, who I also believe was under scored. 

    I should have been more specific. What I'm basically saying is that the judges were likely slotting the Open Class corps with lower scores but then several of them outplayed Pioneer, which made Pio's score lower than it probably would have been without those corps in the mix.

  9. There is some give and take that can be done on both sides here. I've always felt it ridiculous that a performing SoundSport group is forced to purchase tickets for its members and aren't even given wristbands for events. So basically they're acting as a performing ensemble that people are paying to see and they aren't even given the nosebleed seats in return. While they're not ideal, at least they're free.

  10. 9 minutes ago, PaminIndy said:

    Going waaaaay back in this thread, someone asked what expenses DCI might have in producing a show. I don't have any insight specifically, but some of the expenses I've dealt with when putting together large events include:

    - Permit fees for street closures and event permits

    - Security - both off-duty police for traffic and paying medics on standby

    - Trash removal

    - Rental items - stanchions, barricades, tents, AV equipment, tables, chairs, walkie talkies, golf carts, etc.

    - Liability insurance - I would imagine theirs is more than just the standard "slip and fall", so might be pretty expensive. Most venues that you rent out require at least a $1 M rider, and I would imagine this takes more than that. This would require a certificate be issued for each venue, adding the venue as additional insured.

    - Rain insurance for outdoor shows - this costs more than you might think....Depending on how much of the ticket income they want to recover in case of cancellation and the amount of rain at which it kicks in, this can be costly. For instance, covering 80% of the gate at .25" of rain during gate open hours would cost more than covering 60% of the gate. 

    - Of course venue rental, if applicable, and the associated fees - how many of the venue staff do you need on-site, for instance janitorial, administrative, facilities - you have to pay the guy who has the key to unlock the loading dock, ya know. Some sites may charge a damage deposit and withhold some of it if the turf needs repair afterward.

     

    Again, not saying I have any inside knowledge - these are just expenses I've dealt with putting together special events in my job.

    Streaming copyright licensing. OMG, that alone is probably ridiculous for Thursday. If DCI isn't covering it, then FloMarching must be.

  11. 12 hours ago, Tim K said:

    I said after prelims, and I know I'm not alone in this, that Pioneer was underscored this past year in Indy. Pioneer received almost identical scores in Allentown and Indy. As someone who saw both shows, Allentown was good but Indy was stronger. I would have thought the higher 60's would have been appropriate.

    My guess is this had more to do with the prior-performing/scored Open Class corps being stronger than expected less than Pioneer performing any worse in the judges' estimations from Allentown to Indy. There was a strong Open Class field in the mix this season that simply displaced several WC corps.

  12. 7 minutes ago, N.E. Brigand said:

    But wasn't all of this true before 2008? The question under consideration was why have BDB and SCVC dominated in the past decade after not having done so before? My theory may not be correct, but it does account for the change.

    I was out of the activity for a while, so I'm not sure when exactly it shifted, but I know back when I marched in the early 90s, a) we were paid for shows, and b) DCI membership was obtained if you made the top 25. Division II corps could be given a seat at the table if they did well enough, and they were making money either way so there wasn't as much incentive to jet upward and onward. So there was likely a better variety of stronger, smaller corps who were making it happen year after year without the end goal of going WC. That is decidedly no longer the case.

    I was just a teenager then, so I can't say when all of that changed (if 2008 was the magic year). I can tell you two things: money DOES make a big difference, and it's definitely been a learning experience being on the admin side of things since getting involved again four years ago.

    • Like 2
×
×
  • Create New...