Keith Hall

I never figured this DCP so sue me! I see people attacking people all the time. I just stick up for good people I

I'll play!!! Terri makes common sense statements! I think every member might need to be checked. As in the past, some members have had issues with sex abuse. If you go back decades you'll find out it happened a lot in this activity. No one said things back in the 70's. By this time DCI should protect themselves and the activity from pedophiles and others. It's not the 70's, it's 2024 and we have seen the evil things that have happened in drum corps and the directors of each corps (along with their BOD) should clean up ALL of our activity. I won't recommend a student to march with any corps. Today the staff's are so large, any creep could hide amongst the rest. Who watches them? Who notices a staff member getting to friendly with a corps member? No security, NO safety! If I had children old enough to march I would say NO today! Terri makes valid statements and probably based on knowledge as she marched in some pretty good corps! Posted Friday at 03:03 PM (edited) First of all, you haven't gotten a response and you are jumping,ping to a huge conclusion here Alumni groups are ALL ADULTS. Soundsport groups DO background check staff, but the participants are all KIDS. DCI doesn't;t background check the performers either because they are kids. They all complete safesport. What else do you expect DCI to do? Do you have anything to do all day rather than stir up drama here? And what does any of your post have to do with the cadets bakruptcy. Why do you insist on turning every thread into a "DCI isn't doing enough and doesn[t care".

The more I read, the more I was right to get out of the activity! I started in 1971 and enjoyed 7 years in an Upstate NY corps that had one good year (1976). I worked with other corps and enjoyed my time but started disliking the activity in 2004 (WOW 20 years ago). If you weren't kissing someone's $#@ and making them feel special then you were no one. I should say, if you weren't feeding someone's ego, you were persona non grata. I walked away. I love what the kids do on the field but unfortunately the "has been's" try to destroy it with their "This isn't Drum Corps" attitude. On the other side, the designers have to fuel their ego with artsy show's that don't really relate to the average drum corps fan. I remember someone I marched with in the 1970's and he would go to the parking lot of a contest and drink and not even go in to watch. I think if the activity is looking to survive, they may want to back up and look at the big picture of DCI and how can they bring back the DRUM CORPS NUTS!

Because I can!

Just throwing a discussion out there

So, once DCI went to ESPN briefly and to theaters, is really getting out to the masses more than PBS did?

Unbeknownst to us....when DCI stopped using PBS that was the changing of show ideas for DCI corps. If you watched DCI on PBS you didn't see a 'theme" but you did hear a lot of recognizable music. This is NOT "I remember when drum corps was drum corps" rant. I enjoyed listening to corps playing different pieces of music in their show. In the 80's we saw corps had to have a theme and even explain their concept (still do today). Who started this idea? Remember Blue Devils opening up with "Free" by Chicago and a concert of Mangione's "Legend of the One Eyed Sailor.' Later Mangione's "Chase The Clouds Away." Very entertaining! Today, although the musicianship level exceeds the level in the 70's and 80's (IMO), I find most corps boring muically and visually. I watched Crown do a "parade at Disney Springs a couple of years ago and couldn't believe the guard CAN NOT March!!! They walked and talked with each other and wavered at audience. I don't recall seeing a rifle section spinning the same routine at the same time in a section. Today I see more individual work done probably to avoid mistakes.

The Corps staff go to DCI Meetings and propose judging changes. The corps vote on those changes. WHY visual is more important than Music? I don't know

Royal Coachmen (NY)....1977 PARENTS! A group of parents banded together and made our directors life heck! He had left the morning we were to leave for Philly and returned to direct 2 weeks later. Winter did not see a great rehearsal period but we were a better playing corps. Then May 1977 he quit for good. The guy that took over merged with another local corps and handed the reins over to people that didn't have a clue. Never to wear our uni's again. Some kids left for Seneca and other corps. I wish I would have too. YOURS?

I know many will hate this but. The End Is Near. Will corps be able to continue to tour as prices still rise? Gas prices will rise and the push will be on for electric (SMH), Tour fees will have to rise and there will come a point where there will be less kids that want to do it.

They probably should have moved to another state

Does anything last in Erie? I don't say that to be mean but corps seem to go away when in Erie.

Goodbye (Garfield) Cadets! Sorry you had to leave and you will be missed.

And a few years after Carmine Appice mentioned adding guitars....prophetic too

No not at all! Spent 40 plus years in the activity. If you haven't noticed the activity is dying and there are only a few corps left who can afford to tour. I find NO joy in this BUT it is what it is!