godzilla5123

Sure. No DCA corps is on par with Boston or BD or anyone else extremely clean, but Reading and Hawthorne have put out amazing shows every year that are on par with semifinalists. Everyone puts in a #### ton of effort anyways in their show as well. Different circuit, different rehearsal ideals (given that it's weekend band and not a full-on tour), and different show expectations. Most people that show up at DCA shows are friends, family, alumni, and old folks that aged out many moons ago. Hardly any high schoolers or college kids show up to these events. This is mainly due to DCA not advertising themselves as much, and being under a massive shadow from DCI. There were more people at Allentown watching Reading and Surf last year than people watching Hawthorne's competing, alumni, and combined performance at Clifton that same season. Several bands get busses out with their kids to watch the events, and it's definitely a great starter for them to consider it. Also, it's just easier for kids to start at a DCA corps rather than wasting 200$+ at a Bluecoats camp just to either get stringed along and fleeced or instantly cut with 0 notes of improvement, and not march that year. I know a lot of people who did that. Imo, in regards to the last point, given that it's two DCA corps per night it's easy to throw them in the middle (say after the break) and have the ideal audience. Or just go back to random sorting with hidden performance schedules until then. But until then, and when DCI fixes a lot of their issues, having a performance at Allentown will help the corps and the circuit more than having a show with not enough attendance.

100% true. Could be better if DCI did bigger random sorting for regionals and put them at a middle time instead of 6pm...

It's probably best for DCA to run with Allentown than run against it or not have a show at all. Having a massive crowd, including high schoolers who would generally be able to march DCA more than DCI at that point (cheaper tuitions, locality, staying at home and not having conflicts with the summer), should be a massive recruitment source for DCA and the corps showing up, let alone a bigger fanbase. Sure, not many people know about the DCA as much, let alone Hawthorne and Reading's history, and it might be an empty crowd until the Bluecoats perform, but it can definitely help the organizations as well as the circuit grow.