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OpenClassAlum

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  • Your Drum Corps Experience
    4 seasons, open class
  • Your Favorite Corps
    SCV, Phantom, Blue Stars, Troopers
  • Your Favorite All Time Corps Performance (Any)
    Phantom 2003
  • Your Favorite Drum Corps Season
    2010

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  1. We'll see if the AG acts. In the meantime, alumni have learned that the debts are now paid in full and that a more fiscally responsibile touring model is being established, albeit still what you can expect from a world class corps. Likewise, an official response to these allegations is coming. There are serious concerns I have, that we all have, but I think we'll see SCV in Indy next year.
  2. A lot of positive steps in the right direction (debts nearly paid off, revenue is bouncing back, implementing better cost controls, etc), with official communications and the Vanguard Voice coming soon.
  3. If all the open class corps actually went to Indy this year, prelims would make sense. The problem is most of these corps are feeling the squeeze from the last few years and are making financially-informed decisions to save resources so that in the future they can make the trip. Changing the process now will only necessitate changing it back if/when those corps start making the trip out. Why not instead give the corps making the trip the extra show that does have folks show up and watch and gives OC corps a chance to fine tune leading into Finals? Likewise, we don't know if Louisiana Stars are really dead, it's just all signs and member word of mouth point towards them not fielding this year. For all we know, they could be back at it next year. Also, there is an open class discussions page.
  4. I wish a deal could be cut similar to the old PBS deal with a normal streaming service. Everytime I open basically any streaming service, the first thing I see is live sports (some incredibly niche or for college sports teams I didn't even know existed), and I know I'm not the only one that'll watch a few minutes of whatever it is when I don't have a set program I'm looking for. Why can't a deal like that be made with DCI?
  5. They at the very least have August Indy events on DCI's website that aren't on Soundsport's, so I'd venture a guess that the website is out-of-date.
  6. This notion that CA talent isn't as strong because the schools don't bother heading east for some national competition is very strange to me. Who cares? Why would a CA HS band want to spend it's resources dragging kids to the Midwest? Honestly I'd argue your average WBA competition is enough to handle the most competitive and invested of HS student needs, and a trip from Broken Arrow, OK to Indy isn't all that longer than a trip from Santa Rosa, CA to Disneyland. Starting from Santa Rosa to Indy? That's a 36 hour trip with no stops. And for what? Even with as bad a shape as open class is in right now IMO, better to send your excited about marching students to go march an open class corps than pay out the nose for a trip to *checks notes* Indiana. The same is true with sending your best to be in county, Northern/Southern, and state honor bands. Also, are there even that many high schoolers marching the top WC corps anymore? I'd figure the West Coast Universities on the quarter system is more of an issue for membership than high schools not doing national competition.
  7. Agreed. I'm not saying a Texas corps can't succeed and I'd love to see a corps from DFW grow into a top-tier corps, but it seems like a lot of folks are convinced a move here would fix everything for a corps that's history and tradition is distinctly tied into the vibes and attitude of Santa Clara county.
  8. Makes lots of sense to me that post-customs crackdown and our current economic reality that it's time for separate Winter and Summer opportunities. It'd be really cool if Canada built up something of same caliber as DCI.
  9. Seems like a smart move, but just another sign that some of these world class corps should really be open class (and open class competition would benefit from it!).
  10. This topic has kinda moved on, but this has been stewing in my brain for months. To my count, there's been at least 12 junior corps hailing from Texas. Two of those didn't originate from Texas, Sky Ryders and Crossmen, and at least one other was formed out of the ashes of a non-Texan corps (Forte was built out of Memphis Sound). With all the orgs that relocated, there was an assumption that being closer to the bulk of their membership could only help. Of those 12 Texas corps, we only have 3 still active (and I would unfortunately not be surprised if at least one of those doesn't make it to 2025). Of the relocation corps, only Crossmen remains. I bring these numbers up because they're the first thing I think of when folks bring a move to Texas up. Texas is the second largest state in the country, the largest central state in the country, and has incredibly well-established public high school and university music programs. Likewise, there are DCI shows galore throughout the state each year. Yet, there's only been 12 total junior corps and only has 3 left; the third largest state (CA) has had 76 junior corps(!) and there are 11 currently listed on DCI's website. And what of that 3 remaining? Crossmen is the oldest in residence, moving in 2006. They are nothing to shrug at, but the org has yet to translate all the local talent and staff opportunities into a top 7 placement since the move. Genesis had a couple third place finishes in open class before moving to world class, but they've yet to not get out placed by open class corps since moving to world. And then there's Guardians, the current open class option for Texans, who are seemingly having difficulties getting housing sites for each monthly camp this year. What's my point? I don't think moving a drum corps to Texas is the winning solution it's so often thought to be. There's something going on here that's making drum corps harder to start and sustain than other locations. What that is? No idea. Some Music History or American Studies researcher should look into that. But I think VMAPA needs to think long and hard about Sky Ryders, Memphis Sound/Forte, and Revolution before thinking things will be much easier if they just moved states.
  11. There have historically been multiple instances where folks marched SCVC after a season with SCV. That's besides the point though; the point of SCVC is to develop the future, something that will be needed if SCV doesn't want to keep dropping big bucks to chase after talent from Texas and the great lakes region. I think both corps need to get back on the field ASAP, but I also think a lot of folks miss the huge benefit SCVC provides to developing local(ish) talent that then reinvests in the community music scene after benefiting SCV.
  12. If George B, JW, or Steve B roll up, I imagine alumni donations about to increase tenfold.
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