Achilles

I get this feeling / perception that, when it comes to some folks on the BoD, and the alumni org and the admin, support and instructional staffs, case by case of course, they feel that they can try, because they are either low-paid, are unpaid volunteers, or are donors, to dictate what and how things are done (vs. plugging into a corps management's plan, formal or otherwise). That is, 'hey, I'm here on my time and on my dime and if things aren't done my way, I'm taking the highway'. For corps that don't have mature plans or are just getting started, this could be frustrating, if true. Sure, these folks should be solicited for some say in a spirit of inclusion. In the end though, the established management hierarchy should have final say as to how much and when these ideas and input are implemented.

Appreciate that, I'm really asking about the DC community at large, not necessarily specific to your experience.

Yes, I can imagine that it took years to build this org and that it's how staffed with professionals from all walks of life who bring the benefits of their areas of expertise outside of D&BC. I did not mean to suggest that the org needed to be or was in fact a 'dictatorship' with a tyrant in control - truly the best leaders are not that way - but you are correct, in my experience 'factions' and partisanship can arise. The trick is to avoid the 'tyranny of democracy' - everyone thinking they have a vote and/or that their vote carries as much or more weight than others.

That's one way...but perhaps not the best way. The entire statement here kinda surprises me...Do the caption heads not have a budget (an allocation of the corps' overall budget), one for which they are involved in the process of setting the value thereof, and are they then held accountable to stick to? Otherwise...no accountability, and chaos and 'bullying' ensue.

Interesting. That suggests that at the top of the organization is someone strong and wise enough to herd that many cats.

That's quite some list. It would seem clear that Inspire/BC have a trained np professional on their staff, especially considering much of their corporate giving is, if I had to guess, one-time donations (made on an annual basis), and requiring recurring solicitations in order to sustain that giving year over year. Certainly there are skills there for the corps to learn; it's probably not easy to hire, or contract for, that kind of support. I have to ask if DCI in any way promotes the dissemination of this kind of knowledge amongst the corps?

DCI Orlando, Camping World Stadium, 7:30 PM Sunday July 8 2018. Listing Number 1335435527 on StubHub. Nice lineup at this one. 7:09 Impact - Orlando, FL 7:38 Heat Wave - Inverness, FL 7:55 Music City - Nashville, TN 8:12 Jersey Surf - Camden County, NJ 8:29 Intermission 8:46 Spirit of Atlanta - Atlanta, GA 9:03 The Cadets - Allentown, PA 9:20 Boston Crusaders - Boston, MA 9:37 Bluecoats - Canton, OH 9:54 Carolina Crown - Fort Mill, SC Plaza 8, Row K, seats 14 & 15. Just off the 50 and just the right height, the goosebumps will come. Would prefer to sell as a pair.

Ah tilt schmilt. To me it's a matter of style, and I've played traditional and matched grip, and with and without a drum sling. With technique proper to the drum angle, it's possible to play cleanly and with expression both ways. Is one more correct? Who cares, and I wouldn't know, I'm not a a trained professional at anything that relates to this topic. The folks who know about the geometry of the human body and its' musculature (not, not porn stars you pre-vert) would know - what are they, kinesthesiologists? Whatever, them. Does having a tilt, or not, allow a line to move more smoothly, and still execute effectively? Perhaps. 'Cause yeah, it's about both sound and movement now. Getting a good sound while moving like the wind. As far as I can tell, it's still about style.

Roll offs.

Not for nothing but where in DCI did Mr. Rennick march?

I found a couple of these locally. Here in Nanjing, China. This is the shortie, the other was about twice a long but the same size bell. No markings that I could see. I'm a drummer so I don't know if these old military bugles are worth anything or not. But I thought it was cool. PM if any interest.

Kinda like voting in an election. But that's the thing about booing...it's not anonymous when you're in the minority doing it.

I'm with you. That's why when that fellow from South Carolina called out 'You lie.' in a totally different setting, I was loving it. Even in that setting, you betcha, it was great. Wish somebody had done it to the last fellow, too. I may not agree with what you have to say, but I respect your right to say it. And you'd better respect my right to ridicule it.

I knew I liked you.

While drum corps should find a way to merge the activity with the marching band activity in some healthy way, it should be done in a way that the resulting activity isn't declawed, deballed or otherwise wiener-ized and wussied up. I've never been to an MBA Grand Nationals but if it's full of annoying rah-rah band boosterism and self-serving back-door, government-school politicking as I've seen at local high school band competitions, forget it. Drum corps has 'nads. Let's keep 'em.