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.

Jumping late as usual. But I've now read the G7 Proposal and the DCI 'response'. This is all terribly interesting. At the risk of re-stating the obvious and perhaps oversimplifying, it seems we do have a fundamental conflict of visions: DCI: “Our vision for the future of Drum Corps International is one of greater inclusion,” said Mark Arnold, Chairman of Board of Directors. “We strive to create more opportunities for young people to experience the unique attributes of the drum corps lifestyle and to gain important life skills that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.” and, from the DCI long term plan and Financial Statement highlights: 'On this the occasion of Drum Corps International’s 38th year it is of paramount importance that we empower, mobilize, and focus every current member of the drum corps community on a singular organizational initiative: To engage as many people as possible in our collective endeavor' DCI Vision = maximize participation in the activity. Not necessarily more butts in seats, but more feet marching. From the G7 Report: 'There must be a way to return more cash to the individual units.' G7 Vision: more money in the pockets of the corps that have demonstrated, and continue to demonstrate, an ability to put butts in seats (or download media) and (presumably) generate interest in the activity indirectly. The DCI model is one not unlike major league sports (with the exception that DCI participants aren't paid professionals). But the 'franchise' model is very similar. And there's always some bit of on-going squabble within the leagues over how to divy up the filthy lucre, particularly between large market teams and smaller ones. Like TV revenues. Probably always a lot of complaining about the size of the league head office, and what is the formula for determining how much each team kicks in to maintain that office. But I digress. It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Clearly the G7 think they offer more value than they are getting from DCI, hence the push to cut the DCI 'league office overhead'. And they want a new formula for revenue sharing, to the point that they're willing to virtually produce their own shows so as to sequester and redirect that revenue away from greater DCI. They have the audacity to expect DCI to sanction this - which simply seems to give the G7 the ability to make the claim that they aren't 'separating' from DCI. Unless and until the 'vision' part gets worked out, though - and to be honest this has really been an on-going debate, to a greater or lesser extent, since Day One of DCI in the early 70's - the path forward for the activity will not be clear.

It all sounds suspiciously like if the Yankees and Dodgers left MLB. Heck even the Harlem Globetrotters needed the Washington Generals (their perennial patsy).

Change 'G7' to 'Top 12', doesn't that describe the birth of DCI?

The following comments fall into the category of wild specualation. The G7 believe that by scheduling additional performances independently of DCI that this will expose more people to the drum corps activity and that this will <indirectly> lead to the overall promotion of the activity. I think I can agree. That it is ultimately G7 self serving, I think we can all agree; God forbid any of the G7 deny it. However whether it is the most effiective, most expeditious method of promoting drum corps, whether it is the road to success, and whether it defines success, that seems to be subject for significant debate. Personally, I define success in this arena as anything that leads to the near term increase in the number of participants in D&BC (NOT necessarily as the number of people who see a show). To define it as the latter is to define it as an increase in gate receipts aka revenue - and that is one possible definition. Certainly it could be argued that you can't do the former without doing the latter first. I could be convinced of that, but I'd want to see it thought through. I think the WGI model is actually a good one (with scholastic, independent and world class guards) since it appears to have increased the number of guards; however I don't know if it has increased the number of butts in seats.

I'm late to the party. So sue me. "At the center of the proposal is a detailed plan to feature DCI’s top acts, while sustaining the structure of the World Class, Drum Corps International and Tour Event Partner events that are currently in place." Anybody on here see the detailed plan (and can prove it), or is this thread mostly wild speculation as is so often the case?

Can't afford plane fare.

Don't got no posters to post. That's why I surfed into this thread, post-haste. Not very attentive? Naw, heck I'm just bored with all the other snarky threads...I think I'm about post-toasted on posters now, though.

Now THAT is a funny....um....post.

Cracked open this thread, thought maybe I'd see some drum corps posters. Saw a handful, and 15 pages of sniping, give/take. Mods, let's close this thread. We've about sniped this topic to death.

hmmm...double post sorry