craiga

Daygo, I absolutely believe you, but I am stunned nonetheless. I aways assumed that BD was the Gold Standard in these matters. Apparently I was mistaken.

Does any $6000 per year drum corps actually make their members stay at hotels at camps at their own expense? Sorry folks, but I absolutely do not believe this claim.

Yikes! I didn't know that. I think Boston is at $6600, and they do connect current members with alumni interested in helping out the mms. Also,by getting rid of the Feb and March camps that also helps the members.

As someone who paid $450 for tour fee in 1980, (plus $2.00 a week all winter) I also think $6000 to march now is huge. I won't bother reciting all the improved transportation/healthcare/food/staffing/etc which has become the norm these days. But to answer the question of how today's kids can manage this, I would point out that most of Generation Z doesn't think twice about purchasing a $1500 cell phone, and the list goes on. That doesn't mean that today's members aren't concerned about the money. They are. For my part, I am again helping a couple BAC members with a little bit toward their 2026 fees, just as an old, crusty alum helped me back in the 1900s. Sorry, couldn't resist. But seriously, there are a lot of people finding the money to march. I don't have the hard figures, but I was told recently that Boston had over 1000 auditionees this winter and I am certain that other top corps has similar numbers.

Agreed. But it has to be said that back when corps is owned their own buses many were actual deathtraps limping their way across the country with someone's Uncle Bob in a dirty tee shirt at the wheel. SCV's buses being the exception in those days. Many had no AC, windows which didn't open, and offered a plethora of nauseating odors. Also, it should be said that in the current era of rented buses, if there is a breakdown the corps tour director calls the bus company and they send a new replacement asap. I personally slept on the side of the road twice in the 1980s, so I have no nostalgia for those days. If you haven't been on a 55 passenger lately, they look and feel like a small commuter jet, complete with personalized ac controls, Wi-Fi, and hi def screens. Also, no more sleeping on the overhead racks!

I do not forsee any corps pulling the plug this summer, or DCI either. It was only a decade ago that we were well above $4.50 a gallon nationwide (and higher for diesel) and nobody pulled the plug. The season didn’t happen in 2020 due to health concerns and much of the country was completely shut down. I personally expect this current international crisis to be over well before summer and feel that fuel prices will drop back when it does. Just my opinion.

While I don't dispute your research, I am shocked at these recent hornline totals. I had no idea that anyone had this close to 100 brass on the field, particularly BD. The last couple seasons I would have sworn they were at 72, but I never actually counted them. Maybe my perception was a result of the staging and props, or maybe it was just me.

Can't wait!!!

Well, you've got two former Bluecoats and one former Blue Devil so I guess it is to be expected. I do wish however that we could retire this trope that a 20 (in percussion or any caption) is a "perfect score" or somehow indicates a perfect performance. It does not. It indicates that Box 5 criteria have been maxed out, as many people have noted. Very little discussion about BD, which is surprising....

Everyone's entitled to their opinion, even if it is misguided in my opinion.

And a few Blue Devils this year as well. Welcome, California!

Awesome Team Hands!

I agree with this. The flow of the show for the spectators is also important. Let's take Boston's East Coast Classic this coming summer as an example. BAC, Bloo, Phantom, Pac Crest and Spartans in the show. Although I don't think they've posted the order yet, we can probably agree on Spartans, PC, PR, Bloo then BAC. Something for everyone here, but does anyone think this show would flow better if it were some version of Bloo on first, then Spartans, Boston, PR, then PC? This order would not be the increasingly climatic flow audiences have come to expect, and in this case being a Thursday night show, there is a good chance fewer spectators might be around for the last corps. Also, I was teaching BAC in 1989 and was in the stadium when we were on in prelims between BD and PR at about 9pm. Our 40 member hornline performed great, and the corps got a standing ovation but we still placed 17th, which was a correct placement imo.

Boston is not "young" for 2026.

😎