craiga

I am guessing there will be no early shows this year in Boston, but hopefully still the show in Lawrence right before Allentown. I'll bet that BAC management made the calculation that shows in Quincy or Lynn in late June with just one World Class corps and two open corps who may or may not have complete shows that early wouldn't be financially wise. Also, I have nothing against all age corps being included (I think that was the original intent) but I'm not sure how much of a draw they would add in Massachusetts. Interesting historical note: Back in the late 70s and early 80s, you could have a late June show in Lynn with FIVE "world" class corps and another five really good "open" class corps and there would be no busses in the lot; everyone drove their cars to the show because all these corps were from Massachusetts!

Well, now we know why the Cadets were not going to afford to go out in 2024...massive legal bills and a potential future court settlement of unknown proportions. As was the case with SCV, this had NOTHING to do with the price of props, uniforms, tour or spring training. Can we put those false arguments to rest finally? Bad behavior from the past is what's killings these corps....plain and simple.

I am frankly surprised that it hasn't dawned on anyone that perhaps the reason why the Cadets organization isn't giving specifics may be on advice of legal counsel. Given their history with their former director, this wouldn't seem too far fetched, would it?

This is true.

It is obvious to me that you care deeply about this activity, and sometimes the weight of all this negative news can build up and weigh heavily on all of us. I do get it. It sometimes seems overwhelming to me as well. I share more of your frustrations than you know. When I discovered, marched, and began teaching this activity in the late 1970s, it was a whole different world, both on and off the field. As an aside, we used to have 20 hs bands at finals here in Maine. Last night, we had 9 and the show was over in time for supper. Not money or move in or touring, obviously. But a whole different society than 50 years ago. At my age, I am constantly adjusting my expectations in life, both in and out of drum corps. I continue to hope for a great 2024.

This is correct. The BAC featured rifle kid joined the corps while a freshman in high school, and is from a town on the coast of Massachusetts, literally next door to the setting of Moby Dick. Local, high school kid. And he is still a Crusader.

I guess the time change has affected my brain function this morning. What precisely does the lawsuit against Spirit for alleged abuse have to do with the length of spring training by anybody else? Furthermore, in the years prior to spring training, fans used to routinely complain about going to the early season shows and having to sit through (and pay full ticket prices for) incomplete shows. Also, I again suggest that the recent issues with SCV and Cadets are NOT the same as each other, nor being the direct result of the high cost of the activity, but primarily poor choices over many years made by their respective boards. I get that there is a building frustration by many with the ongoing dci drama, but there seems to be no correlation between how long BD has their spring training in Wyoming or BAC with theirs in Vermont and the other issues at hand. Also, what a fickle bunch we are.....we want complete shows on June 28th but also want to limit spring training. We want more shows in our home towns, but we also want to limit touring. We want the best shows possible but also limit what corps can spend or where they can draw their members from. Yikes!

I'm not convinced that simply announcing Erie as Cadets' new home base 8 months ago is enough time to either succeed or fail financially. It seems much more likely to me that 40 years of financial (and other) skeletons may well play a role. But who knows?

Yes...it has been confirmed. Thanks to all for your kind comments.

Hi, So, I've had several people from dcp text me privately about what's happening here in Maine. I thought I would give a bit of an update. CNN and the rest are all over this, so I'm not going to rehash what is pretty much common knowledge. But, here's what I can add. Maine is a huge state geographically but 80% of its population lives in the southern most counties. In those counties, all schools have been closed for two days now, which also means that all football, field hockey, marching band etc rehearsals/practices have been cancelled. Tomorrow's MBDA Marching Band Finals in Sanford have been postponed until 11/4. In Androscoggin County(including the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn and surrounding towns) there is a shelter in place order, and the streets are completely vacant...much like the early days of the pandemic. Although in the past, both the Lewiston Blue Devils and the Auburn Red Eddies had competitive marching bands, those programs both ended in the last decade. (And who could forget the Pine Tree Warriors Drum Corps from Lewiston back in the 70s....) We don’t know if the marching band final will happen next week or not. The entire State of Maine is on edge right now. In fairness, I should note that despite having one of the highest firearms ownership rates in the country, Maine is ranked 50th in terms of gun violence by the FBI. This has been a very safe state until now. This is worthy of mention because the state has issued over 209,000 hunting licenses this fall...and opening day for deer season is tomorrow. Although the kids and staff of my band are disappointed of course, everyone gets it and just wants it to end. Huge police presence here right now, including Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts State Police and the FBI Boston Region. Hoping for this all to go away. I live about 45 minutes away in Saco, and I believe all my family and friends are ok. For my band kids, this is the second time during their school years that they have had to stay home from school due to an emergency event. I can't imagine being a teenager today.

THIS!

I recall last year at this time some folks here criticizing Boston for accepting a $50,000 award from that chicken restaurant chain due to their political views. Well, as follow up, I am happy to report that a member of BAC'S administration team traveled to their corporate hq last spring and gladly accepted their check. Drum corps need to be practical as they diversify their revenue sources. BAC will put those funds to good use.

1. BAC 2. BD 3. BLUECOATS 4. CROWN 5. MANDARINS 6. PHANTOM 7. TROOPERS 8. SCV 9. COLTS 10. BLUE KNIGHTS 11. BLUE STARS 12. CROSSMEN

This is dumb. The Blue Devils have a threepeat. Get over it.

THIS! And one more thing....if I hear another person erroneously blame "new uniforms and drums and pit percussion every year" I swear my head is going to explode. Nearly every corps in the top 15 or 16 gets new uniforms every year FOR FREE from the various uniform companies as part of their endorsement agreements. Stanbury in the case of Cadets, BD, and Bluecoats...FJ Miller for Boston like many others. And, everyone has percussion endorsements with various drum companies wherein they get brand new drums and front ensemble every year as well, also part of endorsements. In BAC'S case, at some point during the first week of spring training, an 18 wheeler shows up to Vermont with the entire package. The members excitedly unpack the new equipment and pack up the old and it goes back to the manufacturer to be refurbished and remarketed. And if you're about to say this is only because BAC is an "elite", not true! Boston's first endorsement was with Ludwig in 1990, after they had placed 17th in 1989. For SOME people here on dcp who fancy themselves as drum corps know it alls, they know surprisingly little about drum corps. And to circle back to Cadets, not only did they not have to pay for their Atlas uniforms, they still own their traditional unis for parades and such. It seems to me that some older fans just love to weaponize their contempt for modern drum corps to blame those modernizations for financial issues ....even though drum corps has ALWAYS been a financial challenge. And when I say older fans, for the record, I'm 63.

Boston, who had 25 horns in 1979, more than held their own....and the only corps to survive another 44 years after this show.

😀

The renowned 27th Lancers. Don't let Jurassic Lancer fool you....in 79 their buses were tied the Troopers for the oldest in DCI.

Yes...the Holy Name Cadets.....and Most Precious Blood Crusaders...

At least the Cadets pulled the plug in mid October, two months prior to the first auditions for anyone. Didn't SCV wait until early December...after corps had started their auditions? Sounds like the Cadets board and Executive Director didn't let the Cadets actual Corps Director in on it until the last possible moment...

I don't dispute your figures. There were also more than 60 corps here in eastern Massachusetts. However, of the +1500 corps you accurately reference, +1400 never had anything to do with DCI, national tours, electronics, props, huge staffs, or having 15 unit convoys. They simply went away because they DID NOT HAVE ADEQUATE REVENUE...even then. Also, as many have noted, many fell victim to changes in society, just as Catholic churches, Grange halls, boy scouts, and most other neighborhood activities. Look, I'm now in my 60s, and there is nothing I would love more than to transport myself back to attending the World Open in Lynn, MA in 1979 and see 60 "local corps" over two days. It's just not going to happen and DCI had nothing to do with it.

And, if you stay local, you still have to house and feed the members all summer. In our current society, putting all these kids in private homes like we used to won't fly.

I have heard repeatedly that they had no income other than the fees the membership paid. I'm no expert, but it would seem to me that it would be next to impossible to support a 165 member drum corps based on tour fees alone. Somebody on BAC'S BOD told me several years ago that their member fees were less than half of their annual revenue. This is a real shame. They were excellent on the field last summer.

Given recent events, I am thrilled to announce that there is nothing dramatic coming out of Boston. The design team is hard at work and audition information is being sent out. And apparently many if not most of the vets have already been autocontracted for 2024. Castleton is only 7 months away!

I don't understand this comment. The press release wherein they announced they were not going out also announced their executive director resigning.