Matt_S

If you're a capitalist guy, then it should make perfect sense why the Blue Devils have System Blue, why the Cadets have YEA, why Crown has Crown Tickets. These are all ways for the respective corps to expand their revenue. The question you should be asking is why these corps felt the need to branch out from their core product (almost typed it as "corps" product ) in order to grow this revenue. The simple answer would be that they feel the revenue they are gathering through DCI activity is not sufficient. Maybe you'd prefer that they seek to expand their revenue solely through DCI activity, but how do you propose they do that? Under DCI, the only factor within a corps' control is the quality of show they produce. If they put out a more entertaining show then they might see an uptick in souvenir sales, maybe in donations, but that's the only direct benefit a corps receives. If they put out entertaining shows and put more butts in the seats at contests, that corps has to split that money with every other DCI corps. If they put out entertaining shows and sell more Championships CDs and DVDs, that corps has to split that money with every other DCI corps. Only a quarter of DCI's revenue goes back out to the member corps, and that quarter is spread amongst at least all of World Class (not sure if OC sees any of that money, but I would assume they receive at least some). As a capitalist, you should know that this is the problem with collectivism. Corps are disincentivized from working within the DCI framework to grow revenue, because they don't realize benefits that are proportional to the work they put in. If you're going to invest limited resources, it's important to invest those resources in a manner that nets you the greatest return. So sure, Crown could be magnanimous and hand over Crown Tickets to DCI. The Cadets could be charitable and hand over USSBA. But in doing so they'd be cutting off a direct source of revenue for their corps. A nice gesture, perhaps, but probably not a great business move considering the work that went into establishing those operations in the first place. Which brings us back to the DCI Business plan. It would not be baseless to claim that this plan asks a lot of the G7 corps. Off the top of my head I can think of the requirement that one G7 corps every year makes the trip out west to tour with SCV and BD - an obvious admission that these corps are in fact the 'draw'. Then of course, there's the line which you quoted, which seems to imply that the resources corps like the Cadets and Crown have already invested would be co-opted into the collective - "nationalized" if you will. Suddenly these corps are looking at a fraction of the revenue they were previously taking in for these ventures, and - without a clear path to revenue through their shows on the field - likely having to re-invest resources all over again to find some other source of revenue, that they might be able to retain their status quo. If this is truly the scenario, it's not hard at all to imagine the G7 proposal springing forth from such a reality. Frankly, such a proposal should have been expected. I think this thread is going to break along lines depending upon what role you believe DCI, as an organization, should play. Do you believe the activity should benefit from a strong, central source, a la the NFL or NBA? Or do you believe the corps should remain autonomous, with DCI serving only to coordinate core activity? I think it'd be great if we had enough corps of similar quality to fill out an entire league, but that's not the reality. Drum corps has never had much parity, and at least one premise of the G7 proposal is certainly true: not all corps are equal. Philosophically I don't think collectivism will ever work, but I think that's especially true in an activity where there is such disparity between the corps. In terms of resources, brand appeal, entertainment potential and more, a bottom-rung World Class corps simply isn't in the same league as the G7. It'd be great if DCI were on the same level as the NFL, but we need to build if we're going to get there. To be quite honest, you sell the activity to new fans and sponsors by pitching the Blue Devils or the Cavaliers, not Pioneer or the Mandarins. That's why I'm in favor of letting a corps like the Blue Devils or Crown run with whatever advantages they've been able to create for themselves. Right now, handicapping those corps through expanded revenue sharing is only going to keep the entire activity mired in mediocrity.

Who exactly is using it as a design crutch? This is one of those generic talking points that gets spread around, but no one ever takes the time to explain what they mean. Who is using synthesizers as a "design crutch" to their detriment, and what could they be doing instead that you would consider more creative? Though to be fair, I suppose you probably can't get to 130,000 posts unless you speak in generalities.

That 1980 was 30 years ago. No current marchers were alive then. I wasn't alive then. I believe the current director of the Bluecoats wasn't alive then. Just putting things in perspective for you.

Just curious. I know a DCP poll isn't going to decide anything, but I seem to hear from an awful lot of people that the Blue Devils show is far more effective in person. Most of the negative feedback for this show seems to be coming from those who have only seen the video. I wonder if we might be able to find some trends once we do the numbers. Please be honest. Thank you.

This year has been much, much better, from what little I've seen already. IMO, the addition of electronic instruments has worked far, far better than adding amplified voice.

If you truly believe these words, then for better or worse you've just conceded the G7's basic premise.

Never heard of a Binny's but Kahn's has an excellent selection. They used to be up in Carmel, not far from my office, but moved to a location off Keystone, southeast of Broad Ripple.

Quite true. I've been impressed at the obscure names I've encountered already, just wish there were easy ways to get some of these regional brews.

Since we're piling on...

Kids these days!

Follow Wil's advice

SCV is G7 too. Moot post is moot.

I'm the opposite. I think the electronics make the show better than it would be otherwise, and the show becomes greater than the sum of its parts. I'm not sure the show would stand out so much without them.

The Cadets beat the Blue Devils in back to back shows less than a week before Finals. Yes, they had a shot at the title.

The title of this thread is misleading. From what I read of the judge's ruling, the problem wasn't with the activity of cheerleading itself. Rather, the problem was that the sport was insufficiently organized to provide a true varsity team, and therefore could not qualify toward Title IX. The judge even allowed that he could see a time when cheerleading would be a full varsity sport, but it was not there yet. Here's the money quote: So really, the judge ruled that the activity of cheerleading is indeed a sport, just one in need of some organization. Sounds to me like the activity of drum corps certainly qualifies as a sport, as well.

Lots of 1's for the Cavaliers tonight in percussion and GE. Lots of cleaning still to do in the performance captions, it seems. It certainly suggests that the Cavaliers still have a lot of potential left in their show.

Me too, Tekk. I'm actually going to being most of these corps for the first time at Finals.

spacebo

You had me until the fourth point. Here's a fun little story as an example: I once went with a girlfriend to see the movie Closer. We both hated it. We thought it was an awful movie. We both spent the rest of the day feeling sick to our stomachs. We blamed it on the movie. It wasn't until after we broke up much later that I was able to realize our reaction was exactly the point.

Money grab? You get to see 22 World Class corps and 3 Open Class corps for between $50 to $90. I paid $25 to see 6 World Class corps and 1 Open Class corps a week ago. I'd say you're getting a great deal.

Nah, kenelbow, it wasn't you. Based on when you marched, you're too young. That was my row, though. Were you left or right of the press box? The couple I was speaking of is the couple that had their daughter in Star United. Thanks to Scooter posting the link to the website, I now know the name of that member, as well. They were great folks, interested in all the corps, exactly the people you hope you'll be seated around when you find your seats for a show. I'm going to make plans to attend Star United's rehearsal on the 28th. The welcoming attitude from the members posting here has me sold. If anyone else going wants to say hi at the event, post or PM me.

Ace, you're the man.

What, peeing? No, probably not.

Not marching your age-out won't be the only missed drum corps opportunity you regret...