musicpal24

....to the sooner woodwinds are allowed in DCI, the better. (Totally random) Wouldn't it be HIlarious to see a Bari Sax player trying to achieve some of the visual demand of some of these shows! I remember in 98' in Pitt, PA, the Cadets totally dominoed on their block rotation...If that happened with woodwinds at that speed, they would have had to replace most of the instruments! Not to mention the bruising to the back of kids throats who got their clarinet jammed all the way to the back of their mouth... Instant GE...

Are they alienating an entire fan base? I tend to believe that audiences evolve with art forms. It is more likely that DCI is/would be alienating it's oldest fans. When you talk about alumni, purists, fogies, etc...think of the alumni who began marching when Bb was the norm. Soon these people will be the fogies, and they will expect different things than we did when we marched. As long as DCI continues on the path of implementing change over time, they will survive. As for you comments about saturation and interest. That is not for one person to decide. I for one enjoy competing at the highest level possible regardless of saturation. High School Bands will never achieve at the level of DCI...

Well. If drum corps is in fact a dying art form, and there are fewer corps and fewer shows and attendance is down. Wouldn't the addition of woodwinds be a valid attempt on DCI's part to save it? I mean, if the activity dies, then they are all out of a job, right? The question is whether it will work. The problem is whether they are going to burn a ton of bridges along the way.

Fewer Corps, Fewer Shows...I get it...The Power of Logic...Congratulations. Have you been to a show that was poorly attended in the recent past? That was the point...The amount of shows (your point) relates directly to the number of corps participating, and you are correct; there are fewer corps for the reasons I stated. The number of fans attending the shows (my point) relates to the popularity of the activity. I have been to many shows in the recent past where it was a "standing room" event. In summary, yes there are fewer corps and fewer shows, but is their tangible evidence pointing to a decrease in attendance?

Oooo. Maybe we'll see the return of Future Corps! Of course, they would most certainly have to change their name:-)

And, isn't unfortunate to know that DCI just doesn't care:-) MBI is on the way!

You can't base popularity on the number of corps in existence. Drum Corps is A LOT harder than it used to both in terms of quality and finance. Therefore less kids can handle the challenge and fewer people have the business savvy to manage a successful group. You have to base the activity's popularity on attendance, which has not wavered from my experience.

1. In my experience at shows, I have yet to see a decline of interest in attendance or interest regardless of the kind of fan attending. 2. Why would DCI compete with BOA when they have already partnered on a number of occasions.

Anything is unique and special to the people who are closest to it. I just think that the general public (your everyday band folk) may not see the difference in the activities past the obvious fact that one of them doesn't have woodwinds (yet:-). So what you describe as "just another band competition" is exactly that to many people viewing drum corps. Think about it, how many people have to be corrected on the terminology in your communities (band vs. corps) already. Quality - It is obvious that DCI wants to be "Marching Music's Major League", so in theory the quality should be better than any other marching band in the country. Think baseball - A, AA, AAA, Major Leagues - It's all the same thing, just at different levels. People will converge on Indianapolis to see MBI - Marching Band International - at it's finest.

(theoritically) Wouldn't audiences and interest grow with the introduction of woodwinds? Initially, there might be a decline in attendance, but making the activity more diverse might actually make it more popular, especially given the huge popularity of marching band throughout the country... Just a thought...Don't hurt me.

Maybe Star will come back now...

I know that when I marched the staff got paid less for the whole summer than I now get to work a 3 week marching band camp.

drumcorps is cleary the best there is as far as competing and music is involved This is quite remarkably false. Brass Banding both Europe and America is clearly the best as far as competing and music is involved. Check them out: Brass Band Willebrook (European Champion) Foden's Brass Band (Master's Champion), Fountain City Brass band (North American Champion) This will definitely turn your ear. You have never heard a brass ensemble get so many colors and textures.

That is where they train.

When DCI starts paying members and giving out 6 year, $52 million deals, then we can start putting in a salary cap and leveling the playing field. For goodness sake this has to be a joke!

1. Phantom 2. Cadets 3. Cavies 4. BD 5. Bluecoats 6. SCV 7. CCrown 8. BK 9. Boston 10. Glassmen 11. Academy 12. Crossmen

IMO DCI is perfectly on track...their track, of course. Allowing electronics led to vocalists, and will likely lead to electronic wind instruments (EWI) being allowed. Increasing to 150 will return the DCI brass sound to its historic "Loud as ####" awesomeness...And increasing numbers past that will allow for the entrance of w.w into the activity If DCI allows w.w. then you have instant "feeder" groups, which is ALL of the BOA, USSBA, College etc. bands in the country. "Officially" allowing woodwinds into the activity would be like a re-birth, because DCI would be practically doubling its market base. By adding woodwinds, DCI can continue on its current path, which is downsizing the quantity of drum corps in an effort to become the foremost marching music organization in the world If you have the support of of these major US marching band organizations, attendance will increase and voila DCI is re-born as MBI (Marching Band International) This seems to be the way things are headed. Maybe not I like to stir the pot.

Glad to know that the only thing anyone pulled from my post was a sports tangent! Happy yet Sad...But, Understanding

Hey. I live in KC...Most team in the AL could beat them with an 8 man roster. There is a difference between unprepared and prepared, but ###### (Tampa Bay)...Of course, what do I know. Perhaps, you should get your money back:-)

Drum Corps should be expected to have a complete show from day one. Pro sports are expected to field a competitive product from day one. This is why they spend so much time in the off-season preparing, so they can have it all together on opening day. In addition, the fans paying the bucks want to get their monies worth, and if a team were to show up tripping all over each other or missing people from the starting rotation there would be hell to pay. If this is truly "Marching Musics Major League", and if it is going to cost $20-$40 or $50 to watch a show early in the season, drum corps need to buck up and get the work done in the time alotted. No Excuses. Getting a show down on the field is a matter of preparation, just like any other pro sport. If a corps shows up unprepared, penalties should be assessed.