hsreed

Absolute success. Some Successes: Rules consolidation, coordinated national tour, brand, selling merchandise. Some Failures: lack of control at the corps level, lack of regional competitiveness, revenue sharing, homogenization. I believe the greatest failure has definitely been fan retention. DCI is a study of how big government can help, but usually hurts more. Sadly, the most profitable organization in the entire activity is DCI itself. You also see the result of excessive growth followed by consolidation of power. When it comes down to it, drum corps is about people performing a show. I believe the travel requirements and excessive volume of performance requirements is negatively affecting the quality of the product as well as burdening corps financially. It is becoming a world of fewer options. I would like to see a DCI that functions more like the refs association for professional basketball with much less influence on how many corps perform. There were years when fans could attend four or five shows in So Cal and both SCV and BD (let's not forget Freelancers and VK as well) were there. Every so often another big corps came west, but this is SCV BD country and we want both every year. I also believe fewer shows would benefit the individual corps and a smaller national tour would save money.

My issue with all electronics is that the sound comes from a pair of speakers - two relatively small spots on the field. What I love about drum corps is the wall of sound when people all over the field play.

Living in CA and being a financial planner, you see the mistakes made by our elected leaders are the same mistakes individuals, companies, pseudo-companies, etc., make that drive any organization to extinction. Overspending: When expenditures exceed revenues, failure will soon follow. As for drum corps, I believe all drum corps in CA are non-profits and do not receive direct funds from the State. Since some rehearsal sites may receive reduced state funding, there may be an increase to the field use fees. Since real estate valuations have dropped, local government income has dropped. Local government agencies may not be able to provide any financial or logistical assistance to corps as a result. There will most likely be an increase to any fees currently paid. A more ominous threat to the activity is the fact that the state desperately needs more cash flow. Indian casinos pay significantly more money in taxes (as well as bribes, I mean campaign contributions, to get what they want) than non-profits. The irresponsible decisions made by CA leaders over a span of decades may force them to either tax non-profits' revenues or put the non-profits out of business and force those consumers into using gambling activities that result in sorely needed state revenue via taxes. Drum corps in CA need to diversify their income. I've always had a vision of Vanguard owning a gas station and avoiding all the taxes in that very profitable and highly taxed business. Also a Vanguard credit union would make sense. CA probably has the highest number of credit unions per capita on the country for a reason. I worked in the money management division of a credit union. Actually I worked for for profit financial advisory subsidiary of the credit union. Our department was very profitable, but all the earnings beyond employee compensation were reduced with excessive expenses (such as excessive office space rent, elephone charges, supplies sold to us by the credit union, etc.) designed to reduce taxable income. Additionally, all the remaining taxable income was transferred (all completely legal) to the credit union and all earnings were realized tax-free.

Blastissimo

They arrive by Thanksgiving

No one ever has sex on the bus.

Install applause signs so the audience knows when to make noise. Allow up to 22 horns to be amplified. Implement a cap on the number of horns and drums. Allow battery powered light devices outside the pit. Extend the set-up time between to 8 minutes, they need more time have to check the electronics and lay out the guard equipment. Cap the number of world class corps to 8.

What they did have was a different composer/arranger - James Peterson wrote their original composition. We have been friends for decades and I'm glad he has worked his way into drum corps, he's so talented. He tries to educate me about arrangements, but ... He gets it and he's talented.

You know the person that is always at camps, always on tour, seen at the Chuck Wagon or whatever you call your food truck, always with a smile handing out food - Bram invented that position and was that person for the Freelancers.

And very Vanguard.

Alhough I like the programs they've produced, they're not so incredible that they make me the happiest person on the planet. They need fresh ideas in the brass composition area.

94 BD was amazing and they were clearly the best corps the night of finals, and I'm not a blue blooded BD fan. 95 and 02 Cavies were also the clear winner. I think 93 did not have a clear winner. There would have been endless debate had Star won (the whole "What in the world was that? argument", but I think it could have easily been accepted as the right call. Unfortunately I believe we accept the imperfect judging system of choosing a champion, which just may be a fine option.

It seems every year there's a debate as to who people would have as the winner of DCI this year. There are years that are in dispute, 87 & 89 come to mind. There are also clear winners, such as 91, 02. In the years you believe someone else should have won, what leads you believe the judges got it wrong? Excluding 85, I believe the biggest rip off in DCI history was 87. SCV was far superior to Cadets that evening. A close second is 2000 when Cadets were simply amazing and should have won outright.

That's what I like about today's drum corp. Everyone can choose their own winner and no one has to lose. It's all subjective. Personally I'm glad Phantom won because they played real music with a melody. Crown sounded incredible, but I wish they could avoid music some other corps didn't make famous. The cut'n'paste arrangement was annoying as well. I believe BD and Cadets usually have the most talent, but design gets in the way of them achieving true greatness.

Pig - a trumpet player that can play high (starts with F# IMO) Squealing Pig - a trumpet player that can play extremely high (double C and higher)

Freelancers 1983 - prelims. During the drum solo, the sopranos pulled out huge colorful banners, about 30 feet or so long by 2 feet wide, and made a frame around the guard and drumline. Someone couldn't get his banner out of his pouch, so there was a huge empty space. If you watch it on Fan Network, it's the second banner on the left.

I think it's most important for the hornline to match tone across the board. I don't really enjoy overblowing and crass brass, but you can go to the edge if everyone does it the same way.

Vanguard - Giannini & Symhonic Triptych.

Blastissimo - two notches above RFL, resulting in seering of inner ear cilia.

Corps is the most team oriented activity I have ever participated in (wrestling, soccer, track and baseball were my other sports). I jumped to a top tier corps for a chance to win. We didn't win DCI, but the view from the top was awesome and the opportunity was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Lower tier corps need to realize an be comfortable with their role or grow and give people the opportunity to win.

"Top 10" anything

From my current wife: "Remember to blow, don't suck." clap clap clap, smile, wink.

Tapioca Pudding

"I have a dream" drum corps reinvents itself and moves in the direction of it's individuality. Understanding who you are and the unique contribution you can make to the world is immeasurable. Get on board.

yes, electronics has decreased the number of drum corps fans.