magicdirect

Its the least DCI can do, they should never have allowed them on the road!!!

We all feel bad for the members, staff and volunteers but in the end many people informed DCI of the financial issues with Teal last September. The problems from the past two seasons simply didn't go away they had just been ignored. Serious drum corps people told Dan that Teal should take a year off to re-group but in the end it was decided that the corps was good to go!! Are u &*(_*& kidding me!!!! DCI needs to me more of the solution and not the problem!! I wish Teal the best of luck on its return but I seriously doubt they will ever come back as a World Class corps and maybe that's a good starting point for any new administration. Build a strong base and lets see what the activity does over the next three to five years. Maybe even DCI will develope a better touring plan for all! One could only hope! JVN

Yep, one bus and a box truck not three coaches, semi and two vans!!! We are leaving this Wednesday and doing a five day Florida Tour which includes 5 performances!

No is the answer! DCI would rather see the lower 18 run themselves into the ground first this way they don't have to take the blame!! This is the way its been for 30 year and this summer we are seeing it yet again! Fact! jvn

Magical Charters is currently working with Teal admin to get coaches to them asap so they can continue on the road..... jvn

The Tampa Bay Thunder Florida's only DCA Open Class Corps would like to thank all at DCI for allowing us to take part in some way at the Orlando show. Members really enjoyed the crowd and the response! Just the first step to a long summer for us! Check at our scheduled events at www.tampabaythunder.org

You guys are probably recovering this morning but lets see some reviews from Wildwood!! And Cali!

As we all read on DCP and other sites the amount of open positions for almost each section of almost every drum corps in the country we must ask why? In my humble opinion this will create an even bigger problem down the road. First - Filling your corps with 150 is fine but be smart about where your numbers are going. Can we really say that 80 brass is going to make a bigger impact than 72 or 74? No, but having 42 to 46 in your guard will, plus lets add some more front ensemble and cymbal lines to help get to the 150. Watching video from the 80's, 90's and thru 2007 most top 10 corps had 60 to 72 brass and I think they did very well! Second - Once corps are at the mercy of members to fill holes they don't pay the full tuition or a significantly deduced fee. Members are smart, college kids are smart, if they have any talent they can hang on the fence all winter long and hook up with a top 12 corps in June for a fraction of the cost. This could become a snowball effect if we are not careful! Jim

Best wishes to Sun Devils, Rip Tide and Impact! The Tampa Bay Thunder welcomes any and all groups at our summer events! Jim

This was a tough place to play in but not bad for May!! TBT on the move!!

Love this stuff!!!! Tons of fun!!! FYI - TBT is not the same corps from last year! Check out the May 12th preview spot....three months to only get better! Could be a fun summer for the South~ CV doing looks very strong as well!! Have fun!

Why would anyone question the success of this organization and expect them to produce anything less then a solid program that will without question go mid-pack at worst in DCA not to mention the name "CADETS" will sell tickets at every DCA event. In my opinion we need more DCI corps mostly in regions that don't have all-age corps to take a page out of the Cadets book and do the same! Think about it, most top DCI corps bring about 200 potential new members to each audition camp and that doesn't include the returning members leaving very little options for those members that don't get a call back! Those that participate in DCI can afford it, have the time to dedicate to it and the ability to survive a DCI summer! This is the minority of band students, the majority don't have the financial resources, time or highest level talent that most DCI corps are looking for so where can they go to get the drum corps experience??? DCA!!! Examples: Cavies - Nice, first all male back in DCA!!! Crown - Amazing! Florida Wave - Hmmm....could happen!!! Southwind - Good way to get back in the field! Enjoy! Jim

Check out April camp video clip, short but a work in progress! 2012 Tampa Bay Thunder on FB.

Year two...not bad! Just looking to get better this year!

At least the Thunder is in good company for the bottom 4!!!!! Yippie!!!

John - No hard feeling's here, far from it. As I stated , I wish them the very best. My post was clear separating inside the lines and outside the lines. I stated they have done very well inside the lines but please do not pretend to know the inner workings of the Board or Budget for them......All the teams listed and monay others you are 100% correct can't say the same and it all has to do with money. Teal has only been in World Class for 3 years of the 11 year history. Its only the past three years that is hurting them due to the huge expense of operating a World Class drum corps....but again time will tell! JVN

Maybe I am not reading your question correctly. If you are stating the all these corps have done well inside the lines you may be correct but outside the lines we still have issues! Reading all the posts it becomes obvious that money and management determines the success of any drum corps long term. I would guess that a World Class corps annual budget would have to be no less then 500 to 600k. When corps have little to no income outside member and performance fees this means its only a matter of time before they crash and burn. The additional posters have some great ideas to limit to financial exposure but that will never pass. The last two weeks of the tour should be earned from the year prior helping some corps save thousands of dollars they don't have. Break it up to the East, Mid-West and West and the top 5 from each Region in each class should be the only ones invited to do the follow years Championship Tour. (Last two weeks the following year) This would allow DCI to still hold most of the events they still run annually and make it a honor for show sponsors to host an event during the Championship push getting a premium for those shows. The corps that earn the right to make the Championship push can also be paid at a higher rate! Now, back to your question. I think Jersey Surf with the model they have operated the corps has done very well for them and the management team has been in place since day one. The same can be said for The Academy. Pioneer while I am sure is financially able to support a World Class touring group only has low membership numbers due to management concepts in a time where being innovative is critical to suceed and obtain membership. Teal Sound did well during the past few seasons and getting World Class status but will find it difficult to overcome the financial obligations for a World Class corps as they have very little income from other sources. I wish them all the best but time will tell! JVN

Two out of three isn't bad!

Well done! Jim

Hmmmm......after watching a video of a peformance last week I think its safe to say it will be a rough summer! Best of luck!

Two out of three isn't bad!!

Class organization, they will be in the hunt yet again if I had to guess! JVN

Did anyone expect anything less????? Please...... Jim

Thanks Donny!!! We are working hard just trying to get better. Jim

The Tampa Bay Thunder has just completed the February camp this past weekend finishing over 7 minutes of music. The corps numbers remain solid even with the WGI percussion regional on Saturday we had 46 brass, 19 color guard and the percussion line is almost full. Still looking for 1 vibe player and a few cymbal players to fill out the corps. In only our second year the corps is growing in all areas and we expect to field 120 members this summer in DCA Open Class. Feel free to come and visit us at our March camp. Go to the Thunder website for details! JVN www.tampabaythunder.org