magicdirect

Best wishes Randy and Teal this weekend...... Jim

Hmmm........I'll bite. On a personal note, Dan is a good guy but the very system in which DCI operates is the problem. Until the Directors of the corps that compete stop being the managers of the organization that supports them things will never change and numbers will continue to drop. Broadcast: DCI has had many players in this game. PBS for years, IBM, Tom Blair Productions and ESPN. Why so many changes? Which cost the least amount? Which gave the activity the most in return across the board. Regional Competition: The best for everyone. This will establish growth, stability and increase interest. New and upcoming drum corps will have an opportunity to survive with less demand expected on them to travel all summer. (Best example Jersey Surf) All Corps: DCI MUST be as concerned and supportive for the little guy as they are for the big guy. They say they are but this is not true at all. Frankly sometimes it looks as if DCI would be happier if they had 10 World class corps to promote and call it a day. Less stress, housing, market share, pay out, ect..... New Blood: If you expect to be treated like other recognized non-profits that enjoy National exposure you must bring the right people in. Let directors direct the drum corps colors they wear and let the organization with the right people determine the best direction for the activity, growth and its future. No conflict of interest. Under a new system a guy like Dan would rate an A but as it stands his grade is a C+. As Bill Cook put it, ANY system run by committee is doomed to fail. That is the current system DCI operates with today! My two cents JVN

BLACK DIAMOND REGIMENT, PA!!!!! I FORGET THE YEAR MAYBE 76,77 - CARRY ON MY WAYWORD SON, GOOD STUFF JVN

GREAT GUY, GREAT PICK UP!!!!! GOOD JOB TEDDY AND EMPIRE. BEST WISHES IN 09' Jim

Any word on Memphis Sound? It seems as if a small hand full of Open Class corps have audition information and websites updated often but many others have zero info for 2009. What's up??

The economy and its state could be a good thing for drum corps and DCI based on adjustments that must be made and really should have been made years ago. Making the tour a Regional focus rather then expecting MOST drum corps that really can't afford it to tour nationally has been the rule of DCI over the years which is some part helped eliminate some great teams the simply traveled beyond that corps means because of the pressure put on them. Now each corps should take a stand and create more of the PC, Mandarins, Academy and Surf approach to the activity keeping them around for years to come. My two cents........ JVN

Keith, I enjoyed reading your suggestions and comments on this issue however, I don't agree with your assessment on recruting members and or having camps in the Southern region. Many and I mean many current World Class drum corps continue to recruit members from Georgia, Florida and Texas for a reason. Boston and Teal continue to get great numbers each year and will continue to do so. Even Hopkins when asked said the best place to start a drum corps would be Miami due to the large number of members that come from that area and currently march in multiple corps. I did also read that many other locations such as Northern Indiana. Yes, the financial status of the country will impact the organizations bottom line but the members that want to march always find a way to pay plus the drum corps themselves offer many opportunities to offset fees. In another post you sent you said members today are lazy in general and would rather watch YouTube, spend time playing PSP and look into FaceBook then spend two months in the hot sun working everyday. I couldn't agree with you more! BUT, if this activity was easy everyone would do it and we would still have many corps from years past. No, this isn't the main reason why we have limitied corps we do today but it has helped. God Speed, JVN

Great concept and idea! The more indoor lines in Florida the better. Those that can move onto WGI Championships will but those that can't still have plenty of opportunity in the State with FFCC. Great job, maybe we will start to see even more units created. God Speed, JVN

Ok Donnie - I'll bit! 1) Change to uniform look and get rid of the hat look!!!! Go white shakos and white plumes. Color is fine, Irish is fine 2) Music - 27th played Danny Boy, even Boston had Conquest back this past year but they never stuck to the same old stuff. 3) Guard uniforms need to be changed. NO MORE PLAID. It's like SCV still using big black hats and high black boots! 4) Directorship - Roman and his family ARE Pioneer BUT, it's time to turn over the corps to someone that can see the forest beyond the trees. Roman should be Prez only. 5) Staff - With a new philosophy in place many "new" staff members will jump on board. Quaility names and people are ready to work for a solid organization only if the vision is there. 6) With #5 being addressed the last thing in place should be location, location, location! Have camps in other locations that are ripe for members. Texas, Florida, Georgia. Donnie - I think if Roman hired Bruce as the Director and gave him full run this corps would no longer be small and last! God Speed, Jim

Cabs worked the crowd as well in 79' including falling down at the end of the show like our friends from Bayonne. Go to www.cabs.org - pic 1979

Why isn't Carl Ruocco in the DCI Hall of Fame??????? JVN U THE MAN CARL

Very good fit.....John working with Ron Ellis is a great team. Good for you Teal Sound!!!!!!!!!!!! JVN

IMO - The average drum corps fan doesn't care about amplification but I would say most are NOT a fan of narration. Does this mean they are being turned off? Maybe but is attendance up or down. JVN

Oh, quick questions. Will Teal be Open or World Class in 2009? This will have a huge impact on the level of staff hired. Big names will NOT make an Open Class corps the bread and butter team! Peace

There is NO percussion staff listed on the website from last year. I would suggest that changes have already happened. Just hope that Kirk Gay is still involved for the front ensemble. Great teeacher, arranger and person. Good luck Teal. JVN

The Crossmen have nothing to gain, they are doing just fine with the system and people they have in place. On the other hand Revolution could benefit from major changes. While they did well on the field they had major issues off the field. Crossmen conducted business very well on and off the field.

JT - Agreed, this group did a great job thanks to Pam and all the others that worked hard to make it happen. I think many changes will make Memphis solid for years to come. Jim

Simple minded people....poor you, you had to deal with some real life stuff for a few minutes. These kids have to deal with real life as they know it each day of their lives. FYI - I was like you only thinking of myself and my life until I married a women from SA (Cape Town) and went to visit last year. As bad as it may ever get here, you have NO idea what it's like in the small towns in SA. Give them a break and like anything else if you don't want to lsiten or watch it is your choice to turn it off! JVN

Viewing the new season and Open Class format not Div II/III has brought the level of competition in my opinion back to where it was in the early 90's such as 1992. 1992 Southwind - Great show Nothern Aurora - Great package Crown - Got better all summer Mandarins - Solid Academie - Best small corps of all time 2008 BDB - BD double header? Great organization Surf - The next Academy SCV Cadets - Something to be said for two California organizations (BINGO!) OC - And with a short season..... Teal Sound - Loud, big and 2010 Open Class Champion Any thoughts? JVN

Boston only had 6 snares in Orlando..... 6 Tenors, 6 Snares.....a balance issue or some snares MIA

GREAT NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEST WISHES RICK AND CAP REGIMENT JVN

I don't think anyone is showing dis-respect towards the members or drum corps and you are correct over the years the demand has become larger by the designers but you can't say everyone is marching fine if you watch the performances. Nobody is BAD but there are many, many individual mistakes that are so obvious that it takes away from the attempt. IMO

First off let me say that the talent from top to bottom (17) is better then it has ever been but with that being said does anyone see the basic visual/individual errors for almost every corps with the exception of maybe three. In watching both SA and ATL webcast, I noticed most corps have basic issues with forms locking in and interval problems all over the place. I realize the the show being designed are much harder but harder doesn't always mean better. Is this because there are more members on the field? Anyone??? I can look at the Cadets, SCV, Boston, Bluecoats and Phantom from just two summers ago at the same time of the year and you could see maybe three or four individuals sticking out fo a form but it seems this is out of control to date. Your thoughts.......

Donated.... Two Words - DEBIT CARDS!!!!! JVN