Lesson in Representing Your Corps

[JimF-LowBari]

Probably wouldn't have thought too much of this except it happened twice. And the first time could have ended very badly (see personal note).

Parked in the Handicapped area for DCA and used Gate D(?) which was near some buses but not for corps use. From what I overheard, the corps use gate was about 40-50 yards away. Of the six times I used the gate, twice corps members were harassing the stadium workers because they didn't want to walk that extra distance. No corps will be named but easy to tell who they were as they had uniforms on.

For Prelims it was "gang up on the workers" as about 8 corps members wanted to leave using the audience only gate but were stopped by the two stadium workers. Loud, lengthy argument followed in full view of about a dozen audience members who were trying to leave but literally got caught in the crossfire. FINALLY ended when one corps member snuck out behind one worker and we heard "OK, when I find out who that is, he's not getting in tomorrow night. What's your groups name". THen the remainder cut out very quickly thru the audience members standing there.

Sunday night was the dumbest #### thing I have heard in a long time. Young woman in uniform with guy in civies hanging over each other trying to get in. Young woman wanted to use the closest bathroom. Guess walking extra 50 yeard would have caused an accident as wasting time arguing didn't do anything. Finally she ordered the stadium worker (male) to "escort her" to the bathroom. At the time there were two workers there so really made (no) sense. I was about 15-20 feet away and heard her very clearly so you can image the volume level.

Folks, know it's THE weekend but how #### stupid can you act in front of the public? Certainly hope if a staff member would have been nearby it would have been different.

Personal note: My wife hurt her ankle badly and we used a transport wheelchair to get her thru long distances. Thing has small whels and very easy to tip. At the end of the Prelims fiasco, one of the members turned quickly and came a few inches from plowing into the wheelchair from the side which would have tipped it over. No apology, no "excuse me", the member seemed so wrapped up in herself that I don't think she noticed what was going on around her. Too bad, because she doesn't realize how lucky she is that no one was hurt and no charges were filed (not kidding).

Edited September 1, 2008 by JimF-3rdBari

[TenorsForWorldDomination]

There are a few bad apples in the bunch always. Unfortunately people had to witness such events. Hopefully those involved realized their actions were out-of-line and thought about how they were acting.

I know the whole weekend can be mass confusion and chaos, but I like to find ways to avoid it. Go where your supposed to go, don't go where you aren't supposed to go. It really is quite simple.

[BUCKINGFRONCO]

I was not involved in the above altercation, nor am I excusing any actions but I would like to comment: I have had negative experiences with the Paeteck park staff for the past two years. I understand that when dealing with a venue the size of Paeteck you need to have some form of organization\ crowd control. That being said corps members in uniform should have the right of way, if not "All access pass." The last thing you should have to worry about after marching your show is, "How do I get out of here, which gate will the security gestapo allow me through? It is what it is, but foremost on my mind. The staff have been downright rude to me personally, and to my corps members on multiple occasions. Even if your enforcing a rule that in my opinion is a major pain in the ###, you can still do it in a professional, respectful if not polite manner. DCA brings a great deal of money to Paeteck park, and Rochester over the 4 years it is hosted there. Having the experience soured by staff with a security shirt and a crappy attitude is not good for the corps members or Paeteck park. Some may disagree with me, but personally I think this could be handled a lot better, and it would not cost DCA or Paeteck a dime. Let corps members go where they need to go. Assuming they have the proper attire\wristband what is gained by making them walk an extra 3/4 mile? We are a drum corps show not a hockey\soccer crowd needing strict crowd control. Having rules simply for rules sake is not beneficial to anyone.

[MelloRick]

I have to take issue with the entire "gate" procedure at that stadium. First of all for handicapped, I think the stadium staff is grossly negligent. Last year my dad had taken a taxi to the stadium from the hotel, and the taxi dropped him off at the starting line end, and they would not let him in that gate no matter what, and literally made him walk around the entire stadium. When I found him he was nearly falling down he was so out of breath. Sometimes common sense should dictate in certain instances. This gate for one thing another for something else etc... There is no excuse for it. IF somebody shows up with a ticket, or a hand stamp there should not be an issue with getting in and out of ANY gate! While I don't condone arguing with staff as they are not the ones that set the policy, I feel this issue with gates and who goes in which one needs to be addressed with the proper authorities at Pataec Park. The parking is still an issue, most of the parking is some distance from the "proper entrance" of the stadium. I am curious what they do the day of games there. Do they treat the fans of their soccer team like they do the drum corps fans? I have been around drum corps for years and never seen such an anal stadium crew!

Scranton had NO issues that even came close to this. I absolutely love the Rochester experience, EXCEPT for the stadium deal! To me that is ONE reason to not go to the show. JMO...

[Shadow_7]

This is an all age activity. And some of the older members and some not so old have been in auto accidents or other life altering events and are legally handicapped. Some more so than others. Which may not be readily apparent in uniform. As I wonder if there's a stadium dress code or something. Must not wear uniforms, even if holding VIP 50 yard line tickets in left hand(Or all access staff badge). I'm not saying rudeness is excused, but it may have been provoked. Kindness is not my first thought when being asked to walk over 1,000 yards to end up in a location ten feet or less away.

[LegalEagle50]

my favorite was sitting in front of members of a particular corps, in partial uniform, listening to them loudly bad mouth the corps on the field at the time. loudly.

definately not the height of class and soured my feelings on said corps.

[Sayre Kulp]

I understand when gate security wants to makes sure only certain people go IN certain gates. For example: random spectators should not be entering via the CORPS entrance. However, in the case of a handicap individual, let's use some common sense there. Also, who CARES which gate you LEAVE the stadium through?!?!?!? My car was on the diagonally OPPOSITE side of the stadium from the only gate which I was PERMITTED to leave through!!!! GIVE ME A FRIGGIN' BREAK!!!!!

P.S. - Color blind police should not be in charge of dictating where people with different colored parking passes park. Red does not equal orange. That's why two colors were named instead of one. So there would be a difference. And seeing as how one puts you about 1/2 a mile away from the other, it would be so much more convenient if they would get it right!

<sorry folks, needed to vent...>

[camel lips]

Scranton had NO issues that even came close to this. I absolutely love the Rochester experience, EXCEPT for the stadium deal! To me that is ONE reason to not go to the show. JMO...

The Stadium in Rochester does leave a lot to be desired but in general the stadium personnel have been respectful and professional when enforcing the rules.

But,,

The Scranton folks were clueless how to run a event.They had a firm rule,,once your out your out.No getting back in.While that probably worked to keep people from going out to the van/bus to grab some grub and cold ones,,it did not do squat for folks that needed to go to the car to get a coat,get medicines or feed a family pet.

I was told point blank in Scranton that once I left there was no getting back in without buying a ticket.I told the brownshirt "We will see about that".Needless to say I got back in,,was not all that difficult and I made a point to go by this brownshirt when I was really leaving for the night to make sure he saw me walking out.I think I muttered somehting like go fly yourself or something to that effect.

Rochester needs to find a new venue for finals.This one is far from Ideal.The city is great and the I@E venue is perfect.A football field would be really nice for a championship.

[KoyaanisCABsi]

my favorite was sitting in front of members of a particular corps, in partial uniform, listening to them loudly bad mouth the corps on the field at the time. loudly.

definately not the height of class and soured my feelings on said corps.

It reminds me of something a wise old drum corps legend said to me this weekend (commenting on some smack talk): It's all about class. It's more than learning how to lose. They need to learn how to win.

disclaimer - "win" in the context of that conversation, meant "do well."

[camel lips]

my favorite was sitting in front of members of a particular corps, in partial uniform, listening to them loudly bad mouth the corps on the field at the time. loudly.

definately not the height of class and soured my feelings on said corps.

I feel your pain there.

My first experience with the DCA crowd was in 2004.I sat behind a very loud group of alumni corps that sat there all night getting totally bombed out of their mind and hurling insults at the corps on the field.That was until "thier" corps,,the only one they really cared about seeing hit the field then they were alert to what was going on.Me and a buddy made sure we talked right into their ears the same garbage they had be slinging all night.

It was a priceless moment.They gave us some really dirty looks but were too drunk to really care about it.