Canadacorps Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 1. School ends way too late, sometimes as late as June 28 or 29.2. People are burned out on supporting drum corps. Too many years of people going to that well. 3. The cost of living is insane and many cannot afford the costs of drum corps on top of that. 4. Bingo is dead. The no smoking laws killed the last successful games and the corps with them. Those seem like very big problems, however, let me play devil's advocate for a moment: In Canada, school ends June 30th. (and sometimes, especially in Alberta, there's snow on the ground until the end of May!) It may make it harder to, say, put a corps in the Top 12 of Division one (err. World Class), but there have been a few Canadian Corps that have done it in the past. I could see it being a little easier in New York. If people are burned out on Drum Corps, why is DCA in Rochester so well attended and growing? There must be plenty in the great state of NY who support drum corps still. If one was looking to rustle up support for a new junior Corps, I would assume attending DCA Championships would be a great place to find some support from old corps members in the state. But, if traditional supporters are burned out, why not look for fresh new faces? I mean, you can always find new families to support you, if you build it as a great youth activity first and foremost, provide an excellent quality-experience for your students, and then slowly introduce your parents and supporters to the concept of DC through your programming, videos, regional shows, etc. The cost issue is probably the biggest factor, But it is not an insurmountable obstacle, given the right levels of support. Who says that any Corps from NY state has to be World Class? A strong open class corps would be a lot less expensive I'm sure. Have you researched the local bingo situation? In Alberta, we have similar non-smoking laws to New York, but some halls are still doing ok, and it may require looking into new facilities that have been relatively un-tapped and in favorable areas. Do they allow Casino fundraisers in New York? That may be a way to help funding if it's permissible. Sorry a little off-topic. Wishing the best to both Citations and Spartans this upcoming season. More Corps = Better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tradition Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 Here's a question for you............How did we go from questioning about the Citations and their staff to the reasons for there not being a jr. corps in NY? I would suggest a new topic if that line of the Jr. corpsless New York is to be followed. Back on topic......I hope only the best for the Citations and the Spartans. Both corps certainly should be able to survive and prosper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilguardgirlie'smom Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I too wish both the Spartans and the Citations the best of luck - main reason being, they have both been a part of my daughter's life. I have to say I was so much happier this year knowing that my daughter was with people who respected her, as she respected them - but that includes staff and administration. She marched her first year of corps last year with the dwindling Spartans, and was not treated very nicely by a staff member who IMO should have no business instructing if they are going to demean someone constantly. This year - totally different experience - she didn't want to come home at all from tour - loved the staff, loved the administration. So now - are we stuck in the middle with a big decision to make? Absolutely. It sucks to be honest with you. (PS - Citations won't fold - too many dedicated people in there who want the corps to keep pushing forward) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooldbc Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 (edited) Here's a question for you............How did we go from questioning about the Citations and their staff to the reasons for there not being a jr. corps in NY? I would suggest a new topic if that line of the Jr. corpsless New York is to be followed.Back on topic......I hope only the best for the Citations and the Spartans. Both corps certainly should be able to survive and prosper. I originally proposed the question as to why there are so few corps today in the Northeast - including 0 junior corps in the Empire State. But now on to question: Let's say you had a choice between 2 corps to march with. Corps X has a long tradition of winning, but has fallen on hard times of late - and has a nasty reputation for treating its members poorly. (KansasDC made this allegation, not I.) Corps Y has not won anything, but has made significant improvements in recent years - and apparantly treats its members much better. Which outfit would you chose - all other things being equal? (ceterus paribus, as we would say in economics.) And if you are a parent, which outfit would you prefer for your son or daughter to march with? (It will be interesting to see if the parents come up with the same answer as the youth.) Edited September 19, 2009 by oldschooldbc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldschooldbc Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 as long as it is not corps Z, who has had moderate success, gone inactive at the last moment one year, threated to not to tour unless members pay extra membership fees and have parents/board members who go out of the way to bash other corps. For the record, I am not a board member of corps Z, which in case you haven't followed his analogy, is Revolution. I am not staff or management of that corps, and my opinions are my own. My son has marched there in the past, but I have never held any official role with that organization. Well, we still don't know John's vote on X versus Y, however. Who would like to cast the first vote in this impromptu survey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperTrumpet64 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 (edited) For the record, I am not a board member of corps Z, which in case you haven't followed his analogy, is Revolution. I am not staff or management of that corps, and my opinions are my own. My son has marched there in the past, but I have never held any official role with that organization. Well, we still don't know John's vote on X versus Y, however. Who would like to cast the first vote in this impromptu survey? As a current marcher, I guess I should have some say, haha. I'd pick corps Y. I'm in corps to enjoy it. Winning comes 2nd. I know it's a little contradictive, seeing as I'm trying out for two pretty well established corps (refer to signature), but from what I've heard, not nearly as hard as say a Vangaurd or Cadets. Plus, I considered Crown, newer and from what I've heard a little nicer. Now keep in mind the only other corps experience I've had outside of Mempho was a few Crossmen camps, so I don't really know too many reps for toughness outside of ones like Spartians, Revo and Cadets. So correct me if I'm mistaken. Edited September 24, 2009 by SuperTrumpet64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHD Beat Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Sounds like John Means needs to change his name to Johns Mean! Why are you quitting on the corps you are already with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiga Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 I think John Means has a valid question, and I am curious to know the answer. Why ARE you leaving your current corps, and "shopping" around for a new one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHD Beat Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 Maybe this person just wants a world class experience. Or a different experience. Maybe there are personal things there that we don't all know about. I think John Means has a valid question, and I am curious to know the answer. Why ARE you leaving your current corps, and "shopping" around for a new one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiga Posted September 30, 2009 Share Posted September 30, 2009 (edited) That's pretty much all I was asking. Just wanted to know why he was changing corps, and why he was "shopping" a couple different corps. Edited September 30, 2009 by craiga Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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