BRASSO Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 AMEN!!!!!I am a band director (Northglenn HS) and a long time drum corps instructor. I have to constantly fight and fight to keep my program going, as do my brothers and sisters in the music ed. biz. These are not good times for us. I have lost both of my jazz bands and am taking a sizable pay cut. But we still have our program, and we are lucky. The disheartening thing about this direction these people have chosen is that it is reckless, selfish, and totally disrespectful to everyone who has ever marched, taught, or bought a ticket. I have said this recently here; fragmenting an already small market, in bad economic times is foolish. 12 drum corps have been in the "top7" since 1996. The Bluecoats (G7), Blue Knights, Glassmen, and Carolina Crown (G7) have dropped out of the top 12 and been in the "top 12" in this span. THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IF THIS WAS IN PLACE BEFORE NOW. Are those of us not in the G7 (G6 + 1) really such a drag on their plans of World Domination? I have lost a ton of respect for some of these guys who have chosen this fight. The Bluecoats and Carolina Crown should be ashamed of themselves. It has not been that long since they were out of the top 12. Crown has had a strong run recently, and I am a fan. I have also worked for them and have friends there. Would you really fundamentally change the game the served you so well and defined what is possible for a drum corps to achieve. Shame on you! I am sorry that the rest of the activity has become such a burden and you have have not gotten your fair share of what....money? recognition? fame? chicks? We are all elite who participate in this activity. Were the kids I had the honor of teaching at Colts or Troopers not as elite as the kids in the 90's with BK? NOPE. This "elite" stuff has got to go. Anyone with the stones to sacrifice their time, energy, and and money to be apart of this thing is "elite" and deserve someplace to grow and push themselves like no other laboratory: the DRUM CORPS ACTIVITY. Ticket sales and money issues are secondary to the incredible things all of us do World or Open Class, finalist or no. We work too #### hard for this nonsense. Well said. The best thing would be for sensible heads to prevail in DCI and to withdraw this clearly very divisive proposal. It has " EPIC FAIL " written all over it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankBeMe Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Buy from a scalper then, since according to some that 'hurts' dci. The scalpers have to buy them from somewhere..eventually indirectly getting them from DCI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michsta8 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 I don't think so.If DCI is serious about partnering with scholastic music programs, BOA is the last place to start. The number of band programs that participate in BOA is extremely low. There are many reasons, but most of them are about resources and finances. DCI would be far better off partnering with the many local competitive circuits around the country, and with the various state music educator's associations. The corps themselves should be more involved in whatever circuits and associations are in their immediate areas. While BOA is nice, it has zero impact on 99% of band programs in the US. Actually, it's probably a higher percentage than 99%. USSB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michsta8 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Ugh. This is a lot bigger than your ridiculous fear of all things marching band. That's not what this is about. Is it? we will see. By the way, that was a "ridiculous" remark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamarag Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 USSB USSBA is one circuit, and one with obvious ties to Cadets, but what about the many other local circuits around the country? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Is it? we will see.By the way, that was a "ridiculous" remark If anything, the "band-ifying" of drum corps is seen by these groups as a means to increase their mass appeal and generate additional revenue. Do you really think these 7 corps would represent such a divisive proposal just so they could get some clarinets on the field? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerriTroop Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Jason, that was amazing. THANK YOU. HLD! AMEN!!!!!I am a band director (Northglenn HS) and a long time drum corps instructor. I have to constantly fight and fight to keep my program going, as do my brothers and sisters in the music ed. biz. These are not good times for us. I have lost both of my jazz bands and am taking a sizable pay cut. But we still have our program, and we are lucky. The disheartening thing about this direction these people have chosen is that it is reckless, selfish, and totally disrespectful to everyone who has ever marched, taught, or bought a ticket. I have said this recently here; fragmenting an already small market, in bad economic times is foolish. 12 drum corps have been in the "top7" since 1996. The Bluecoats (G7), Blue Knights, Glassmen, and Carolina Crown (G7) have dropped out of the top 12 and been in the "top 12" in this span. THIS OPPORTUNITY WOULD HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS IF THIS WAS IN PLACE BEFORE NOW. Are those of us not in the G7 (G6 + 1) really such a drag on their plans of World Domination? I have lost a ton of respect for some of these guys who have chosen this fight. The Bluecoats and Carolina Crown should be ashamed of themselves. It has not been that long since they were out of the top 12. Crown has had a strong run recently, and I am a fan. I have also worked for them and have friends there. Would you really fundamentally change the game the served you so well and defined what is possible for a drum corps to achieve. Shame on you! I am sorry that the rest of the activity has become such a burden and you have have not gotten your fair share of what....money? recognition? fame? chicks? We are all elite who participate in this activity. Were the kids I had the honor of teaching at Colts or Troopers not as elite as the kids in the 90's with BK? NOPE. This "elite" stuff has got to go. Anyone with the stones to sacrifice their time, energy, and and money to be apart of this thing is "elite" and deserve someplace to grow and push themselves like no other laboratory: the DRUM CORPS ACTIVITY. Ticket sales and money issues are secondary to the incredible things all of us do World or Open Class, finalist or no. We work too #### hard for this nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michsta8 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 USSBA is one circuit, and one with obvious ties to Cadets, but what about the many other local circuits around the country? yes, with over 700 bands in it. not sure about BOA Say they take a pick of those crops, start a new division........ Drum corps bands of america Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikehawk93 Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 Im going to finals week this year! i will spend monies on NON G7 Corps. I will not support ANY G7 Corps. No G7 Director with the Exception of Hopkins replied to the e-mail i sent all of them. all hopkins did was blow a smoke screen. DCI has yet to respond but they are probably swammped with e-mails and calls. i hope to hear something in 18/24 hours as their site states. I dont think i will renew my fan network account due to me going to finals this year. only a few corps actually put things on there on a reg basis and they are G7 corps. I don't mind spending my money on DCI or Non G7 corps. they deserve it. G7 corps are being greedy and killing drum corps. Hopefully the 16 other World Class Corps Directors will e-mail me responses to the e-mail that is going out that i will post here later. Then hopefully with a little digging some documents and notes can be posted for every one to see DCI and the corps have no obligation to respond to emails that are subsequently publicly posted in an attempt to make them look bad. If people have problems with what DCI and/or the corps are doing, do not attend DCI shows and send money directly to the corps you want to support, atleast you will get a tax write-off. OR start your own drum corps and run it the way you think it should be ran and try to forge the activity into the "correct" direction. Good luck. This thread is like a rocking chair.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted May 20, 2010 Share Posted May 20, 2010 . This thread is like a rocking chair.... with a lot of rockers on it. Rock on ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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