corpsband Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Many on DCP seem to feel that drum corps (the activity as a whole) is facing some serious problems (now and in the near future). What do you feel are the three largest challenges facing the drum corps activity today? Please be short and concise, and list only three items (from largest challenge to smallest). Feel free to revise and extend after your list. For example: 1. Declining attendance. 2. Rising fuel costs. 3. Dwindling housing site availability. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1223 Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 (edited) 1. DCI administration 2. Corps not in agreement in what they want to achieve or how to achieve it 3. Costs of tour. 1. We need smarter business savvy people. One's that have broader visions in DCI to manage their corps, make new ones, and expand on the many opportunities that drum corps can have on the Music Education World, Marching World, Performing Arts, etc. This includes advertisement, sponsors, and getting a more concise message out to the public or more specifically the music public. Overall, DCI is (currently) VERY poor at this. Very poor. I also think it's time people besides who just run the corps are involved with running things. 2. Having 7 corps against the rest is NOT the way to do it. All corps need to have the same vision for Drum corps in the future. They need realize that all corps can add a unique element in the equation and that everycorps will have to make sacrifices for the whole (I MEAN EVERY CORPS). There are never ending disagreements on judging, show design, compensation, traveling, etc, and until those are completely resolved (or at least to a point where disagreement is minimal or a lasting compromise is met) we will be where we are now. Concede in a common goal in DCI drum corps, its the ONLY way. If every corps had the same grand vision for drum corps and how it should "work" it will make the fans happy I'm sure of it. This means corps should be true to themselves about where they currently stand and where they want to be (or should be) in the future. 3. Without proper DCI management the costs of tour will begin to eat drum corps alive. When it comes to the national tour, DCI should think more mindful about how the tour is created to reduce cost for the corps. Corps should, whenever possible, work together to cut down costs. More corps sharing housing sites, etc. Edited January 23, 2011 by charlie1223 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpetVinny Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 1. Cost to march (which is essentially gas prices, etc). Many talented musicians can't afford it. 2. Lack of/poor advertising. Even in the high school marching band world, the majority of students are not aware of drum corps. 3. Not enough show sites. Many people are interested to but cannot attend shows due to distance. It is difficult to convince someone to drive 3 hours to see something they don't really know or care about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skewerz Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 1. retaining old fans while acquiring new fans. 2. see #1 3. see #2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantombari1 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Financial Sustainability. Kids/families cannot compete with the rising costs of participation. It's time for corpoarate sponsorship on a grande scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1223 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 (edited) 1. retaining old fans while acquiring new fans. 2. see #1 3. see #2 Interesting stuff! We aren't the only one's: http://www.gallup.com/poll/6745/baseball-fan-numbers-steady-decline-may-pending.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/1696/Baseball.aspx = numbers up to 2008 Baseball Gallup Poll: "These results suggest that baseball has become less popular than it used to be among younger men. In the future, as these young and middle-age men grow older, their relative lack of interest may cause a decline in the overall number of baseball fans. One reason for the sport's greater popularity among older men may be that these men have always found the sport popular but are now in the older age category. As these men pass from the scene, the sport's base is likely to decline." *sounds somewhat familiar...* http://www.gallup.com/poll/14812/Six-Americans-Pro-Football-Fans.aspx Football/ sport Gallup poll: "Interestingly, most sports have shown a decline in fan base since the entire list of sports was last asked in 2001. The two exceptions are professional and college football, which have seen their fan bases hold steady. Auto racing and figure skating have each had a nine-point drop in the percentage of Americans calling themselves fans, while hockey has seen an eight-point drop." *DCI attendence numbers part of a bigger picture?* And just random thing: Since people like to compare figure skating to drum corps (not for content purpose but overall judging and values) "But figure skating ranks as the top sport for women, with 60% claiming they are fans. That is in stark contrast to just 21% of men who are figure skating fans, ranking it behind all sports for men except professional wrestling. That gender gap of 39 points for figure skating fans is the largest for any sport" Edited January 23, 2011 by charlie1223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noneofyourbusiness Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 1. Money 2. Money 3. Money 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mello Dude Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 1. Costs. -Tours are too long and too far in between. DCI needs to re-focus on local circuits (perhaps a resurrection of DCM/DCE etc?), parades and shows. Corps need to start doing other gigs rather than making a show so difficult they need to practice 24/7 without performing in other events to make money. Corps should be FORCED to take local talent over imported. Perhaps this would force the issue of a more local approach and bring costs int line. 2. Defined product. -DCI needs to find itself and have an identity. If it's nothing more than glorified marching band without woodwinds they are in trouble. They absolutely need to have shows that people WANT to go and see en-mass. Drum corps is already a niche activity, there is NO sense trying to be even more so. 3. Kids being left out and potential fans and revenues lost. -People that want to march, and don't make the corps they WANT to march with simply will not (for the most part and for good reason) shell out 3k for a summer. Unless DCI starts taking a ground up approach they will not survive. Right now DCI is simply living off the VFW corps(e) and now we are down to the last few. Not every corps needs to be a top 12 wanna-be and should not always try and be. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos001 Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Entertainment value. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexL Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 1. Increasing costs, both food and fuel. Effects both the viability of the organizations and the ability of potential members to afford membership. 2. General apathy towards retention of older (and typically more wealthy) fans, with a focus on younger fans with little income, and then little to retain them past hs\college age. 3. Lack of local marketing (or possibly, ability to effectively locally market) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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