kdaddy Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 I got to be honest. While there are some well run OC corps out there, too many of them (especially the ones always on the verge of collapse or the ones that do collapse and come back only to collapse again) are NOT quality institutions and the "experience" any kid would get there will likely be a waste of time and money. Even worse it very well might turn that kid off to marching all together. We've all heard the stories that are far too common but no one really talks about. An increased talent level has the potential to change the face of how OC corps are operated. Poorly operated corps would be less competitive in trying to attract this new wellspring of talent that would be available to OC corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1223 Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Good intentions but this would severly hurt drum corps and most people have already stated those reasons why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdaddy Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 What's going to be next, a drum corps draft? How can you tell someone that they have to march maybe their only year in the activity with a corps that they really do not want to march in? This sounds like you are trying to create parity in the activity and all you would create would be chaos and a mediocre level of competition. The favored corps itself could tell that individual the same thing: sorry, we realize it's your only opportunity, but you didn't make the cut. Granted, that's different than a mandate, but there's no guarantee that waiting around until the last possible year will lead to a dream realized. Not sure what your argument is for the creation of "chaos and a mediocre level of competition." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdaddy Posted May 18, 2011 Author Share Posted May 18, 2011 What about people living in Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, or Kansas, whose local corps are Academy, Troop and BK? What about people with prior DCA experience because they don't have a DCI corps within a few hours? Good arguments here, no doubt. What about an amazing ______________ player with no prior experience? What about all of the amazing pianists/guitarists that'll join DCI as their instruments become more popular? What about a soloist/section leader from Avon/LD Bell/Marcus/Tarpon Springs/*insert awesome BOA group here*? Not sure what these arguments would be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mello Dude Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I would think a POSSIBLE compromise might be you need X% members from your local area. Possibly there could be a push for states to give scholarships to be in these youth programs for continuing education? How about a tax break for the dues money for the kids and parents if this x% is reached? I dunno... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Mike Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 (edited) To assist in this, let's force some parity. How about instituting a "one year of required open class participation" rule? More thoughts? Exactly how many people will need to be hired by DCI just to keep track of all of this ? What happens if a world class corps marches a 20 year old that did not march Open Class, what punishment ? Who investigates, who judges and finds them guilty ? Would marching the Cadets2 count as open class ? Would ANY DCA corps count for experience ? What about an world class corps that starts a feeder corps just to "claim" people marched open class ? What about kids that march a lesser world class corps for the experience then go on to world class ? Would they need to forget that idea and only march an open class corps ? Who keeps the records ? Just a few question that come to mind. Edited May 18, 2011 by The Other Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craiga Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 An increased talent level has the potential to change the face of how OC corps are operated. Poorly operated corps would be less competitive in trying to attract this new wellspring of talent that would be available to OC corps. A poorly run Open Class corps has nothing to do with talent level, and EVERYTHING to do with organization, funding, staffing, creative direction, programming, etc. A paying prospective should always have the right to audition for whomever he or she wants. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BozzlyB Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 Exactly why this wouldn't work. As long as marching members are paying to participate in the activity, they should have the freedom to choose what corps they march. Bingo. Make it a free subsidized activity (never gonna happen) then you can tell people where they have to march. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TastyWaves Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 I got to be honest. While there are some well run OC corps out there, too many of them (especially the ones always on the verge of collapse or the ones that do collapse and come back only to collapse again) are NOT quality institutions and the "experience" any kid would get there will likely be a waste of time and money. Even worse it very well might turn that kid off to marching all together. We've all heard the stories that are far too common but no one really talks about. so... Want to march DC but can't afford a WC corps? Need to work on your chops and test the waters before marching a WC corps? By all means, OC is perfect and you should put just as much time and thought into choosing a quality group to march with. Mandating people march OC would guarantee a bad experience for far too many students. Exactly. Plus there is not a top level corps right around the corner from everyone in the country. Young people are willing to travel and pay extra to learn from the best. You can get great instruction from just about any of the WC finalist groups. In open class you are more likely to have strictly local area kids. Young people generally are not going to fly from California to the East Coast to participate at that level. If kids were told they HAD to march ___________ for 2 seasons before auditioning for Blue Stars, Cadets, SCV etc, then those kids are just going to say forget it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBigShow Posted May 18, 2011 Share Posted May 18, 2011 (edited) I got to be honest. While there are some well run OC corps out there, too many of them (especially the ones always on the verge of collapse or the ones that do collapse and come back only to collapse again) are NOT quality institutions and the "experience" any kid would get there will likely be a waste of time and money. Even worse it very well might turn that kid off to marching all together. We've all heard the stories that are far too common but no one really talks about. AMEN! This would be more of a detriment than an advantage. The OC experience is SO much different from the WC experience. The Open Class corps often have lower quality instruction. Overall, it's a tougher time and not always a positive experience. MORE IMPORTANTLY! Experience in an Open Class corps does not, in any gauranteed aspect, automatically prepare you for a G8 corps. I know plenty of people who have had multiple years of OC experience and they still could not cut it at the "G8" audition. The operative word being AUDITION!!!!! There is a process where the top organizations eliminate people who are not qualified to march in a G8 corps. It's called the AUDITION! The audition processes for these corps is quite extensive. They usually have plenty of people to choose from. Previous drum corps experience only goes so far. I've seen drum corps rookies march and play circles around 3 year vets. There is no reason why a wonderfully talented individual should be forced to waste a year of marching because of a "one year in Open Class" rule. Edited May 18, 2011 by TheBigShow 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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