Stu Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 (edited) The guy who stepped in a COO spent years working for Deutsche Bank and Razorfish... has some practical experiences. They have a little bit of capital, and guidance from a guy who was the CEO of Pepsi Bottling. Brian Poillon (from LinkedIn): Former Creative Director at KiptonArt; Senior Designer / Art Director at Deutsche Bank; Designer at Razorfish; Designer with 10 years of in-house experience in branding and identity, Print, web, logo, type, advertising, TV, and package/environmental/POP design. Which means that Brian has ten years experience putting together slick websites and sales packages, and Accent is getting start-up capital from Brian's Dad. Combine this with Chris and his former success with Eclipse and there ya go!!! Well, I guess that this just shows the way to go about doing things in this new world of the marching arts. Go figure. Edited February 22, 2012 by Stu 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 That is more solid business experience than the majority of posters in this thread tearing things down You have absolutely no way of qualifying that statement; and I guess the phrase, "The problem with assume is..." somehow escapes you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friceox Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I've already got my prediction on how all of this is going to end. I'm not going to reveal it yet, but it's in a message thread between me and Boo. It's a long shot, but I think in today's age it's possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 (edited) I've already got my prediction on how all of this is going to end. I'm not going to reveal it yet, but it's in a message thread between me and Boo. It's a long shot, but I think in today's age it's possible. I should add that I've been listening, but the scenario is entirely his. (At least that's what my lawyers told me to say.) But what he conjures makes sense and is certainly possible...But I pray he's wrong...for the sake of many. PS: Just kidding about the lawyers...I think. Edited February 22, 2012 by Michael Boo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I should add that I've been listening, but the scenario is entirely his. (At least that's what my lawyers told me to say.) But what he conjures makes sense and is certainly possible...But I pray he's wrong...for the sake of many. PS: Just kidding about the lawyers...I think. This post is rather cryptic. You pray he is wrong... for the sake of many? Many as in those like the son of dapperpoet? Many who were, or are, associated with the non-camps? Many who post on DCP? For the sake of who? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 (edited) Not that I've observed anyone that would fall into this category, but I don't believe people here on DCP want to see others fail. If such a venture could be pulled off, with realistic goals and expectations, it could conceivably benefit many students. My personal preference would be to see a more modest business plan at first, taking such sessions to areas that aren't already swamped with great marching band programs that are chock full of good instructors. I suspect a less cosmopolitan setting for a pared down setting of hands-on camps could attract students from programs where not as much is happening as in the big programs in the major metropolitan areas. I think band directors might be more eager to send their students to such sessions if their students are not already exposed to practically year-round specialized marching instruction in their schools. (Marching band, winter guard, indoor marching percussion.) Those schools in more major metropolitan areas with big marching programs may well have band directors and marching instructors/techs who might advise their students not to attend for the following reasons: (I'm proposing these possibilities from having known and/or worked with countless band directors over the decades...directors who are quite protective of their students.) 1) A band director or marching tech may ask, "What's the point?...My students are already receiving top-quality instruction that is paid for by the school/band program/band parents organization/students themselves." 2) Directors or instructors at the school would wonder if instructors at such a camp may provide suggestions and techniques contrary to what is being offered in the school program. 3) Directors or instructors at the school would wonder if instructors at such a camp may have substantially less experience working with students than instructors in an active marching band program. 4) Band directors are quite interested in knowing what the track record is of anyone they send their students to study with. They talk amongst themselves and share their experiences. And even in the most remote crevices of America, they have access to the Internet. 5) Directors and staff are concerned about students coming back from an experience with changed attitudes and even techniques and methods that may have to be "unlearned" if those techniques and methods don't gel with what is being taught at the school. 6) Directors and staff may wonder if they'll get any benefit from the hundreds of dollars their students will spend to attend such a workshop. 7) Directors and staff may be concerned if their students may return with a sour attitude if they don't get out of the workshop what they desire to get from it before they go in. The attitude of a grumpy student can be contagious. 8) Directors and staff may wonder what the fallout might be if they suggest their students attend outside workshops and the students come back with the attitude described above. 9) There is no number 9, just as there were no workshops at the scheduled events in Atlanta and Miami and won't be for Tampa. 10) Their schools already have free parking. (Sorry...I couldn't resist that.) I restate that the idea for these workshops is potentially one that could be of a great benefit to many students. I certainly do hope that a workable plan can be put in place to attract the students who would benefit the most...students from schools and geographic regions that aren't saturated with their own specialized instructors already. I also wish a more affordable option becomes available for those who would benefit from this endeavor. (Much cost could be saved without the required hotel component.) I want to believe everyone involved with this has their heart in the right place; but any such venture needs to be run as a business that expects to be around for a long time, intends to grow each year and doesn't try to come out of the chute like a Fortune 500 company. But I'm still impressed with the free parking. Edited February 22, 2012 by Michael Boo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 This post is rather cryptic. You pray he is wrong... for the sake of many? Many as in those like the son of dapperpoet? Many who were, or are, associated with the non-camps? Many who post on DCP? For the sake of who? I agree that it is cryptic. I would love nothing more than to see everyone involved have a great time, with much success and with much learning imparted. I would love for this to take off and be of service to hundreds (if not thousands) of kids every year. I would love for us on DCP to look upon this endeavor in the future as one that brings credit to the drum corps activity and its ability to produce great instructors. Uh...That doesn't really answer your questions, does it? Okay...let's just go with "cryptic." 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 ...I would love nothing more than to see everyone involved have a great time, with much success and with much learning imparted. I would love for this to take off and be of service to hundreds (if not thousands) of kids every year. I would love for us on DCP to look upon this endeavor in the future as one that brings credit to the drum corps activity and its ability to produce great instructors.... Boo, I 100% agree with you provided that it is set up properly as a sound venture by experienced adults who are cautious enough to stay away from lofty promises which cannot be met in a realistic manner. Do I think this thing was set up as a huge purposeful deception? Nope; not at all. But do I think it was put together by some rather inexperienced, possibly naive, young people without much thought or concern of whom it could harm if the lofty vows and promises were not met? It appears to possibly be that way. A business venture is one thing; and the people attempting to do that venture should succeed or fail on their own merits; but anyone creating something like this, (an activity which is directed at youth), really needs to be aware of the negative effect it can have on other people if the venture does not deliver promises and vows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielray Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 You have absolutely no way of qualifying that statement; and I guess the phrase, "The problem with assume is..." somehow escapes you. Call me crazy, but I think it was quite a safe statement to say that the majority of posters on DCP have not likely served as CEO's of companies that do nearly a billion in annual revenue as Pepsi Bottling Ventures does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Call me crazy, but I think it was quite a safe statement to say that the majority of posters on DCP have not likely served as CEO's of companies that do nearly a billion in annual revenue as Pepsi Bottling Ventures does. DCP posters who have CEO experience with Billion Dollar Companies was not your claim; Solid Business Experience was your claim. And one does not have to be a CEO of a Billion Dollar Company to gain solid business experience. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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