scsudrummer Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 From the parents' perspective, why should they care about Teal Sound's future? They really shouldn't, you're right. Maybe I could have worded my post better. Yeah, Teal Sound has been rather quiet on the responses, but I highly doubt they are going to all of a sudden talk because of an angry Facebook page set up by the parents. I understand the parents are angry, and they have a right to be. You can't just throw away 2,000 dollars, especially in this economy. Yelling and screaming on Facebook will do no good though. The best thing to do for the parents is to talk to the board directly, and if that doesn't yield answers, take legal action to get Teal to open up the books. From what I've read on there and here, it sounds like the problem might be stemming from the executive director. Maybe starting there would yield results. If it were my child out there, that is what I would be doing, instead of slinging mud on Facebook pages, that is going to do little to no good. Regardless of the future of Teal Sound, there obviously exist some issues that need to get solved, and quick. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcikon2 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Where did TS get the money to purchase and print the new t-shirts? Secondly, this situation has gotten out of hand and I don't see any way TS can rebound from it, especially if media is contacted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
combia1 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 The worst thing Teal Sound admins could have done in this situation was remove all of the comments from the existing FB page and stop communicating. Social media tools like FB can be a VERY powerful tool. Companies and organizations have to realize that these conversations are going to take place somewhere or another. So you might as well create a channel and participate OPENLY in the conversation. Yes, it could still get heated and nasty, because emotions will still run high. But clamming up and deleting posts makes you look like you have something to hide. And then people will just go create another FB page filled with rumor, speculation, facts, opinions, etc. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUARDLING Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) The worst thing Teal Sound admins could have done in this situation was remove all of the comments from the existing FB page and stop communicating. Social media tools like FB can be a VERY powerful tool. Companies and organizations have to realize that these conversations are going to take place somewhere or another. So you might as well create a channel and participate OPENLY in the conversation. Yes, it could still get heated and nasty, because emotions will still run high. But clamming up and deleting posts makes you look like you have something to hide. And then people will just go create another FB page filled with rumor, speculation, facts, opinions, etc. now theres the great debate of today...although I think teal should have communication, maybe it should be with those involved...not the public.....kids are finding out they DONT have the right to post anything they want on FB...new instructors have lost jobs and NEVER will get one because they feel they have the right to post.......Ive seen so many times , even in " regular, non drum corps life " people dont have any filter any more........the interent as you say can be very good and powerful BUT can also be a deadly place Edited July 14, 2012 by GUARDLING 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Flores Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 You're right, that facebook page is a CF. Those parents will kill drum corps in northern Florida 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsband Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 From the parents' perspective, why should they care about Teal Sound's future? Asking "What's in the best interest of my child? " can get you right there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerguy315 Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 Asking "What's in the best interest of my child? " can get you right there. I don't see the "best interest" that you are getting at... Teal Sound took their money and couldn't deliver, stole a summer of their lives with unkept promises, and ripped kids away from their corps friends with no warning. I would love for Teal Sound to get things figured out and come back... but right now, they owe a lot of people money, and that is what many people will be concerned with. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
decompressed Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 I can vouch for what JVN has said. I was one of those who called DCI last August due to issues left over from 2011 i'm not going into anymore detail here until Teal makes an official statement, however suffice to say that I still am owed money by Teal from last year. I reached out to them to suggest a year of restructuring would be best, but they wanted to Tour. So be it. It was good intentions and you cannot argue that the hearts were in the right places. However, from am organizational standpoint, there was much that needed to be addressed before thinking about touring. Sadly for the kids, staff, administrators and all involved, drum corps don't get by on good intentions. I know the individuals in charge used personal finances to help us out to finish 2011 so I know they truly wanted this to succeed. However, a lack of income, assets, equity etc was a huge problem. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsband Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) I don't see the "best interest" that you are getting at... Teal Sound took their money and couldn't deliver, stole a summer of their lives with unkept promises, and ripped kids away from their corps friends with no warning. I would love for Teal Sound to get things figured out and come back... but right now, they owe a lot of people money, and that is what many people will be concerned with. Assumes intent not in evidence. I don't know exactly what, how and why things happened. To me (at least) that matters. Was there gross negligence or malfeasance ? Or did a series of unfortunate events compound which led to the decision to end the tour? I don't know. I *do* know that those kids probably still care about the corps and don't want it to fold. Many of them might return if the corps can rebound from this sad episode. If Teal is something that matters to your kid, you might want to consider what certain precipitous and short-sighted actions might do to an organization that your kid (and 130 of his friends) loves. Tell me how your kid will feel if you say "Here. I got $500 of your tour fee back but in the process I kind of destroyed your drum corps". Edited July 14, 2012 by corpsband 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim K Posted July 14, 2012 Share Posted July 14, 2012 The worst thing Teal Sound admins could have done in this situation was remove all of the comments from the existing FB page and stop communicating. Social media tools like FB can be a VERY powerful tool. Companies and organizations have to realize that these conversations are going to take place somewhere or another. So you might as well create a channel and participate OPENLY in the conversation. Yes, it could still get heated and nasty, because emotions will still run high. But clamming up and deleting posts makes you look like you have something to hide. And then people will just go create another FB page filled with rumor, speculation, facts, opinions, etc. I agree that open conversation with Teal Sound Board members and parents is important, however, I am not sure that what I saw on the Facebook page was open dialogue or constructive. Also, the fact that some of the posts were not deleted does not make me think that the leadership of Teal Sound wanted to give people a forum to speak or demonstrate transparency, it made me wonder if anyone was taking charge of the situation. While I understand that the leadership of Teal had more important things to do than monitor a Facebook page and believe that management should take all posts from parents seriously, the Facebook page probably contained more misinformation than anything else. Facebook is a great way to communicate certain things, but the key to using social media as a tool is using it effectively and as someone who works with youth and has to deal with parents, it is never a way to communicate critical issues to parents nor is it a substitute for direct conversations. We may never know exactly what happened to Teal Sound, unless the corps is reorganized as Teal Sound and a full accounting will be necessary. My guess is that some of the management and instructional staff will reorganize a new corps and it may be filled with former Teal Sound people, but it will have a new name and will learn from the mistakes made by Teal. However, much of this could have been avoided if Teal had waited until the next morning to inform corps members rather than after a show at 11:30 PM and had alerted parents of minors prior to the announcement or while it was taking place. I'm sure the "Nothing Else Matters" speech was heartfelt and well intentioned, one last chance at making the kids feel good about a disastrous situation, but if they had lodging, which it seems they did, it could have waited until morning and for parents, lots of things matter: a scared kid, a disillusioned young person, a kid with dreams smashed, and a kid out $2,000. Learning via a stranded kid or though Facebook should never be means of communication about something so important. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.