5 good reason the activity is destined to end

[Jeff Ream]

Well, couldn't you get on the BOD of a corps? It doesn't seem like something you have to buy your way into, just seems to require some smarts and a lot of time volunteering with the corps.

to be honest...many BODs are hand picked yes men IMO

[fsubone]

to be honest...many BODs are hand picked yes men IMO

Not the ones I've known, they're people who have put in years and years with their organizations, in order to build enough trust to be put in charge of lots of their peers.

You know Jeff, they have a multi-quote option, or are you just trying to rack up the most posts in DCP?

[Hup234]

Of course the activity is dying, and it's probably terminal at this stage because your pretentious, pedantic leadership refuses to acknowledge the root causes of the long decline, which accelerated at the point when only trained musicians could join, after successful auditions for which fees were charged. And still, the fantasy of "serving the youth of America" keeps being harped on as though American youth were all wealthy, educated, artistic kids who needed yet another thing to do in the summer.

And then there's the disregard and even open mockery directed at the pioneers of the activity.

There's the ongoing demasculinization of musical and marching styles, even in the uniforms. Drum corps used to be all John Wayne and Lee Marvin; now it's Elton John and Marvin Hamlisch. Think of the NFL doing ballet halftime shows. And while I'm on the topic:

There's the boring music your artiste arrangers think they have to write, which pleases ever-fewer audience members who want entertainment, not phony highbrow posturing.

There's the loss of the former hometown-corps experience with all its related cohesiveness.

The activity once enjoyed 500-plus corps comprised of average everyday kids, many of whom probably needed the activity much more than today's participants do.

You're down to what, 33 or so now? And the two recent failures are naturally topics of major concern, aren't they?

Understandable, but where was the concern when those other 470-plus long-ago corps failed and disappeared forever?[/b

[Jeff Ream]

Not the ones I've known, they're people who have put in years and years with their organizations, in order to build enough trust to be put in charge of lots of their peers.

You know Jeff, they have a multi-quote option, or are you just trying to rack up the most posts in DCP?

multi quotes a pain. dont track post numbers just like i could give a #### about reds and greens.

There are many people on all BODS that put in years. Doesn't mean they weren't hand picked

[Jeff Ream]

Of course the activity is dying, and it's probably terminal at this stage because your pretentious, pedantic leadership refuses to acknowledge the root causes of the long decline, which accelerated at the point when only trained musicians could join, after successful auditions for which fees were charged. And still, the fantasy of "serving the youth of America" keeps being harped on as though American youth were all wealthy, educated, artistic kids who needed yet another thing to do in the summer.

And then there's the disregard and even open mockery directed at the pioneers of the activity.

There's the ongoing demasculinization of musical and marching styles, even in the uniforms. Drum corps used to be all John Wayne and Lee Marvin; now it's Elton John and Marvin Hamlisch. Think of the NFL doing ballet halftime shows. And while I'm on the topic:

There's the boring music your artiste arrangers think they have to write, which pleases ever-fewer audience members who want entertainment, not phony highbrow posturing.

There's the loss of the former hometown-corps experience with all its related cohesiveness.

The activity once enjoyed 500-plus corps comprised of average everyday kids, many of whom probably needed the activity much more than today's participants do.

You're down to what, 33 or so now? And the two recent failures are naturally topics of major concern, aren't they?

Understandable, but where was the concern when those other 470-plus long-ago corps failed and disappeared forever?[/b

there was a lot of concern....but there wasn't a place like DCP to discuss it

[charlie1223]

Of course the activity is dying, and it's probably terminal at this stage because your pretentious, pedantic leadership refuses to acknowledge the root causes of the long decline, which accelerated at the point when only trained musicians could join, after successful auditions for which fees were charged. And still, the fantasy of "serving the youth of America" keeps being harped on as though American youth were all wealthy, educated, artistic kids who needed yet another thing to do in the summer.

And then there's the disregard and even open mockery directed at the pioneers of the activity.

There's the ongoing demasculinization of musical and marching styles, even in the uniforms. Drum corps used to be all John Wayne and Lee Marvin; now it's Elton John and Marvin Hamlisch. Think of the NFL doing ballet halftime shows. And while I'm on the topic:

There's the boring music your artiste arrangers think they have to write, which pleases ever-fewer audience members who want entertainment, not phony highbrow posturing.

There's the loss of the former hometown-corps experience with all its related cohesiveness.

The activity once enjoyed 500-plus corps comprised of average everyday kids, many of whom probably needed the activity much more than today's participants do.

You're down to what, 33 or so now? And the two recent failures are naturally topics of major concern, aren't they?

Understandable, but where was the concern when those other 470-plus long-ago corps failed and disappeared forever?[/b

There were 500 plus corps you say? That took in average age kids? Who really needed the activity to help them? Multiply 500 by atleast 10 and that's how many highschool marching bands are now doing exactly what corps did back in the day.

[MarimbasaurusRex]

There were 500 plus corps you say? That took in average age kids? Who really needed the activity to help them? Multiply 500 by atleast 10 and that's how many highschool marching bands are now doing exactly what corps did back in the day.

This always gets me... There were just as many high school marching bands back in the day as there are now. Don't try to minimize the loss of drum corps by saying that marching bands provide the same experience because they don't, never have and never will. One of the things I enjoyed most about being in drum corps was that it was NOT school and it happened in the summer. It's a different experience with a different set of people, an opportunity to broaden one's life beyond the same old people and walls of school structure.

[GUARDLING]

This always gets me... There were just as many high school marching bands back in the day as there are now. Don't try to minimize the loss of drum corps by saying that marching bands provide the same experience because they don't, never have and never will. One of the things I enjoyed most about being in drum corps was that it was NOT school and it happened in the summer. It's a different experience with a different set of people, an opportunity to broaden one's life beyond the same old people and walls of school structure.

there really isnt a different set of people..the cross over has been going on for years

[MikeD]

This always gets me... There were just as many high school marching bands back in the day as there are now.

He is referring to competitive MB, and he is (IMO) 100% correct. Far more kids engage in marching/music competition today than ever did back in the day.

[Elmo Blatch]

to be honest...many BODs are hand picked yes men IMO

As a former BoD member, there is some truth in that. However, look at it from the perspective of the corps director. The corps director seeks BoD members to be his/her own boss. Do you think directors will intentionally seek people to blackball everything they say or do?