garfield Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 As someone mentioned here or in another thread, I fear it may be too late even if they DID want to resurrect regional touring models. As someone stated in my thread, 193 corps have folded or gone inactive since 1996! 1996!!! That's 16 years!! At this point there aren't enough corps to pull 2 and 3 shows on a given night in each region like they used to be able to. Their only salvation would be to try it in hopes of it becoming a breeding ground for new, upstart corps to strengthen and flourish in. Perhaps even put qualifiers in that you have to finish at a certain level to continue on to the DCI circuit. Who knows? But they have to do something before even Blue Devils, Cadets, Scouts, Phantom and Cavies can't even afford to tour anymore. I wonder... you do know that this is exactly what "they" want, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 but everyone knows DCP is a cesspool of old bitter fans with where the activity is Well, I got it... You old bitter ########. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Well, I got it... You old bitter ########. +1 at least you get sarcasm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soccerguy315 Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 We have seven hour ride tonight ... so .. we will see how much more we can clean tonight. Too much driving in drum corps !!!!! Too much!!! We need to not try to get to all four corners in one summer and we need to finish a week earlier ... For sure !!!!! Heck ... this year we are staying in hotels as the school we used to stay at in Indy begins classes on August 1st Happy evening ... well... DCI is the one that signed a 10 year deal with a stadium with no schools to stay at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkyRyder_FMM Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Regional touring does help reduce cost, but not as much as you think. Food, staff, staff transportation, insurance, and housing are not affected at all. The primary saving is in the fuel budget. A corps fuel budget is pretty easy to figure out. For each mile traveled, the fleet will collectively consume 1 gallon of fuel. So tour milage time the cost of fuel is the fuel budget. The bus lease typically includes the cost of fuel, so a shorter tour will reduce the bus lease, but again, not by as much as you might think. The cost includes cost of the use of the vehicle itself, the drivers, vehicle insurance, regulatory compliance, etc. Fuel is a component of the lease, but it represents less than a quarter of the total cost. Once the kids move in, the cost metere is running. It is a corps best financial interests to perform in as many shows as possible. There are performance fees, souvenir sales, donations, and a night of free housing that goes along with each show night. Any night not performing, you lose that revenue, and you may have to pay for your housing. The more shows you can perform in closer to home, the more cost effective your tour will be. Given the smaller number of corps and smaller number of shows, staying local may in fact hurt several corps financially. Regional touring does mean less time spent traveling - more floor time, less night time driging, easier on the volunteers, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musclebud Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) well... DCI is the one that signed a 10 year deal with a stadium with no schools to stay at. Not to mention a new stadium that wasn't even finished. School districts change their start dates more and more often so a 10 year stadium contract doesn't make sense anywhere. But back on topic. If in the unlikely event that DCI takes regional touring into consideration I hope that they listen to the directors of some of the smaller or lower placing corps directors instead of just the big guys. Those are the corps that the current system is most negatively impacting. Edited July 26, 2012 by musclebud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cache_Money Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Why does everyone think that national touring killed local corps? Why not the opposite? Fewer local corps --> need to travel farther for competition The reasons for the decline in local corps are many, and have have discussed at length on DCP. I don't think the rise of national touring was one of the primary factors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMadMan Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Once the kids move in, the cost metere is running. It is a corps best financial interests to perform in as many shows as possible. There are performance fees, souvenir sales, donations, and a night of free housing that goes along with each show night. Any night not performing, you lose that revenue, and you may have to pay for your housing. The more shows you can perform in closer to home, the more cost effective your tour will be. Voila! That's regional touring. For the first part of tour, we used to only see Cavies, Scouts, Phantom, Glassmen, Blue Stars, Colts and the slew of other corps as part of DCM shows. Until after DCM championships, we rarely ever saw ANYONE else. Same or similar shows with the same or similar lineups night after night playing to packed houses in Podunk, IL or Wherezit, WI 3-4 nights a week. Rarely ever left Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin as well. Always 6 or 7 corps shows and always a lot of fun. Then like a 2 hour bus ride a couple of towns away and do it all again. Plus, as some have mentioned, DCM Championships were an even unto themselves and the day-after festivities (corps mixer, games, music) were a blast! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumManTx Posted July 26, 2012 Author Share Posted July 26, 2012 For the record, I'm undecided. Which is primarily why I started this thread. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadMadMan Posted July 26, 2012 Share Posted July 26, 2012 Why does everyone think that national touring killed local corps? Why not the opposite? Fewer local corps --> need to travel farther for competition The reasons for the decline in local corps are many, and have have discussed at length on DCP. I don't think the rise of national touring was one of the primary factors. Seriously? How can you disagree with that?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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