An Open Letter to DCI

[BigW]

What was simply amazing, and made me question where the heck I was, was the Allentown crowd giving it up for EVERYONE this year, both nights. That has never, ever happened before.

Maybe some corps did things right more than they have been of late, John. Heaven forbid something good happened!

[BigW]

Do you see the disconnect in using the judges' scores, to contradict the assertion that the current judging system doesn't recognize demand as effectively as the Olympic system?

No, I frankly do not. I was rebutting someone's blanket statement that Crown's show was 'harder' by saying that the Finals panel pretty much soundly rejected that blanket and wildly incorrect assessment from that poster. If by Olympic judging- you mean they should assess difficulty multiplers and concrete numbers and deductions if it fails when the horn line does a triple axel while playing a high Q sharp, that really won't work, either.

[TimbreDeBrass]

The main thing that I have a complaint about (like everyone else) is the electronics. BK could have dealt without the alien techno sounds in their rendition of Firebird Suite, Cavaliers could have dealt without the Dubstep in their show, and Madison could have turned the bass on their synth down (these are my opinions, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion). I think DCI has changed in ways that I do not like but I don't think things have totally gone awry and it's not an excuse for me to leave the activity.

I think that you should point these letters to judges and show designers, not the general public. This just comes off as whining to me when we (assuming most of us are fans or alumni) can do nothing to help your cause.

Edited August 12, 2012 by TimbreDeBrass

[LoveKathyG]

Dear DCI,

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve been a faithful fan. I’ve gone to at least one live event every year, save one. I've watched a theatrical presentation at least every other year. I’ve subscribed to the FanNetwork for the past two years. I’ve bought several DVDs and CDs from new releases to legacy collection DVDs. This year, I volunteered to serve as a DCI ambassador and hosted multiple DCI-watching parties at my house early in the season. However, I will be taking some time off from DCI, and I wanted to let you know why.

I fell in love with drum corps because I loved the power of brass and percussion matched with beautiful visual designs. However, performances in recent years no longer highlight the qualities that made me such a rabid DCI fan. I didn’t like vocal elements, especially voice-overs, but I tolerated them (though a very few notable exceptions were well-planned and well-executed, including this year’s performance by Spirit). Even so, I bristled when it seemed that judges failed to reward excellent usage and/or penalize poor usage. I also object to the idea of a non-youth soundboard operator having so much control over what is supposed to be performances of a youth activity. Worse yet, I absolutely hate the idea of using synthesized sounds (how is it fair that a single key-press can overpower and/or cover an entire tuba section, for example?), and in almost every case, I still find them offensive, especially when, again, judges ignore blatantly tasteless applications (for example, the hideous patch that echoed the beautiful solo in the Cadets’ “Do You Hear What I Hear” this year). However, because of my love for brass, percussion, and drill, I’ve tolerated them, too.

As this season wore on, I found myself caring less and less for drum corps. I watched fewer FanNetwork events. Instead of watching tonight’s semi-finals, I watched the Olympics, chatted on Facebook, and wrote this letter. A big part of my disappointment is the DCI judges’ continued approval of the Blue Devils’ show (following on the heels of several confusing, annoying, and critically acclaimed BD shows). Despite the many scatter drills, absurd theme, disjointed music, and general disregard for audience enjoyment, DCI’s judges have consistently rated them as the best show in the competition—this despite at least a few shows that seem equally difficult, clean, and stylistically unified, while presenting greater entertainment value and artistic quality.

If Blue Devils 2012 is DCI’s picture of perfection, then DCI is no longer a place where I can feel at home. It is no longer an organization dedicated to brass, percussion, and drill. It is more concerned with synthesizers, amplification, and dance. When I want to see and hear such things (which is rare), I can find all of them in other places for a whole lot less money. When I want to see and hear brass, percussion, and drill, I no longer have a place to go—there are no DCA competitions in my area. Instead, I’ll go back and enjoy the great shows of the past via the FanNetwork (until my subscription runs out) and the DVDs in my collection.

I will not be going to any DCI shows next season, I will not subscribe to the FanNetwork, and I will not buy any DVDs or CDs. After a year, if I find I’ve missed the activity, perhaps I’ll come back. If rules change, perhaps I’ll come back sooner. In summary, the great moments of Drum Corps have become fewer and farther between, while the tolerated annoyances have become more and more common, and I see no evidence that DCI is willing to do anything to shift the balance in the opposite direction.

As a side note, I have made a point of asking other audience members their opinions, including new and old fans, of a variety of ages, in several different locations. I have found only one who found the Blue Devils’ show interesting (none used the word “entertaining”, and several described it with an expletive), and none who specifically complimented the synths. On the contrary, the most common description of them was something to be “tolerated”. On the other hand, everyone commented on big brass moments, blazing percussion features, and fast drill patterns. My survey is completely non-scientific, and I’m sure it will sound to you like I cherry-picked my respondants. Even I have been surprised by the uniformity of reactions, but I swear that what I’ve reported is exactly what I’ve heard.

I know that this is a letter from a disgruntled former fan—something likely to be ignored—but I sincerely hope that the DCI membership will take it to heart. I am not the only one who shares this opinion, and I don’t think I’m even in a minority. Perhaps others will stick around for a few more years, but in this era of limited financial support for arts organizations, I can’t imagine that losing even a few long-time, dedicated fans is an ideal organizational model. Furthermore, I miss the DCI that lit so many fans on fire for so many years. I long for the day when I will be able to feel that energy and excitement again.

Sincerely,

Julian Bryson

I'm three years ahead of you. After missing only two championships between 1985 and 2009 (and only missing those two due to a death in the family and being out of the country for almost four months), I haven't been to finals in the last three years. IMHO, too many shows have become reminiscent of Super Bowl halftime shows. I usually love the SB halftime show, but I wouldn't pay $125 to see it.

I sincerely hope the kids are having the awesome experience I had when I marched. From what I can tell, they are. That's what matters most. Whether this dinosaur gets his buttocks on a plane and goes to finals really doesn't matter in the big picture. Drum corps will survive without me. I'm cool with that. I've shook my fists about the creative direction of this activity enough for one lifetime. But if you're going to ask...yes, the parade has quite literally passed me by.

[danielray]

Math is not your strong suit, is it?

World population in 1981: 4,529,899,224

World population in 2012: 6,991,800,919

2 billion more possible drum corps fans since I aged out.

You want simple?

I'll tell you what simple is - follow the money.

If drum corps was truly about the kids, it wouldn't cost thousands of dollars to march, it would be free.

Good for you!

Just remember, we used to be happy about it too...

ps. The heavy hitters in DCI right now are my age or older. Take that for what it's worth.

Those numbers don't exactly work.

There are not 2 billion more people being born since 1981, a consider amount of that growth is related to improvements in basic health care and quality of life that extend the average lifespan in in 2nd and 3rd world countries, particularly in Asia. This not only is extending lives but dramatically improving the infant mortality rate.

The only figures currently relevant are those for the US. The US population has grown during that period from 226M to 311M. The birth rate has declined since then and has certainly rapidly declined since the Baby Boom.

So, if the birth rate is dramatically lower since the Baby Boom, where does this increase in population come from?

1) Aging Baby Boom generation having a longer average lifespan than the generation before them

2) Immigration

Neither of these factors have any influence on present drum corps numbers.

It would actually be quite interesting for a doctoral student to track the actual reasons why the number of corps declined after the post war boom, but I do imagine the Baby Boom generation were one of the factors that had a considerable influence on these numbers.

[danielray]

It's not really a new generation designing shows though. It's a lot of the same people from 15 20 years ago.

..

But they are designing them to appeal to a younger audience.

What is the benefit of compromising to try to appealing to an older segment of fans? Are they going to buy System Blue gear? Are they going to go to a System Blue camp?

Legacy fans aren't BD's core audience... which is fine.

Edited August 12, 2012 by danielray

[Kevincav]

I'm actually writing one up right now, I'll post/send it tomorrow. Just got to send it to a friend of mine, to make sure that I didn't make an 3AM, confusing structural mistakes.

[saxfreq1128]

If Blue Devils 2012 is DCI’s picture of perfection, then DCI is no longer a place where I can feel at home.

How could they be? Not only were they not perfectly scored last night, they've never gotten the activity's record score and this year, they didn't even sweep GE, which is where it seems we can measure the judges'"visions of the activity." In light of this, I'm wondering, whose standard is it that you're citing?

You've mentioned multiple times that you wouldn't leave the activity if you felt the judges agreed with you, but in your post, this has only been framed in terms of giving BD lower scores. Worth mentioning? The judges do agree with you! Of the shows you claimed to like this year, 2 were in the top five and 5 were in the top 12 (almost half), and none of them was given a score that wasn't respectable.

Therefore, when you say that these shows were 'panned' by the judges, it seems like you're only paying attention to the fact that they didn't beat BD, and this really bothers me. Crown, holding their own against the most decorated corps in the activity and giving that corps a run for their money, got 'panned'? Crossmen, making a triumphant return to the top 12, got 'panned'? It seems to me that you're missing the forest for the trees. Where I see the judges' respect for these fantastic corps with their fantastic shows, you only seem to see the ruination of the activity in favor of BD.

Well... if what you needed was an excuse to leave, then you've found it, but it only has so much to do with the activity.

[RockyGranite]

Whatever direction Drum Corps takes in the years and decades to come, I hope I continue to see comments like this one that was posted on BK's facebook page:

...And the 40 band kids I brought with me to the movies loved it!

[JulesBry]

I will challenge you.....how dare you...why would you possibibly think YOU should be the one deciding with no criteria. You think I want my kids after spending a fortune, 24/ 7 rehearsals, etc etc being decided by regional Bias, night to night in consistancies, someones dad or grandpa who may or may not be in touch with the entire activity, who likes what they like with no considersation of expanding their own thought process...yeah ok go for it..not in this lifetime.....but hey enjoy..or not thats a personal choice and everyone is certainly entitled to that.

So instead, we'll have it judged by institutional bias, because that's more fair? There's no perfect system. At least one that includes some level of audience participation might help to bring more people into the activity and/or keep them around longer.