Let's make this local

[Kevin Powell]

Coming from homer (from home, nonetheless), Troopers has a difficult time recruiting locally since there just aren't people.

I was the only person from Wyoming in the hornline for three years ('08-'10) and in '11 there were three. For a corps based in that state, it's pretty abysmal. Sadly, music programs around here are smaller, with band directors that have not marched or did so a looong time ago.

Troopers is now recruiting basically everywhere else.

I would march Troopers just to extend my weekend camps to go fly fishing.

I actually have total respect for Troopers knowing that their recruitment base is so small. I also say that they are one of few corps that "presents their local" with their show. I love that. I also respect that the state of Wyoming recognizes the Troopers because of this local approach. They represent the state well.

Question. Do they draw recruitment from surrounding states more than all over? I know that population is sparse in those areas. Idaho, Montana... I would also consider that local recruitment even knowing that the drives can be long. (I fish those states, so I understand the drive)

Winters can be harsh as well so I'm sure that can affect the winter program.

Edited August 26, 2012 by Kevin Powell

[IllianaLancerContra]

I would march Troopers just to extend my weekend camps to go fly fishing.

I actually have total respect for Troopers knowing that their recruitment base is so small. I also say that they are one of few corps that "presents their local" with their show. I love that. I also respect that the state of Wyoming recognizes the Troopers because of this local approach. They represent the state well.

Question. Do they draw recruitment from surrounding states more than all over? I know that population is sparse in those areas. Idaho, Montana... I would also consider that local recruitment even knowing that the drives can be long. (I fish those states, so I understand the drive)

Winters can be harsh as well so I'm sure that can affect the winter program.

Does anyone know (Granny Smith perhaps?) how many members were from Casper, how many from Wyoming, etc back in the Jim Jones era?

Also, I have a radical thought on a way to do what the OP suggests, but I will hold my fire for now...

Edited August 26, 2012 by IllianaLancerContra

[Tim K]

I think most corps would love to have more local members and try local recruiting. Many drum corps reach out to local high school programs, have booths at high school band competitions, etc. Training camps may take place in warmer climates, but I'm not sure this does all that much to discourage locals from joining a drum corps. though if a young person in a corps is a minor, it would be understandable if parents did not want their son/daughter to travel alone. The problem, as others have mentioned, is finding local kids who are talented and committed.

Having local members may be beneficial to a corps as far as community relations is concerned, but local presence may be of more value. If a corps has 50 kids from its local area but does nothing for the community, it will be of no value. By local presence I am suggesting being available for local parades and civic ceremonies if the tour allows, inviting local bands to be a watch rehearsals, hosting camps for young musicians, if a corps hosts a local show, donate a block of tickets to a local senior center or outreach facility, have directors join the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, or similar organizations. I know one corps had some of its members teach a group from a local elementary school how to march in its first parade (it was on a Facebook page, I think it was Crown). Though drum corps are more non-profits located in a certain community rather than an outreach in that community, they are still members of that community and are probably valued by that community just as they value the community. It also has to be genuine involvement. If it is just a fundraising ploy, it will be spotted rather quickly.

My guess is that many corps are already doing much of what I've said.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Tim K

[Kevin Powell]

Tim K... I agree 100%. I fell in love with a local corps 30 years ago and now I am not sure who they are. They kind of lost their way (financially as well as who they were)

It does show that lottle bit of community effort goes along way. Even to the alumni of that corps.

[Stu]

I think most corps would love to have more of a local presence and try local recruiting. Many drum corps reach out to local high school programs, have booths at high school band competitions, etc. Training camps may take place in warmer climates, but I'm not sure this does all that much to discourage locals from joining a drum corps. though if a young person in a corps is a minor, it would be understandable if parents did not want their son/daughter to travel alone. The problem, as others have mentioned, is finding local kids who are talented and committed.

Having local members may be beneficial to a corps as far as community relations is concerned, but local presence may be of more value. If a corps has 50 kids from its local area but does nothing for the community, it will be of no value. By local presence I am suggesting being available for local parades and civic ceremonies if the tour allows, inviting local bands to be a watch rehearsals, hosting camps for young musicians, if a corps hosts a local show, donate a block of tickets to a local senior center or outreach facility, have directors join the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, or similar organizations. I know one corps had some of its members teach a group from a local elementary school how to march in its first parade (it was on a Facebook page, I think it was Crown). Though drum corps are more non-profits located in a certain community rather than an outreach in that community, they are still members of that community and are probably valued by that community just as they value the community. It also has to be genuine involvement. If it is just a fundraising ploy, it will be spotted rather quickly.

My guess is that many corps are already doing much of what I've said.

I would agree with you IF it were not for DCI calling itself Marching Music's Major League thus implicitly placing the Championship Ring above community involvement. And as long as that ring and that moniker are the driving force in the marketing of DCI, community focused groups will not be competitive enough on the field with the the groups who focus on recruiting the best of the best of the best from all around the globe. Not supporting DCI Major League or community based corps here, just seeing things as they are and not how I would want them to be.

[TerriTroop]

Does anyone know (Granny Smith perhaps?) how many members were from Casper, how many from Wyoming, etc back in the Jim Jones era?

Also, I have a radical thought on a way to do what the OP suggests, but I will hold my fire for now...

This information is completely anecdotal and I do not have any research numbers at all. With that disclaimer:

When I marched Troop in the mid-80's, the tides of Trooper membership were just beginning to turn in Casper. Out-of-towners like myself were becoming more numerous, and we were housed in homes of marching members. This remained the case until after my staff year in 1992. I do not know when the tide completely turned to the "move-ins" model that the corps now has of setting up camp for 3 week pre-tour at a set location, but I know it's been that way since we returned to competition in 2007.

Now, this brings me to the point of the OP to begin with:

Recruitment for Troop does occur in "local" areas such as Idaho, Colorado, etc. But as I've said before, a corps from a remote area (like Troop) has to recruit from where the majority of talented musicians are, period. From what I've seen, recruitment is often based on where the staff is located during the off season. Last year Troop had four winter camps in Waller, TX where a staff member is the band director. It was near Houston at a HUGE high school within decent driving distance of the bigger major airport. (about an hour) So we had a fairly sizeable "team Texas." But there were many other "teams" too, and maybe they'll chime in here.

So, how will a corps like Troop build a more local base? Well, the first step for Troopers is to do what they can to align once again with music educators, and they have started doing that. They've paired up with the All-State marching band (Western Winds), they've started a winter guard program, and in the past they've hosted a regional marching band festival. (I'm assuming it will happen again this year but I haven't checked yet.) But as burgerbob said, there are few PEOPLE. It's not just schools. Have ya'll been to Wyoming???? Beautiful country - thousands upon thousands of acres of beautiful country! And.... very few people. They live in wide open spaces and small communities... and that means small music programs and small budgets. There's probably not a lot of drum corps alumni working with those band programs. At least not YET. And that also means few marching band events, few winter guard (if any) events, etc.

So, when people start being annoyed with world class corps for not being more local, I simply think such folks need a monster reality check. Communities have "local" things like scouts, and soccer, etc. A "community" drum corps and a "world class" drum corps may not always be able to serve the same purpose. (That's why a "B" corps or another feeder organization that stays closer to home is a good investment. It gives the community a little more connection to the organization.)

It makes a huge amount of sense for Boston to have winter camps in Florida (weather) and Troop to have winter camps in Texas (weather). Until someone builds those corps a fully equipped indoor climate-controlled football field, guard rehearsal space and showers, they'll be better off wintering in more temperate locales, period.

Now for my last word: I would love nothing more than for Troop to have a giant local base of kids who are capable of marching a world class show. ("local" meaning within 0-10 hours drive) That would be AWESOME. And maybe that will happen some day. But it's not going to happen in a year, or even two. It may take a decade, or more.

[burgerbob]

Terri hit the nail on the head.

Just not a large enough population base to sustain a world class corps. To the east there are bunches of midwest corps and to the west are all the west coast corps. Nothing to the north and everyone recruits from Texas.

The biggest problem here is what Terri and I have said, there are basically no corps alumni (from any corps) teaching music in the state. This explains the horrendous marching bands and the fact that none of them even know what drum corps is.

[Tim K]

I would agree with you IF it were not for DCI calling itself Marching Music's Major League thus implicitly placing the Championship Ring above community involvement. And as long as that ring and that moniker are the driving force in the marketing of DCI, community focused groups will not be competitive enough on the field with the the groups who focus on recruiting the best of the best of the best from all around the globe. Not supporting DCI Major League or community based corps here, just seeing things as they are and not how I would want them to be.

I was not clear in my first post and have edited what I wrote. By local presence, I am referring to a corps that might not have all of its members hail from the area it calls home, but still contributes to the community. My thought is that this is already happening.

Blue Devils has a Diablo Wind Symphony for local high school musicians and makes sure scholarships are available so talented young people have an opportunity to perform. Carolina Crown reaches out to many local high school programs in its home base and does the same on tour. Phantom Regiment performs free concerts prior to leaving on tour, one of which can be seen on Youtube. One, two, and three who do recruit nationally also give back to their local community and it obviously didn't hurt their standings.

Also, without sounding cynical, DCI probably encourages corps to give back for an important raeson. Non-profits do have to show they are truly non-profits. I belong to a camera club and we are asked to submit to the club proof charitable acts we do using our photography skills: volunteering to teach kids to use a camera, photograph a public or church event for free, donate photos to be sold to raise funds for a charity, etc. In Massachusetts it helps keep the club from having to pay property tax on the building. Reaching out may not just be a good deed. It may be essential to tax exempt status.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Tim K

[CuriousMe]

Not only do Cadets have a booth at the USBands shows, but they also have a free concert before leaving on tour, do local parades in northern NJ and have a program where members or recent age-outs go in to local High Schools and speak about the corps.

[MikeD]

Not only do Cadets have a booth at the USBands shows, but they also have a free concert before leaving on tour, do local parades in northern NJ and have a program where members or recent age-outs go in to local High Schools and speak about the corps.

They inundate the local band programs with printed literature about joining the Cadets and Cadets2. At USBands events a lot of 'stuff' is placed in the show materials hand-delivered to the band director. These are good things, not bad things.