garfield Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Since you brought up NASCAR and sponsorships, high dollar sponsors also want decision power control. Example: Sterling Marlin was driving a car for the Chip Ganassi team sponsored by Coors Light (he was even in the lead in points until an accident sidelined him for a few races); the next season Sterling was ready to go after the championship, however the Coors company wanted to market their product to a mid twenties crowd and Sterling was in his 40's; Coors told Ganassi to hire a younger driver or they would pull their sponsorship; Sterling was fired rather quickly. Do not think for one second that this would not happen in DCI if a corps secured a high dollar corporate sponsor. ABC high dollar sponsor of a corps wants to target to XYZ demographic, so they state to the corps Board "get rid of the current director/staff, hire this other director/staff, and change the show concepts to playing our jingles or we pull our millions in sponsorship"; Board then, without reservation, complies: I guarantee this type of power control will happen. Say we find a major corporate sponsor who wants to see more trooping the stands, more colors presentations, more foot-tapping music. That would be bad, how? What if a major sponsor likes what dino's likes? Do we turn down the money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Say we find a major corporate sponsor who wants to see more trooping the stands, more colors presentations, more foot-tapping music. That would be bad, how? What if a major sponsor likes what dino's likes? Do we turn down the money? Compromise within contract negotiations is fine; but there needs to be a specific standard set in stone up front by the corps, or DCI, in which the corps, or DCI, will say no, absolutely not, and turn down the sponsorship without being tempted by the millions and millions in cash. Not being silly here (well... yeah I am to prove a point) but what if the owners of the Nevada Bunny Ranch wanted to sponsor a corps with a provision that the show each season contained pole striptease acts with sponsorship banners in exchange for $2 million in up front sponsorship along with yearly $600 thousand operational revenue. Some Dinos of course would go wild but most everyone else involved in DCI would real at the thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottPREuph Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Ok, Mike I'll chime in since I've been observing for quite while now and participating a bit in the behind the scenes of drum corps. I agree that the days of the bingo hall are pretty much dead. In a few select cases it still works and perhaps it can work for you, but don't count on it being major revenue source. You can go the lone wolf method of Bill Cook and have a corporation to support the corps. Good luck getting that to be profitable and then to be profitable enough to support a corps on top of the other business needs. Yes Star did have the bus company also, but that wasn't up and running to provide the initial capital for starting the corps. In a community the size of where you would want to start this corps, it's small enough that things are about who you know. I can think of a couple big names you would love to have on board. And if you don't know anybody, who do you know who knows people with the money who would love to support such a great cause as a drum corps. Have a competent board in place who has the experience and expertise to generate new income ventures. You'll need a professional business plan and the means to present it professionally, and an ideal BOD can help with this too. This is extremely important to establish yourself as a legit operation to both the business community and the music community where you wish to draw kids from. They should also be as enthusiastic and energetic as you are. Agressively pursue any type of grant or sponsorship opportunity you can find. Sponsor a band show or two or partner with someone who has a band show and would like it to grow. That is great for community exposure, cash and recruiting if done right. Remember no project or idea is ever too small to pursue if it brings in money. I have seen some corps pass up some great opprotunities. And be prepared to fight to the death for every cent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Love ya', Stu, but you did read the G7 proposal, didn't you? Love, Love Love, All we need is Love; All we are saying, is give peace a chance... (yep; those lyrics really worked out well for the Beatles didn't they). Anyway, yes I did read the G7 proposal; no mention of corporate sponsorships to secure revenue to finance the lollopolloza ideas; no mention of non-business related income to finance a corps or DCI; just a power grab proposal to eliminate nearly half the corps in DCI (the majority of the OC) and relegate the non-G7 to a status so that most all current proceeds from DCI and related shows were funneled to the G7. While I am a free-market capitalist in the for-profit world, and I have no problems with non-business related income financing a corps in the world of non-profit (as long as corporate taxes are paid), and I would completely support the G7 in the open free-market of the for-profit world, I also believe in the free choice to volunteer to join a 501c3 'collective' which is designed to look out for the best interest of all involved; and that is what DCI is 'supposed' to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 but what if the owners of the Nevada Bunny Ranch wanted to sponsor a corps with a provision that the show each season contained pole striptease acts Nobody would ever debate DCI attendance numbers again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 Love, Love Love, All we need is Love; All we are saying, is give peace a chance... (yep; those lyrics really worked out well for the Beatles didn't they). Anyway, yes I did read the G7 proposal; no mention of corporate sponsorships to secure revenue to finance the lollopolloza ideas; no mention of non-business related income to finance a corps or DCI; just a power grab proposal to eliminate nearly half the corps in DCI (the majority of the OC) and relegate the non-G7 to a status so that most all current proceeds from DCI and related shows were funneled to the G7. While I am a free-market capitalist in the for-profit world, and I have no problems with non-business related income financing a corps in the world of non-profit (as long as corporate taxes are paid), and I would completely support the G7 in the open free-market of the for-profit world, I also believe in the free choice to volunteer to join a 501c3 'collective' which is designed to look out for the best interest of all involved; and that is what DCI is 'supposed' to be. Nah, you missed my point. You showed concern that corporate sponsors will, in time, make demands for their own benefit that are (or appear to be) contrary to the health of the corps and/or the activity as a whole. How's that different from the G7 fiasco? It seems we don't need to wait for corporate "raiders" to experience the circumstances you fear. At least with those corporate demands we get a check at the end of the argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 ... you missed my point. Well... you should know me by now; the point needs to be real sharp and poke me in the ***!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 6, 2012 Share Posted September 6, 2012 You showed concern that corporate sponsors will, in time, make demands for their own benefit that are (or appear to be) contrary to the health of the corps and/or the activity as a whole. How's that different from the G7 fiasco? It seems we don't need to wait for corporate "raiders" to experience the circumstances you fear. At least with those corporate demands we get a check at the end of the argument. And what I am saying is that a corps, or DCI, needs to have the marbles to say No to the corporate check if it is as demanding as the G7 proposal just like the non-G7 directors had the marbles to stand up to the G7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecoats88 Posted September 7, 2012 Share Posted September 7, 2012 If you could figure out a way to open a Casino (full table games & Slots) and have the corps funded solely by this casino you would never have to worry about money problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllianaLancerContra Posted September 8, 2012 Share Posted September 8, 2012 If you were to start a Drum Corps, how would you raise the funds needed to be successful? Perhaps I am foreshadowing my political philosophy, but maybe we need to see what the Founding Fathers would do in todays situation. I propose a seance, where we get Jones, Royer, Seawright, Bonfligo, and, for good measure Cook. Although they may be busy with the 'Heaven Corps International' right now.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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