DCI and DCI Ambassadors - where are you?

[drumcorpsfever]

Why not have DCI Ambassadors and/or corps representatives at larger band shows! I went to a great band show this past weekend. The high school bands that performed all were influenced by drum corps. The shows were very entertaining. All but one band marched Contras (ok, tubas) and had shows designed that empahsized the influence of drum corps. Probably, each of the 1,500 or so performers would have had some knowledge of DCI. Yet, not a single represetative of the activity was there. The DCI Ambassador Program,in my opinion, would be a perfect fit to be present at such events to promote the activity. Recruiting more local talent would be a big benefit to DCI.

Good to see DCI advertised in the program, but how about a welcome table, drum corps stuff, repesentatives from a drum corps, etc. Why not mobilizing some the 2,000 or so ambassadors that signed up last year for these types of events?

As a alum, I'm always eager to talk to anyone about how great the activity is. We should never discount the value of our own voice. However, there's something that can be gained by a coordinated effort on the part of DCI to bring the activity closer to those not already associated with drum corps.

Attracting new members and fans guarantees the longevity of the activity that we so much love.

Edited September 26, 2012 by drumcorpsfever

[garfield]

I couldn't agree more. I'm headed to a band competition this weekend with our local band. The director is an ex-Cavalier. Why is DCI not reaching out?

I suspect it has something to do with "Because these top corps can do it better than DCI can." Why reach out when you need the effort to fail in order to make a point?

[CQuinn]

Why not ask DCI instead of posting your idea here? This is not DCI.

[drumcorpsfever]

Why not ask DCI instead of posting your idea here? This is not DCI.

I have. I would think though that DCI would also follow DCP and get a feel for the pulse of passionate followers of the activity too. At least I would hope they would!

[Michael Boo]

Does anyone know how many marching band shows there are each weekend during the fall?

[dasboot]

I know in the past corps like Carolina Crown have set up recruitment or info tables at band shows. I would suggest reaching out to corps on Facebook and asking. The ambassador program would be a good idea. I know in years past, DCI has had a booth at the college marching band invitational in Allentown so it does happen

[DrumManTx]

I could see this at state marching contests and Bands of America stuff, like Boo said, there are a butt load of competitions every week and it would be nearly impossible to cover all of them. I'm sure there probably are some at these kinds of contests already though.

[MikeD]

Lots of corps have a presence at band shows. Cadets, of course, often have tables at USBands events, but even at their circuit shows I've seen other corps, inc DCA corps.

[Splooie99]

Although there are only 8-10 marching band competitions here in the NW. OC, Cascades and sometimes Thunder all have booths at these competitions.

[kickhaltsforlife]

There is always a Cadets presence especially at the bigger USBands shows. I see surf all over the place in the fall. There is a DCI booth at some shows if I can remember right.

I know at the big College show in Allentown this upcoming weekend, Surf, YEA/Cadets, Bucs, Raiders, DCI and others usually have some type of presence. TOB and DCI have a new partnership that started last year? It's very well known what drum corps is in this area if you are involved in the marching activity at all. All the PA State schools that have a marching band are almost all "corps" style.

DCI would be stretching itself way to thin to be at all the marching events. I think the corps and DCI does a decent job already at getting out to events anyway. Especially major marching band events. Not sure how it is in other parts of the country but the drum corps presence is strong around these parts. And you can't go to a USBands event without hearing "The Cadets" mentioned or posted about a thousand times somewhere.