"Tour of Champions" 2013

[Jeff Ream]

Ok. Class division should be based on competitive placement, and the size of an organization's funding and membership pools.

Hardly "outmoded", since that's how it's done most other activities that promote competitive activities, from European soccer leagues to the NCAA to Major League Baseball (who have the National & American Leagues, but don't have those teams playing against teams in the farm leagues). Putting like competitors in the same leagues with their peers is done because for most normal people, it makes sense.

And in terms of why the discussion should be looked at from a business standpoint, it's because it IS a business that we're talking about. DCI is a business. Pure and simple. It's in the business of selling tickets and recordings, and returning the profits to the corps who provided the shows that they sell. Any discussion about DCI that isn't about growing the business and/or increasing its efficiency is a wasted discussion.

funny how people want to perceive Open Class as minor league. You do have minor league baseall teams outdrawing major league teams nightly.

marketing does wonders

[Jeff Ream]

What exactly is so unique about them that is worth the extra effort to reinvent the wheel? Seriously, very few corps at a certain level actually stand out much from the pack at all. They all pretty much look and sound the same... very little risk taking.

It didn't used to be like this.... remember 88 Suncoast Sound???

very few corps stand out. in fact we're just seeing the same stuff thats already been trotted out in other places......like WGI or band circuits. Used to be DCI created the innovations.

[N.E. Brigand]

I know you're trolling.... but....

When you create a new legal entity in the US, you have a statutory minimum capital contribution of partners that is pretty much meaningless and has nothing to do with actual intent.

For example, we recently created a new entity that had the partner contribution set at I think $10, and then was capitalized with a million the very next day. It makes sense to do it like this as formation and capitalization are often separately defined tasks.

Initial capitalization is general symbolic and is later replaced by an updated cap table/share structure once any additional capitalization takes place (mechanics of this varies a bit based on legal entity type and state). It is not all that common to do initial capitalization beyond a symbolic sum upon actual formation. Symbolic to start, then drop in real money when you actually need to do something.

OK, but the January letter from "the 7" to the rest of DCI made a point of noting that they "have each contributed $3250.00 to the cause", as if that number was supposed to show DCI how serious that "the 7" were about Music in Motion.

[danielray]

funny story.....it seems the cheesier the shows to people, the more bando it is percieved. Case in point......07 Cadets. Man could they ####### play. but the dialouge was mocked by tons of people as "bando". I heard band kids in the theater openly making fun of it. I also heard a 50 year old that liked it.

then again, the Harlem Shake to me is about on par with Gangham style, the Electric Slide etc, so I try to avoid those videos. I'd rather have a root canal with no painkillers

87 SCV was bando and full on velveeta. Bando cheese is not exactly recent, but is instead a rather well aged variety.

[Slingerland]

funny how people want to perceive Open Class as minor league. You do have minor league baseall teams outdrawing major league teams nightly.

marketing does wonders

I agree with your larger point, but to be honest, the attendance thing is hyperbole (the Rays are the worst-attended MLB team, but still average 19,000 a game - 7k to 8k average at a minor league park is considered a major crowd).

I've always felt that Open Class (or whatever you call it; Chist Jesu, OpenClass and World Class are bad handles) should be the wild west as far as programming and promotions go. MAKE them more fun than they are, and different from what WC does, give the directors the options to make their own rules, and let them rip. Long term, I'd imagine that today's Open Class and Sound Sport will merge into one concept, which would seem like a natural progression.

But right now, Open Class is being marketed as being just a "lite" version of World Class, which is a mistake.

Edited February 26, 2013 by Slingerland

[Stu]

It didn't used to be like this.... remember 88 Suncoast Sound???

And if the Hopkins/Gibbs G7 proposal had occurred in 1988 Madison Scouts would have been top dog, Suncoast would still have not been invited, Bluecoats would be on the outside, and Crown would have been a pimple idea on someone's face!

[Fran Haring]

um... no.

And your apparent belief that most if not all of the innovation in Drum Corps comes exclusively from the top placing Corps in DCI is an inaccurate assessement. Some of it, believe it or not, even came from the DCA side of the ledger, over the years, not from DCI.

DCI itself, even before it began its operations, contacted the officers at DCA to learn the innovations it needed to put in place to launch their new Drum Corps organization. Singing... and also narration.... were first used on the field of competition with DCA Corps before any DCI Corps incorporated it into their field show routine.

I'll add amped front ensembles (DCA's Les Cascadeurs in 1984) and use of an electric guitar (DCA's Empire Statesmen in 1985).

Thank you for this post, Brasso. I have long enjoyed what the DCI corps do, and have nothing but respect for them... they're great at what they bring to the table... but it is nice to remind some people that the folks on the DCA side are not knuckle-dragging reactionaries without a creative bone in their bodies who only follow DCI's lead.

[Tim K]

funny how people want to perceive Open Class as minor league. You do have minor league baseall teams outdrawing major league teams nightly.

marketing does wonders

Minor league teams usually play in smaller venues, so it may be easier to sell out, but as someone who has taken groups to see the Red Sox's farm team, the Pawtucket Red Sox (Fenway is a bit out of the price range for church groups and youth programs), you have an excellent point about marketing. At McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, parking is easy to find, alcohol is contained, and there are all kinds of family friendly activities, and teh action is good enough to satisfy baseball lovers. They do a good job at explaining what is happening so the game is taught and there are often injured guys from the Red Sox getting in training to return to the major league team. Even someone who is not a baseball fan, especially a kid, will have a good time.

Now if we look at Open Class shows, often they are more reasonably priced. The shows are sophisticated, but are often a bit more audience friendly. We often see younger members performing their hearts out which makes teh activity seem more accessible to potential future members in attendance, namely high school students. Also some of the soloists are phenomenal and the only reason they are not in a World Class corps is often due to scheduling or finances. Also, the rivalries can be real. The rivalry between 7th Regiment and Spartans or Blue Devils B and Vanguard Cadets is just as heated as that of Crown and BD. Like minor league teams, Open Class has a great deal to offer but attendance is often sparse and as you mention, not marketed.

Open Class needs and deserves more attention, and if you live near a venue where an Open Class show is being held, attend. I know of baseball fans who attend Little League games, Babe Ruth games, high school, college, and American Legion games, as well as minor and major league games. The joy is in the game from pure to professional. As along time drum corps fan, I like to think I go not just to see those in contention of a DCI World Class title, but also Open Class, DCA, and anything in-between. I just wish there were more corps.

[Stu]

I know you're trolling.... but....

When you create a new legal entity in the US, you have a statutory minimum capital contribution of partners that is pretty much meaningless and has nothing to do with actual intent.

For example, we recently created a new entity that had the partner contribution set at I think $10, and then was capitalized with a million the very next day. It makes sense to do it like this as formation and capitalization are often separately defined tasks.

Initial capitalization is general symbolic and is later replaced by an updated cap table/share structure once any additional capitalization takes place (mechanics of this varies a bit based on legal entity type and state). It is not all that common to do initial capitalization beyond a symbolic sum upon actual formation. Symbolic to start, then drop in real money when you actually need to do something.

OK, but the January letter from "the 7" to the rest of DCI made a point of noting that they "have each contributed $3250.00 to the cause", as if that number was supposed to show DCI how serious that "the 7" were about Music in Motion.

I concur with Brigand; if initial investment is nothing more than symbolic, and therefore almost meaningless, why such a proud and pompous announcement by the G7 to DCI describing their rather paltry symbolic investment?

[corpsband]

I concur with Brigand; if initial investment is nothing more than symbolic, and therefore almost meaningless, why such a proud and pompous announcement by the G7 to DCI describing their rather paltry symbolic investment?

That characterization probably has a lot to do with preconceived notions on the part of particular readers.

FWIW here's the pertinent snippet from the original ...

We have been meeting every Thursday for the past 6 months via phone. For the most part we have discussed our plans for 2013 and the 6 events we are managing. We have each contributed $3250.00 to the cause, and we are aware that we will need to do more in the coming months.

Seems pretty clear they understand that the amount contributed is far short of the eventual contributions required...