Rules Congress

[Ron H]

Who were the drum corps that used amplification this past year?

Off the top of my head, Bucs, Cabs, Bush.

If I don't recall others that did (Fusion?CV?), it was because it was done so well I wasn't jolted by it. The reason I remember the above three was noticing the speakers or in the Cabs' and Bush's case, using them for the pre-show set-up as well.

The above three also did a great job in meshing the speakers with the overall ensemble sound for the record.

MBI? Hello? With permission from Neil deGrasse Tyson for the pre-show.

Edited December 28, 2014 by Ron H

[BigW]

MBI? Hello? With permission from Neil deGrasse Tyson for the pre-show.

Hello! I didn't see MBI this season.

[hairbear]

I saw Minnesota Brass this season. They blew me away! I can say this with complete confidence: Sandy would have had his Congas lit up, like that house in National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation", If he was still alive today. If we could figure out how to put them on his uniform: That too! Electronic percussion? We were doing that (outside of the activity) Years before DCI or DCA allowed it. Synths? We had that, too. Electric bass? Look at my avatar. :)

(Thanks for performing with us, Big W. We had a blast. And thanks for your kind comments)

Edited December 28, 2014 by hairbear

[LegalEagle50]

We had a major economic crash in 2008 from which we are still recovering. I don't see a slight increase in attendance as proof the electronics drew in the crowds, rather it is the result of things slowly improving financially. DCA is a whole different animal from DCI - especially the fans. Let's see how this plays out over the next few years, but bringing it in "because the kids expect it", as if the responsibility is all theirs and the designers are being forced to bend to their wishes - well if that's true, the folks that voted it in need to be the adults and decide what's best for the activity, not a few kids who want a synth.

I read this and see that you want it to fail ~ and in the process see DCA fail. Not even give it a chance to see whether or not it works, works well, squeaks along, just all out fails. I'm sure others felt that way with previous rule changes. While I was not around at the time when I hear people speak of allowing women in corps, that this was the closest to the same feeling of all out failure, drum corps is ruined forever, type of response. Yet here we are close to 50 years later.....

I don't have a crystal ball and I don't think I stand any chance of being around 40 or 50 years from now to see what happens, but my gut instinct is that people will look back on this and think that in the end it helped the activity, not hurt it. The adults ARE deciding what they feel is best for the activity. They are looking towards the future, not the past. The only people looking at the past and expecting it to stay where it was are you and people like you.

I once sat in a friend's basement and watching him trying to hook up his computer with music running it through his amplifier and lights. I thought he was nuts, that it would never really work or be something someone would want to spend so much time with. The man is a millionaire and you see his work every time you arrive at a casino, a stadium, and such. I didn't see the big picture, just what was going on at that moment. That is really how I see people look at all changes that I have seen in drum corps. Some people are still stuck on the giant downsides of those changes, others begrudgingly accepted them and moved on, a few gave up completely and never came back to see what happened, if they worked or they failed. And many, they watch what is going on today, recall the past fondly and yet look at the current product and think OH MY GOD! That is AMAZING!! Who would have though we would be doing this now?!? Thankfully I think there are far more people who fall into that last category than then others.

[GUARDLING]

I read this and see that you want it to fail ~ and in the process see DCA fail. Not even give it a chance to see whether or not it works, works well, squeaks along, just all out fails. I'm sure others felt that way with previous rule changes. While I was not around at the time when I hear people speak of allowing women in corps, that this was the closest to the same feeling of all out failure, drum corps is ruined forever, type of response. Yet here we are close to 50 years later.....

I don't have a crystal ball and I don't think I stand any chance of being around 40 or 50 years from now to see what happens, but my gut instinct is that people will look back on this and think that in the end it helped the activity, not hurt it. The adults ARE deciding what they feel is best for the activity. They are looking towards the future, not the past. The only people looking at the past and expecting it to stay where it was are you and people like you.

I once sat in a friend's basement and watching him trying to hook up his computer with music running it through his amplifier and lights. I thought he was nuts, that it would never really work or be something someone would want to spend so much time with. The man is a millionaire and you see his work every time you arrive at a casino, a stadium, and such. I didn't see the big picture, just what was going on at that moment. That is really how I see people look at all changes that I have seen in drum corps. Some people are still stuck on the giant downsides of those changes, others begrudgingly accepted them and moved on, a few gave up completely and never came back to see what happened, if they worked or they failed. And many, they watch what is going on today, recall the past fondly and yet look at the current product and think OH MY GOD! That is AMAZING!! Who would have though we would be doing this now?!? Thankfully I think there are far more people who fall into that last category than then others.

It's easy to look back , and although not all things have worked ( its how we learn and make things better ) it's pretty clear that the nay sayers throughout the decades of drum corps and the changes as you stated a few, have been the ones wrong. That's pretty easy to see.

[BigW]

Well, Liz, some would be surprised to see DCA still around from back in 1964. I'm certain there were naysayers then who thought they couldn't get by without the Legion.

I'd bet on another 50 years. What it will entirely look like- the bets are off. I figure it will still have Brass, Guard, and Percussion along with digital stuff.

[Fred Windish]

I take a different view of our changing DCA. Unfortunately, for now, instrumentation and a few added special effects are pretty insignificant in DCA's quest to see another 50 years. The financial challenges are huge. Right now, the risk/reward equation is upside down. The money doesn't really stretch far enough for business as usual. This crisis touches the fans, corps, and show sponsors.

The message I get from Grandpa, a message I agree with, is this . . . . DCA can't afford to lose any more fans. The recent Rules Congress changes will help to keep the activity contemporary. If these additional nuances are incorporated as well as we now see in DCI, the shows will definitely be more appealing to general audiences. Slowly, DCA audience sizes should grow, together with a few new show sponsors.

Unlike DCI, DCA is heavily dependent on ticket sales. There are few other ways to make money. Just the thought some fans will stay away should be frightening to everyone. Revenue from tickets is crucial for DCA and its show sponsors.

[ajlisko]

I'd bet on another 50 years. What it will entirely look like- the bets are off. I figure it will still have Brass, Guard, and Percussion along with digital stuff.

50 years from now would be a hoot! ... I'll be 115 and 6' under ... while there still would be percussion, the marching part of it will most likely evaporate ... I can see the activity being renamed to Moving Musical Arts ... because in my mind, the activity is now movement - not marching ... and ... I envision more of a move to indoor (broadway style - BLAST! type) shows ...

:-)

[rayfallon]

I take a different view of our changing DCA. Unfortunately, for now, instrumentation and a few added special effects are pretty insignificant in DCA's quest to see another 50 years. The financial challenges are huge. Right now, the risk/reward equation is upside down. The money doesn't really stretch far enough for business as usual. This crisis touches the fans, corps, and show sponsors.

The message I get from Grandpa, a message I agree with, is this . . . . DCA can't afford to lose any more fans. The recent Rules Congress changes will help to keep the activity contemporary. If these additional nuances are incorporated as well as we now see in DCI, the shows will definitely be more appealing to general audiences. Slowly, DCA audience sizes should grow, together with a few new show sponsors.

Unlike DCI, DCA is heavily dependent on ticket sales. There are few other ways to make money. Just the thought some fans will stay away should be frightening to everyone. Revenue from tickets is crucial for DCA and its show sponsors.

It's tough for me (a DCA fan) to conceive of DCA lasting more than a decade or two.

If they don't get more traction from DCI participants, I think the clock is ticking.

One huge challenge is that the DCI corps cost so #*@*ing much to participate (I'll show you my receipts for this year's Crossmen - my daughter's age out year).

All these kids are college students, most of them music majors, okay MANY of them music majors.

Many if not most are racking up significant college debt.

The music majors will need to continue for Masters Degrees within 5 or so years to teach in most states.

This is not conducive to a full-time summer activity.

Sunrisers and Reading had begun to develop this type of demographic back in the early 80s, and now nearly every DCA corps is dependent on these young people's participation, but I believe it's a tough sell because their "junior" participation was so hard corps and expensive that when they see the end zone they sprint and leave their shoes (and hearts) on the field.

I remember Sun having underage members (under 18) removed at the NYS American Legion Championship in (I think) 1966 or so. If I'm right it was 2 of them.

Archie did their first exhibition on the field in 1978 (Dream) with an average age of 50+.

It's just not possible for these senior citizens (40+ or so) to keep up with the physical demands and practice schedule now.

I hope DCA lasts 50 years. As Andy says I'll be 113, but I'll still go to shows as I haven't spent time MC'ing I&E shows so my lifespan should be quite a bit longer than his - plus I didn't drum, or play in the Skyliners, all of which tends to shorten one's longevity

Finally, while I find Andy to be among the wisest of all wise guys, I disagree about the indoor move.

The field show, whether you call it great marching or mediocre dance, is half of the appeal.

Many of the great standing Os of all times are inexorably tied to some amazing piece of movement and design - a front that comes out of nowhere - Stars that seem to burst onto the field one after another, a Z pull or an S pull, you name it, they've done it.

Stage stars are up close - they have to be physically appealing.

Don't think I could have pulled that off in 1975, much less 2015..

[JimF-LowBari]

I'm with my old man who last decade was surprised that the entire activity was still functioning. Main reasons are increased costs and seems that people just don't have the time (or take the time) to make such a commitment. He saw some of Prelims when he came over for lunch and we had the live feed going on. Pleasant surprise was the non-northeast corps he caught (Govies/Kilties IIRC). Sad part was asking about all the corps he used to hear about in the 70s/80s that are no longer around and how it's next to impossible to start new corps due to costs. What we still have and the form it is in we just should be #### happy that SOMETHING is still here.