How do YOU explain drum corps?

[Shewhois]

I've found recently describing drum corps to someone unfamiliar with the activity has become more difficult. I used to say "It's professional marching without woodwinds," but recently I've found describing it as a mix of professional marching band and theater, with brass, percussion, and occasionally vocalists. How does everyone else describe it?

(Theater and drum corps comparisons have been made since the early 80s, but it seems more appropriate now than ever.)

[ripchops]

I basically say it's marching band on steroids without the woodwinds. I say that every time with the biggest smile on my face.

[BRASSO]

 I don't try to explain it anymore.

 Supreme Court justice Potter Stewart in 1964, on deciding what is legal, and what should be illegal, was once asked by a reporter.... " What is Pornography ? ".

 He replied.... " I know it, when I see it ".

 I suppose the best way to explain Drum Corps to those totally unfamilar is to have them " see it ". Otherwise, forget it. You can't explain it. They'd have to go " see it ".

Edited August 4, 2017 by BRASSO

[Musicman1084]

I usually say something to the effect of a professional quality musical and visual production that sort of resembles marching band, commenting that the top echelon puts on the quality of performance in the activity that you would expect from going to a Broadway show.  When you think about it, it's really not that far of a reach to say that given Blast's presence on Broadway.

The reason I say "sort of" resembles marching band is that I make the assumption that 95% of people outside our activity view marching band as high-stepping 8-5 movements while playing stand tunes, or to some extent, what they see in the movie Drumline (part of the reason I can't stand the drum battles in DCI).  I always have to clarify that it's much more of a production.

I'm sure this explanation makes some old timers cringe, but... 2017.

Edited August 4, 2017 by Musicman1084

[pudding]

I think everyone has their short, medium, and long explanations. Personally, my short explanation is "pro-level marching band"; gets the point across without diving into details they don't care about. My medium explanation is along the lines of "a cross between high-level marching band and visual theater". This is a bit more accurate and invites some questions if they want to learn more. The long explanation starts with "so back when militaries would use drums to communicate..."

[denverjohn]

Marching band meets Cirque.

But it's all about the mellos.

[CrownBariDad]

I was going to start a similar thread.  Glad someone beat me to it.

For someone who I think is just making small talk, I'll say it's "professional marching band".  Depending on the response, I'll go into detail or leave it at that. I'd wager that about 1 in 20 persons I mention drum corps to knows what I'm talking about, maybe fewer. 

[Fracker]

This just shows that even explaining the term "marching band" is going to get you many different results.  My marching band experience was only in high school, but I lived in a competitive area, all the schools traveled to a competition each weekend, and we all followed corps-style shows.  None of our groups catered to the football crowd but we played our competition show at halftime (to the chagrin of all parents). 

Someone more familiar with pop focused football-game-only marching bands, or college marching bands, or 4th of July parades will have a much different explanation of what is a marching band.

[garfield]

"Drum corps is a hole in the ground you throw money in."

-Bill Cook, Star of Indiana, CEO, Cook Group

[c mor]

27 minutes ago, garfield said:

"Drum corps is a hole in the ground you throw money in."

-Bill Cook, Star of Indiana, CEO, Cook Group

DCP Winner of the Day !!

 

By the way - what is Garfield's Kid up to?

Edited August 4, 2017 by c mor