BigW Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 4 hours ago, Jeff Ream said: be more organized in the winter. As you yourself said, indoor conflicts doesn't slow Bucs down. Yes. Why they don't have a comparable problem is the real question. More rehearsal hours? I know they're very, very efficient in rehearsal usage. Something else? Ancient Chinese Secret? (Jim and Fran have to know that reference) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 (edited) 4 hours ago, Weaklefthand4ever said: And I think that's truly part of the key. As the level of performance goes up in DCI, the DCA corps are getting talent either as age outs or pre-rookies who are headed up the DCI ladder. Back 25 to 30 years ago, if you had a little talent and a lot of drive, you could march DCI. I remember basically show up at camps until they tell you not to anymore, work your ### off and improve every rep and pay your dues on time. That was pretty much it. Now even I'm top DCA groups (especially in percussion,) you've got to be the real deal. for the last 30+ years, as DCA has gotten younger, the trends have flowed into DCA a few years after the changes started in DCI, tho now it's moving faster lately. Several corps...Sun, Westshore, Bucs, Bush....definitely viewed themselves as "start here, go there, come back here". In time, it spread out to more corps to where we got to today. Plus as corps got younger, you now have to deal with school or indoor conflicts. I'm 50, and after several years of running around with a bass drum on my body from 89-96, I'm in no shape to go out and do anymore, plus I have a family at home. I don't feel like being divorced. More and more people have time concerns as they have gotten older...the world isn't a 9-5 Monday through Friday world anymore ( I say this knowing I updated 8 preapprovals yesterday for customers out house shopping that I wouldn't have probably lost had I been at a drum corps rehearsal). The game has gotten younger. Now the corps need to find a way to get out there and go after those younger folks. And DCA as a whole needs to greatly improve it's outreach to the younger generations, because that's the future, and the audience is way older than the target audience for members Edited July 29, 2019 by Jeff Ream 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF-LowBari Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 48 minutes ago, BigW said: Yes. Why they don't have a comparable problem is the real question. More rehearsal hours? I know they're very, very efficient in rehearsal usage. Something else? Ancient Chinese Secret? (Jim and Fran have to know that reference) They use a better water softener? 😜 seriously I wonder how distance members travel for rehearsal hits in the off season for corps. My last two years I was 4 hours away at college and no car. So only made camps and that #### was rough. If I had to do it again I’d gone to a lesser corps in my last season and bag the stress 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigW Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 Just now, JimF-LowBari said: They use a better water softener? 😜 seriously I wonder how distance members travel for rehearsal hits in the off season for corps. My last two years I was 4 hours away at college and no car. So only made camps and that #### was rough. If I had to do it again I’d gone to a lesser corps in my last season and bag the stress A lot of people travel that kind of distance now or more. Fewer corps, fewer choices. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 4 hours ago, Weaklefthand4ever said: Are Bucs guard ans percussion attached to any specific WGI unit? I know CV had CVI and is now associated with another group. That would seem to be the answer though IF it is financially feasable to do so. Get a good solid foundation in the WGI world during the "off season" with ties to specifoc groups. Bucs have people attached all over the region. Yes staff teach places, but the membership has ties from all over PA/MD/DE, and not limited to just any one group. Reading sits in an area where you have TIA, MAIN, MAPS, Cavalcade, KIDA and even some USBands indoor in their area.. Same for the NJ corps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 54 minutes ago, BigW said: Yes. Why they don't have a comparable problem is the real question. More rehearsal hours? I know they're very, very efficient in rehearsal usage. Something else? Ancient Chinese Secret? (Jim and Fran have to know that reference) planning. They get out and recruit all fall. Their staff is working on the next years show within 2/3 weeks after finals. They have the plan mapped out long before Membership Day. There is no wasted time at rehearsal, and it's rare they are still adding bodies come June. They start drill in March, and don't have access to an indoor facility. This year is the first time I remember in the run that they had a significant amount of drill not yet on the field by Wildwood, and weather was a big part of that. Any rewrites or changes they do are usually mapped out in June. Every week has a set agenda of to do lists. They also expect the membership to have their #### together and come prepared. In 96, once Westshore went outside, we had only 3 Sunday rehearsals the entire summer once shows started....and one of them was the day of finals. The staff had their game plan, and we got there Friday night, did a few hours, then worked hard Saturday and did the show. The only 2 major changes to the show were planned early, and phased in partially the extended 4th of july weekend, and again on that rare Sunday in August. it worked. While Bucs do a lot more Sunday stuff, they too show being prepared is the key. 8 corps Saturday, and at best 2 had no noticeable brass holes, and at least one of those was advertising for brass spots to be filled this summer. The old days of waiting for kids to get off tour and jump in doesn't work like it used. Remember, the year C2 won was the year they least relied on late season fill ins coming off of tour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF-LowBari Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 27 minutes ago, BigW said: A lot of people travel that kind of distance now or more. Fewer corps, fewer choices. I know and not sure how they do it with school, work and/or other commitments. Then again average corps size in DCA world has fewer member also which is not a surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fran Haring Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 7 hours ago, BigW said: Yes. Why they don't have a comparable problem is the real question. More rehearsal hours? I know they're very, very efficient in rehearsal usage. Something else? Ancient Chinese Secret? (Jim and Fran have to know that reference) "Calgon... take me away!!!" 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigW Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 14 hours ago, Jeff Ream said: They get out and recruit all fall Very true. Seen them out in the Fall. Also seen Cabs, Fusion, Bush, even The Raiders, Surf, and Encorps out as well. I would guess C2 recruited exclusively within US Bands shows. I would think Hurcs in the MAC, Sun in the LI circuit. My guess is Erie was pretty much relying on LMBA and Avon Lake for percussion, though I think they needed to cast nets out a bit more to other nearby circuits. I'm uncertain what numbers actually indicate any interest, then what percentages then actually show up, then what percentages once they show up, stay. I have a feeling the percentages are extremely low. If they're over 5 percent of those who express interest, I would view that as successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 51 minutes ago, BigW said: Very true. Seen them out in the Fall. Also seen Cabs, Fusion, Bush, even The Raiders, Surf, and Encorps out as well. I would guess C2 recruited exclusively within US Bands shows. I would think Hurcs in the MAC, Sun in the LI circuit. My guess is Erie was pretty much relying on LMBA and Avon Lake for percussion, though I think they needed to cast nets out a bit more to other nearby circuits. I'm uncertain what numbers actually indicate any interest, then what percentages then actually show up, then what percentages once they show up, stay. I have a feeling the percentages are extremely low. If they're over 5 percent of those who express interest, I would view that as successful. I know Erie did a few of the TOB shows out that way. And yes yes I see others too. I did forget one thing with Bucs: design team and caption head stability. They don’t replace big names often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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