Staff merry-go-round

[dans]

3 minutes ago, Terri Schehr said:

Isn’t the off season fun? 😳

Hey Terri...hope you are well.

[Terri Schehr]

1 hour ago, dans said:

Hey Terri...hope you are well.

You, too! 🤗

[skevinp]

3 hours ago, Continental said:

There is hate out there.

Which is one reason it is so important not to throw the term around lightly, use it selectively, or abuse it for personal gain.  Doing so weakens the definition of hate and minimizes the suffering of its actual victims.  

I think it is rare that any of us are in a position to fully or deeply know the hearts and minds of others based on a brief comment via a distant means of communications, so maybe it is best not to assume we do.  

[Sutasaurus]

On 9/14/2019 at 7:04 AM, Sutasaurus said:

Perhaps the word circus was a bit harsh. Let’s go for spectacle instead. I mean no disrespect to the basic tenets of drum corps. Hard work, discipline, working in a group environment are all key take always for students and instructors alike.

I’ll try this again.... if travel, insurances, food, vehicles, fuel, horns, drums, costumes/uniforms aren’t expensive enough,corps are piling on more debt by adding amplification, props, theme changes every year just to stay relevant.

I’m a proponent of bagging the puffery and     placing music and marching performance back in the members’ control. More of a grassroots approach to drum corps. There still is plenty of creative opportunity with drill color and music to entertain the masses.

 I’m speaking for myself as a fan, but I get the feeling I’m not alone here. If a regional model can put more groups(SoundSport) on the field. I’m all for it!

The point I tried to make four pages ago.....

[Cappybara]

I'd rather quality over quantity. I'd rather see 15-20 quality products instead of 30-40 good but not excellent ones. 

The times are different now than in the 70s and 80s and so are the demographics of those who participate in DCI. I'm not sure a regional model would really succeed because of that. Is there enough interest for it? Do enough people care about marching band to make an extensive regional structure successful? 

My Opinion is that it will dilute the product and that those calling for it seem to be suffering from a case of nostalgia

[Sutasaurus]

51 minutes ago, Cappybara said:

I'd rather quality over quantity. I'd rather see 15-20 quality products instead of 30-40 good but not excellent ones. 

The times are different now than in the 70s and 80s and so are the demographics of those who participate in DCI. I'm not sure a regional model would really succeed because of that. Is there enough interest for it? Do enough people care about marching band to make an extensive regional structure successful? 

My Opinion is that it will dilute the product and that those calling for it seem to be suffering from a case of nostalgia

It’s an opinion alright. (Like the caps on that BTW) but one I respectfully disagree with. 

I’m getting really tired of being dismissed as “nostalgic” or a product of the 70’s and 80’s just because I’m a certain age. Some would consider that type of assumption as bigoted.....or dare I say, myopic. 

Speaking as someone who had the incredible fortune of marching/competing in the DCI ranks, I value the experiences my fellow MMs and I had. To this very day I draw on life lessons learned on and off the field like respect, the value of hard work, to personally contribute to a group towards the group’s success to name a few.

Drum Corps is so much more than “fan entertainment”. If you only view it as quality over quantity proposition you’re missing the whole point of drum corps. Corny as that may seem to some folks, it’s true.

As for the demographics of today’s marchers? It’s dictated by the DCI organization. So be it. Doesn't mean there are young people out there that would like to participate but can’t afford it. That’s why I feel SoundSport might be a happy medium.  A more affordable entry into the marching arts program. Being fairly new, they are more grassroots and not quite as “jaded” as WC corps. It’s bringing new people and fresh ideas to the activity.

Just tryin’ to bring the marching experience to more kids.

Guilty as charged.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Sutasaurus

[Cappybara]

1 hour ago, Sutasaurus said:

It’s an opinion alright. (Like the caps on that BTW) but one I respectfully disagree with. 

I’m getting really tired of being dismissed as “nostalgic” or a product of the 70’s and 80’s just because I’m a certain age. Some would consider that type of assumption as bigoted.....or dare I say, myopic. 

Speaking as someone who had the incredible fortune of marching/competing in the DCI ranks, I value the experiences my fellow MMs and I had. To this very day I draw on life lessons learned on and off the field like respect, the value of hard work, to personally contribute to a group towards the group’s success to name a few.

Drum Corps is so much more than “fan entertainment”. If you only view it as quality over quantity proposition you’re missing the whole point of drum corps. Corny as that may seem to some folks, it’s true.

As for the demographics of today’s marchers? It’s dictated by the DCI organization. So be it. Doesn't mean there are young people out there that would like to participate but can’t afford it. That’s why I feel SoundSport might be a happy medium.  A more affordable entry into the marching arts program. Being fairly new, they are more grassroots and not quite as “jaded” as WC corps. It’s bringing new people and fresh ideas to the activity.

Just tryin’ to bring the marching experience to more kids.

Guilty as charged.

The caps were unintentional, phones do funny things sometimes.

You may be surprised to discover (referring to the part that I bolded) that you do something very similar to others on here, just on the opposite end of the spectrum. Just some food for thought. 

I personally think you're appealing to emotion here more than practicality. In theory, yes, it would be very virtuous of DCI to bring in more marchers of a lower economic bracket (and as a result also increase diversity since minorities often are in the lower economic bracket for various reasons) through a regional model filled with smaller corps that operate on a lower budget due to less travel. But DCI has to stay afloat in order to continue educating and serving the youth and in my opinion, the regional model would dilute the overall product, lower overall audience interest in the activity, and eventually lead to a decline in the activity as a whole. 

Obviously, this is just conjecture, but it is based on differences in societal attitudes, trends, and economies between the 70s/80s and now. Just as an example, nowadays, many college students spend their summers doing paid/unpaid internships or work summer jobs. The job environment is fierce and college tuition is expensive. Even if DCI adopted a regional model that lowered time and money committment, I have doubts many would bite on the offer. It is just the reality of today.

Edited September 15, 2019 by Cappybara

[FlamMan]

3 hours ago, skevinp said:

Which is one reason it is so important not to throw the term around lightly, use it selectively, or abuse it for personal gain.  Doing so weakens the definition of hate and minimizes the suffering of its actual victims.  

I think it is rare that any of us are in a position to fully or deeply know the hearts and minds of others based on a brief comment via a distant means of communications, so maybe it is best not to assume we do.  

Exactly. Waaay too many angry people who should be enjoying life rather that raising h e l l and causing disruption. 

Get a job and take care of your family and loved ones and stop worrying about everyone else.

[kdaddy]

9 minutes ago, FlamMan said:

Exactly. Waaay too many angry people who should be enjoying life rather that raising h e l l and causing disruption. 

Get a job and take care of your family and loved ones and stop worrying about everyone else.

Classic.

Would love to the see Venn diagram of "People who don't think diversity matters" and "People who tell others to get a job."

 

[Continental]

4 hours ago, Sutasaurus said:

The point I tried to make four pages ago.....

I would write a supportive comment, but yesterday I was emotionally scarred because you and I were accused of being a tag team duo. 

As soon as I stopped hyperventilating, I looked up "rent a safe space" on Google.  None were to be found.  I rushed out of the house and luckily on the corner of my street there was a cardboard pop-up safe space (great idea Fridgidaire!).  I curled up on the floor of it in the fetal position as I pondered life and all things about it.   A good amount of time passed (as well as a nearby skunk) until I began to think of ways to turn this unfortunate event into something more positive.  Unfortunately it started to rain and the walls of my safe space began to bend.  It was time to return home.

However, while thinking of ways to turn this around, I came up with a show idea for HGTV called "Trading Safe Spaces."  I feel it would be quite popular although they need to be careful which designers they choose for the show.  Hildi would probably cause more emotional damage with her designs.

 

Edited September 15, 2019 by Continental