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Will DCA be around in 5 years?


Will DCA be around in 5 years?  

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  1. 1. Will DCA be around in 5 years?

    • Yes
      33
    • No
      66


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1 hour ago, Fred Windish said:

My hope is, DCA does not go down the easy path of simply raising prices. As it was, about 2000 Finals seats remained to be sold. Even more unsold seats for Prelims. Hard to tell how much additional revenue might eventually come from the internet broadcast, but this year’s broadcast was far less engaging than the previous year. Not referring to the corps, but the peripheral things that hold the package together, like Press Box hosts and guest interviews, etc.

Very true. And I think we have all pretty much stated in one way or another, the vehicle for new advertising and the like is already out there. Corps depend on an alumni base. DCA should also see the value added in their alumni base across across the broad activity. There is a tremendous amount of untapped talent who would volunteer their time to help grow the activity we love. They don't even have to reach out...they just have to respond to those who want to help. 

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2 hours ago, Fred Windish said:

 

 

My hope is, DCA does not go down the easy path of simply raising prices. As it was, about 2000 Finals seats remained to be sold. 

Like it, or not, weather will play a role. Fingers crossed.

 

 

And higher prices killed a lot of local shows in the non-DCA Sr circuit. Corps show was the big money maker but as expenses went up only choice was raise ticket price. Higher prices means less sales and eventually total ticket income went down. So bye bye show

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29 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

And higher prices killed a lot of local shows in the non-DCA Sr circuit. Corps show was the big money maker but as expenses went up only choice was raise ticket price. Higher prices means less sales and eventually total ticket income went down. So bye bye show

Right you are, Jim!

First you have to get  them in the door. Even if that means healthy discounts to local groups and, possibly, be more liberal with comp tickets for promotional use. 

Next,  provide a good enough experience to attract them back, hopefully at regular price.

 

I have no idea what strategies were used in Williamsport so far.  I do think there was some sort of reduced price plan put in place near the end. Some of the promotional tools are better done with DCA people who actually live in the community and are available any day of the week.

 

 

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1 hour ago, Fred Windish said:

Right you are, Jim!

First you have to get  them in the door. Even if that means healthy discounts to local groups and, possibly, be more liberal with comp tickets for promotional use. 

Next,  provide a good enough experience to attract them back, hopefully at regular price.

 

I have no idea what strategies were used in Williamsport so far.  I do think there was some sort of reduced price plan put in place near the end. Some of the promotional tools are better done with DCA people who actually live in the community and are available any day of the week.

 

 

Why do I just have this feeling that DCA is in this “they will come to us” mindset instead of “we have to go to them”.

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1 hour ago, JimF-LowBari said:

Why do I just have this feeling that DCA is in this “they will come to us” mindset instead of “we have to go to them”.

That's why I compare to Sears, Jim. They seem to have this idea that no matter how the marketplace changes, people are still going to flock to their stores like they did since like, the 1890's. As the market changed and went all digital, they truly believed that people would ignore such novel ideas as price...convenience, etc. (you know....that old nut,) just because they were Sears. The people who shopped in store died off and they were left holding stores with lots of inventory and no customers. 

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7 minutes ago, Weaklefthand4ever said:

That's why I compare to Sears, Jim. They seem to have this idea that no matter how the marketplace changes, people are still going to flock to their stores like they did since like, the 1890's. As the market changed and went all digital, they truly believed that people would ignore such novel ideas as price...convenience, etc. (you know....that old nut,) just because they were Sears. The people who shopped in store died off and they were left holding stores with lots of inventory and no customers. 

Oh I got that reference big time as local mall Sears closed and reopened as appliance and mattress place in about 1/4 the old space. Yeah I always think Sears when i think mattresses🙄

And mall on other side of city has a Sears from  the early 60s. Best place to find a parking place as hardly anyone parks on the Sears end (wonder why).

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I'd go if it were in Annapolis, that's about 45 minutes for me. Williamsport is four hours, so I would have to stay overnight. I want to support, but if I have to stay overnight, that's added expense and planning / hassle on my part. My decision tilts towards, pass. My first DCA show was Annapolis, and it was a little depressing. Empire Statesmen, hey they were great, and folks, that's there last show ever. Womp womp. I guess another factor is that I can never find any videos of current season shows, so I can't say, "Yeah, I want to see that."

Edited by cybersnyder
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10 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

Oh I got that reference big time as local mall Sears closed and reopened as appliance and mattress place in about 1/4 the old space. Yeah I always think Sears when i think mattresses🙄

And mall on other side of city has a Sears from  the early 60s. Best place to find a parking place as hardly anyone parks on the Sears end (wonder why).

Interesting (possible) parallel... last appliance I bought from Sears was a real cluster... fridge died but Sears needed 3 days to get one from the warehouse (store one was demonstrator). Guys show up with fridge and say I need to remove my porch rail to deliver. I tell them to stick it and cancel the order as Sears salesman has a hissy fit. 

Go to local place (wish I had thought of them in the first place) and order off the floor. Filling out paperwork and salesman runs off (wth). He comes back with “bad news”. Problem is delivery truck just left (why he ran off) so won’t get the fridge until..... after lunch.... And no problem with porch rail.

So is answer have your customers put up with the bs of the way you always did business or adapt and survive. Local place open since late 1940s and probably 3rd generation of owners.

Edited by JimF-LowBari
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23 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

Interesting (possible) parallel... last appliance I bought from Sears was a real cluster... fridge died but Sears needed 3 days to get one from the warehouse (store one was demonstrator). Guys show up with fridge and say I need to remove my porch rail to deliver. I tell them to stick it and cancel the order as Sears salesman has a hissy fit. 

Go to local place (wish I had thought of them in the first place) and order off the floor. Filling out paperwork and salesman runs off (wth). He comes back with “bad news”. Problem is delivery truck just left (why he ran off) so won’t get the fridge until..... after lunch.... And no problem with porch rail.

So is answer have your customers put up with the bs of the way you always did business or adapt and survive. Local place open since late 1940s and probably 3rd generation of owners.

We used to have to run our appliance repairs through Sears (i.e. American Warranty Group) for Homeserve appliance jobs (now you all know who I design training for LOL.) They were HORRIBLE...like customers waiting 3 and 4 weeks for tech's to come and see what was wrong. We since changed vendors for our appliance jobs. 

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I've not been on here for quite a while, but I've been following the discussion on this topic. I must agree with and bring up something Fran said: DCA had it's own vibe. He's right. I remember some DCA corps would say (occasionally) "we think we're good enough to compete with the DCI corps". Were they? I don't think so... not in that decade and certainly not in this decade. In the 1980's, a DCA corps didn't look or perform like a DCI corps. There were subtle differences. I learned this fact in an interesting way, back when Star of Indiana was competing. Somebody from Steel City Ambassadors in 1987 was marching with Star the following season. At the Centerville show, I tried to say hello (and not thinking) I walked right up to him, when he was in the horn arc. I was stopped by another member who said (and I quote) "He's in rehearsal now". Her delivery was brief and I might add, mildly arrogant. I walked away and said to myself, "this isn't DCA". I was right, too.  There was a difference. You may enjoy the DCI corps, but at a respectful distance. They are after all, the top of the drum corps game; the professionals. DCA on the other hand, was the weekend warriors; loads of talent that made it possible to stage a quality show, entertain the audience and do it on a somewhat smaller budget.

The genie is out of the bottle and there's no going back. DCA looks more and more like DCI, every year. They still can't compete against DCI corps, but DCI is what the young folks know. In that regard, DCI has the recognized brand identity and the marketing to support it. Something was lost, in the transition to what some have called "DCI Lite". Maybe what was lost is what Fran was alluding to:  The connection with the audience, the personalities and the entertainers... the casual approach to the activity. Knowing who and what we were and more importantly, why we were that way. Those days have passed. Fill the corps ranks with young folks, design shows that appeal to them, give them the "DCI lite" experience for far less money and hope they stick around long enough to carry DCA on their shoulders. Perhaps the most telling wake up call I faced was this: There are members of our local DCA corps who weren't born when I won a DCA championship in 1996. The folks I marched with can be found in three places, during finals weekend: The alumni corps, the stands or the judging panel. Those few hearty souls that may be found in the ranks of a competing corps, deserve an award (or free chiropractor services) one or the other. I don't know if DCA will be around in five years. I don't know what needs to be done (beyond a strong marketing effort), to increase attendance. All I know is if people aren't buying your product at the volume you need to see in order to grow your business, you ought to take a closer look at what you're trying to sell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by hairbear
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