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Seven Steps to Drum Corps Restart


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2 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

The full retreat used to be something the Fans looked forward to.  As members, we had fun as well.  I remember a show where we filed onto the field at retreat using triple interval so our 50-member file would be longer than Phantom; & everyone would be waiting for us to get set before scores were announced.  One must have their small victories.

 

DCI has posted the award ceremony for most years on Youtube (note DCI is the copyright holder & they are the ones posting, so there should be no 'illegal video issues)

 

Didn't a full retreat used to include every corps leaving the field in reverse order, and often playing a little something as they did so, concluding with the last corps being told, "The field is yours?" before they played their encore?

Edited by N.E. Brigand
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30 minutes ago, N.E. Brigand said:

Didn't a full retreat used to include every corps leaving the field in reverse order, and often playing a little something as they did so, concluding with the last corps being told, "The field is yours?" before they played their encore?

I  remember the corps exiting in reverse order and playing as they left.

I don't remember "The field is yours".

 

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4 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Agree 100%. 

When you look at the big picture, getting the DCI tour up & running is about priority # 9475.

Yes and no. Many of the talented folks involved in drum corps are educators. Some of the educators teach on the elementary level in a classroom or one of the middle or high school core subjects (math, science, English, history, etc). Their jobs may be safe but many are music educators. When there are cuts in schools what program get cut first? The arts. Quite a few folks will be unemployed and drum corps can provide employment opportunities. Getting people meaningfully employed is important. It may not be full, long term employment but it is something. Drum corps may not be The number one priority, but it can play a role in the big picture.

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i said this in a place it appeared on Facebook and i'll say it here. theres plusses and minuses to each of the ideas, but it's a good conversation starter. there have been conversations at the highest levels of the activity about the future and what if's, that i know. no answers or solutions yet, as we have to see how the world continue to change. however, while good to disucss, there's two universal truths that continue to be ignored:

 

outside of posting recaps, no outcry online has ever changed the minds of the powers that be.

 

despite the unfounded claims, electronics is not a huge cost driver. the  hands down biggest costs for a drum corps tour are food, feul, housing and insurance.

 

now taking spring training from 4-6 weeks to 2-3 weeks.....thousands saved on food, housing and probably some insurance right there.

 

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14 hours ago, Liahona said:

 

 

"4. Divide the country into 8 regions. No corps competes outside their region until finals week. The goal is to get more corps on the field, by making it cheaper and easier for everyone to get into the game."

This does not make sense given the "geographic" location of many the corps these days.  Besides, there is already a regional division called "open" class.

Open class isn't regional as they all travel around the country to compete. Back in the 1970's (for my era) corps stayed in their area. We were from the Buffalo. NY area so we did Upstate NY, Western PA, Ontario and sometimes Cleveland area. That was our region.

14 hours ago, Liahona said:

 

"5. Reduce all corps appearance fees, and all corps membership dues -- focus on creating as many local/regional drum corps shows as possible, and incentives for local sponsors to hold a show."

I say have EQUITABLE distribution of performance fees instead. 

 

"6. Every show will have senior and junior corps competing, with full retreat at the end for the fans."

As a performer during the days of a full- retreat, what is so wonderful about that? Especially when we already know that x or y corps are not even in the same performance tier.  The real prize is on finals night.

 

"7. Start a circuit of judged winter concerts (on stage, no drill), so the competitive experience of the activity is not so focused only on the summer."

You should check out this.

 

 

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2 hours ago, N.E. Brigand said:

Didn't a full retreat used to include every corps leaving the field in reverse order, and often playing a little something as they did so, concluding with the last corps being told, "The field is yours?" before they played their encore?

Didn’t do the encore bit back in my day. Just played a number trooping the stands while leaving the field. Fun part was when a corps thought they got the shaft (more often with Red Carpet Association than DCA). Corps might march half steps and point horns to the crowd and let it rip. Then maybe back to the buses and form an arc. After last corps had finished playing for retreat start cranking it up again. Some of the crowd might follow to watch the fun...

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29 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

  Fun part was when a corps thought they got the shaft (more often with Red Carpet Association than DCA). Corps might march half steps and point horns to the crowd and let it rip. Then maybe back to the buses and form an arc. After last corps had finished playing for retreat start cranking it up again. Some of the crowd might follow to watch the fun...

In pre DCI years and when BAC was born, we'd know what our caption scores were before leaving the field.  Depending who felt they were "screwed", a few pairs of white gloves were tossed toward the bugle judge(s) or a pair or two of snare sticks tossed to the drum judge(s).  

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5 minutes ago, Ghost said:

In pre DCI years and when BAC was born, we'd know what our caption scores were before leaving the field.  Depending who felt they were "screwed", a few pairs of white gloves were tossed toward the bugle judge(s) or a pair or two of snare sticks tossed to the drum judge(s).  

1966 American Legion retreat in DC. Thought it was an urban legend that Skyliners “lost” their sticks the same way. Then talked to a member of US Air Force Bolling Field (Washington DC) and found out it wasn’t a legend. He had a great view where he was standing 😈

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11 minutes ago, JimF-LowBari said:

1966 American Legion retreat in DC. Thought it was an urban legend that Skyliners “lost” their sticks the same way. Then talked to a member of US Air Force Bolling Field (Washington DC) and found out it wasn’t a legend. He had a great view where he was standing 😈

Was that the year Sky was so ticked off for losing, a piece of furniture or piano ended up in the hotels pool?

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22 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Was that the year Sky was so ticked off for losing, a piece of furniture or piano ended up in the hotels pool?

Oh dang new story... 👍
 

And problems with that show led to more corps going to that new group called DCA. And problems with VFW led to creation of DCI. Hmmmm... who knows what will come up with coronavirus and starting back up

Edited by JimF-LowBari
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