Theoretically...

[totaleefree]

DCI put a theoretical guideline on starting an open class corps a few years ago. First thing was a viable board, probably with lawyers and business experience as well as community involvement. Then 50K just sitting around for an emergency, the part that killed a lot of would be corps was that they wanted them to do soundsport for a few years before competing as a corps. Working with a crew contemplating DCI these guidelines seemed near impossible.  It is easier to start a DCA corps though fundraising and using school facilities is more difficult (everyone wants to help kids, schools dont want a bunch of 30 year olds spending the night at their school)   but dca is pretty show up with at least 35 members buy hotel rooms and you are in class A.     From experience I say don't burn bridges with local school band directors, fawn over your donors, respect your volunteers. The board needs to be able to react when the executive director or director does anything questionable, they need freedom and can't be micromanaged but the board needs to step in if they see their leader becoming George Hopkins

  I would also say make sure you keep open books, just because someone wants to see the books doesn't mean that they are accusing you of stealing, many would be donors want to see what your finances look like to see if you are worth supporting and want to make sure you are not a fly by night operation

[Weaklefthand4ever]

On 8/23/2022 at 4:14 PM, Orwellian Wiress said:

How does one go about starting a drum corps? Is there official protocol? Or do you just go "hey we're a drum corps" and boom? you're a corps now?

If you have never read this, it is very much worth it. Jim Cook was a true icon in the activity and proved that it could be done right, from the beginning. 

https://groups.google.com/g/rec.arts.marching.drumcorps/c/CHQnHgE42vQ (select the story by Stuart Rice)