Santa Clara Vanguard 2023 Announcement Thread

[IllianaLancerContra]

12 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:

and those marimbas get resold each year and practically pay for themselves

They don't pay to transport themselves.  

If we are serious about bringing down costs, we need to look at every part of the activity.

[ContraFart]

44 minutes ago, mingusmonk said:

A Reddit user was kind enough to compile all recent corps 990 filings into a single spreadsheet. 

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ja39zeGtJSWFTu3rejDFLo0aSydUs-t0oioukYk8U34/edit#gid=0

 

Was it simply Covid loss of bingo? For 2020, SCV's Net Income $ (1,156,499) was almost 3 times the magnitude of the next net-negative organization, BDPA  $ (441,627). They aren't the only corps that relies on bingo revenue. Bluecoats own and operate their own bingo hall. Their 2020 net income was positive  $ 10,909. 

(it should be mentioned that we don't have Cavaliers or Crossmen 2020 filings available yet)

 

These numbers are probably not completely revealing the direct effects of Covid 19 on the balance sheet because of how the bookkeeping can vary on PPP activity, etc. As I understand, it could take 2021, or even 2022 for those true numbers to wash out. 

 

Shouts out to the missed @garfield who used to run the 990 numbers and analysis for us around here.

COVID restrictions were much worse in CA than they were in OH

[mingusmonk]

8 minutes ago, ContraFart said:

COVID restrictions were much worse in CA than they were in OH

True. Ohio opened bingo halls back up in September of 2020 allowing only 15% of fire code capacity and mandatory masking.  4 months of 15% capacity doesn't make a big difference.

Edited December 15, 2022 by mingusmonk

[IllianaLancerContra]

1 hour ago, ContraFart said:

Because one more vehicle is not causing corps to go inactive. The caravan size has been roughly the same for 25 years.

It all adds up.

[gbass598]

12 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

They don't pay to transport themselves.  

If we are serious about bringing down costs, we need to look at every part of the activity.

I don't get why front ensemble continues to be singled out regarding transportation costs.

You want to save transportations costs, cut members in all sections. It was 128 when I marched. What is it now? 160? Less equipment, less busses, less food. less staff.

The big boys who run the activity kept pushing for more. 128, 135, 150, 154, 160. Where does it end?

[Mello Dude]

8 minutes ago, mingusmonk said:

True. Ohio opened bingo halls back up in September of 2020 allowing only 15% of fire code capacity and mandatory masking.  4 months of 15% capacity doesn't make a big difference.

That means literally nothing if you have a large hall.  Zero will be zero and CA was pretty #### draconian.

[IllianaLancerContra]

1 hour ago, RogerF said:

You know what is P***ing me off about this topic?

It's the fact that there is one (maybe more) SCV alumni from the 1970s who are going onto the Facebook Drum Corps Planet group, and absolutely trashing SCV. Like, this person is posting really stupid immature memes, and other pictures of anything SCV, and just thrashing around their hate and disdain for anything SCV, including Photoshopped pics of SCV leadership and laughing at it all. Then he's also posting pics of himself playing snare drum in an SCV uniform (he calls them costumes) from the 1970s, but instead of green tunic, he changes the color to blue. Then, he's starts posting statements verging on politics and his opinion about being woke, etc., stating he is a "proud" alumnus of SCV.

Absolutely zero respect for SCV.

So, if there are any other alumni of SCV reading this, please tell your fellow alumni to have some respect for your own drum corps. It's tacky, it's offensive and very immature. You're grown adults. Just stop.

Thanks for listening.

 

Agree that trashing of FB is not helpful.  But I have also heard from multiple places that SCV alienated their alumni ofwe the last few years- this also does not help.

[IllianaLancerContra]

5 minutes ago, gbass598 said:

I don't get why front ensemble continues to be singled out regarding transportation costs.

 

Because marimbas, vibes, etc are bulky and require an entire semi to haul them around.  At least, this is how this dinosaur brass player sees it.

[Jeff Ream]

5 hours ago, Zanjero said:

The pandemic seems to have killed their pull tab/instant bingo revenue.

And they did nothing to explore other avenues to generate income. That’s sad

[Jeff Ream]

5 hours ago, Mello Dude said:

Not completely how this was sold when amplification was introduced.  "Proper" technique is an interesting term not fully understood by most that use it.  Technique will vary depending on your surroundings or needs.  This is for every instrument FWIW.

 

Not every corps (not even close) is able to do this.  This falsehood has been used so much anymore that people think every corps get these deals..they do not.

AND they don't move themselves down the road.  IF they did that you might have a point.  From a strictly musical perspective and ensemble note,  6 marimbas are overkill in the extreme.

Generating revenue is a lazy approach to a serious issue.  Yes you can throw more money at it, but more corps will fold because not everyone are the Blue Devils etc...  You aren't serious about the issue if you aren't looking at the main causes and are willing to make the big boy decisions that will need to be made soon if the activity is going to do more than just survive.  Change or die right?

Many corps lease equipment to bands too. I’ve been with groups that leased from DCA and dci corps. Smart corps also do consignments on uniforms and flags etc.