A Modest Proposal

[OldSnareDrummer]

1 hour ago, Den8uml said:

Now we need a post with ideas for corps to increase revenue and overall funding. That seems to be a more urgent matter for a group relying on bingo, which isn’t exactly growing in the margins. 

Casinos. It worked for Marty Byrde. 

[RiverCityAndTroopersFan]

11 minutes ago, bkbass98 said:

man, don’t I know it.

Blue Devils, Blue Knights, Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Blue Devils B, Blue Devils C, Blue Diamonds, and Blue Diamonds cadets

[soccerguy315]

2 hours ago, RetiredMusTeach said:

I like it and it makes sense.  Also found Shane Gwaltney's comments on his FB post worthy of thought.

https://www.facebook.com/shane.gwaltney

 

 

Interesting topics covered there. It's not sustainable. It's not going back. Can't dial it down. The audiences demand more and more. We have to keep up with the Jones's. And unsaid: this activity and the reputation I've built through this activity are my ticket to lots of money.

[KVG_DC]

I kind of like it from a competitive standpoint too.    I think we'd go into Indy with a lot more excitement about "who's gonna win it" as well as general placements as the regions come together.

 

I get that the G7 model was the 'big dogs not only eat first, but eat everything' and tour the nation together to do so, but...it's one of the big dogs that has over extended itself here trying to do what is essentially that within the national touring model.  It's proving more and more non-viable.

 

So a circuits model that does away with the everybody meets for regionals has legs in my view

  

[wjt4]

 I think everyone that is above the age of 40 has seen this activity change or evolve over the years and have seen dozens of corps fold as well.  I admit that I am a product of the 70's/80's and early 90's.  I also marched and I taught for over 15 years.  DCI and the member staffs NEED to implement some guidelines so that they can save the activity.  Scale back things.  Go back to 128 marchers, maybe only one tour, demand uniforms that corps have to keep for a minimum of 5 years, no props, no amplification, no friggin' Sousaphones, saxophones, violins, cellos, and trombones on the field.  Just talking off the top of my head.  Shorter shows?  Maybe expenditure caps to create more parity?  Time practice caps?  Staffing caps?  How about requiring a concert number where there is NO drill. 

The current product just seems so over the top that it is hard to watch.  It's become less about the music and more about the visual production.  I used to really look forward to going to drum corps shows.  I don't anymore.  I don't even enjoy watching the corps I marched with and that makes me sad.  I love this activity but really think we're headed to extinction if the powers that be don't make some drastic changes/measures.  The senior corps activity is practically dead already.  I hope we can fix this problem and that it's not too late.  

Edited December 14, 2022 by wjt4
grammar

[Land_Surfer]

     Default back to 128 members with an age range of 17 to 21 to ensure maturity and turnover/opportunity.  This would require fewer busses, less food and uniforms, etc. and a possible reduction in costly support staff.  Corps are working exponentially harder today just to maintain compared to 10+ years ago, and to what end?  154 over 128,  26 is nothing more than an added complication vs. potential.    

     Revert back to brass and percussion only.  Electronic instruments and sound systems are extremely expensive, quickly become obsolete and always require expensive personnel to support.  They also create a type of “keeping up with the Joneses” negative competitive situation that many corps just can’t afford, but feel they need to in order to be competitive and further increasing financial stress.  The quality of electronics technology has a huge impact on the overall quality of the corps’ sound, which should be a kick in the teeth to a quality brass / percussionist who spends an excessive amount of resources, that most do not have, just to only be as good as the sound system and/or sound engineer the corps could afford.?.?

   The problem with DCI/drum corps’ today is they feel a need “to be all things to all people” and that’s just too expensive and compromises creative and educational focus.  The value is always in the niche!  

Edited December 14, 2022 by Land_Surfer

[Jeff Ream]

10 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Much talk in last 24 hours of how to bring Corps costs down.  Here is a suggested starting point.

1.  Corps are limited to 4 busses and 2 semi trailers, 1 food truck 1 souvenir van and one 'runner' van.  Corps size limits doesn't change, but has to fit, along w/ touring staff, into the 4 busses plus 1 van.

2. Corps are limited to three (3) off-season weekend in-person camps.  'Zoom' camps are unlimited. Spring training starts for each Corps no earlier than 4 weeks before the first field performance.

3.  The following regions are set up, with the following Corps assigned to each region:

    a.  Far West - Blue Devils, Mandarins, Academy, SCV, Cascades, Gold, Pac Crest, and any other Corps from west of the Rocky Mountains.

    b.  West -  Troopers, Blue Knights, Crossmen, Genesis, Battalion, and any other Corps from the Texas, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Oklahoma area.

    c.  Central - Madison, Colts, Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Phantom, Music City, and other Corps from this region.

    d.  East - BAC, Crown, Bluecoats, SoA, Cadets, and other Corps from this region.

4.  Initially schedule a 4-5 week tour. 

   a.  First 2 weeks are shows, sponsored by the Corps in the region, followed by a regional championship.  No Corps is allowed to leave its region.

   b.  Next, a 1-2 week tour where the Far West & West Corps head to Indy, and compete with each other along the way; same with Central & East region Corps.

   c.  All Corps arrive at Indy; first time all Corps compete with each other is in quarterfinals.  Performance order is based by drawing names based on order of finish in regional championship (i.e., Far West, West, Central & East champions draw for last 4 slots, then Second places draw, etc.).  

Be aware, this proposal is a suggested starting point.  It is designed to level the field a bit and mitigate some transportation and logistic costs.  Yes - it is a far shorter competitive season.  Drastic times call for drastic action.

I do ask that, rather than tearing this apart, which some will do, that we figure out how to make this work.

still gotta feed and house the corps in the region. and with most bus contracts, regardless of the fleet moves or not you're paying per day. the idea has merit, but isn't quite the cost saver everyone thinks.

[IllianaLancerContra]

35 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

still gotta feed and house the corps in the region. and with most bus contracts, regardless of the fleet moves or not you're paying per day. the idea has merit, but isn't quite the cost saver everyone thinks.

Feed & house yes.  But limit spring training to 4 weeks vs 6-7 lowers days needed to feed & house. Less miles = less fuel.  Limiting competition to regions lowers miles traveled.  Shorter tour also lowers number of feed & house days, as well as miles (fuel).  
 

Something has to change or in 5 years all we will have is video’s & memories.  

[Land_Surfer]

14 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Feed & house yes.  But limit spring training to 4 weeks vs 6-7 lowers days needed to feed & house. Less miles = less fuel.  Limiting competition to regions lowers miles traveled.  Shorter tour also lowers number of feed & house days, as well as miles (fuel).  
 

Something has to change or in 5 years all we will have is video’s & memories.  

Can’t / shouldn’t reduce the amount of off-season training, it’s key to being competitive.  
 

There was a time when drum corps was compared to the competitiveness and athleticism of D1 collegiate athletics, and it certainly wasn’t from money as much as it was from long hours of focused training of exceptionally gifted and determined members.  

 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Land_Surfer

[Terri Schehr]

Here’s what I’ve figured out the last few days… everyone wants drum corps to survive but no one wants anything to change.

This is the game they all chose to play.   They’re the only ones that can change it. 

Raising the number of members per corps was never a good idea.  They were/are hurting the lower placing corps. I don’t know if it was deliberately.  But I understand that they’re completely self-serving so no surprise there. 

Edited December 14, 2022 by Terri Schehr