Play for pay?

[greg_orangecounty]

BITD, we raised a significant portion of our operating budget performing play for pay gigs.  We opened shopping malls, car dealerships, appeared at political campaigns, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, California Angel games, etc. etc.  

It was a year-around thing, and we could do it because 90% of us lived locally.  Do modern Drum Corps still do this to raise funds?  I don’t think I’ve ever seen an example of it at least from any of the corps in So Cal.  I know the USC Trojan Marching Band does it as I see them all the time.  

[fifer]

Good question too is if this differs for World vs Open class corps?  Or is it a money source that Open Class corps (often with larger local memberships) have forgotten about? Or don't have the resources to arrange/manage?  Or is the market dried up with malls and other sources of this funding changing their operating models?

This is an area I could see DCI providing more support around - especially in helping rebuild the "local memberships" in all corps.

[greg_orangecounty]

40 minutes ago, fifer said:

Good question too is if this differs for World vs Open class corps?  Or is it a money source that Open Class corps (often with larger local memberships) have forgotten about? Or don't have the resources to arrange/manage?  Or is the market dried up with malls and other sources of this funding changing their operating models?

This is an area I could see DCI providing more support around - especially in helping rebuild the "local memberships" in all corps.

I could be wrong, but I'm getting the impression Drum Corps don't do this anymore.  And if I'm a kid paying $5,000 to march for a summer I probably don't want to put in the time to raise funds for the corps in general.  It's too bad, as it could be a relatively easy way to raise funding.  True, no one is opening shopping malls anymore, but there are still all kinds of events (large parties, corporate events, weddings, anniversaries, etc. etc.) where "bands" are wanted and you only need a handful of M.M.

USC band does this throughout the year to pay for their Notre Dame trip.

[IllianaLancerContra]

37 minutes ago, greg_orangecounty said:

I could be wrong, but I'm getting the impression Drum Corps don't do this anymore.  And if I'm a kid paying $5,000 to march for a summer I probably don't want to put in the time to raise funds for the corps in general.  It's too bad, as it could be a relatively easy way to raise funding.  True, no one is opening shopping malls anymore, but there are still all kinds of events (large parties, corporate events, weddings, anniversaries, etc. etc.) where "bands" are wanted and you only need a handful of M.M.

USC band does this throughout the year to pay for their Notre Dame trip.

A few years back Crown’s drum line did a gig at NASCAR all-star race Friday before Memorial Day.  They were playing in background as drivers were introduced, I think it was a single exercise over and over for about 1/2 hour.  Just like drummers do.  So, if you can get paid for practicing, go for it.  But I realize that the stars have to align just right for this to work out.  

[greg_orangecounty]

1 minute ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

A few years back Crown’s drum line did a gig at NASCAR all-star race Friday before Memorial Day.  They were playing in background as drivers were introduced, I think it was a single exercise over and over for about 1/2 hour.  Just like drummers do.  So, if you can get paid for practicing, go for it.  But I realize that the stars have to align just right for this to work out.  

NASCAR all-star race is a pretty good gig!  I don't know why more corps don't try and do stuff like that.  Money + exposure. 

[LabMaster]

Part of the problem is that it costs corps money to get mm’s and staff together along with transport of equipment and people.  There has to be substantial ROI do this these days.

[IllianaLancerContra]

1 hour ago, LabMaster said:

Part of the problem is that it costs corps money to get mm’s and staff together along with transport of equipment and people.  There has to be substantial ROI do this these days.

IIRC the Crown -  NASCAR event happened during spring training and was 1-2 hrs from ST location.  It was just battery, so could fit members & staff plus equipment on 1 bus.   So in many ways a unique situation.  

[Jeff Ream]

11 hours ago, greg_orangecounty said:

BITD, we raised a significant portion of our operating budget performing play for pay gigs.  We opened shopping malls, car dealerships, appeared at political campaigns, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, California Angel games, etc. etc.  

It was a year-around thing, and we could do it because 90% of us lived locally.  Do modern Drum Corps still do this to raise funds?  I don’t think I’ve ever seen an example of it at least from any of the corps in So Cal.  I know the USC Trojan Marching Band does it as I see them all the time.  

BD has ensembles that make money for the organization

[OldSnareDrummer]

We used to do a B-Day party each year for this old WWII vet for $100 or so. His wife always did fried chicken for us, so no one minded. The old guy just loved brass music. 

Edited January 16, 2023 by OldSnareDrummer

[cixelsyd]

18 hours ago, greg_orangecounty said:

BITD, we raised a significant portion of our operating budget performing play for pay gigs.  We opened shopping malls, car dealerships, appeared at political campaigns, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, California Angel games, etc. etc.  

It was a year-around thing, and we could do it because 90% of us lived locally.  Do modern Drum Corps still do this to raise funds?  

Maybe on July 4th.  But there are two cultural changes that prevent corps from doing that year-round.  One is that members come from all over the world.  The other is that in order to recruit nearly 100% from bands, drum corps must cooperate with schools by deferring to them whenever there is a schedule conflict... which essentially means corps can only convene during summer break.