The Staff Merry-go-round

[CAtenhut]

29 minutes ago, BlueStainGlass said:

#2 in DCI in member happiness only behind BD. 

Is there an actual stat to support this? No doubt Brad and Brad run an amazing organization, but I have heard similar sentiment from kids who have marched Mandarins, Phantom and Bluecoats too. 

Edited August 13, 2023 by CAtenhut

[2muchcoffeeman]

2 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Hire them full-time like they were at SCV- keeps another Corps from poaching them. 

If you're driving at the idea that SCV won't return and the Rennicks will be looking for a home, I can see where you're coming from. And, sure, if the Troopers have the resources and the Rennicks have the interest, then, well, Wagons Ho!

But even if the resources were in place, the ROI would need to be greater than the return Troopers are getting out of their current, presumably less expensive, arrangement with the Rennicks. The current arrangement -- the one in which the Rennicks have been full-time with VMAPA and have also composed the percussion book for Troopers -- has brought Troopercussion into the company of upper-echelon programs. They finished 8th this year, ahead of such programs as Phantom and Blue Stars, and closer in score to Blue Devils than to Blue Knights. If the Troopers were to invest in the Rennicks in an amount that would ensure their FT commitment, the admin would need to be persuaded that it could, at a minimum, result in pushing Troopercussion into the discussion for the Sanford. . . .

. . . because not even that possibility may be enough to warrant the expenditure. Having realistic dreams about the trophy -- one named after a Casper native and former Trooper, after all -- is cool and everything, but even if Troop had won the Sanford last night, it would have boosted their overall score to about 90.6, good for 9th place. (And maybe an extra ~1 point in MA, so call it 92.0; still 9th place).

And maybe, when you're trying to get into the top 6 and then aim for a medal, this is what it takes: You have to spend and sweat more to reap smaller increases in points. If all else is constant and the Rennicks are worth an extra 1.5 to 2.0 points during championship week compared to where you are now, maybe that's a good investment.

But even if the Rennicks, assuming they want to even stay in this game, remain with SCV (if VMAPA survives) or land with another corps (if it doesn't or is limping), then at worst the situation going forward is status quo ante, with Paul and Sandi charting the Troopercussion score, and Team Lauren teaching it to the members. Same as now. Same as what has brought Troopers drums to this point. To make the added investment, admin would need to be of the belief that further progress in Troopercussion is not possible under the current arrangement. There could be a cost associated with sending that kind of signal, too -- or maybe not; maybe having the Rennicks and Lauren Teel under one roof would be percussion heaven and lock up the Sanford for years to come, who knows.

Point is, it's not a slam dunk to hire the Rennicks, assuming they would even entertain such an offer. The Troopers have bigger issues now than their percussion program, and their limited resources probably would bring a bigger return if invested in their visual programming generally and guard specifically.

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by 2muchcoffeeman

[BlueStainGlass]

6 minutes ago, CAtenhut said:

Is there an actual stat to support this? No doubt Brad and Brad run an amazing organization, but I have heard similar sentiment from kids who have marched Mandarins, Phantom and Bluecoats too. 

DCI does a member survey nowadays and last year they came out #2. I was told this by someone in the know but not sure if it is actually published (just find a staff member you know and ask 😉)

[kdaddy]

1 hour ago, ftwdrummer said:

No basis for this whatsoever in terms of having heard anything, but throwing a name out there that would seem to make sense: David Glasgow.

I don't know about him specifically, but another guy that works for Stanbury on the west coast (and directs a devilish gold medalist) makes $$$. Far more than what I'd expect a DCI executive director to make.

[IllianaLancerContra]

21 minutes ago, 2muchcoffeeman said:

If you're driving at the idea that SCV won't return and the Rennicks will be looking for a home, I can see where you're coming from. And, sure, if the Troopers have the resources and the Rennicks have the interest, then, well, Wagons Ho!

But even if the resources were in place, the ROI would need to be greater than the return Troopers are getting out of their current, presumably less expensive, arrangement with the Rennicks. The current arrangement -- the one in which the Rennicks have been full-time with VMAPA and have also composed the percussion book for Troopers -- has brought Troopercussion into the company of upper-echelon programs. They finished 8th this year, ahead of such programs as Phantom and Blue Stars, and closer in score to Blue Devils than to Blue Knights. If the Troopers were to invest in the Rennicks in an amount that would ensure their FT commitment, the admin would need to be persuaded that it could result in pushing Troopercussion into the discussion for the Sanford.

But even that possibility may not be enough to warrant the expenditure. Having realistic dreams about the trophy -- one named after a Casper native and former Trooper, after all -- is cool and everything, but even if Troop had won the Sanford last night, it would have boosted their overall score to about 90.6, good for 9th place. (And maybe an extra ~1 point in MA, so call it 92.0; still 9th place).

And maybe, when you're trying to get into the top 6 and then aim for a medal, this is what it takes: You have to spend and sweat more to reap smaller increases in points. If all else is constant and the Rennicks are worth an extra 1.5 to 2.0 points during championship week compared to where you are now, maybe that's a good investment.

But even if the Rennicks, assuming they want to even stay in this game, remain with SCV (if VMAPA survives) or land with another corps (if it doesn't or is limping), then at worst the situation going forward is status quo ante, with Paul and Sandi charting the Troopercussion score, and Team Lauren teaching it to the members. Same as now. Same as what has brought Troopers drums to this point. To make the added investment, admin would need to be of the belief that further progress in Troopercussion is not possible under the current arrangement. There could be a cost associated with sending that kind of signal, too -- or maybe not; maybe having the Rennicks and Lauren Teel under one roof would be percussion heaven and lock up the Sanford for years to come, who knows.

Point is, it's not a slam dunk to hire the Rennicks, assuming they would even entertain such an offer. The Troopers have bigger issues now than their percussion program, and their limited resources probably would bring a bigger return if invested in their visual programming generally and guard specifically.

 

Well, you have thought this through better than I. You win. 

[MikeRapp]

11 minutes ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Well, you have thought this through better than I. You win. 

This is the equation and analysis that all corps should be doing. It is terrible business and ruins your reputation if you just go out and hire famous designers and then let them go the next year. The finances have to support your vision.

[BlueStainGlass]

37 minutes ago, 2muchcoffeeman said:

If you're driving at the idea that SCV won't return and the Rennicks will be looking for a home, I can see where you're coming from. And, sure, if the Troopers have the resources and the Rennicks have the interest, then, well, Wagons Ho!

But even if the resources were in place, the ROI would need to be greater than the return Troopers are getting out of their current, presumably less expensive, arrangement with the Rennicks. The current arrangement -- the one in which the Rennicks have been full-time with VMAPA and have also composed the percussion book for Troopers -- has brought Troopercussion into the company of upper-echelon programs. They finished 8th this year, ahead of such programs as Phantom and Blue Stars, and closer in score to Blue Devils than to Blue Knights. If the Troopers were to invest in the Rennicks in an amount that would ensure their FT commitment, the admin would need to be persuaded that it could, at a minimum, result in pushing Troopercussion into the discussion for the Sanford. . . .

. . . because not even that possibility may be enough to warrant the expenditure. Having realistic dreams about the trophy -- one named after a Casper native and former Trooper, after all -- is cool and everything, but even if Troop had won the Sanford last night, it would have boosted their overall score to about 90.6, good for 9th place. (And maybe an extra ~1 point in MA, so call it 92.0; still 9th place).

And maybe, when you're trying to get into the top 6 and then aim for a medal, this is what it takes: You have to spend and sweat more to reap smaller increases in points. If all else is constant and the Rennicks are worth an extra 1.5 to 2.0 points during championship week compared to where you are now, maybe that's a good investment.

But even if the Rennicks, assuming they want to even stay in this game, remain with SCV (if VMAPA survives) or land with another corps (if it doesn't or is limping), then at worst the situation going forward is status quo ante, with Paul and Sandi charting the Troopercussion score, and Team Lauren teaching it to the members. Same as now. Same as what has brought Troopers drums to this point. To make the added investment, admin would need to be of the belief that further progress in Troopercussion is not possible under the current arrangement. There could be a cost associated with sending that kind of signal, too -- or maybe not; maybe having the Rennicks and Lauren Teel under one roof would be percussion heaven and lock up the Sanford for years to come, who knows.

Point is, it's not a slam dunk to hire the Rennicks, assuming they would even entertain such an offer. The Troopers have bigger issues now than their percussion program, and their limited resources probably would bring a bigger return if invested in their visual programming generally and guard specifically.

 

I think the group that would need then the most are Blue Stars. But I also like what Greg Powers is doing. This was their first year as a caption head with a a new staff and an all new battery(need to recruit more for this section next year). Can't turn a program around in one year unless you literally bring the talent with you from somewhere else (people that followed rennick from PR to SCV or mcnutt cadets to boston)

[jimwolf359]

2 hours ago, Zeke said:

Can we not be so gloom and doom about Vanguard just yet

Hard not to be given what's known about their legal issues with CA. 

[2muchcoffeeman]

1 hour ago, 2muchcoffeeman said:

If you're driving at the idea that SCV won't return and the Rennicks will be looking for a home, I can see where you're coming from. And, sure, if the Troopers have the resources and the Rennicks have the interest, then, well, Wagons Ho!

But even if the resources were in place, the ROI would need to be greater than the return Troopers are getting out of their current, presumably less expensive, arrangement with the Rennicks. The current arrangement -- the one in which the Rennicks have been full-time with VMAPA and have also composed the percussion book for Troopers -- has brought Troopercussion into the company of upper-echelon programs. They finished 8th this year, ahead of such programs as Phantom and Blue Stars, and closer in score to Blue Devils than to Blue Knights. If the Troopers were to invest in the Rennicks in an amount that would ensure their FT commitment, the admin would need to be persuaded that it could, at a minimum, result in pushing Troopercussion into the discussion for the Sanford. . . .

. . . because not even that possibility may be enough to warrant the expenditure. Having realistic dreams about the trophy -- one named after a Casper native and former Trooper, after all -- is cool and everything, but even if Troop had won the Sanford last night, it would have boosted their overall score to about 90.6, good for 9th place. (And maybe an extra ~1 point in MA, so call it 92.0; still 9th place).

And maybe, when you're trying to get into the top 6 and then aim for a medal, this is what it takes: You have to spend and sweat more to reap smaller increases in points. If all else is constant and the Rennicks are worth an extra 1.5 to 2.0 points during championship week compared to where you are now, maybe that's a good investment.

But even if the Rennicks, assuming they want to even stay in this game, remain with SCV (if VMAPA survives) or land with another corps (if it doesn't or is limping), then at worst the situation going forward is status quo ante, with Paul and Sandi charting the Troopercussion score, and Team Lauren teaching it to the members. Same as now. Same as what has brought Troopers drums to this point. To make the added investment, admin would need to be of the belief that further progress in Troopercussion is not possible under the current arrangement. There could be a cost associated with sending that kind of signal, too -- or maybe not; maybe having the Rennicks and Lauren Teel under one roof would be percussion heaven and lock up the Sanford for years to come, who knows.

Point is, it's not a slam dunk to hire the Rennicks, assuming they would even entertain such an offer. The Troopers have bigger issues now than their percussion program, and their limited resources probably would bring a bigger return if invested in their visual programming generally and guard specifically.

 

UPON FURTHER REFLECTION, Here's a plausible rationale for Troop to make a play for Team Rennick to hang their shingle in Casper, and this rationale may be what @IllianaLancerContra may have in mind:

Suppose VMAPA is taking on water and Corps X (not Troopers) hires the Rennicks away. My knowledge of "how these things work" is limited, so handle with care. But If the Rennicks were to be given responsibility for the vitality and success of the Corps X percussion program, presumably Paul and Sandi are going to want to entrust hands-on instruction to people they know, and people who know the Rennick pedagogy. That's only reasonable; the Rennicks will not sign a contract that holds them responsible for outcomes they can't directly manage.

That means a new caption head at Corps X.

And that could mean Lauren Teel & Co.

You see the issue.

Now, if VMAPA survives and SCV lives to take the field again, this might not be as urgent an issue, if SCV still has instructional staff that meet the Rennick seal of approval. But maybe they don't, in which case swap SCV in for Corps X.

If all this is sound logic, then a Troop investment in the Rennicks may be more of a defensive maneuver than a growth opportunity.

If such an investment is beyond the Troopers' resources, the best-case outcome in such a scenario is that Troop continues its current relationship with the Rennicks, and that Team Teel has been preparing for succession (though, see this very good point by @Jeff Ream), and the next CH is ready to step into her place at Troopers, and the elevator ride continues upward uninterrupted.

And all that would have to be weighed up against the overall objectives of the organization -- competitive success? Member experience? Well-rounded program?

Drum corps is a tough business, man.

OR MAYBE the program coordinator has everyone on board through at least 2024 to complete the 3-year programming trilogy we've been teased about, and all this is needless speculation.

 

 

Edited August 13, 2023 by 2muchcoffeeman

[GetOFFmyDot]

1 hour ago, CAtenhut said:

Is there an actual stat to support this? No doubt Brad and Brad run an amazing organization, but I have heard similar sentiment from kids who have marched Mandarins, Phantom and Bluecoats too. 

Agreed.  The only people who state this are Blue Stars folks.     
 

im not saying it isn’t true, but I haven’t seen one data point to support it.