A Cost-Cutting Proposal

[MikeD]

2 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Absolutely let them compete in Soundsport.  
But if on field w/ DCI Corps they need to meet instrumentation requirements.  Same way winter drumline doesn’t have a brass section.   Heck, let the woodwind ensemble play Star Spangled Banner, and during intermission. 

Better approach is to allow woodwinds in drum corps. Been saying that for decades.

[RiverCityAndTroopersFan]

2 hours ago, MikeD said:

Better approach is to allow woodwinds in drum corps

Exactly

[keystone3ply]

2 hours ago, MikeD said:

Better approach is to allow woodwinds in drum corps. Been saying that for decades.

👀 uh oh… 

[Mello Dude]

2 hours ago, MikeD said:

Better approach is to allow woodwinds in drum corps. Been saying that for decades.

Eww...

 

[KVG_DC]

4 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

The bands that choose to participate would need to develop one.  
 

I recall in 1980s there was a summer marching band circuit run by BOA(?). 

MBA (at the time) had a Summer Grand Nationals that finished every year at .. Whitewater!  

But... it died FAST as the expense of doing both summer and fall field shows + kids not wanting to do both seasons + summer school resources being axed hard by school boards, particularly for the arts pretty much made summer band become a combination of parades and learning basics before taking up your show learning at camp.

My nationally competitive ISSMA band at the time never even entertained the notion of doing a Summer field show.  It stretched our resources enough to do the Fall ISSMA circuit and invitationals + a 'big trip' every 3 or 4 years (either Grand Nats, which was not yet always at Indy, or a Bowl parade.)

My sister did Grand Nationals in Jacksonville, TN her freshman year in 1981, then the Orange Bowl parade her senior year.  I got one trip, the Rose Bowl Parade.  We were able to do MBA regional and Grand Nats as well only because they'd moved in state.  Getting logistics permission to take the school busses out of state was...complex as we learned from the Band Director.

And this was in the heyday of funded school marching arts and a robust parents group raising money.  That band got crushed not long after when the school corporation 'refocused learning goals' and support for summer arts and arts in general were allocated to another school in the district and even then at a meager rate.  The band parents org kept supplemental funding going but after a time, the money moved to other areas of the city and yeah it just devolved fast. 

I don't know that many programs have the resources to do a summer program and those that do are competitive in their fall seasons and value that probably much more...so...they're not gonna split resources for a new summer ensemble most likely. 

Dec - end of May were 100% when jazz band and concert band as well and solo and ensemble were going on.  As well as support for swing choir and school musicals.  Pulling enough kids to learn a summer show to put on the road...again, not likely.  

[TenHut]

2 hours ago, MikeD said:

Better approach is to allow woodwinds in drum corps. Been saying that for decades.

Nope. Completely ruins the brassy sound. No thanks to flutes and clarinets.

[Terri Schehr]

25 minutes ago, keystone3ply said:

👀 uh oh… 

Incoming 

[Jeff Ream]

21 hours ago, dbc03 said:

This would need to be regulated by DCI across all corps to be worthwhile, otherwise the competitive disadvantage ends up losing too much, winning brings financial support.

Then the audience has to be ok with lower quality performances across the season. Will people be willing to pay Allentown prices for the equivalent of early July performances? A lot probably will, but some won't and you shrink the audience and the money that bigger audiences bring.

DCI regulates what dates shows happen. they can regulate when spring training can happen.

[Jeff Ream]

6 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Even if only a few do here & there it could help by adding a unit or two to a show.  
Kids would have the thrill of being on field with ‘the big league’ & seeing how they stack up; band director would get feedback from judges that they don’t usually see.  
 

In conjunction with more regional emphasis this would be a way to increase available units at individual shows.  Heck, some of the HS’s might even want to host a show, which would also help w/ regionalization.  

the thing is this:

 

summer is the break for schools. sure bands rehearse...maybe once a week til band camp. directors and staff have lives. many schools run on limited access during the summer for cleaning, maintenance you name it. given how fewer districts pay for the band as is, i doubt they'd be willing to pony up for the summer.,

[Jeff Ream]

5 hours ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

Absolutely let them compete in Soundsport.  
But if on field w/ DCI Corps they need to meet instrumentation requirements.  Same way winter drumline doesn’t have a brass section.   Heck, let the woodwind ensemble play Star Spangled Banner, and during intermission. 

oh and hey HS band...half your members cant participate.

 

thats a winning approach