Where and when was your first live corps show?

[kdaddy]

Picture it... Tulsa, OK. 1996.

Storms prevailed at intermission, so I saw bangin Magic and Crown shows, a top four Cavies show, and a championship Phantom Regiment show all performed standstill in the Union high school performing arts center.

[Tony L.]

I could not have had a better 1st show:

8/2/88 Cincinnati

SCV, Phantom, Madison, Velvet Knights, Spirit of Atlanta, Sky Ryders, Freelancers, Florida Wave, Glassmen, and Limited Edition.  

Obviously hooked after that!  BTW, SCV beat Madison by 3.1 points.  And Phantom beat them too.  What a difference from the actual final results!  

Edited September 6, 2025 by Tony L.

[hostrauser]

July 14th, 1995: Moonlight Classic at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA

 

[Tim K]

I can’t recall the first time I saw drum corps in competition. The Boston area has three major music circuits, two of which featured bands, drum corps, and drill teams. I was in a competitive band and in quite a few shows drum corps competed, so it would have been at one of these shows in 1975. The first show with corps that competed nationally other than the 1975 PBS broadcast would have been the 1976 World Open in Lynn, MA and a few days later the CYO Nationals held at Boston College.

[Steven Rocco94]

1982

 

Edited September 7, 2025 by Steven Rocco94
Mis spelled

[vhsmbdm]

Centerville, OH show in 2001. I grew up in a very poor, orthodox, household and the trip my high school band took to this show was the highlight of my life to that point. I had no idea “band” could be so cool. 

I watched the PBS broadcast of Finals in my village’s library that September after explaining to the head librarian that we didn’t have tv at home but I saw in my neighbors tv guide that it would be playing. I didn’t figure out until later that it wasn’t live.
 

I can’t emphasize enough how much that trip to Centerville changed my life. I was never able to afford to march but I did attend audition camps for Bluecoats in 2003, Cavaliers in 2004, and Glassmen in 2005. Those experiences will always stay with me. Hence why I’m still here!

[IllianaLancerContra]

1973 Michigan City old Ames Field.  After marching in first parade as a rising 6th grader in Barker Jr HS band. 

[Terri Schehr]

1 hour ago, IllianaLancerContra said:

1973 Michigan City old Ames Field.  After marching in first parade as a rising 6th grader in Barker Jr HS band. 

Little did we know when we were in those junior high bands… 

[JFitz19]

Early September 1958:  CYO Finals at White Stadium, Boston.  I was just about to turn 12.  I don’t even remember who I saw competing.  Returned again in 1960, after competing in Class C in a corps with 12 horns, to see the incomparable St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights give it all away, again, on an unnecessary penalty.  They should have still won by points, but this was CYO and drum corps back then when, maybe, scores were kept closer than they should have.  I don’t really know.

[Zeke]

1990 RCC show in Riverside California.