Where will the growth take place?

[perc2100]

15 hours ago, denverjohn said:

This all sounds like drum and bugle corps up until 1972.

Ha, seriously!  Even in the 80's or early 90's this localized stuff was fairly integral to sustaining most non-Top 6 organizations.

[Slingerland]

The problem, as we can see with the 2026 schedule, is that there simply aren't enough tour-ready corps to have enough events, even if you go to a regional-first model. In the northeast, you'll have Boston, Spartans, 7th Regiment, Raiders....and that's it? Southeast is marginally better. Midwest is fine for World Class but doesn't have that many OC corps to fill out a ticket, and as shown next year, they can't really run multiple shows on the same night because then every line up is thin.

 

 

[TheOneWhoKnows]

22 minutes ago, Slingerland said:

The problem, as we can see with the 2026 schedule, is that there simply aren't enough tour-ready corps to have enough events, even if you go to a regional-first model. In the northeast, you'll have Boston, Spartans, 7th Regiment, Raiders....and that's it? Southeast is marginally better. Midwest is fine for World Class but doesn't have that many OC corps to fill out a ticket, and as shown next year, they can't really run multiple shows on the same night because then every line up is thin.

 

 

True, but a regional model has the opportunity to foster growth. More localized groups would have closer opportunities to perform. Make weeknight showcases exhibitions or smaller Olympic judge panels. Make weekends full panel shows allowing for greater participation. Those localized groups then have an opportunity to build and grow overtime to become potential open class, world class corps. 
 

Look at the history of most of these corps, scout troops, churches, organizations. That’s how they started and we’ve gone so far away from it that its dying out. 

[Jeff Ream]

12 hours ago, TheOneWhoKnows said:

You’ll never get broad school partnership for housing. Now every school wants to charge for the use and with society being so lawsuit happy, there’s too much liability in someone else using your facilities. 

and many schools say no without even considering it.

[Jeff Ream]

15 minutes ago, TheOneWhoKnows said:

True, but a regional model has the opportunity to foster growth. More localized groups would have closer opportunities to perform. Make weeknight showcases exhibitions or smaller Olympic judge panels. Make weekends full panel shows allowing for greater participation. Those localized groups then have an opportunity to build and grow overtime to become potential open class, world class corps. 
 

Look at the history of most of these corps, scout troops, churches, organizations. That’s how they started and we’ve gone so far away from it that its dying out. 

how can it foster growth in the NE when you can barely fill out a show? no offense to the OC corps up here, but they aren't going to draw a crowd. the local OC show near me the last few years was a Friday and had 5/7 corps. Now it's a Tuesday with 3 corps, and odds are unlikely any all age in the area will pull a Tuesday. I am afraid the sponsor will take a bath which is a shame, as the crowd has grown the last 3 years, and some local kids went out for Spartans.

[Fred Windish]

This kind of frank discussion HAS to be of value to some change agents out there.  Our beloved activity is really "up against it, as the saying goes.  How about this . . . 

Successful Saturday Night shows converted into 2 night events in the same venue.  

With this change, you essentially double the amount of prime Center Section seating. You open up the activity to those unable to attend one of the nights the corps are normally in town.  Many "hardcore"drum corps fans would pay again for yet another opportunity to see the corps. Of course, the corps would still receive 2 paychecks, but gain a lot less hassle setting-up.

In any case, this concept represents 2 of the 7 days to keep active per week of Tour.

I my opinion, the performances really DO need to become more generalized, and fan-friendly.  People need to be enthralled by the whole thing, rather than possibly confused.  To me, this means more MELODY!  Melody gives the audience a chance to personally participate, evaluate, judge for themself.

Edited December 2, 2025 by Fred Windish

[perc2100]

1 hour ago, Fred Windish said:

This kind of frank discussion HAS to be of value to some change agents out there.  Our beloved activity is really "up against it, as the saying goes.  How about this . . . 

Successful Saturday Night shows converted into 2 night events in the same venue.  

With this change, you essentially double the amount of prime Center Section seating. You open up the activity to those unable to attend one of the nights the corps are normally in town.  Many "hardcore"drum corps fans would pay again for yet another opportunity to see the corps. Of course, the corps would still receive 2 paychecks, but gain a lot less hassle setting-up.

In any case, this concept represents 2 of the 7 days to keep active per week of Tour.

I my opinion, the performances really DO need to become more generalized, and fan-friendly.  People need to be enthralled by the whole thing, rather than possibly confused.  To me, this means more MELODY!  Melody gives the audience a chance to personally participate, evaluate, judge for themself.

I wonder what would happen if all the touring was weekend-only shows, all 2 night events in the same stadium: like, all Allentown, every weekend.  Lineups change night-night/weekend-weekend, corps rehearse during the week w/less traveling and more manageable schedules, etc.  Maybe smaller weeknight shows where a handful of corps 'take turns' competing in on, maybe a Tuesday and Thursday each night leading into the weekend.  

IDK, maybe minus the 2 night events every weekend this is already what kind of happens, and 2 nights are cost prohibitive in most stadiums.  It is kind of fun thinking of the 'what ifs' even knowing there's no way any substantial change will come here other than by "accident" when week day shows continue to dry-up.

[wolfgang]

Thinking really outside the box- Canada has one corps and several groups under the Calgary Stampede umbrella. Given there is not the high school marching culture, but could a ground floor WGI Winds or Soundsport type activity develop in Canada independent of schools?

There are still good independent winter guards there. Perhaps an Eastern Canada and Western Canada circuit. I understand the hurdles, just trying to think of areas underserved.

Edited December 3, 2025 by wolfgang

[corpsman98]

Unless the governance of DCI is completely changed, none of this matters. DCI will need to evolve into a BOA like model in which the corps participate but have no say in the governance of the organization. Until you clear the foxes out of the hen house, nothing else matters. You can continue to bat around ideas from here until the end of time. If the governance does not change, nothing else will.

[Jeff Ream]

13 minutes ago, corpsman98 said:

Unless the governance of DCI is completely changed, none of this matters. DCI will need to evolve into a BOA like model in which the corps participate but have no say in the governance of the organization. Until you clear the foxes out of the hen house, nothing else matters. You can continue to bat around ideas from here until the end of time. If the governance does not change, nothing else will.

far easier to do with a scholastic endeavour set up that way from the beginning than an independent organization set up to avoid that style from it's inception. it's akin to asking politicians to vote for term limits and campaign funding reform.