DO the current mm's in DCI worry about it's possible demise as much as veterans do?

[MacNCheese]

On 12/25/2025 at 12:54 AM, Elise said:

I'm considering marching with the Colt Cadets this summer as well! And yeah, the teenage determination is definitely really strong, especially as (as i've seen it) drum corps and marching band in general is overall more respected. Less seen as music nerds marching I suppose? Whatever it is, there 100% are teenagers (and young adults ofc) who are ready to sell their soul to march with drum corps. I do worry about the rising costs, as it's becoming and probably is the main barrier to marching.

Yeah, the costs are definitely something. I'm capable of it but it's causing me to miss out on a lot of things. It's nice to hear from someone else planning on marching with CC, I hope to see you there!

[Jeff Ream]

On 12/25/2025 at 1:54 AM, Elise said:

I'm considering marching with the Colt Cadets this summer as well! And yeah, the teenage determination is definitely really strong, especially as (as i've seen it) drum corps and marching band in general is overall more respected. Less seen as music nerds marching I suppose? Whatever it is, there 100% are teenagers (and young adults ofc) who are ready to sell their soul to march with drum corps. I do worry about the rising costs, as it's becoming and probably is the main barrier to marching.

do it and have fun!!!

[waliman4444]

4 hours ago, Chief Guns said:

2016 Riverside CA show, my wife befriended a young lady sitting next to us who marched Crown 2013 but left and went to BD for her final two years 2014-2015. 

She told us she auditioned  for BD in 2013 but didn't make it. So, she went to Crown to get her skills up (her exact words not mine please don't shoot the messenger) then went to BD her final two years as that was her ultimate dream destination.

All good chief...whatever their intention is, it is really none of our business..that they fulfill their dream is all that matters..peace and happy new year

[Chief Guns]

4 hours ago, waliman4444 said:

All good chief...whatever their intention is, it is really none of our business..that they fulfill their dream is all that matters..peace and happy new year

Agree with everything you said.

Happy New Year to you and your family!

[Morgoth Bauglir]

On 12/8/2025 at 9:14 AM, cixelsyd said:

Short answer - yes, when warranted (see 2020 and 2021 for examples).

Generally speaking, current marchers are concerned with the current season, and possibly future seasons up to their ageout.  An activity-wide demise swift enough to spoil those plans is unlikely.  Suspension via worldwide crisis such as war or pandemic is possible, but still rare.

As for alumni - frankly, there is hardly an activity anywhere that has changed so rapidly and fundamentally as drum corps.  That is what has "shortened the emotional commitment" to the activity for so many people.

That's where it is for me. I aged out in 05, spent the next 5ish years teaching indoor drumline and marching band, helping younger kids get into drum corps, arranging trips to nearby shows in the summer with a dozen members of the band's drumline, volunteering locally if shows were nearby, donating to corps, etc.

But sometime in the early 10s I realized the activity had changed too much and I didn't really recognize it anymore, or particularly enjoy it. The nature of the shows, the music chosen, the drill, the costumes instead of uniforms the interpretive dance that was replacing drill, the addition of things beyond brass/percussion/guard, and on and on kept mounting to the point where when I looked at a show on the field I could no longer reasonably say 'I remember doing this. This is like what I did back when'. It stopped being drum corps to me, and my interest fizzled out. Now it's been almost 15 years since I've been to a show, I check back in on the state of drum corps maybe once a year to see if it's found its way again, am disappointed it hasn't, and forget about it for another year. 

[craiga]

1 hour ago, Morgoth Bauglir said:

That's where it is for me. I aged out in 05, spent the next 5ish years teaching indoor drumline and marching band, helping younger kids get into drum corps, arranging trips to nearby shows in the summer with a dozen members of the band's drumline, volunteering locally if shows were nearby, donating to corps, etc.

But sometime in the early 10s I realized the activity had changed too much and I didn't really recognize it anymore, or particularly enjoy it. The nature of the shows, the music chosen, the drill, the costumes instead of uniforms the interpretive dance that was replacing drill, the addition of things beyond brass/percussion/guard, and on and on kept mounting to the point where when I looked at a show on the field I could no longer reasonably say 'I remember doing this. This is like what I did back when'. It stopped being drum corps to me, and my interest fizzled out. Now it's been almost 15 years since I've been to a show, I check back in on the state of drum corps maybe once a year to see if it's found its way again, am disappointed it hasn't, and forget about it for another year. 

Not criticizing you.....but I do feel bad for you.  I marched in 1980, so you can only imagine the changes I have witnessed during my lifetime.  If you just want to move on, that is fair.   I do have one suggestion, however.   I have found over the years that if you stay engaged with the activity on some level (either as a staff person, volunteer, etc) it is easier to appreciate the evolution. In the past 45 years, I have never actually disengaged from the activity.  As a result of this, I am every bit as enthused as ever.   I have also come to the realization that today's Boston Crusaders are every bit as passionate and committed as the kids I marched with all those years ago. And I am certain the same is true for other corps as well.   Best wishes to you!

[wolfgang]

1 hour ago, craiga said:

I have also come to the realization that today's Boston Crusaders are every bit as passionate and committed as the kids I marched with all those years ago. And I am certain the same is true for other corps as well.   Best wishes to you!

I believe the poster's issue is not how passionate current members are. That's irrelevant. His issue is the shows have morphed into something that doesn't appeal to him.

European soccer fans are some of the most passionate on earth. However, it makes no difference to me how avid they are. The product on the field does not appeal to me.

[Richard Lesher]

The activity has changed for sure. 

REMEMBER WHEN BEING TOP 25 WAS A BIG DEAL!!!

There are just straight up less corps, the talent that can pursue those corps still around has become more competitive with each other. 

The money chasing instructors of those corps that remain has increased dramatically. 

If a Corps can afford it they now put on the field a much higher quality of product as a result of better designers and more talent on the field. 

***********

When I was a SCV Cadet I marched with 9 year olds, and I was 15-16. 

My kids started on BDC. My oldest is in his 3rd year with them, and my youngest is starting his first. They are now TOO YOUNG!!!!!!!!! for BDC. 

BDC has been bumped up to high school kids. So my kids now belong to BD Juniors. 

BDB is now going to be second tier college kid talent. 

BDC is going to be local high school kids with a west coast tour. 

Good LUCK if you get into BDA, or Blue Coats, Boston, etc...

I marched what is WORLD CLASS now my Jr and Sr year of HIGH SCHOOL. That tier of competition and performance has been SHUT OUT for high school kids. Certainly for the top tier corps. 

When I marched 2/3 of the horn line was local to Santa Clara. Now they are all imports National and International. VMAPA had an audition camp in JAPAN?????

BDA doesn't even use their practice field anymore. That's for B, C and Jr's. 

********************

The REASON there are less corps is because of POOR management. Bingo in California was abused by the Freelancers, Velvet Knights, it nearly killed VMAPA, and Mandarins lost money on Bingo and gave bingo operations up to Blue Devils. 

VMAPA if they WANTED!!!!!!!!!! could let all the members march FREE. They are paying the SAME salary expenses pre collapse, but are not marching an Open Corps. All their revenues are nearly the same now pre COVID and pre collapse, and it's all going into more pockets of grown ups running the place. 

Organizations such as Drum Corps a predators' dreams. Once a non profit starts brining in real money their lack of oversight temps the grown ups entrusted with running it. 

For many............ the actual Drum Corps are a necessary evil to legitimize bringing in non profit money into their personal pockets. For others, they are a haven for predatory motivations in organizations that lack oversight like public schools (that's what going to eventually catch up with DCI). 

[waliman4444]

Forgive me, but how does this address the question of concern for the future of DCI by current marching members ?...All of your points are valid..I just didn't see how it answered the question..peace