matye Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 To Stef & Galen ... Remember ... Bill Cook et al started Star in 1984 ... with a large investment, of course. However, companies were started by Bill and Star that made the corps self-sufficient in the ensuing years. My guess is that some consideration should depend upon what division the corps would march in, used or new instruments, uniforms, food, INSURANCE, vehicles to get down the road and fuel/repairs/parts for them, salaries for staff ... ... fundraising for any 501©(3) is always a challenge ... bingo revenues are drying up nationwide with the advent of casinos ... corporate funding? You betcha! Help out here ... I know I'm missing a bunch of expenses (and they're all bunched in "contingency" and "miscellaneous") ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErieSopMike Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 To Stef & Galen ...Remember ... Bill Cook et al started Star in 1984 ... with a large investment, of course. However, companies were started by Bill and Star that made the corps self-sufficient in the ensuing years. My guess is that some consideration should depend upon what division the corps would march in, used or new instruments, uniforms, food, INSURANCE, vehicles to get down the road and fuel/repairs/parts for them, salaries for staff ... ... fundraising for any 501©(3) is always a challenge ... bingo revenues are drying up nationwide with the advent of casinos ... corporate funding? You betcha! Help out here ... I know I'm missing a bunch of expenses (and they're all bunched in "contingency" and "miscellaneous") ... Over the past year I have compiled a list of things that would be needed to get a DCA corps off the ground. If you would like to see my list and/or compare it to your own (for you corps founders out there), send me a PM and I will gladly let you take a look and give your opinions of whether or not I'm on the right path. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScribeToo Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 (edited) Remember ... Bill Cook et al started Star in 1984 Exactly my point, Marilyn.. (I love when we're on the same page!!) Bill Cook didn't just show up one day with his checkbook on fire.. YES the money he originally invested was integral to their early success (though not nearly as integral as the brilliant idea to create self-sufficient, money-making companies to support the corps, long-term).. but without the passion and dedication to MAKE it work found in every single person involved from the very beginning, it might have happened, but it probably wouldn't have lasted. and FYI, Matt, the process by which Capital Regiment came to be is certainly not new, nor was it invented by Rick Bays. Smart starters have ALWAYS known to get their ducks in a row first.. and THEN field your corps.. Rick did it EXTRA WELL.. but CapReg surely wasn't first (we were doing that with Arizona Sun back in the late 80s!).. and those who are smart won't let them be the last.. Edited August 15, 2006 by ScribeToo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnric Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 ok, now for a little switch of pace... What about being weekend warriors of DCA? What would a figure be there? This changes the dynamic drastically...think about all the crazy numbers thrown out so far busses??? don't need em truck? well it's necessary but not at first. we still do not own a truck and we are in our second year.. why? lower on the priority list than other things. we rented this summer. If we had found a deal that was right for us we would have bought a truck... this should be done in the next 2 months. But like I said. You can get by without one to start. Right there you have gone from a start up cost of $1,000,000 down to $4,000 staff.. This is the most volitile of all the things you will do. A good staff can do a lot more than teach. They can secure endorsements, and have networks to things that you will need that they can get for you when you start. lets just say your brass caption head's bestest friend happens to be saaaaay George Hopkins? and you need to say borrow some pit equipment for your first few rehearsals... get my point? this is not an end solution.. it is a way to bring in membership while not spending until you can start making enough cash to buy your own equipment. which leads to the equipment. Well if your going DCA do want to stay with G bugles? if so, you can save some money.... and this is for no other reason that their are plenty of G bugles for sale on the market. Bb would be a harder way to go unless you purchase or finance a set to start. We encouraged our members to buy their horn from us. Yes it depletes our own inventory.. but we turn the money around for other things. besides someone who buys a horn from us is buying it to use. (I think you get this point) Also, we borrowed like crazy for the first two years! Even now that we are looking to expand to 85-90 horns for next year we need to worrry about more equipment. this is now minor in the grand scheme. also you can get by without somethings but not with others.... The first major purchase the bridgemen made was a full battery. 9 snares,4 quints, 6 bass we bought almost brand new Yamaha from a college that buys a new set every other year. When i tell you these drums were like new?? believe me. We got them for a fair price and we have some of the best drum equipment on any field. but we still need some pit equipment. we have bought some.... but only when THE DEAL PRESENTED ITSELF!!! not when we felt we needed to buy! I can go on and on with unis and housing and practice facilities and such but as I said before and in Mike's other thread. A) make a plan. Figure out where you want to be next year, the year after and so on. B) make a plan. Figure out what you want to be c) make a plan. Find out what the heck all this costs and where you can get it. and D!!! d)make money... with out it your plan can not be put into action!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newseditor44 Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 To Stef & Galen ...Remember ... Bill Cook et al started Star in 1984 ... with a large investment, of course. However, companies were started by Bill and Star that made the corps self-sufficient in the ensuing years. My guess is that some consideration should depend upon what division the corps would march in, used or new instruments, uniforms, food, INSURANCE, vehicles to get down the road and fuel/repairs/parts for them, salaries for staff ... ... fundraising for any 501©(3) is always a challenge ... bingo revenues are drying up nationwide with the advent of casinos ... corporate funding? You betcha! Help out here ... I know I'm missing a bunch of expenses (and they're all bunched in "contingency" and "miscellaneous") ... I think the point that Stef makes, which is the most important, is that it takes commitment and a smart business plan to get things running. No "check", regardless of how large it is, will get a drum corps off the ground, let alone keep it running. The success of any orginization is based in no small part on the people behind that organization, period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxingfred Posted August 15, 2006 Share Posted August 15, 2006 $250,000 is a start. Just a start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caviepit85 Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 http://www.cookgroup.com/star/ Bill Cook shares his thoughts on how to start a Drum Corps.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnric Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 with all due respect to Bill Cook... I think the plan of... 1) find one really, really, rich guy that want to start a drum corps philosophy is weeell.... probably not the normal model of building a drum corps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErieSopMike Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 with all due respect to Bill Cook...I think the plan of... 1) find one really, really, rich guy that want to start a drum corps philosophy is weeell.... probably not the normal model of building a drum corps Yeah, one person can make a difference... but I doubt that same person will be easy to find. This activity is a team sport and no one person can fully do it on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChicagoFan Posted August 16, 2006 Share Posted August 16, 2006 Before a kid steps on a field, before a note of music is put on paper or a count of drill written, before any thoughts are given to uniforms, equipment, trucks, busses, before ANYTHING else takes place...the proposed corps must have a firm and well articulated mission statement, realistic and well-defined goals, and, above all, a sound business plan in place that will ensure the corps healthy survival well beyond the initial season. All the good-hearted people in the world with all the best of intentions won't matter if the organization is not on sound financial footing from the outset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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