Magic's 2007 Info Meeting

[ScribeToo]

I DID get it! (The inference, that is...)

My ex had to explain it to me once...she joked about giving those away in a bar.

She was bartending....

You should have seen my face...

You have restored my faith in the humor of people who visit this website!

Thank you!! (and I would have paid cash green money to see the look on your face!)

Stef

[Geoff]

a little of all the above. I helped, my husband helped, Lee Shields put countless hours into it... Heat wave helped, Peashey helped....

Good luck on getting a response...I've been asking for a while now, yes directly.

But I thought you knew?

[Meredith]

I'll answer what I can, but I'm really not involved in the day to day stuff and had a baby in 05, so I've especially been out of the loop. One thought though...I know people wonder why people from Magic don't come on here and answer questions. My thoughts are perhaps a) they don't want to be attacked and B) they don't want to be confronted with every complaint from Magic history which seem to be dredged up every time. I really don't think it's to be sneaky or mysterious. We've talked to the admin quite a bit and they answer any questions from the alumni in a very straightforward manner.

1. Director - I was going to ask this, but didn't get a chance. I assumed they are still looking, which they have been doing for the last year. They don't want to jump into whoever will take the job. They want someone who will do it right.

2. Horns - don't know, honestly. Just passing on what I was told.

3. Volunteers - I'm sure a lot of it depends on personality. Every time I've been out, the people (parents mostly) seem very happy. They just wish there were more people. There has always been a lack of support staff at Magic and not from any fault on the admin's part that I have seen. I am sure everyone has their own perspective. I am sorry if your experience helping wasn't what you hoped for. Wasn't that about 2 years ago though? Different administration, no?

4. The Bingo Hall is no secret that I know of. They couldn't get enough volunteers and had to hire people. They didn't get the numbers they had hoped for (being Clermont, FL and not NY) and it didn't make money. I'm not 100% sure the current status, but it wasn't making money so the point is moot.

5. Don't know, but I am impressed by the lack of debt considering it was massive.

6. Again, sorry, I can't answer for everything dating back in the corps. I do know they've been searching for someone who will stay and do it right. It's a hard job when you don't have a sufficient support structure.

"Two guys" I meant Gerry and Bruce.

Alumni....yes, the administration who brought the corps back actually said they wanted no old Magic around. How long must Magic pay for the stupidity of one administration?

I am honestly a bit hurt that alumni would be suspicious of anything I've done in the last 7 years. Everything alumni related (except for one year, 04 maybe, when someone else was named president by the director and did nothing) has come from me. I have not asked for a single cent from the alumni, despite pressure from previous administrations. I knew how the alumni would feel. Instead, I have tried to keep people informed, set up meetings and get-togethers, etc (at expense to myself in a few instances). This administration has been very inviting of the alumni. They made us lunch at a camp and have sat down and talked with us at every camp, trying to help get the alumni established and involved. Not June of until this year, when we established ourselves as a non-profit, did I ask for donations to get the organization itself running. Then now, with the plea for the corps. (I figured perhaps the other 1490 people out of 1500 or so can donate this time.) Granted, I have never claimed to know how to run this thing and have offered (begged) anyone to take it from me if they can do more or do a better job, but I just don't get it.

I think I covered all I could and I hope I haven't screwed anything up. Again, this is just my view as a relative outsider.

Meredith

[Lancerlady]

But I thought you knew?

I do know.

Meredith just answered.

Thank you for your honesty but the administration involved is still the same that was there two years ago. Some of them anyway.

I think we keep hearing the same thing about a director but why have they gone through so many? They can't all be bad. We also heard that some of them were asked to leave. Even if they did quit there must be a reason.

And Lee was invaluable for running that Bingo Hall, another case of miscommunication imo, because they offered to hire my husband and I to do it, but nobody else would step in to help us out. For us we didn't want to do it cause of second hand smoke, we both have asthma. We brought that up, and got blown off for other projects we had in mind for fundraising etc. They gave that to somebody else even after we brought in money to the corps.

Bingo hall-I think personally that would be something for the kids to do on the side, a way for them to pay off their dues but that's just one thought.

And we weren't parents or alumni, we just had a soft spot for a struggling corps cause we've been there before.

Oh and Meredith, congratulations on the baby, I know how hectic that can be as I just had one in June myself! :)

Edited October 18, 2006 by Lancerlady

[idontwan2know]

Just for the record, Meredith, none of my comments about the feelings of the alums I know had anything to do with you. I've never heard a bad word from anyone about you or your efforts.

I'm certainly glad that there's a more welcoming atmosphere for alums nowadays and I will encourage people to try and put the hard feelings aside.

[Tom Brace]

How much of this could have been anticipated following the 2002 season? I mean, Magic was given extrodinary gifts in 2001 to get them back on the field. I remember Tom Peashy for one, who gave tirelessly to get them back on the field. Yes, bingo was an old idea to get financial stability, but it was, at least an idea.

I also remember the assembled staff of big names who led the Magic back into finals in 2002 from a Div. II spot.

Here's the problem...I think there were too many people who thought the mission was accomplished after getting the new baby Magic out of it's crib and walking instead of crawling. Did people figure their job was done and wanted to just hand it off to someone else (who may or may not have been equipped to do the job?

As amazing as those accomplishments were in '01 and '02, it never solved the major problem surrounding Magic, or many other struggling corps. What do corps need to do to sustain themselves for the long haul? Or is 2002-2006 a long haul in drum corps of this era?

Who's ready to handle the problems of being a competitive Florida drum corps for the long haul? Who has the new fundraising ideas (bingo is pretty much dead over much of the country thanks to casinos)? Who is going to step up now? Or is Magic going to be the next casualty?

Many people on DCP rip the drum corps of today and how we are losing corps...it's time we all stepped up. Yes, we did it back in '01 for Magic...but sometimes a corps needs more help once they become a toddler.

What if DCP created a fuel fund for all competitive drum corps to participate in...yes, DCA, DCI, GSC, all corps could apply for the funds. DCP could set up a PayPal system in their store for donating to such a fund. What about a buy a corps a day worth of meals fund (about $500 a day)? What about an adopt a seat, horn, or drum program?

What can we do besides complain?

[Meredith]

I guess I don't understand, if you knew what happened with bingo, why ask like it's some mystery? They did offer parents a deal for working there I believe (I think workers had to be 18), but then they are trading income for dues and still not getting ahead, right? Apparently few of the parents would help otherwise. But you may know this better than me since you were there. I was still living in NC at the time.

As for directors, again, I don't know the answer. I think it's a hard job, harder than most of us imagine, especially at a corps like Magic where the director is very hands-on and not sitting in an air conditioned office all day, kwim? Some weren't up for it, some got burned out quickly would be my guess. I'm pretty sure it's not come crazy BOD conspiracy to rotate directors and confuse people. Frankly, I'd take it over a long term director that is hurting the corps and you can't get rid of.

To Tom, I think, yes, the corps made an unbelievable come back and then my understanding is everyone walked away, leaving the corps ridiculously in debt and with no staff or support. I think we're missing the main point that the corps recovered and is in pretty decent financial shape, but like you say, Magic (and all corps) need a long term solution. I don't have answers there, but I think you have some great ideas.

[Lancerlady]

So do they have horns now?

That is only part of the story from what I was told regarding the Bingo Hall. I know that many a time folks have asked about it here but it's always been un answered. I got a pm from somebody who explained what happened to me in more detail. But I won't bring that here since it's against forum guidelines.

And..the "debt reduction"...I guess time will tell on that one.

I'm wondering this, which I don't understand why nobody else is wondering, if they don't have horns, since they had to sell them to pay a debt, how are they going to get them this late in the game without going back into debt further?

And the good ole, "quit complaining" speech and do something speech. How can we do something if we don't have all the facts? I can't afford to get burned again. So excuse me while I try to get some facts to decide whether or not I WANT to do something.

I don't consider myself complaining but asking some very valid questions. People need facts in order to make sound decisions, especially with a corps that is struggling.

The Bingo could work if it was done correctly with somebody from the outside taking care of the money..does Bingo go back to the State first in Florida like other States?

And like I said about the directors, they all couldn't have been bad..sorry don't buy that. But that's just my personal opinion.

Edited October 19, 2006 by Lancerlady

[BL1977]

Who's ready to handle the problems of being a competitive Florida drum corps for the long haul? Who has the new fundraising ideas (bingo is pretty much dead over much of the country thanks to casinos)? Who is going to step up now? Or is Magic going to be the next casualty?

What can we do besides complain?

The Magic of ORLANDO is located in the tourism center for the United States. With that being said, the Magic could expand to other opportunities that tourism offers in Orlando- like catering or entertaining.

My daughter is a freshman at the University of Central Florida (UCF), and my younger daughter (she's 17, a 2005 Magic vet) went to Orlando a couple of weeks ago. They went to a UCF party and my younger daughter had an awesome reunion with several other 2005 Magic vets.

Last weekend, my daughter carpooled to her catering job with a fellow dormmate, and discovered that her dormmate is a 2 year vet from Southwind. While this girl was only 19, she said that it was her last year in drum corps, because her parents had to choose between drum corps and college, and they can't afford both. I started to think about the options for this girl, saddened to know that she would never march her last 2 years...

The million dollar scenario: what if there was a way for a college kid to earn the dues for the next season? There are over 43,000 students in Orlando. What if the "Magic alumni" created an organization that catering companies could turn to, when they are short of help? If the "Magic alumni" hired college students, they could offer a competitive wage to their employees, and still profit some money to offset the operational costs for next season.

If you take it one step farther- what if the "Magic alumni" hired Magic members, or alumni, or parents? Then, 100% of the wages could be donated back to the corps (and could offset next season's dues)...

At a higher scale, what if DCI expanded their commitment to current drum corps? If DCI was able to manage this type of program within the U.S....

1. Drum corps marchers would register to particpate, would identify the drum corps that they plan to support, and the market that they would be available to work.

2. DCI would identify the potential workers in each market.

3. With this information, DCI could identify opportunities where members could volunteer their time in various activities- whether it's collecting parking money at a football game , to selling popcorn, to catering a wedding... DCI would manage the activities and the participants.

Of course, DCI would get its cut, but then, the earned wages would be donated back to the appropriate drum corps.

If someone was hired by DCI to manage this as a program, this idea could happen, and benefit all drum corps- not just the Magic.

[Jeff Ream]

A note to the over-sensitive:

a "blow-job", in the context used in my earlier post is a DRINK -- a shot, in fact -- meant to be drunk without using your hands...

THE PURPOSE of choosing that specific drink as an example in my post was to highlight the "hands off" implication wrt administration and design. Do you get it now?

Unfortunately, I realize too late that this crowd is not ready for that level of humor or popular culture and all I can say in response is: Jesus H. M. F. Christ. Do we have to go back to Kill Bill?

For Legolaus, thank you for your insight and report.. sounds to me like The Magic is just going about their business being a.. well.. a drum corps. I love that. Words like "worked down debt" and "modest and in line budget" give me hope for them and their future.

Stef

oh good lord. really, this post makes it no better.