For a large swath of my connected circle, and most everyone else that knows me - summers are rooted in the marching world of drum corps. It started in 6th grade and has followed me my entire life. This next week begins the final stretch for those corps competing in the DCI Championships as their season ends. I check my updates daily and will be in the theaters to watch!
Back when I marched, it was still the golden era of the activity where every corps was community based with VFW's and Scout troups fielding a competitive unit. With the advent of Drum Corps International, it raised the bar of the design and competitive side of the activity. But it also started the decline how difficult it was to maintain an organization and each year since, the number has eroded on a downward spiral. Many fingers have been pointed - the lack of solid community organizations to fund and support them, band programs eclipsing the need for drum corps, gas and touring expenses, cuts in school music programs, the influx of WGI and the winter arena..... The lists go on and on without any solid solutions or answers. Major champions have disappeared like extinct dinosaurs; Etibocoke Crusaders, Bridgemen, 27th Lancers, Guardsmen, Suncoast Sound, DutchBoy, Magic, Southwind, Glassmen. Like tombstones in a drum corps cemetery. There have been a fortunate few like Troopers, Crossmen, Cascades and Spirit of Atlanta that have morphed themselves into a new existence by sheer determination like a phoenix. And even a few "new" others that have managed to thrive in impossible circumstances like Carolina Crown or the Academy. But this year I am surprised to find there may be a turning point. In spite of the dominant G-7 "elite" World corps that have remained invinceable, there is a new crop joining the activity after decades of blight. It is the first year in recent memory that a corps has not sadly folded in the early summer when it found that funds had evaporated. Even Music City out of Nashville had announced closure but a resilient membership fought hard to maintain and they are having a banner season with a full unit. There are 6 new Open Drum Corps which is unprecedented in a single year. And they are not starting at the bottom of the pack as is custom. Both Louisiana Stars and Guardians came to the field ready to play against major teams. In my lifetime, I don't think LA has ever had a notable drum corps - and this a Southern state with likely very little money in school music programs.
For my thought, I think DCI's new SoundSport is genius. For all the name calling at becoming big bucks business in Indy, it seems like a great effort at opening doors to the activity. I have never felt like DCI was in it for money despite some heavy political alliances with the Top corps. I think it is ego driven and not for wealth. The premise of this new branch is allowing new units to compete on a small scale. Literally 20 X 30 yards of a field rather than a whole stadium. They can decide what elements they want to field to create a show and it lets them build a program that suits the talent they have at hand. Some are destined to become a full competing corps in the next season, some have sights on evolving as an All-Age corps in DCA and others are parade units that want a challenge of rising to the next level. The parameters are flexible. This removes the financial demands of touring and major staffing. I was amazed when I searched the DCI link and found at least 20 new units in the states as well as world units from Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Guatemala & China. This truly puts the International in DCI. It is heartening to see familiar names reemerging like Southwind, Railmen & Lakeshoremen. Creative new names like Oklahoma Roughnecks, Maelstrom, Resistance & Phenom. I am guessing like any new businesses, not all will thrive and flourish. But how very fortunate to have this new arena which gives opportunity to so many and again puts the drum corps experience back into small communities where they began. In 25 years, maybe there will be new dynasties like the LaCrosse Blue Stars or Dubuque Colts coming from a small town and yet a contender among the elite in the final week of the season. I know from days with the Erie Mavericks how ambitious and daring that quest is!
I have been in a funk the last few days and postings have been lapse because of a vehicle accident last Thursday. Let me preface by saying that I am fine and walked away with a few pains in my back, but no broken bones or scratches. But the whole incident has been a lesson for me in patience and stress management. Without bitching too much, here are some elements that have been weighing on me: Minneapolis Police were less than sympathetic in my case. Sort of like a clinical doctor that has no tact or personal skills. They took far too long to respond and were not able to answer many questions other than asking for ID and proof of insurance. I felt as if they had a donut run to make and I was taking up their valuable time. The other driver is obviously at fault for running a red light and slamming into the ass of my car while I managed to navigate obstacles like traffic lights, light pole and fire hydrants. Two generous witnesses came forward immediately to offer contact info. The first thing the woman asked me was "what happened?" then proceeded to muddle about crowded city streets, narrow lanes and trying to follow her GPS instead of watching the light she just plowed through. Next was the dilemma of towing and I am resolute to NEVER use #BobbynSteve's again. Roadside rescue just plugs into a network and I have no idea how they determine who responds. So I sat and waited 2 1/2 hours for someone to eventually come as dusk grew into darkness. At one point Roadside asked if help had arrived and we found that the original tow had turned around and taken another job. I assume they are paid by the tow and since I was needing a 15 mile tow to the dealership where I purchased my Ford, they had better money to make? A second truck was dispatched and I was told a 6-7 minute wait after another hour - which amounted to at least 30. Bonus points to #PizzaHut delivery boy who must have seen me over the two hours and offered me a cold drink on the curb.Guess who's business will reap my rewards after... Final insult came 12 hours later the next AM. I had wanted to arrive before 9PM so I could catch the last of the service desk and deal with a rental car. But by the next morning, the car was nowhere to be found - for almost 8 hours! The delivery truck had dropped the car off in the wrong used lot 1/2 mile away and no one could track down where the vehicle was. Then came the crux of where the keys were left. I still have never heard how this was all resolved.
Finally, the other driver has yet to respond to either me or #Statefarm - after several phone calls and a letter the next day. Can you say red flag?! It is obvious she has no insurance and is evasive until a lawyer is involved. Despite the fact that MPD checked her ID and cards. So it looks like I am paying for rental cars, deductible and other costs until a drawn-out lawsuit can track down her stats. $1000 or so that I don't have sitting around. I am usually mild mannered, but my dark side is screaming revenge and don't cross Joey B. Meanwhile Jeff tries to be resourceful and gracious by reminding me that I have health and am able to sleep through the night. Remember - I have a birthday coming up and have been a good boy all year :)
Summer has made my blogging a low priority between drum corps, extra work load, garden chores and the occasional cocktail after work. Last weekend was an exploration in camping which should get a posting once I get photos uploaded. Meanwhile: I saw this fabulous new video for the upcoming revival of On the Town. It is one of my all-time favorites; I love the Bernstein score, the sailors in the big city, fabulous dance numbers. It had always been a dream of mine to take on one of the roles, but alas I am past my prime for that. But for this new revival they have made a short film of the opening song and took it to the streets of New York, using some of the same set ups from the Gene Kelly film of the 1950s. The show has never found an audience since the original back in the 1940's - even with Bernadette Peters and Donna McKechnie in the 80's. So I am very hopeful that it will be running in the Fall when I make a trek East.
This little trifle was an enigma from a week back. Most everyone is aware of flooding in our area. This usually follows an extreme winter - which we had. But for some reason, it has gone unsufferably long into both spring and summer with endless rainstorms. City Lakes are so high that most boating is banned and many do not even have access to bike and walking trails because of the over flow. We see this on our dog trips to the River where there is not even a shoreline but a swamp of trees buried in water. So it was alarming when air cameras showed a giant 6 foot clam floating through the upper locks and dams. Like the Yeti, we wondered if there were some alien species that had been unearthed by the massive flooding. When it was "rescued" in St Paul last week, it turns out it was an ornamental statue from a children's playground that had been taken hostage from the runoff and just enjoyed a leisurely journey downstream. Fickle fun!
Anyone who knows me is aware that marching has been integral to me since Seneca HS, the Erie Mavericks and from the Madison Scouts onward. I had an epiphany over the weekend in that it was the first time in my entire life I utilized all my skills in a matter of 24 hours!
During the afternoon of Saturday, I was once again a marching member of the Madison Scouts. On a football field, learning drill sets for the Macy's Parade and spinning a piece of equipment. After a few hours in the hot sun, sunscreen and plenty of fluids, I showered off and was in the stands watching an amazing evening of drum corps with old friends Eric and others on the 50 yard line. Amazing programs from Scouts, Cavies, Troopers, Phantom and others. Nothing has changed in over 40 years! And the next day I was on the road in uniform to judge a Band Festival in Lake City, MN. A beautiful afternoon on a blustery day adjudicating 12 bands marching down Main St in small town USA. 35 years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would still be so tightly woven to this activity and it would continue to feed and inspire me into these middle years. Make sure to watch me next Thanksgiving as the final unit in the parade bringing Santa into Herald Square.
For my thought, I think DCI's new SoundSport is genius. For all the name calling at becoming big bucks business in Indy, it seems like a great effort at opening doors to the activity. I have never felt like DCI was in it for money despite some heavy political alliances with the Top corps. I think it is ego driven and not for wealth. The premise of this new branch is allowing new units to compete on a small scale. Literally 20 X 30 yards of a field rather than a whole stadium. They can decide what elements they want to field to create a show and it lets them build a program that suits the talent they have at hand. Some are destined to become a full competing corps in the next season, some have sights on evolving as an All-Age corps in DCA and others are parade units that want a challenge of rising to the next level. The parameters are flexible. This removes the financial demands of touring and major staffing. I was amazed when I searched the DCI link and found at least 20 new units in the states as well as world units from Brazil, Colombia, Ireland, Guatemala & China. This truly puts the International in DCI. It is heartening to see familiar names reemerging like Southwind, Railmen & Lakeshoremen. Creative new names like Oklahoma Roughnecks, Maelstrom, Resistance & Phenom. I am guessing like any new businesses, not all will thrive and flourish. But how very fortunate to have this new arena which gives opportunity to so many and again puts the drum corps experience back into small communities where they began. In 25 years, maybe there will be new dynasties like the LaCrosse Blue Stars or Dubuque Colts coming from a small town and yet a contender among the elite in the final week of the season. I know from days with the Erie Mavericks how ambitious and daring that quest is!
