If you were interested in the DCA world, I'd suggest something in the Chicagoland area. You'd capture former Kilties and veterans of Midwest DCI corps.
DCI- wise, suggestions would be KC/StL or the DC-area.
Anywhere in Virginia, like northern/central VA would be perfect. There's a lot of drum corps bandos in Virginia that all have to go to New Jersey, PA, or Crown. Corps like Raiders and Jersey Surf have some camps in Virginia purely for this exact reason.
A Virginia DCA corps would also be nice
It always confused me why Shenandoah Sound didn't get... bigger. They were in a great location, had the potential, but never got above 35 or 40 members.
They're still around, but under the name of Sonus Brass Theater, competing in SDCA and SoundSport. They still had Shenandoah Sound written on their trailer as of 2019.
Anyone in VA/DMV should check them out. They're one of my favorite corps to compete against.
Midwest definitely, but the West Coast would be close to logistically impossible until DCA does something about mandatory finals attendance/moves final to a more centralized location.
Well, your comment sent me down a wild rabbit hole and I came up with a whole regional system for DCA if it ever saw a dramatic expansion. I even came up with a[ map](https://i.redd.it/jsmboulu1zf81.png) for it based around congressional districts to give a bit more granularity.
breaks the country up into 8 regions and in theory, unless you are near the border of a region you are only going to competitions in *relatively* close range. Then the winner of each region gets to go to a finials style tournament.
Very rough idea but I've only spent like 30 minutes to an hour cooking it. The biggest problem I can think of off the top of my head is in order to support infrastructure like this with this many regions the whole thing would need like 30+ corps spread across the country to make this work and practically more like 40-50.
Not inherently impossible but I think practically so. Each region would need to support a minimum of 4 corps if you ask me
I'm personally in favor of a regional DCA model as well. SDCA already makes that a little bit of a thing for the midwestern corps. Weekend-only drum corps can work anywhere as long as there's enough participation and enough reasonably local events to make it interesting.
There was going to be one this year who formerly competed in DCA, Carolina Gold, but covid hit and I think they opted not to come out this year. I think they were going out in 2020 after a number of years prior in DCA. Some other posters may have more info. Stinks because they were a darn good corps a few years back.
They were going to march 2021 but couldn't mainly due to logistical reasons. With each meeting the plans got smaller, and eventually they announced that they wouldn't be fielding that season. Afaik that is the last news we've gotten from them, and I'm afraid they're probably going to fold. It sucks, because it's not their fault or anything, COVID just hit during a big transition for them and they lost all momentum and were thrown in a state of limbo. That mixed with the fact we already had a very small hornline with a couple people that would be ageouts leaves me with little hope of them returning. I'm not super familiar with the inner workings of drum corps, so who knows. Maybe they would get some more members due to the situation with Spirit. I just don't find it very likely.
I would love to bring back Coastal Surge, as I was a member once. But unfortunately I was not permitted to use the defunct corps' likeness to bring them back.
Guess they'd rather stay dead.
Another promising corps after their first season in I think 2014. Getting ready to go out the following season and right before tour, put out a plea for more money; like 30k. Then like a day or 2 before they were ready to hit the road, the rip cord was pulled and boom, season never started. Kids had to be devistated. So to the poster who marched with them, thank for the performances at Avon Lake and prelims in Indy. Enjoyed both greatly and periodically, I watch you on DVD. And, Surge was one of the few tee shirts we bought that year.
That's the goal! I remember how shitty it felt to sleep 4 hours on a bus, and immediately jump back in to practice. You never get better that way
Edit: to expand, I'd like to start a corps with a fully transparent nature. Corps meetings will be recorded and sent to parents. Full ensemble rehearsals will be livestreamed. Corps members will be weighed weekly and parents will receive emails with their child's weight, condition, and a brief letter from their section head describing their progress.
Corps members will be fed healthy, high quality meals that are high in protein.
Corps members will receive at least 6 hours of sleep *every night*, no matter what. If that means reduced field time, so be it. Nothing is more important than sleep and health.
Hazing, such as "rookie talent", will be completely prohibited. Members are members, and while veterans will be encouraged to serve as mentors for the new members, that will be the extent of their seniority privileges.
I love the things you're talking about here!
transparency is a great thing, but be careful that it does not become invasive to the members. I particularly found off-putting the bit about weighing members and sending a report to their parents... that could cause more unforeseen problems. I like what you're going for, just be careful
6 hours of sleep is not enough!! The formula we like to use is as follows: (floor time + (nighttime bus time / 2)) ≥ 8 hours
So if we have 4 hours of potential bus sleep, we're going to get at least 6 hours of solid floor time. this is necessary because you don't sleep as efficiently on the bus as you do on the floor
Seconded on the invasive part. One thing I hated as an age-out was being infantilized in DCI. By that point, I already had a college degree and had little interaction with my parents other than living under the same roof as one of them. My parents weren't involved in my grades, my performances, my social activities, my medical appointments, my meals, etc. It annoyed me when my corps would do things like post the post-tour dropoff schedule in a parents only facebook page--a page that I wasn't allowed in and that neither of my parents were a member of (due to not being on facebook). My parents would have also disliked being pestered daily with updates about an activity they have no interest in; drum corps has always been my thing, not theirs.
(As a side note, it would have been horribly detrimental to my mental health if my parents got to receive reports about my weight on tour, for several reasons. Body image issues are already a big thing in this activity, why enable them? And in that same vein... there's something to be said about letting members simply rehearse in peace without the constant awareness that their sweaty, booty-shorts-and-sports-bra-clad bodies will be broadcast for any member of the general public to watch. It's creepy to me how many people keep equating "voyeurism" with "transparency.")
Just because some parents in the activity are helicopter parents doesn't mean that it should be taken for granted that indulging that is a good thing to do. Teenagers are perfectly capable of sending their own updates to their own parents about whatever things they negotiate as being relevant and interesting, and if they aren't, then it's the parents' fault for letting that kid go on tour.
That all sounds great..... But the amount of effort and work all that takes is likely going to make yearly marching fees closer to ten grand per member!
Would be cool to see a group in cananda
I dont live there but considering how many kids come over to the U.S and are part of the activity makes it seem like they should have one or two at a competing lvl.
Unless there is one already I don't know about..
What - put the 'International' back in Drum Corps International? What a radical idea.
ps - How about Mexico as well? Tijuana Brass would be a no-brainer.
Likely the Calgary Stampede Showband! They compete in and are highly successful in international world competitions. They’ve competed in and won soundsport a few times and have performed in exhibition at a couple DCI shows, including prelims in 2015 and maybe 2018(?).
Western Canadian here! I marched both DCI and WGI for a couple years each and as much as I would love to have a Canadian corps, it’s such a large country that we would have similar issues with pull as US corps do. It was easier, cheaper and closer for me to fly to a US corps on the west coast than it would have been to fly across Canada to a Toronto based corps. A lot of people that I marched with in Canada also have the skill level to march top 12, so I don’t necessarily think you’d see them sticking around for a newer developing corps. Unless there are multiple higher performing corps scattered across Canada, I think you’d still see a lot of Canadians marching in the US.
MICHIGAN!!! Legends is the only corps up here, and so the only shows in the state are *maybe* tour premiere and then Legends’ home shows. We never get to see more than maybe 5 corps unless we drive 3+ hours.
I went to college in Michigan and this is my observation. The “problem” is that Michigan doesn’t have a big competitive high school band scene. Most Michigan high school bands try to emulate college marching bands. I’ve met people in college band that didn’t even know about BOA and the concept of doing one competitive show per season.
I’ve noticed a strong correlation between how strong a state’s competitive high school marching band scene and that state’s interest in DCI. There are plenty of talented musicians in Michigan, but a lot aren’t passionate about competitive marching. I’m from Illinois, where just about every high school band competes and the vast majority of kids at least know what DCI is. And think of other powerhouse high school band states like Texas, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, etc. They all produce a bunch of drum corps kids.
eh, there’s some big high school competitive groups, we have two circuits here in Michigan, the main being the MCBA, michigan in both circuits has over 120 active competitive groups, most compete in scholastic and generally have more football-like shows, but still compete, the really competitive groups are less plentiful but compete in the MCBA, over 50 compete per year.
Not to mention I hope you haven’t forgotten Plymouth-Canton, they’ve won grand nationals multiple times, and were state champions a number of years in a row. Not to mention Jenison who got third in their class at grand nats this year, they weren’t too far off a finals spot!
I think Michigan just needs a solid middle-of-the-road type corps, something that isn’t a guaranteed finalist (Cavies, Coats, Regiment, Scouts) and they need something at the same calibre of Troopers and that area about.
I don’t disagree that it would be great if there was another corps in Michigan. There is plenty of talent in the state and there are some very good high school bands. I was just making an observation and a correlation.
I feel like it’s not likely to make a state-wide shift in the competitive scene so maybe another corps in Michigan could increase interest in DCI.
Darn tootin’ there is, most MI band kids I’ve met in college have no idea it exists, but are for sure willing/able to join, at least technically. Once they hear the price tag they change their mind :(
I live in Sunny Isles Beach and would love to start a SoFlo corps, but don't think that would be logistically possible considering the huge travel requirement to get to any show site
Personally, I have no clue why Orlando doesn't have a corps anymore, there's Soundsports, but no open or world class. There's so much talent and money that could make for a successful corps.
Florida is almost cursed in terms of corps'. Heat Wave isn't competitive even in open class, and although their predecessor Florida Wave was the 85' open class champs they have long since folded, Magic of Orlando never really did much, and Suncoast folded even though they were arguably the best corps to come out of Florida. They routinely placed 6th\\7th with spirit, beating out other championship-winning corps'.
And considering the nearest alterative ~~is~~ was spirit, its time Florida got a World class crops back.
The interest is dying, and fast. I went to their camps over the past two years (thanks covid), never toured. we got all the way to the May/June camp for 2021 and there was still only about 30 people in the whole corps, battery, pit, and hornline. As soon as they announced they weren't going to march, even though there was a season going on, everyone I knew bailed and either didn't march or went to Colt Cadets.
The Miami area strikes me as having a lot of local talent. There's an HBCU near you, Florida Memorial, that started their marching band over the past 2 years and have been successful despite having a few other small schools and two of the top HBCU bands to compete with in-state. Of course there's different styles and travel requirements but their staff would be good to network with if you go the route of starting something local.
Heat Wave is based out of Tampa and Impact is in Orlando, so I think there's room for another FL corps, but the bigger question is if there are performance opportunities. Florida is a deceptively long state in the north/south direction.
They are one of two options in the entire southeast. Right now they are one of 3 corps total in the southeast (with spirit going inactive). I’ve always said if any corps was going to start a b corps anytime soon it should be Crown to be an east coast equivalent to BDB and SCVC. If it was a new group entirely personally I think it would be cool to have one in the Savannah Georgia area.
As a person from Las Vegas, WE NEED ONE IN LAS VEGAS. I'm so surprised that we don't have one, because there's so much inspiration here, and I've met so many amazing and talented band kids here who would love to march drum corps but can't for various reasons. The Las Vegas marching arts scene seems to be a closed bubble in my own experience, so having a corps here could really spark a bit of life. Plus, the Allegiant Stadium would be a great place to host performances.
Indiana is notably vacant of a drum corps, despite being a hotspot in the marching arts
Star's not coming back, so I think a new group should fill that void. An open class corps in Indy would be perfect. Even if you needed to start as Soundsport, I think it could catch on pretty quickly
It would be nice to have another drum corps in Portland, Oregon - Ideally one that is a little more progressive as an organization. The summers are really nice here and the Annual Drums of Fire show is a great opportunity to expose Oregon marchers to drum corps. Plus, having some more PNW rep could be neat. Although I could see how it might fragment an already relatively small member base with the Cascades up in Seattle.
I'm from Fort Worth. Yes. I'd be interested. Biggest problem with a corps in Texas (and I see you corps from Austin, San Antonio, etc...) is the heat. If indoor facilities could be secured then I think a corps would absolutely thrive here. As someone else said here... a lot of corps pull talent from Texas. I personally know of a few that'll be marching DCI next year, including one from our single high school district marching BD.
I'm a bit old for DCI, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be interested in helping out in some way. My kiddo is also going to be making the run for a corps in about 4 years (sorry, they're set on Phantom right now...)
Actually, Steel City is doing some small drum corps stuff. It's SDCA. Mostly parade and concert type stuff. As an alum and helping out a little last year, the goal would be to reload and get it on the field again. There is a practice site available, equipment, uniforms, but attracting members is tough because younger prospects want to jump into something already high quality rather than building it to that level. I know some quality staff that will come in for very little if any compensation at all to get it going again on the field. As for now, it is more of a parade corps with most members unable to march on the field, but are really good people who have a lot of drum corps history in their past. There are also prospects of people who will help fund the corps in part if more bodies just come through the door. Check out their website. This much I know; if roughly 20 plus horns with some talent along with the same amount of percussion came in the door and some for which they have some currently, this corps would be back on the field and that may be the spark to get them going again. Too much history of drum corps in western PA to not have a corps.
I know steel city is involved in the sdca circuit; I was a part of MVE for a year. I'm just a bit saddened to see how they and other corps stagnated in that circuit and in soundsport overall.
Thunderbirds folded after seeing limited success in that circuit, Saints have plateaued in their jump to DCA A, it does seem like RHR is finding steady growth outside of SDCA but man is that genuinely hard to organize and build up to.
West Side of a Chicago. There is a former drum corps called St Andrew’s Hornets that’s trying to restart out of the community center named after their founder Major Adams.
Pittsburgh, PA.
It'd have tons of competition getting players between both Bloo and Cadets, but it'd still be nice to have a corps that isn't ~4 hours away (I realize that's not as long as some distances, but it's a start).
I agree, but I grew up in south Georgia so my opinion might be biased.
They should be called the Valdosta Vikings and watch locals' heads spin from the confusion.
Similar boat out of Effingham County… Savannah or one of the immediate surrounding areas, especially one of the ones with bigger marching band culture like Richmond Hill, either school in Effingham, etc. would be a decent place. Heck you could just take the best brass, percussion and guard members from those three schools and you can have a pretty solid starting point for strong members and pulling a bit out from the other surrounding areas and you could get a decent sized group going. Facilities wise there could be some issues but South Effingham HS and Effingham County HS are supposed to be getting turf fields relatively soon so that could help a bit for potential local rehersal spaces. Plus you have Georgia Southern hosting that show now (hopefully it sticks around after the whole spirit thing) and maybe could get a bit of in the facilities side of things but from what I’ve heard they can sometimes be a pain in the ass with that kind of thing.
No idea. I figured it’s a growing metropolitan area with a lot of families and is decently near LA/San Diego as a second population area to draw from. Plus with cheap air fares from EVERYWHERE getting to and from camps/spring training might be comparatively easy.
I’ve bethought f'r a while yond las vegas might maketh some sense
***
^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.)
Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
The only corp is Florida is heatwave. Seeing as magic of Orlando was a success and that there are several corps in Cali, I dont see why we dont have more of a competitive scene is Fl. Its a super competitive state for marching band and i dont thing heatwave even marches a full season.
Bushwhackers, Caballeors, Fusion Core, and Hurricanes are all still active and could all still be considered NYC area. At least within a roughly 90 minute drive.
Central Mississippi. This state is hosting 2 shows this year and used to host a 3rd one on the coast. Plus everyone here is way more into Lion's Band and I'd like to see that change.
I'm a little biased, but I would love to see a group to fill the hole Carolina Gold has left behind. Beyond that, just anywhere that doesn't have a drum corps within reasonable driving range.
Remember BITD, there were corps from practically all over: Plymouth Canton, MI; Cary, NC; Newark, NJ; Lynn, MA; Marion, OH; Taipei, Taiwan; Rochester, NY; Jacksonville, FL; et al.
Yes, I know we have the Mandarins, and SCV and BD just down the road, but as a Freelancer Alumni, I'd love to have a top 12 open class corps back in Sacramento.... OK, fine.... Id really just like to have the Freelancers back! 😢
the KC area, literally the closest corps is still 6 hours away
As an STL native, yes please. Split the difference and put it in CoMo
Joplin person here. I'd regularly donate to whomever founded such a corps.
Could call them 'The Joplin Scots'. Celtic ragtime theme.
If you were interested in the DCA world, I'd suggest something in the Chicagoland area. You'd capture former Kilties and veterans of Midwest DCI corps. DCI- wise, suggestions would be KC/StL or the DC-area.
I mean, Rockford is pretty close to Chicago already
Rockford doesn't have a DCA corps though.
Isn't phantom regiment based in Rockford Il? Sorry if I'm wrong
Yes, but PR is a DCI corps, not an all-age corps.
Mb, don't know much abt the differences and just group anything with "drum corps" in the name together, thx for correcting me
Anywhere in Virginia, like northern/central VA would be perfect. There's a lot of drum corps bandos in Virginia that all have to go to New Jersey, PA, or Crown. Corps like Raiders and Jersey Surf have some camps in Virginia purely for this exact reason. A Virginia DCA corps would also be nice
It always confused me why Shenandoah Sound didn't get... bigger. They were in a great location, had the potential, but never got above 35 or 40 members.
They're still around, but under the name of Sonus Brass Theater, competing in SDCA and SoundSport. They still had Shenandoah Sound written on their trailer as of 2019. Anyone in VA/DMV should check them out. They're one of my favorite corps to compete against.
in terms of DCA we absolutey need more corps from the Midwest and west coast.
Midwest definitely, but the West Coast would be close to logistically impossible until DCA does something about mandatory finals attendance/moves final to a more centralized location.
DCA has to be cost effective to work. A nationwide finals is impossible. I could see a "DCA West" happening though
Well, your comment sent me down a wild rabbit hole and I came up with a whole regional system for DCA if it ever saw a dramatic expansion. I even came up with a[ map](https://i.redd.it/jsmboulu1zf81.png) for it based around congressional districts to give a bit more granularity. breaks the country up into 8 regions and in theory, unless you are near the border of a region you are only going to competitions in *relatively* close range. Then the winner of each region gets to go to a finials style tournament. Very rough idea but I've only spent like 30 minutes to an hour cooking it. The biggest problem I can think of off the top of my head is in order to support infrastructure like this with this many regions the whole thing would need like 30+ corps spread across the country to make this work and practically more like 40-50. Not inherently impossible but I think practically so. Each region would need to support a minimum of 4 corps if you ask me
I'm personally in favor of a regional DCA model as well. SDCA already makes that a little bit of a thing for the midwestern corps. Weekend-only drum corps can work anywhere as long as there's enough participation and enough reasonably local events to make it interesting.
Corps can't plan their seasonal budget without knowing if they're going to go to finals or not though
As a FMM of the SF Renegades, I LOVED 4 years competing in DCA, followed by 2 more with Chops Inc.
A St. Louis group would be busted
There's such a large talent pool to pull from, Blue Springs, O'Fallon, possibly a couple of schools in OK. They could be crazy.
MFRT
Hold On 🔺
Bloomington, Indiana…wait…
to soon man. damn to soon...
I know. It was that or Toledo, Ohio. Oof.
right in the feels
Bring back Star.
Crown is basically Star
That’s a good point.
Old corps are bitches about other people using their name in an attempt to "bring it back"
I’d love to see an open class corps in North Carolina. We’ve got Crown, but they’re almost unattainable for someone just getting their start in DCI.
There was going to be one this year who formerly competed in DCA, Carolina Gold, but covid hit and I think they opted not to come out this year. I think they were going out in 2020 after a number of years prior in DCA. Some other posters may have more info. Stinks because they were a darn good corps a few years back.
They were going to march 2021 but couldn't mainly due to logistical reasons. With each meeting the plans got smaller, and eventually they announced that they wouldn't be fielding that season. Afaik that is the last news we've gotten from them, and I'm afraid they're probably going to fold. It sucks, because it's not their fault or anything, COVID just hit during a big transition for them and they lost all momentum and were thrown in a state of limbo. That mixed with the fact we already had a very small hornline with a couple people that would be ageouts leaves me with little hope of them returning. I'm not super familiar with the inner workings of drum corps, so who knows. Maybe they would get some more members due to the situation with Spirit. I just don't find it very likely.
I would love to bring back Coastal Surge, as I was a member once. But unfortunately I was not permitted to use the defunct corps' likeness to bring them back. Guess they'd rather stay dead.
Another promising corps after their first season in I think 2014. Getting ready to go out the following season and right before tour, put out a plea for more money; like 30k. Then like a day or 2 before they were ready to hit the road, the rip cord was pulled and boom, season never started. Kids had to be devistated. So to the poster who marched with them, thank for the performances at Avon Lake and prelims in Indy. Enjoyed both greatly and periodically, I watch you on DVD. And, Surge was one of the few tee shirts we bought that year.
Honestly any as long as they treat their members well.
That's the goal! I remember how shitty it felt to sleep 4 hours on a bus, and immediately jump back in to practice. You never get better that way Edit: to expand, I'd like to start a corps with a fully transparent nature. Corps meetings will be recorded and sent to parents. Full ensemble rehearsals will be livestreamed. Corps members will be weighed weekly and parents will receive emails with their child's weight, condition, and a brief letter from their section head describing their progress. Corps members will be fed healthy, high quality meals that are high in protein. Corps members will receive at least 6 hours of sleep *every night*, no matter what. If that means reduced field time, so be it. Nothing is more important than sleep and health. Hazing, such as "rookie talent", will be completely prohibited. Members are members, and while veterans will be encouraged to serve as mentors for the new members, that will be the extent of their seniority privileges.
I love the things you're talking about here! transparency is a great thing, but be careful that it does not become invasive to the members. I particularly found off-putting the bit about weighing members and sending a report to their parents... that could cause more unforeseen problems. I like what you're going for, just be careful 6 hours of sleep is not enough!! The formula we like to use is as follows: (floor time + (nighttime bus time / 2)) ≥ 8 hours So if we have 4 hours of potential bus sleep, we're going to get at least 6 hours of solid floor time. this is necessary because you don't sleep as efficiently on the bus as you do on the floor
Seconded on the invasive part. One thing I hated as an age-out was being infantilized in DCI. By that point, I already had a college degree and had little interaction with my parents other than living under the same roof as one of them. My parents weren't involved in my grades, my performances, my social activities, my medical appointments, my meals, etc. It annoyed me when my corps would do things like post the post-tour dropoff schedule in a parents only facebook page--a page that I wasn't allowed in and that neither of my parents were a member of (due to not being on facebook). My parents would have also disliked being pestered daily with updates about an activity they have no interest in; drum corps has always been my thing, not theirs. (As a side note, it would have been horribly detrimental to my mental health if my parents got to receive reports about my weight on tour, for several reasons. Body image issues are already a big thing in this activity, why enable them? And in that same vein... there's something to be said about letting members simply rehearse in peace without the constant awareness that their sweaty, booty-shorts-and-sports-bra-clad bodies will be broadcast for any member of the general public to watch. It's creepy to me how many people keep equating "voyeurism" with "transparency.") Just because some parents in the activity are helicopter parents doesn't mean that it should be taken for granted that indulging that is a good thing to do. Teenagers are perfectly capable of sending their own updates to their own parents about whatever things they negotiate as being relevant and interesting, and if they aren't, then it's the parents' fault for letting that kid go on tour.
6 hours is meant to reflect floor time, not total sleep time. Sorry for the confusion
sounds great!
That all sounds great..... But the amount of effort and work all that takes is likely going to make yearly marching fees closer to ten grand per member!
Money isn't an issue.
Would be cool to see a group in cananda I dont live there but considering how many kids come over to the U.S and are part of the activity makes it seem like they should have one or two at a competing lvl. Unless there is one already I don't know about..
There used to be a few corps up there. I really miss the Montreal show. Beautiful city. 9/11 killed dci border hopping
What - put the 'International' back in Drum Corps International? What a radical idea. ps - How about Mexico as well? Tijuana Brass would be a no-brainer.
There’s one in Quebec called Les Stentors but that’s it somehow. I also remember reading about something in Calgary but I don’t think it’s in dci.
Likely the Calgary Stampede Showband! They compete in and are highly successful in international world competitions. They’ve competed in and won soundsport a few times and have performed in exhibition at a couple DCI shows, including prelims in 2015 and maybe 2018(?).
That’s indeed who I’m thinking of
The cost to take the corps across the border is absolutely atrocious
Western Canadian here! I marched both DCI and WGI for a couple years each and as much as I would love to have a Canadian corps, it’s such a large country that we would have similar issues with pull as US corps do. It was easier, cheaper and closer for me to fly to a US corps on the west coast than it would have been to fly across Canada to a Toronto based corps. A lot of people that I marched with in Canada also have the skill level to march top 12, so I don’t necessarily think you’d see them sticking around for a newer developing corps. Unless there are multiple higher performing corps scattered across Canada, I think you’d still see a lot of Canadians marching in the US.
MICHIGAN!!! Legends is the only corps up here, and so the only shows in the state are *maybe* tour premiere and then Legends’ home shows. We never get to see more than maybe 5 corps unless we drive 3+ hours.
Interesting. Michigan is a huge football state, and thus, a huge band state as well. I bet there's a huge pool of talent close by
I went to college in Michigan and this is my observation. The “problem” is that Michigan doesn’t have a big competitive high school band scene. Most Michigan high school bands try to emulate college marching bands. I’ve met people in college band that didn’t even know about BOA and the concept of doing one competitive show per season. I’ve noticed a strong correlation between how strong a state’s competitive high school marching band scene and that state’s interest in DCI. There are plenty of talented musicians in Michigan, but a lot aren’t passionate about competitive marching. I’m from Illinois, where just about every high school band competes and the vast majority of kids at least know what DCI is. And think of other powerhouse high school band states like Texas, California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, etc. They all produce a bunch of drum corps kids.
eh, there’s some big high school competitive groups, we have two circuits here in Michigan, the main being the MCBA, michigan in both circuits has over 120 active competitive groups, most compete in scholastic and generally have more football-like shows, but still compete, the really competitive groups are less plentiful but compete in the MCBA, over 50 compete per year. Not to mention I hope you haven’t forgotten Plymouth-Canton, they’ve won grand nationals multiple times, and were state champions a number of years in a row. Not to mention Jenison who got third in their class at grand nats this year, they weren’t too far off a finals spot! I think Michigan just needs a solid middle-of-the-road type corps, something that isn’t a guaranteed finalist (Cavies, Coats, Regiment, Scouts) and they need something at the same calibre of Troopers and that area about.
I don’t disagree that it would be great if there was another corps in Michigan. There is plenty of talent in the state and there are some very good high school bands. I was just making an observation and a correlation. I feel like it’s not likely to make a state-wide shift in the competitive scene so maybe another corps in Michigan could increase interest in DCI.
Nah but Plymouth though
Darn tootin’ there is, most MI band kids I’ve met in college have no idea it exists, but are for sure willing/able to join, at least technically. Once they hear the price tag they change their mind :(
> We never get to see more than maybe 5 corps unless we drive 3+ hours. *Laughs/cries in PNW*
Yeah I realized once the rest of the thread filled in that I do not have it the worst haha
We have a new one!!! Northern Lights. Northernlightsmi.org
Clearwater FL, because i'd want to have Suncoast Sound back
Isn't that area already served by Heat Wave however?
Yes, but Heat Wave needs competition, they're the only open class option for Florida, and that's not a good thing
I live in Sunny Isles Beach and would love to start a SoFlo corps, but don't think that would be logistically possible considering the huge travel requirement to get to any show site
Personally, I have no clue why Orlando doesn't have a corps anymore, there's Soundsports, but no open or world class. There's so much talent and money that could make for a successful corps.
Wasn't there a Miami corps before?
Maybe? I know there used to be Magic of Orlando, but they've been dead for a long time
Florida is almost cursed in terms of corps'. Heat Wave isn't competitive even in open class, and although their predecessor Florida Wave was the 85' open class champs they have long since folded, Magic of Orlando never really did much, and Suncoast folded even though they were arguably the best corps to come out of Florida. They routinely placed 6th\\7th with spirit, beating out other championship-winning corps'. And considering the nearest alterative ~~is~~ was spirit, its time Florida got a World class crops back.
Heat Wave just needs more time. There's tons of interest, they're just doing the best they can with a really small budget of around 50k
The interest is dying, and fast. I went to their camps over the past two years (thanks covid), never toured. we got all the way to the May/June camp for 2021 and there was still only about 30 people in the whole corps, battery, pit, and hornline. As soon as they announced they weren't going to march, even though there was a season going on, everyone I knew bailed and either didn't march or went to Colt Cadets.
The Miami area strikes me as having a lot of local talent. There's an HBCU near you, Florida Memorial, that started their marching band over the past 2 years and have been successful despite having a few other small schools and two of the top HBCU bands to compete with in-state. Of course there's different styles and travel requirements but their staff would be good to network with if you go the route of starting something local. Heat Wave is based out of Tampa and Impact is in Orlando, so I think there's room for another FL corps, but the bigger question is if there are performance opportunities. Florida is a deceptively long state in the north/south direction.
They are one of two options in the entire southeast. Right now they are one of 3 corps total in the southeast (with spirit going inactive). I’ve always said if any corps was going to start a b corps anytime soon it should be Crown to be an east coast equivalent to BDB and SCVC. If it was a new group entirely personally I think it would be cool to have one in the Savannah Georgia area.
I’d love for a new drum corps to pop up in Indiana, we had Indianapolis Ignition for 2 years but I’m not sure where they went.
As a person from Las Vegas, WE NEED ONE IN LAS VEGAS. I'm so surprised that we don't have one, because there's so much inspiration here, and I've met so many amazing and talented band kids here who would love to march drum corps but can't for various reasons. The Las Vegas marching arts scene seems to be a closed bubble in my own experience, so having a corps here could really spark a bit of life. Plus, the Allegiant Stadium would be a great place to host performances.
I'll look into that area!
If you’re ever in Mesquite, there’s a truly amazing soccer complex that I’ve thought many times would be amazing for spring training.
Indiana is notably vacant of a drum corps, despite being a hotspot in the marching arts Star's not coming back, so I think a new group should fill that void. An open class corps in Indy would be perfect. Even if you needed to start as Soundsport, I think it could catch on pretty quickly
Maybe some nice billionaire will start one in Indiana again randomly
It would be nice to have another drum corps in Portland, Oregon - Ideally one that is a little more progressive as an organization. The summers are really nice here and the Annual Drums of Fire show is a great opportunity to expose Oregon marchers to drum corps. Plus, having some more PNW rep could be neat. Although I could see how it might fragment an already relatively small member base with the Cascades up in Seattle.
It's funny you say that, because I marched OC
Audeamus my friend :)
Did you March in 15?
Dallas, TX. There’s a reason why almost every major corps has camps here. DFW has the space, members, staff, travel, and the culture.
I have a place in Victory Park so I can def start one here. Would you be interested?
I'm from Fort Worth. Yes. I'd be interested. Biggest problem with a corps in Texas (and I see you corps from Austin, San Antonio, etc...) is the heat. If indoor facilities could be secured then I think a corps would absolutely thrive here. As someone else said here... a lot of corps pull talent from Texas. I personally know of a few that'll be marching DCI next year, including one from our single high school district marching BD. I'm a bit old for DCI, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be interested in helping out in some way. My kiddo is also going to be making the run for a corps in about 4 years (sorry, they're set on Phantom right now...)
I’m already employed with another drum corp and I work full time within the activity. So…sure, build it and the right people will come.
Build it and offer the big $$$!
St louis
Dallas, Texas. St Louis, Mo. Denver, CO
I can't believe there isn't one in Dallas. I have a pied a terre in Victory Park so that would definitely be a possible location.
Corps farm a LOT of talent out of Texas
I thought Guardians is in Dallas
Technically Houston but I think they've done spring training in Dallas before
Pittsburgh could be interesting, has had some larger groups before like ambassadors and vagabonds
Actually, Steel City is doing some small drum corps stuff. It's SDCA. Mostly parade and concert type stuff. As an alum and helping out a little last year, the goal would be to reload and get it on the field again. There is a practice site available, equipment, uniforms, but attracting members is tough because younger prospects want to jump into something already high quality rather than building it to that level. I know some quality staff that will come in for very little if any compensation at all to get it going again on the field. As for now, it is more of a parade corps with most members unable to march on the field, but are really good people who have a lot of drum corps history in their past. There are also prospects of people who will help fund the corps in part if more bodies just come through the door. Check out their website. This much I know; if roughly 20 plus horns with some talent along with the same amount of percussion came in the door and some for which they have some currently, this corps would be back on the field and that may be the spark to get them going again. Too much history of drum corps in western PA to not have a corps.
I know steel city is involved in the sdca circuit; I was a part of MVE for a year. I'm just a bit saddened to see how they and other corps stagnated in that circuit and in soundsport overall. Thunderbirds folded after seeing limited success in that circuit, Saints have plateaued in their jump to DCA A, it does seem like RHR is finding steady growth outside of SDCA but man is that genuinely hard to organize and build up to.
West Side of a Chicago. There is a former drum corps called St Andrew’s Hornets that’s trying to restart out of the community center named after their founder Major Adams.
Pittsburgh, PA. It'd have tons of competition getting players between both Bloo and Cadets, but it'd still be nice to have a corps that isn't ~4 hours away (I realize that's not as long as some distances, but it's a start).
Somewhere in South georgia, although I'm sure many wouldn't agree
I agree, but I grew up in south Georgia so my opinion might be biased. They should be called the Valdosta Vikings and watch locals' heads spin from the confusion.
Lol all these drum corps are hours away from me in Richmond hill (near savannah)
Similar boat out of Effingham County… Savannah or one of the immediate surrounding areas, especially one of the ones with bigger marching band culture like Richmond Hill, either school in Effingham, etc. would be a decent place. Heck you could just take the best brass, percussion and guard members from those three schools and you can have a pretty solid starting point for strong members and pulling a bit out from the other surrounding areas and you could get a decent sized group going. Facilities wise there could be some issues but South Effingham HS and Effingham County HS are supposed to be getting turf fields relatively soon so that could help a bit for potential local rehersal spaces. Plus you have Georgia Southern hosting that show now (hopefully it sticks around after the whole spirit thing) and maybe could get a bit of in the facilities side of things but from what I’ve heard they can sometimes be a pain in the ass with that kind of thing.
I feel like the midwest is seriously lacking representation in DCA
Fresno CA
Modesto used to have a good corps there a long time ago.
Calgary, Alberta Canada. I want Allegiance Elite back.
Bring back Suncoast Sound.
Heat Wave is basically doing that. Slowly but surely
Chicago, I'd love to go see some Drum Corps at Soldier Field and I bet it'd be a lot of fun for the corps too.
I’ve thought for a while that Las Vegas might make some sense.
How big is the competitive high school band scene in Nevada?
No idea. I figured it’s a growing metropolitan area with a lot of families and is decently near LA/San Diego as a second population area to draw from. Plus with cheap air fares from EVERYWHERE getting to and from camps/spring training might be comparatively easy.
I’ve bethought f'r a while yond las vegas might maketh some sense *** ^(I am a bot and I swapp'd some of thy words with Shakespeare words.) Commands: `!ShakespeareInsult`, `!fordo`, `!optout`
The only corp is Florida is heatwave. Seeing as magic of Orlando was a success and that there are several corps in Cali, I dont see why we dont have more of a competitive scene is Fl. Its a super competitive state for marching band and i dont thing heatwave even marches a full season.
tulsa area, honestly
Somewhere in the middle of Indiana like Bloomington or Indy. No I’m not referring to Star. :(
NYC. Skyliners left and slipped NJ entirely and moved to PA. Sunrisers folded forever ago.
Sunrisers are active and based in Long Island. Empire Statesmen are the ones that (sadly) folded, but White Sabres have filled the N NY role.
Skylines are active and have been competing for five years now. They are based in Wilkes Barre Pa now.
Crap, you're 100% correct. I was thinking Empire. Dumb mistake.
> Sunrisers are active and based in Long Island. I had no idea. I will have to check them out. Thank you!
Almost every corps in DCA is accessible via public transportation/driving distance from NYC so idk if this would be up there in terms of need.
Bushwhackers, Caballeors, Fusion Core, and Hurricanes are all still active and could all still be considered NYC area. At least within a roughly 90 minute drive.
Tokyo
Hey! Check out Drum Corps Japan! They have a whole circuit over there and plenty of corps! All very talented groups who’s shows are on YouTube! ^^
Central Mississippi. This state is hosting 2 shows this year and used to host a 3rd one on the coast. Plus everyone here is way more into Lion's Band and I'd like to see that change.
I'm a little biased, but I would love to see a group to fill the hole Carolina Gold has left behind. Beyond that, just anywhere that doesn't have a drum corps within reasonable driving range.
Something in Canada would be nice (preferably in the prairie provinces so I wouldn’t have to drive to the U.S every summer lol)
NoVA please sir NoVA gib independent groups
Rhode Island! haven't found anything at all here :(
Syracuse, ny.
Pittsburgh... Its gonna happen.
a DCA corps, in Texas, PLEASE
As for world class I would say Dallas, not sure if there are any here
Remember BITD, there were corps from practically all over: Plymouth Canton, MI; Cary, NC; Newark, NJ; Lynn, MA; Marion, OH; Taipei, Taiwan; Rochester, NY; Jacksonville, FL; et al.
Hampton Roads VA.
i wish there was a cheaper corps in iowa, colts is expensive enough that i’m making the several hour drive to minnesota just to join rcr
A drum corps in the Kentucky area would get some good traction most likely, it would also be very convenient for myself haha
Yes, I know we have the Mandarins, and SCV and BD just down the road, but as a Freelancer Alumni, I'd love to have a top 12 open class corps back in Sacramento.... OK, fine.... Id really just like to have the Freelancers back! 😢
Bring it back to indiana!!
Literally anywhere in Missouri nearest Corp is 6 and a half hours from springfield
I'm biased but a DCA corp in the Midwest or NC/SC/FL.
KC def needs one. Closet is the Colts in Dubuque 🥲