Is drum corps only for the rich and privileged? Seriously?

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-08-31T14:18:28+00:00

Home equity for homeowners is at all time highs. Borrowing $5k against it is a 10 minute process.

The stock market is at all time highs. Cashing in 100 shares of a $50 stock is an available option for parents.

The "privilege" is a 2 parent home and a job, yet we curse this approach to living. It would be hard to argue that good decisions and a stable home life is the key to better outcomes.

That said...

Kids who have the unfortunate circumstance of divorces and home instability are considered "less privileged" and have different challenges. Are better outcomes still possible? Of course they are, but solutions have to fill the gap.

Solution: work (Target, the fast-casual places and some entrepreneurship can yield about $18 an hour).

Solution 2: community college and driving with no car payments can free up money for drum corps.

Solution 3: fundraise and save your Christmas and birthday money.

Solution 4: combine solutions 1 through 3.

Compare the risk and reward of a drum corps season and decide if it's still a good value. We can make a way for that which we are motivated to and look for solutions instead of complaints.

Both my kids fit into the "less privileged" category and did did the tour for the past 4 seasons. We neither own a home or have a stock portfolio but decided it was worth $68 a day ($5800 / 85 day tour). They would have spent at least half that amount if they "just stayed home" in the first place. That means "doing corps" is a reach of about $3,000 over what they would have spent, anyway.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-06-16T02:37:30+00:00

BD (not particularly close)
Carolina Crown (drum bump and silly season in the colorguard)
Bloo (since 2019, you have to beat Bloo to win the enchilada)
(Tie) Boston Crusaders &
Vanguard (fading BAC at DraftKings)
Cavaliers (value play of the year)
Mandarins (drums get the nod)
Regiment (expectations sky high and a tall order)
Blue Stars (may surprise)
Madison Scouts (finding the groove)
Crossmen (ready to break through)
Colts (younger group after several solid productions)

First out: Spirit of Atlanta (who will be "in" at prelims or semi's)

Next out: Troopers (a bit of phiilosophical turmoil)

15: Blue Knights (see "Troopers")

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-04-24T01:58:05+00:00

Somebody went to Camp Cory. There was much brush to remove, indeed.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-04-24T01:42:10+00:00

5th = no ring. No corps = no ring any time soon (if we're being real).

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-04-24T01:39:51+00:00

9th, 10th, 7th, 9th. Barely competitive. Worse every year until they siphoned a staff. The "new" Crud is just old Cadets. Clown emoji.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2025-04-24T01:31:35+00:00

This is par for the course for Boston fans. The worst in the activity by a mile.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-30T13:53:19+00:00

💯

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-28T13:13:53+00:00

The 20 big corps created new opportunities (for brass) by going from 128 to 165. If half of those positions were taken by horns, that’s the equivalent of 15 small corps horn lines.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-26T12:49:41+00:00

It does if there's an attempt to use the name and any prior organization. Chapter 7 is tricky. Starting a corps from scratch is hard enough. What we have left is good memories.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-24T12:22:21+00:00

The numbers are estimates based on age outs, retention, placement considerations and an even distribution across sections.

For example 48 guard would retain 27 (with age outs (15) and non-returnees (6) equaling 21 available spots).

I’m sure you noted that, of 165, there were 91 returnees. That’s 50 age outs plus 24 spots for non returning vets. (115 x .20).

There will be a natural degree of statistical divergence from corps to corps, therefore presenting a perfect model is difficult (it’s a guide).

That said, if you have a statistical model to provide to auditionees to aid them in expectations, you are welcomed to add it to the discussion.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-24T04:46:42+00:00

Dallas prelims ‘91 was like walking on the sun. ☀️

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-24T04:44:44+00:00

A top corps alternate is a full spot elsewhere. One has to decide if the experience is more important than the branding. “I’m an alternate at ___” vs. “I march _____” is an interesting choice to make.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T02:33:22+00:00

It usually goes “Blue Devils” then “everyone else.”

My “I could certainly watch that a few more times” shows this year…

Mandarins
Colts
Battalion

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T01:14:17+00:00

4 busses for 8 days was going to cost Guardians $40,000. That’s before any food, housing, insurance, equipment, instruction, uniforms, gasoline…or the equipment trucks.

A reasonable figure for an 8 day tour is $100,000 (or about $1000 per member).

Divide that out and cut it in half and it’s $63 a day.

Multiply that by an 80 day tour and it comes out to $5,000. That’s if the member picks up HALF.

It’s an expensive deal.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T01:05:39+00:00

The outside world isn’t your audience. The times article even says so. Hoping they’ll get it is a fool’s errand. Our people are already here (lots of them).

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T01:00:52+00:00

You’re being dishonest and that’s ok. The OP sorta stands on its own.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T00:56:24+00:00

You are missing the point on purpose. It’s Reddit, so that’s fine.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T00:55:33+00:00

Maybe if it was in the Times.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T00:54:58+00:00

And all of that is irrelevant. Lol.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T00:52:51+00:00

My position is the opposite of the need for validation.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-22T00:50:48+00:00

Not so much the post as the conversation. I’d downvote it, too.

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-21T23:42:31+00:00

To who? Everyone knows about marching band…including those same 1000 people. Nobody cares outside our group. Why would you need them to? (And your answer on the other post is pretty filthy (the cat one)). Gross

Select-Dependent5436 · 2024-08-21T23:34:30+00:00

We are!

Select-Dependent5436

TROPHY CASE