Gosh, go to www.dci.org and look at their schedule. A very high percentage of DCI shows are in Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and a bunch of other southern and western states. California and west coast have a bunch.

Minnesota and Iowa have a bunch. Not a lot in the "Chicago area" , but some in the Cedarburg/ Whitewater area. Even the NJ/ Mass area doesn't get a lot.

Of course, DCI Nationals are in Indianapolis again.

Note too, that the contests don't start until June 18. And, the season ends in Mid-August. That means the "season" is at least 5 weeks shorter than the "old days".

Drum corps is sure different now.

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

No more Kenosha on Memorial Day weekend to start the season, when the closer drill was basically "turn in 4 and head for the end zone" because the drill wasn't finished yet!

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

well, the "G7" got at least ONE of it's demands ... the "Tour of Champions Premier events".

Here is what DCI says:

Saturday, June 18 will be the official start of the 2011 season, and also the start of a brand new event series featuring eight of the top corps from last season. Dubbed the “Tour of Champions,” this eight-event series produced by DCI within the larger summer tour, will feature the Blue Devils, Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Cadets, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment and Santa Clara Vanguard.

Proposed as an “experimental series,” plans for the TOC include a new interactive and entertaining competitive event format currently being developed by the eight participating corps.

“While this version of the Tour of Champions will not be quite the same as the series of events we produced in California with the same name in 2004, these eight corps are taking the lead to program these special events with nonstop action and interactive entertainment,” said DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson.

The eight TOC events will take place throughout June, July and August in various locations including Omaha, Neb., Houston, Texas, and Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

This is nothing new. We had interactive events "back in the day", where the audience was up-close and personal, and performances were mixed with other entertainment offerings to present a non-stop, changing kaleidoscope of colors and sounds.

We called them "parades."

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

Bob, thanks for putting this all into proper perspective!

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

Based on the way things are going with the Blue Devils undefeated for two seasons maybe they should call it Tour of Champion.

well, the way this is going .. with the corps and programs getting stranger every year; show prices going WAY up and almost no shows in the area ... MY interest in attending a DCI show is just about ZERO!

Of course, I still have a major philosophical difference of opinion about DCI and it's objectives and approach. I still believe they are largely responsible for the death of smaller corps and local contests. Others may disagree.

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963

What do you think, say maybe 90% largely responsible, would that be a fair assessment??

Dave and Greg, I definitely agree with you both about the bad effect DCI had on the small corps, but in the big picture I have to disagree that they were responsible for the demise of them. I have pointed out on another thread that I blame DCM for the ultimate collapse of the mid level corps. Many on other threads have complemented DCM for helping keep them in existence, a premise with which I have a total and complete disagreement.

From 1972 until approximately 1980, drum corps such as the Imperials, Vaqueros, etc., existed with the minimal amount of difficulty caused by DCI though there is no question that their competitiveness was not to the higher levels set by DCI corps. With the advent of DCM the whole picture changed.


The requirement for small corps to run their shows through DCM had the effect of individal assocations such as Musical Units, Parade Specialist, IDBC, etc., being put out of business.In 1979, it became evident that it was almost impossible to find a show where a corps , such as the Imperials was goingto be 4th at

best depending how many DCI corps were participating. The combination of the cost of sponsoring a show, both the corps or individual sponsors, and the constant exposure of small corps marching members to their DCI cousins on a steady basis were the elements which to me eventually caused the demise of the small corps.

So DCM became a mini-DCI. Interesting points, Jim. And all true. I guess the constant hunger to get larger eventually corrupts all attempts to fix things - there's never any going back.

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79

I think that Jim is correct .. at that time, DCM was a "partner" with DCI.

They followed the same strategy and it had a terrible impact on independent shows.

But, when DCI no longer needed DCM, they fixed things to put DCM out of business. That's what happens when you sign on with the Devil.

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What did you do in the Corps? drummer

What years were you a Corps member? 1958 -1963