Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps
Subject: Re: Stadium sites will and have sucked!
From: cputnam@vax1.umkc.edu
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 22:18:00 GMT
 <1992Aug17.144058.8983@midway.uchicago.edu> <1992Aug17.134631.1@vax1.umkc.edu> <1992Aug17.195138.23480@midway.uchicago.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Missouri - Kansas City

In article <1992Aug17.195138.23480@midway.uchicago.edu>, xklh@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Krista Lyn Haggert) writes:
> In article <1992Aug17.134631.1@vax1.umkc.edu> cputnam@vax1.umkc.edu writes:
>>In article <1992Aug17.144058.8983@midway.uchicago.edu>, xklh@kimbark.uchicago.edu (Krista Lyn Haggert) writes:

>>Well, Krista, I don't know about anyone else, but I don't go to the world
>>championships to see the locals.  I'm not flaming, but let's look at it.  As
>>much as I hated the general attitude of people in New York, if they had the
>>championships in Giants Stadium, I would go.  I did like the great hospitality
>>of Madison, it was refreshing to see an entire city so happy to see DCI.  But I 
>>don't go to see the locals, I go to see the corps.  The fans are the ones that
>>are important.  They are the ones that support the activity.  The marching
>>members are important to, but they don't pay to keep DCI alive and they get
>>applause no matter where they are (except Star).
> 
> I was basically speaking from a corps member point of view.  When you
> are on tour for two or three weeks and some towns love you and
> some just watch and don't even clap, to end up in Madison is
> great.  Even if you don't make it to finals, you still feel
> great because of crowd reception.  It is sort of hard to describe
> to someone who has not been there 'marching'.  I am not just
> talking about the show, I am talking about the parade.  The
> people of Madison just LOVE drumcorps.  
> 
> The corps members are the ones that are important.  The fans
> didn't pay my yearly dues.  The corps members do pay money
> to keep DCI alive.  We also pay with blood and sweat and tears.
> We don't get applause from everyone.  If you have never marched
> then you have no idea what you go through sometimes.
> 
> I loved my experience with drumcorps. I would not trade it for
> anything.  But that doesn't mean that it was easy.  
> 
I've marched (for the past four years) with a high school band and, while it
wasn't drum corps, it did give me that crowd response that you speak of.  I
enjoyed the crowd cheering for me and I know that the corps do too (except
Star, who get booed) (maybe those that boo think they need to buy applause
too?).  My point is that the fans pay lots and lots of money to see the
championships and regionals.  They shouldn't have to pay so the members can
feel good, they pay to see them perform.  And, if you want that feeling, DCI
needs to drop the ticket price and/or move the championships to a decent
city/stadium.  More and more fans aren't going to go to finals in a poor
city/stadium and pay $25 to do it.  DCI will lose fans and, for you, the mebers
won't get as much applause.  I saw four total shows this year.  The first two
(hosted by local groups) cost me a total of $22.  The last two (Semi's and
Finals) cost me $45.  If POC was a little closer, I glady would have gone there
and skipped finals.  And next year, I will almost definetly do that (I would
rather not sit in Jackson on August 21st--Humidity:90%--Temp.:98)  That doesn't
appeal to me.

While we're talking about the feelings of the corps members, how does it feel
to a marching member to be in that uniform and in temp./humidity conditions
like that?  I think they'd like a little less applause and little less temp, if
that's what it took.  I can't believe that performing three times in that heat
would be too fun.

In Kansas City, you give everyone the chance to see the finals, because of it's
central location (Boston?  Think there will be an abundance of west coast fans
there?).  See my previous post for other advantages of KC.  The stadium and the
sides of the street will be filled with DCI fans anyway.  Madison doesn't have
a monopoly on DCI fans that cheer.  The more fans in attendance at the city,
the more cheering.

IRC nick-BlueDevil

Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps