DCI on PBS (comments backing DCI)
Jay R Wise
this:
DCI doesn't actually WANT people to watch the PBS Live broadcast. Why?
Because they won't go to the show, OR, they will tape the LIVE broadcast and
THEN NOT BUY videos from DCI (through video express).
Let's face it, how many of us do PBS and tape it and NOT buy videos or pay to
go to the show? Had PBS not run in 1993, I would have seriously considered
making the trip to Jackson. But I got to see it live, for free, at home (okay,
next morning).
So DCI figured that it could make money by doing a satellite feed. So now
people cannot freeload from DCI. If you were running a business, would you
continue to give out freebies when you lost money doing it? Or would you
take it away and create a demand for your product?
AND STILL... you can see finals on PBS... the highlights version will be
available to affiliated stations at the end of October. So DCI will still
be broadcasting on FREE TV. So the argument about "not being able to
open drum corps up to new audiences" is moot, since it will still be aired in
the fall.
AND BETTER YET... The DCI party line response to your parents' dilemma would be
for them to hook up with one of the Pay-Per-View sites. Sure, it's not as easy
as picking up the remote and channel-surfing, but if you *dearly* want to
see the show live GO TO A PPV site!
You know, it's funny. We hack on DCI for everything. Here is a good case of
DCI doing *good business* and we complain! IF you were running a business,
you'd do the same type thing (or you'd be bankrupt quick)...
We want it all... DCI must hate us too!
J.
Rick Olson
How do you figure the DCI fianls arrangegements re closed circuit
feed was a good business desision? The idea as I understand it
was for this deal to bring in enough money to pay for the taping
costs (approx. $250,000.) . Last year they had 30 or so sites
at $1500. a piece fee for the feed. That's $45,000. This year
they up the fee to $55 $5000. but only get 8 sites. That means
They'll get $5,000. LESS than last year and lots fewer people can
see the broadcast. How does this make sense? Not just business
sense either. It deosn't make sense from a promotional standpoint
either.
Rick Olson
--
Jeff Randall
>AND BETTER YET... The DCI party line response to your parents' dilemma
>would be for them to hook up with one of the Pay-Per-View sites. Sure,
>it's not as easy as picking up the remote and channel-surfing, but if
>you *dearly* want to see the show live GO TO A PPV site!
Some of us are unable to go to a site. I haven't looked at a list of the
sites, but I'd wager none are within 20 minutes driving time of Champaign,
IL. I'd go to a site but I have bandcamp that night.... just like the last
4 years and anything more than 20 minutes away from CU and I'd miss a good
deal of the show.
We used to throw a DCI party, having many members of the MI in various corps
but that's just right out this year... and looks like many years to come.
Jeff "Euclid" Randall - MI 'bone since 1990
--
JRan...@uiuc.edu - CP-ASEL/AMEL,IA,CFI-AIM - THIS IS _NOT_ CCSO'S OPINION!!!
If It were, It would've had a
The Marching Illini WWW Home Page more important name on it. =)
is without a home! Mail me if you can help.
Scott McLure
One small problem with going to a pay-per-view site.... IT'S 900 MILES
FROM HERE!!!!!! And like most people, I don't have a few hundred dollars
to fork out to go visit the satellite feed site... hell, I could go to
Boston cheaper than the nearest feed site to me.
Brian Greer
: How do you figure the DCI fianls arrangegements re closed circuit
: Rick Olson
: --
Exactly! If this is GOOD business for DCI then I'm really glad I
don't know about ALL the financial mismanagements they've been involved
in over the years...a GOOD business decision means more money (to me, at
least in a capitalist system) but apparently not this time.
Brian.
Bob Taylor
: Eric Carlson noted that PBS was willing to carry DCI live, but DCI did not want
: this:
: DCI doesn't actually WANT people to watch the PBS Live broadcast. Why?
: Because they won't go to the show, OR, they will tape the LIVE broadcast and
: THEN NOT BUY videos from DCI (through video express).
: Let's face it, how many of us do PBS and tape it and NOT buy videos or pay to
: go to the show? Had PBS not run in 1993, I would have seriously considered
: making the trip to Jackson. But I got to see it live, for free, at home (okay,
: next morning).
Actually, this year, I will neither go to finals (which are 3000 miles from
my house) or see it live on PBS or buy the video (too expensive). Instead,
I become that much more disconnected and apathetic about the activity.
: So DCI figured that it could make money by doing a satellite feed. So now
: people cannot freeload from DCI. If you were running a business, would you
: continue to give out freebies when you lost money doing it? Or would you
: take it away and create a demand for your product?
It depends on how you viewed the broadcast. If it's supposed to be making
a profit, it's a bad deal. If it's supposed to be advertising, it's
a pretty good deal - $250,000 for two hours of nationwide advertising
is pretty cheap.
: AND STILL... you can see finals on PBS... the highlights version will be
: available to affiliated stations at the end of October. So DCI will still
The highlights version is often not shown on many stations, when it is
it is at random/inconvenient (i.e. 2:00am Wednesday morning) and all
the shows are usually chopped up beyond recognition.
: be broadcasting on FREE TV. So the argument about "not being able to
: open drum corps up to new audiences" is moot, since it will still be aired in
: the fall.
I'm personally guessing that many, many more people in the "new audience"
category would see the live one since it's essentially prime time on a
Saturday night. The taped one is usually at very low-rating times/days.
: AND BETTER YET... The DCI party line response to your parents' dilemma would be
: for them to hook up with one of the Pay-Per-View sites. Sure, it's not as easy
: as picking up the remote and channel-surfing, but if you *dearly* want to
: see the show live GO TO A PPV site!
The nearest PPV site for me is >600 miles - and with only 8 sites
nationwide, it's probably much farther for many.
: You know, it's funny. We hack on DCI for everything. Here is a good case of
: DCI doing *good business* and we complain! IF you were running a business,
: you'd do the same type thing (or you'd be bankrupt quick)...
In this case, I don't think it was good business.
: We want it all... DCI must hate us too!
: J.
Bob
Diane R Taylor
And here I thought DCI sponsored a youth organization that's mission
was to better the
members, both musically and socially, and entertain the public at the
same time. And now I find out
it's a cold-hearted business proposition. Tell that to the people who
can't go to the PPV on the night of finals and who can't afford the $100
video tapes (can you say college students?) If that is DCI's
attitude, it just plain stinks.
--
Diane R Taylor
dita...@iastate.edu
Jay R Wise
DCI's big problem with PPV, is that not enough people are biting to do PPV
sites. It can be a decent fundraiser for a corps, or even private group.
I think the Centerville show folks run one, and 5-Star Brass (Hershey
Spectacular and Serenade in Brass) runs one. Someone in your area just
needs to start one (I know it sucks not to have one close!).
PBS:
I disagree with Bob... PBS LIVE is not always shown live. Neither in Columbus
nor Cleveland do they show it live. Cleveland shows it taped-delay the
following morning, Columbus just carries highlights. Both Cleveland and
Columbus show highlights in decent viewing slots during the fall. Usually
on a Friday night (prime time) or weekend morning (10 or 11 a.m.). IT ALL
DEPENDS ON YOUR STATION. If enough people call and bitch, they will
run highlights in a more prime time.
As for 3:00 a.m. on a Wednesday? I didn't now PBS ran a 24-hour broadcast day.
The ones here do not. I have my doubts as to whether the LIVE broadcast picks
up any new audience members or if the highlight show does.
It still comes down to making money vs. losing money. Some may become
"more detached" from drum corps, but at least people are not freeloading
off of DCI. They can make some money with PPV and Videos and still expose
drum corps to mass audiences through PBS Highlights.
J.
Defending DCI whenever they get into capitalist mode...
Jay R Wise
I didn't realize it was down to 8 sites... Yes, $5,000 is a bit
steep for a site. It will be hard to break even if you wanted
to run a PPV site yourself.
I'll still stand behind the concept. While $5000 is too steep, the
idea is a good one. Okay, they lose money this year -- they'll
figure it out.
C'mon, lets admit something about "promotional" stuff here... *we*
are pissed because we won't get a freebie live broadcast. DCI is *not*
pulling in a significant number of "new" fans through the LIVE broadcast!
An unadvertised, Saturday night show on PBS is not gonna get much in
the way of new folks.
If there were 100 PPV sites nationwide, would we be having this discussion?
J.
PPV has some flaws, but it can (conceptually) be a good money maker for all...
Jay R Wise
Hold the phones... In order to be a "youth organization" and able to
"better" the members, the organization **has** to be profitable! This
"cold-hearted" business proposition IS FOR THE MEMBERS...
Sure, PPV has a lot of flaws (site fees are way too high -- hence I
guess there are only 8 sites), but think about it this way...
Let's suppose you are a member of a non-profit youth arts-n-craft group. Your
group makes lots of neat little arts-n-crafts that are displayed to the public
at various art shows. The crowds simply love your groups' work. However,
to join this arts-n-crafts group, you have to shell out $500 a year and
give up your summer. Your sponsoring organization has set up these craft
fairs nationwide for your artwork.
You love doing this, but find out that after each show, the organization
gives away all your work to the fans FOR FREE. They get NOTHING in return
for all of your hard work. These people, who showed up for the show and
didn't pay anything to see it, get to take your arts-n-crafts stuff home
for FREE.
Meanwhile, there were another dozen or so arts-n-crafts groups that also
attended shows with you that had to disband because they had financial
troubles -- unfortunately, your sponsoring group can't help them in any
way because they give your artwork away for free...
How would you feel?
There's much more to DCI than this, but you have to make **business**
decisions in order to be a better "youth organization."
NO LIVE broadcast is NOT screwing the members in ANY way. It's screwing
those of us who can't afford to travel to a live viewing.
There's one SIMPLE solution to all of this. HELP FUND THE DCI TELECAST...
Then maybe it could be SHOWN LIVE TO ALL.
J.
Rick Olson
j,
Just what DOES DCI do to attract new fans? I haven't seen much of
anything done by them in this area. That was the stated purpose
of putting the show on PBS in the first place. PPV certainly will
not bring in new fans. I agree that PPV sites would help those
corps fans who can't get to the championship site but where were
DCI's honchos heads when they set the price at $5,000. per site?
That practically guaranteed that that there would very few sites.
If the idea was to bring in money to pay for the taping of the show,
shouldn't they have maintained the price at last year's level ($1,500.)
or even lowered it somewhat and made money off the volume. If they
had gotten 100 sites at even $1,000. per site, that's $100,000.!
Almost half the cost of the taping. It doesn't take a genius to
figure that out!
If the idea of the broadcast was to expose people to drum corsp,
which it was though may not be any longer, why cut off your nose
to spite your face? The PBS broadcast had a POTENTIAL audience of
approx. 30,000,000 viewers. PPV even with more than 100 sites will
not come any where near that total or even hlaf that total.
Either way, it seems, the decision was a very stupid one.
Rick Olson
--
Carmen Salvatore
Been lurking around here for a couple of months, reading the interesting comments
that many of you have made on varoious topics. My wife and I are both very big fans,
as well as former members, of the drum and bugle corps activity. It was'nt too long
ago that our entire summer, (i.e. every weekend, and some weeknights too) brought us
to different cities to enjoy our favorite activity. Unfortunatly, I must say that
since DCI was held in Buffalo, NY our interest has diminished quite a bit. Let me
explain.
In 1984(?), the 2nd finals show in Montreal, CA my then-to-be wife suggested that
we go to finals. I had never before experienced the "Top 12" so it sounded like a
good idea. We drove from central NY to Montreal and then to McGill University. Waited
in line for what seemed like an eternity. As am sure some of you remember Prelims
was a general admission event back then. Finaly, the gates opened and we ran like
hell towards the stands. Seats on the 45 yard line - awesome! Well for the next several
hours I was treated to one of the most entertaining musical experiences ever. I
was hooked, as they say. Oh boy, I can't wait until finals on Saturday! Well
Saturday came and off to Olympic Stadium we went. Oh shit, this is going to
great! Finally arrived at the gate "Sir, may I see you ticket please?" in that polite French accent. "Sure", I said. Then it began. The dreaded trek towards the end zone. The 30 ... 20 ... 10 ... G ... . This sucks! We're in the friggin' endzone
on the upperdeck! No sound, or, sound so low that peoples idle comments could
drown it out, no goose bumps from the company fronts and other big 'pushes',
stickwork, what the hell was that, not even with binoculars. You get the picture
by now. So now what. Well, after the show we started planning our trip to Miami for
next years finals.
Miami. Seats were much better this year. Did'nt care too much for the heat and
humidity though. But, all in all in better finals for us.
Next year, Madison, WI. This year we decide we're going to really get good seats.
We'll join Friends of DCI and get "Prefered Seats". At our level of membership we'd
be eligible for Premimum seats to 2 regional events. OK, we had good seats for DCI
East and Canada. And, we could also get 2 Premium seats to semis and finals. These
seats, as it turned out, were not a whole hell of a lot better than we did the
previous year without 'Friends'. Oh well, Madison (the city and the corps) was
absolutly great, except for the congested corps booths area, and besides, we don't
mind contributing financialy to an activity that provides us so much enjoyment.
Madison, WI again. Pretty much a repeat of the previous year with the exception
of the corps booths, that problem was pretty much taken care of as best as it could
have been.
Madison, WI yet again (is this a Threepeat?). Well, by now we thought we had
established ourselves as real good "Friend of DCI" as every year our donation, in
one form or another, had increased. Unfortunatly, it appeared to us, even though
I don't have the facts to back it up, that as the popularity of the event increased
over the 3 years, the "Premium seats" handed out by "Friends" got worse! I don't get
it? We have increased our contribution, and in return received less. What's wrong
with this picture? Well Madison (again, the corps and the city) were excellent and
we had enjoyed a wonderful time.
Buffalo, NY. Missed last years finals even though we were still members of
"Friends". Previous obligations. Boy I hate when that happens! But, Buffalo, NY, WOW
so close to home! Now this is great! OK, Denise (that's my wife) here's what we're
going to do. I'd like my parents to experience a DCI finals, so we'll bite the bullet
and up our "Friends" contribution so that we're eligible for 4 "Premium Seats".
"Fine", she said. So that's what we did. Well, we got our tickets in the mail and
proceeded to look them up on out trusty Rich Stadium seating chart. Lo and behold,
shitty seats!!!! Wait a goddamn minute here! These aren't what I would call
"Premium seats" at all! "Settle down, don't worry", my wife says, "They'll be fine."
So, we arrive at the stadium for finals. We can overhear various drumlines
practicing, as well as several people playing thier favorite corps on tape players,
car stereos, etc. I don't know about anyone else, but, it's at about this point that
my heart starts beating faster and the urge to sprint for the gate takes over. I
can't prove it but I'm sure that this reaction is somehow tied to the many sprints
across various fields we've done in the past to get them "in between the 40's" prelims
general admission seats! Anyhow, we arrive at our premium seats. Major dissapointment, and I mean Major. Upper deck on the 30 yard line. These are definitly not my idea of "Premium seats". This sucks!! It looks as if we have come full circle back to the Montreal days. And all along we thought that we were "Friends of DCI". HA! Jokes on us!
OK, so why have I bored you with this longish, probably boring for some, account
of what I like to refer to as our "DCI Friends and Finals" story? Well, that was the
last finals we've attended. As a matter of fact, except for the local Rome, NY show
"Drums Along the Mohawk" we have not attended any DCI shows since Buffalo. Why?
Because we were fed up with DCI's BS. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not naive enough
to think that things like operating expenses, inflation, etc. don't come into play
in activites like drum corps. It's simply that every individual has a point at which
they say "enough is enough" and begins to feel they're not getting a fair shake.
We were more than willing to "donate" funds to the activity through DCI and recieve
,in return, certain perks. It just got to the point where the perks were'nt really
perks at all! We could do just as good ordering our tickets like everyone else did
in our section at Buffalo and take the money we gave to DCI and instead, give it
to a couple of struggling corps. So, that's what we did.
Now, for those who have stayed with me, I'm not going to say that all DCI does is
bad, it's not. They have brought this activity a long, long way since I've been
involved. But they do have a hell of a lot to learn about how to treat its customers.
ALL of its customers, from friends and families of corps members, to corporate and
individual sponsors, to future customers. It's these last two groups, espically the
latter where they have really screwed up. I'm an example of the individual sponsor
case and I've run across many, many more of the future customer variety. This latest
move by DCI, that is removing the finals broadcast from PBS is absolutly bad
business practice. I'm sorry Jay but I really do have to disaggree with your position
on this one. By not allowing PBS to air finals DCI has effectivly removed the very
activity that they are trying to promote from millions of prospective customers.
Instead, they have placed the promotion of this event into the hands of other
organizations, 8 I think, who are now responsible for promoting this event across
the country. That alone, from a business point of view, would scare the hell out of me
if I had any stake in the outcome!
Having been involved with running a DCI show here in central NY I think I've
experienced first hand what that PBS broadcast could do for the activity. I'm sure there are others out there who have experienced this as well. I'll aggree that the
millions of viewers that watch the show on PBS did not puchase tickets, but out of all
those people, how many would have if the event wasn't aired? I'll be willing to bet
not too many. Sure, there are some, but I would expect a very low percentage. BUT, on
the other hand, how many of those people, the same people that will not even get a
glimsp of the activity this year, MAY be inclined to check out a local show NEXT
year, or maybe even finals? A hell of a lot more than the first case I'll bet. This
is where DCI is making its' mistake, IMO. It's removing the activity from the homes
of potential customers and keeping it within its own little domain. I'm not a
businessman by profession but I can't believe this is consistent with good
promotion of your product.
I guess what I'm really upset about regarding this whole thing is that the chance of
the following conversation taking place is going to be almost nil:
Drumcorps newbie: Hey Carm, I saw that marching band thing on TV this weekend. That
was pretty cool. Those kids are damn good!
Me: Um, drumcorps my friend, not marching band. And yes, those kids are pretty damn
good. But, you know you really have got to see this activity in person. TV does
not even begin to do it justice. You know there are several shows around the area
you might be interested in.
Drumcorps newbie: Well let me know when tickets go on sale and maybe I'll go to one
next year.
Some could argue that if the local shows were doing a good promotion of thier own
shows the "Drumcorps newbie" would have already known about the shows in the area.
Well the fact is, the Public Broadcasting System is a lot bigger than any local DCI
show, and has the resources to get drumcorps into the ears and eyes of one hell of a
lot of people. It's too bad DCI does'nt realize it.
No flames please. Discussion welcome though.
Later,
Carm
PS: Not responsible for gramatical incorrectness, spelling errors, etc. its hard to
keep these things correct when discussing such an emotional topic such as
Drumcorps. :)
by...@nova.wright.edu
I absolutely agree 100% with Mr. Olson.
> Rick Olson
> --
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Barry N. York (by...@desire.wright.edu or by...@discover.wright.edu)
Drum and Bugle Corps Fan/Alumnus
Electrical Engineering, THE wRIGHT State University (Dayton, Ohio)
Bluecoats 1989, 1990
Madison Scouts 1992
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jay R Wise
I don't know exactly what DCI is doing to attract *new* patrons, but even
though 30 mill **potential** viewers are the PBS numbers, I doubt that many are
attracted enough to go to shows.
Would it be a fair guess to say that the *majority* of people get introduced
into drum corps via a friend in corps, or a band director who likes corps
influence?
I would guess *few* would go to a show based on seeing it on TV (as the intro
to the activity). In face of the latter, DCI is starting to promote band shows
and such... we may not like it ("oh no, DCI is going bando"), but it has the
greatest potential to pull in more fans.
I do agree with you that $5,000 for a satellite site is stupid when it was
$1000 last year. There must be a reason -- one which I will try to find out.
HOWEVER... Until my dying day, I will back this concept of a live PPV site and
highlights on PBS. DCI loses a ton of money on people who tape finals for free
or decide to stay at home instead of traveling to a show or PPV site or buy
videos.
Let's say that there are simply 100 people who want to see DCI Finals so bad
that they invest rather than go without the PBS broadcast. If they buy tapes,
that's $10,000 (100 people x $100 per video) extra DCI got (minus cost, of
course). If they go to the show, then they picked up $3,000 in ticket sales --
plus the trickle-down effect gained at corps souvies, at the show-site economy
(hotels, etc.). If they go to a PPV site, DCI makes no money -- but the show
site sponsor makes more money (or breaks even -- under ideal costs, and not
this silly $5000).
DCI needs to figure out MORE ways to MAKE money to insure high quality
products, investment in more corps beginning and being able to assist those
in need.
J.
I'm not budging on this one!
Robert G. Gleason
Hearing all the comments on our dissatisfaction with DCI Inc. is all
well
and good but this is in a way, barking up the wrong tree. Don't get me
wrong! It is important for us to discuss the problems that there are
with the activity. But it is also important to tell those who can do
something about it.
What I am trying to say is write to DCI Inc. and let them know what you
don't like and how you'd like it changed. If enough of us speak up
perhaps
they will listen.
Can someone post DCI's address?
---------------------------------------------------------
Robert Gleason - gle...@scf16.scf.loral.com
"If you're too busy to laugh, you're too busy" - ???
If you think I'm speaking for Loral, you need get a clue.
Cathy Doser
They have made the Pay per View sites too expensive to be
hosted by lots of groups. They should have worked more on
a percentage of the gate at the sites. If they would
facilitate more sites, more people would pay, and DCI
would make more money. I talked with the people who were
thinking of doing PPV, and they couldn't justify DCI's
buy in cost. *bad business*
Cathy Doser
corp...@eskimo.com
Rick Beckham
>was to better the
>members, both musically and socially, and entertain the public at the
>same time. And now I find out
>it's a cold-hearted business proposition.
How do you propose they do that unless they remain fiscally sound?
MEDWARDS
When neither PBS nor DCI did anything to promote the upcoming television
broadcast to the masses, how can anyone but 'insiders' know that it was on?
It's hard to attract fans to something that is shown twice a year (live, if
you get it, then the highlights) especially when the activity is underpublicied
to the general public anyway?
The groups that use the PPV sights around the country will probably
do more to announce finals than PBS or DCI has ever done. Those organizations
will want to make money and will want a turnout to their event. (nevermind
that the groups making the most money will be showing DCI where the corps
hotspots really are, a help for future planning.)
The article in the United (?) airlines magazine may bring more laypeople
into the fold than PBS can. PBS on a Saturday night? Masterpiece Theater anyone?
The best thing to do is inform people about the activity, try to get them
interested/involved locally (if there's a show/corps in the area) then they
will have interest in finals, and will pay to see it, either at a PPV or, hope-
fully on PPV cable at home, soon.
Michael Edwards
Secretary Beta Sigma KKPsi
Elder Statesman---the Tubads
University of Houston
Michael Furey
because I'll be able to attend. Were that not the case, though, I doubt
I'd bother with going to a satellite site. Last year was rather
disasterous (in Philadelphia anyway) in terms of technical quality and
overall comfort. This year, I'd have to drive 2.5 hours to Harrisburg to
catch the feed.
I agree with J. that failing to go with a live broadcast could, under the
right circumstances, be a positive thing for DCI. The problem is they
seem to be shooting themselves in the foot again. There aren't enough
sites available and the tapes tend to be too expensive for most people.
So yes, there IS a great deal of disenchantment.
I've always wondered why DCI doesn't just bag the whole concept of
broadcast sites and just sell the rights to a real pay per view system.
I'd much prefer sitting at home and paying $30 (or whatever) to watch the
show than travelling 150 miles each way. I expect there are many others
for whom this would be a more rational alternative as well.
Any thoughts??
--
=============================================================================
Michael Furey "Yeah, but anyone who appears on 'Studs'
Internet: fu...@netaxs.com DESERVES to be slashed to death!"
CompuServe: 75716,504 --anonymous
=============================================================================
Lawrence Dilley
is:
DCI
P.O. Box 548
Lombard, IL 60148-0548
Write to them and let them know how you feel about the lack of a
broadcast.,
* Via Monalisa Gateway. Id: SWUSA00004
JohnL37683
writes:
Same problem in the Northwest where I live nearest site CLOVIS, CA from
Oregon or Washington that doesn't make sense to drive there cheaper to go
to Boston.
Steve Karolek
: jrw...@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Jay R Wise) writes:
: Would it be a fair guess to say that the *majority* of people get introduced
: into drum corps via a friend in corps, or a band director who likes corps
: influence?
: In my opinion, absolutely NOT. I have not followed this newsgroup
: for long, but I get the definite impression that the crowd here is
: made up of active or former drumcorps members.
: But in the Big Picture, the number of active and former drumcorps
: members is *miniscule* in comparison to the overall following. I
: think this critical fact has been missing from a lot of the discussion
: here.
First posting to this newsgroup here...flame gently if you don't like
the way I say it. (note, I don't care if you like WHAT I say).
Anyway, I need to start out saying that I have never been involved with
a corp in any way, shape, manner or form except as an appreciative
spectator. I was not "introduced" to drumcorps by a band director or a
TV show... When I was a kid, mom & dad were always on the lookout for
inexpensive yet fun family entertainment. Believe me, local competitions
fit the bill nicely. We didn't go often but we sure enjoyed them when
we did.
I haven't really formed an opinion on the PBS LIVE vs. PPV issue. I do
support my local PBS station and I do watch for neat stuff to show up
in their listings. And, if its at a time that's not convenient for me,
well, that's why I own a stereo VCR folks... I guarantee you that I'd
never drive to a PPV site to see the show.
I remember a very fine evening of entertainment in the summer of '85.
I was living in the northwest Chicago burbs with my wife of a month
or so and we happened to see a note somewhere about a DCI event at
Elk Grove Village high school stadium. We went, we payed, we enjoyed
(my favorite corp that night was Phantom Regiment (sp?) even though
I'm from WI and was rooting strongly for the Madison Scouts) and we've
NEVER been to a corp event since.
Why? Well, where do you advertise? I don't see anything in the newspaper
"what's going on" section. I don't hear anything on the radio "about
town this weekend" blurbs. I don't remember ever seeing anything on
commercial TV. I just happened to stumble over this newsgroup and hope
that I'll hear about local events *before* they happen so I can
introduce my kids and give them a taste of some of the finest entertainment
I know of.
Being an "outsider", traveling around the country following competitions
isn't high on my priority list (but who knows, maybe my kids will get
involved if I can expose them) but I'd love to support local corps at
local shows and competitions if I had the opportunity.
I guess I've kind of rambled, and I'm sorry for that. What I'd like you
all to get out of this message is that I suspect that there are MILLIONS
of people in this country that feel the same way I do. They like to
watch and they will support if they know about local shows. What I'm
asking is that all of you who are involved try just a little harder to
get the message out to the world... most radio, tv and newspaper ads
about "what's going on" are FREE...
Thanks for reading.
---
/`-._ Steve Karolek - Do it on a GoldWing! Life is too
{ }/ Milwaukee, WI USA o short to
\ ./ CI$: [72077,1240] _/\_> drink
|___| Internet: steve....@wepco.com O > / O cheap
or: skar...@execpc.com beer!
---
Randy Miller
: When neither PBS nor DCI did anything to promote the upcoming television
: broadcast to the masses, how can anyone but 'insiders' know that it was on?
: It's hard to attract fans to something that is shown twice a year (live, if
:you get it,then the highlights) especially when the activity is underpublicied
: to the general public anyway?
: The groups that use the PPV sights around the country will probably
: do more to announce finals than PBS or DCI has ever done. Those organizations
: will want to make money and will want a turnout to their event. (nevermind
: that the groups making the most money will be showing DCI where the corps
: hotspots really are, a help for future planning.)
: The article in the United (?) airlines magazine may bring more laypeople
: into the fold than PBS can. PBS on a Saturday night? Masterpiece Theater anyone?
: The best thing to do is inform people about the activity, try to get them
: interested/involved locally (if there's a show/corps in the area) then they
: will have interest in finals, and will pay to see it, either at a PPV or, hope-
: fully on PPV cable at home, soon.
:
: Michael Edwards
: Secretary Beta Sigma KKPsi
: Elder Statesman---the Tubads
: University of Houston
:
With the exception of WHA in Madison (I lived in the midwest for 5 years
between Madison and Chicago), the only stations I know of that Actively
promoted DCI were WITF in Harrisburg, PA and Channel 39 in (the call
letters escape me for the moment) in Allentown, PA. Most PBS stations,
IMHO, like WHYY, prefer to go for the cognosceti, and screw the 'baser'
entertainments (which is why WHYY, or the New Jersey Network, or WQED
won't get my money that quickly. They seem to live by the motto, if the
critics like it, it has to be good!) As for Masterpiece Theater on
Saturday night, check again. Every PBS station I've come across
broadcasts it Sunday night. As for getting my interest piqued in drum
corp via an enlightened Marching Band director, while I never marched
corp, that's how my interest got started. Of course, if the band
director is Charles Casavant(yes, he's the son of A. R. Casavant), it
would figure greatly...
Randy Miller
: I suppose I'm lucky that Championships are on the East Coast this year,
: Any thoughts??
I remember back when the first Three Tenors concert was broadcast over
pay per view. The cable systems took a beating finacially, which is why
you seldom see an event as such going PPV. Eventually, the Three Tenors
landed on public TV. I hate to say it, but there's such a small
following for DCI (hell, my mother still doesn't know the difference
between a Marching Band and a Drum Corp, although I never marched drum
corp), that they wouldn't even make money on PPV. I doubt I'll be going
to Camp Hill (Harrisburg, PA) myself (even though I'll be in the area
that weekend), no thanks to the screwball way the Navy pays me (namely,
monthly, at the beginning of the month). Just my 2 pfennings worth...
JohnMont
First of all, I've been working on the broadast for the last 8 years. I
was first introduced to drum corps via the PBS broadcast in my younger
days. We had one TV set in the house and my parents would watch that
terrible band show on one weekend during the summer -- Hell, I couldn't
watch The Love Boat and Fantasy Island (back in the 4-hr broadcast days).
<g>
Since I've been working on the show, it's improved tremendously (not due
to myself - tho I hope I've had some positive influence - but mainly by
the director/executive producer Tom Blair). I helped produce the show in
Bloomington and now I do the editing for the show - the features that roll
in between performances.
From a TV standpoint, this year provides an interesting, new opportunity.
That's to provide a broadcast for the drum corps fan - not necessarily the
average TV viewer. With the hosts of Rondinaro, Cesario, and DeLucia and
this "targeted" audience, we should be able to provide more interesting
commentary for the true drum corps follower. Look for a Star update (what
the hell are they doing), some discussion about that esoteric vs.
entertainment topic, and more pointed commentary between performances - to
name a few. We won't need to address the drum corps novice...there will
be an implied basic level of understanding about the event. We'll still
keep things somewhat simple for those who don't follow DCI all the time,
though. (By "we" I mean the producers of the broadcast).
Remember, 4 hours of programming wasn't available until last year. The
full finals show can be seen around the country. PBS stations won't set
aside that 4 hours (which was why it was cut down to 2 years ago),
especially during fund-raising times.
It would be nice to be able to set up pay-per-view such as the big boxing
matches, etc., but the logistics/trouble/costs are high. Maybe next year.
These things have been discussed.
For the average PBS viewer - someone who doesn't follow DCI - isn't the
highlights show more appropriate? They get a broader sample of the
variety of the event - from VK to Blue Devils. This makes for an
interesting show for most people. Do they really care that the show is
live (a great many stations never aired it live anway). Yes, a live show
does give added excitement, but the variety of the highlights show
probably makes up for it. The highlights show introduces people to the
activity. It's up to DCI to promote it from there.
Again, these are my views - not the producer's or DCI's. I just thought
that I would toss out these comments to feed more discussion.
And yes, $5000 seems too high. By the way, there are more than 8 sites
now.
Regards (from Boston)