Drum corps weirdness.
Pat was talking to his dad last night, and his dad mentioned that DCI is in the middle of some changes. I feel like DCI is going towards a money-grubbing, don't care about anything except being huge and powerful type organization. And it makes me kind of depressed.
I guess it's no longer Division I, II, and III. Now it's only World Class, Open Class, and International Class. Which sounds like, "ok, no big deal." BUT. Seriously, go to the website and read about it. Now, in order to compete at all, you have to be "approved" by the Open Class Advisory Committee. I just kind of feel like Div. III died. Blue Devils B and C are now in the same class (for example).
I guess the thing that really kind of irks me is that, and I may be COMPLETELY wrong, but the website makes it seem like your qualification for Div. I (ahem, excuse me, "world class"), isn't necessarily based on scores anymore. And like I said, if you're reading this and going, "oh, she's totally wrong about this," tell me...because I hope I'm wrong. Anyways, from what I gather, the class you're in depends on:
-How many shows you do and how far you travel
-And other bullshit that seems completely objective to me(like, "organizational stability, strength of program, etc.")
-Touring capabilities and financial stability
And once again, this is all decided on by a committee. Which, like I said, seems completely objective to me. I feel like it's kind of turning into a "Does your corp director know the right people," old-boys club. I don't know. What about scores? I didn't see scores mentioned anywhere in there. I'm sure it HAS to be based on score in some sense. I just don't like this complete deleting of Div. III and introduction of a committee that decides what corps can exist and what corps are good enough to be in World class (all based on finances and organizational stability instead of just that they rock your face off and are completely badass on the field). I guess organizational stability can definitely directly influence scores, but, ah, I don't know, I exhaust myself by just thinking over and over again that I don't understand what was so bad about basing your division on scores. Whoever scores better is...in fact...better.
I guess in reality, it's just the "financial stability" line that really gets me. It just makes me automatically think of BUYING success. Like all of this new general effect bullshit with a gazillion props. I know I'm old school when it comes to the type of drum corp I like, but I'd much rather see a hornline make kickass forms and see guards spin together than have this big huge fiasco storyline complete with horribly distracting props. I don't know. I'm probably just blowing things way out of proportion and reading into things way too deep. I just am kind of feeling like drum corp as we all know (and love) it, is changing a LOT.
Oh, also, World AND Open class can have up to 150 members. And they're going to start amping even the soloists.
I guess it's no longer Division I, II, and III. Now it's only World Class, Open Class, and International Class. Which sounds like, "ok, no big deal." BUT. Seriously, go to the website and read about it. Now, in order to compete at all, you have to be "approved" by the Open Class Advisory Committee. I just kind of feel like Div. III died. Blue Devils B and C are now in the same class (for example).
I guess the thing that really kind of irks me is that, and I may be COMPLETELY wrong, but the website makes it seem like your qualification for Div. I (ahem, excuse me, "world class"), isn't necessarily based on scores anymore. And like I said, if you're reading this and going, "oh, she's totally wrong about this," tell me...because I hope I'm wrong. Anyways, from what I gather, the class you're in depends on:
-How many shows you do and how far you travel
-And other bullshit that seems completely objective to me(like, "organizational stability, strength of program, etc.")
-Touring capabilities and financial stability
And once again, this is all decided on by a committee. Which, like I said, seems completely objective to me. I feel like it's kind of turning into a "Does your corp director know the right people," old-boys club. I don't know. What about scores? I didn't see scores mentioned anywhere in there. I'm sure it HAS to be based on score in some sense. I just don't like this complete deleting of Div. III and introduction of a committee that decides what corps can exist and what corps are good enough to be in World class (all based on finances and organizational stability instead of just that they rock your face off and are completely badass on the field). I guess organizational stability can definitely directly influence scores, but, ah, I don't know, I exhaust myself by just thinking over and over again that I don't understand what was so bad about basing your division on scores. Whoever scores better is...in fact...better.
I guess in reality, it's just the "financial stability" line that really gets me. It just makes me automatically think of BUYING success. Like all of this new general effect bullshit with a gazillion props. I know I'm old school when it comes to the type of drum corp I like, but I'd much rather see a hornline make kickass forms and see guards spin together than have this big huge fiasco storyline complete with horribly distracting props. I don't know. I'm probably just blowing things way out of proportion and reading into things way too deep. I just am kind of feeling like drum corp as we all know (and love) it, is changing a LOT.
Oh, also, World AND Open class can have up to 150 members. And they're going to start amping even the soloists.