As regards Allentown, it has been clear especially since 2020 that many corps are all too willing to completely abandon some major historical traditions - with only mottoes (SUTA, Splooie, 6 Words, etc) and Corps Songs seeming to remain. The concept of a traditional Corps Uniform is just so long gone it's hard to put into words, as are many of the historical drill traditions (if there is much *drilling* at all, as opposed to simple formation marching).
Given the willingness to make those profound changes in tradition, and the blunt - even harsh, reality that Allentown managed to lose TWO major corps (Crossmen first, the Cadets), why on EARTH is anyone even trying to retain the use of an admittedly TERRIBLE facility? Being the wag that I am, I have begun pushing the new name of "J. Birney Crum...bling under our feet". Name one corps where the kids don't dread pushing equipment up that ungodly hill. It has ZERO realistic parking, a bizarre seating tier situation, and of course is chronically susceptible to rain out. There is no defensible reason to stay there now that Cadets are gone, permanently. Long standing tradition isn't enough. I can hear cries of "what about Whitewater?" . Well Whitewater hosts a sentimentally important show (this year now entering hilarious legend - with the special bonus of a fireworks show in the dark) but it is also a very small show, not a Regional, and is very early in the season. Not an applicable parallel at all. If the Carrier Dome would be a possibility, maybe the new DCI director will look into that... he isn't the DCI bound dinosaur that Dan Acheson was - coming form completely outside the culture, IIRC. I mean there is an mixed show held in the general Syracuse area already (I was thrilled Battalion made it all the way up there!), so that is something to build on.
As someone who had the opportunity to perform at J. Birney, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, but that’s more of a testament to the fan base and the deep love that crowd has for the activity I’d say. It’s deeply frustrating to me that we place such importance in our regionals, for seeding purposes, for ticket sales, and more, but we cannot guarantee that the venue and environment are suitable.
We have less Dome shows now than we have had in the past. While I do understand that ATL became cost prohibitive after Mercedes-Benz, I’d be curious about the feasibility of maybe the Kibbie Dome for some of the NW early season swing, or the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Even the Skydome at Northern Arizona would be an option for an Arizona show if we want to find ways around the heat concerns so often faced.
There’s a lot of scuttlebutt around potentially not being able to use many NFL stadiums as venues in the future, due to the movement away from artificial turf due to potential injury concerns, so we have to figure out creative scheduling for some of our cornerstone shows, especially if the activity’s fan base expands as many want it to.
RE: The Spartans and moving to World Class. Aoparently there is some sort of foundational principle in that organization where it is ingrained that they will never actively pursue moving up, on philosophy alone - they want to remain affordable and reachable - physically, etc for the kids in the Northeast. Currently only 7th Regiment exists as an English Language/American alternative, and while they're a plucky group, also a fairly weak one [Les Stentors also has a fairly strong regional focus for Francophone musical kids and I'm guessing there is some serious competition in the Canadian scene if you can speak French].
The only other corps at all up that way is BAC, and they are completely out of reach financially for the vast majority of kids, as well as being a truly uber elite organization since 2020 with truly fierce competition to get a contract.
Given that understanding of Spartans organization, and the inherent structure and design in Concord, GOld might be the only one of those big 3 that would actively pursue moving up. After this year, The Battalion has now placed themselves firmly in the immediate wake of those three - with I suspect some serious challenge from Columbians over the years. If SCVC returns someday, they'll have ot work at it, but might well be able to pull ahead of Battalion -- seeing as how the Utah corps has no such organization as VMAPA backing it.
This year was very enjoyable in Open Class, and I'm happy for BDB, Impulse, GOlden Empire, and the now VERY DEEPLY TROUBLED (even legally threatened) Vessel to have had a full 10 tour dates in California. This Vessel situation is just awful: apparently the organizational structure is very enabling of some very bad and abusive behavior of at least one major staff member, and in the off season that situation will require some serious watching.
I’ve heard a lot of that regarding Spartans, especially when we were touring with them in 2019, but it’s not hard at all to imagine that the calculus has changed since Covid, and especially considering the payment disparity between OC and WC corps. I am a proponent of a strong Open class, but, just like in world class, you have to serve your organization and keep it going before you serve the larger activity.
As regards Allentown, it has been clear especially since 2020 that many corps are all too willing to completely abandon some major historical traditions - with only mottoes (SUTA, Splooie, 6 Words, etc) and Corps Songs seeming to remain. The concept of a traditional Corps Uniform is just so long gone it's hard to put into words, as are many of the historical drill traditions (if there is much *drilling* at all, as opposed to simple formation marching).
Given the willingness to make those profound changes in tradition, and the blunt - even harsh, reality that Allentown managed to lose TWO major corps (Crossmen first, the Cadets), why on EARTH is anyone even trying to retain the use of an admittedly TERRIBLE facility? Being the wag that I am, I have begun pushing the new name of "J. Birney Crum...bling under our feet". Name one corps where the kids don't dread pushing equipment up that ungodly hill. It has ZERO realistic parking, a bizarre seating tier situation, and of course is chronically susceptible to rain out. There is no defensible reason to stay there now that Cadets are gone, permanently. Long standing tradition isn't enough. I can hear cries of "what about Whitewater?" . Well Whitewater hosts a sentimentally important show (this year now entering hilarious legend - with the special bonus of a fireworks show in the dark) but it is also a very small show, not a Regional, and is very early in the season. Not an applicable parallel at all. If the Carrier Dome would be a possibility, maybe the new DCI director will look into that... he isn't the DCI bound dinosaur that Dan Acheson was - coming form completely outside the culture, IIRC. I mean there is an mixed show held in the general Syracuse area already (I was thrilled Battalion made it all the way up there!), so that is something to build on.
As someone who had the opportunity to perform at J. Birney, the atmosphere was absolutely electric, but that’s more of a testament to the fan base and the deep love that crowd has for the activity I’d say. It’s deeply frustrating to me that we place such importance in our regionals, for seeding purposes, for ticket sales, and more, but we cannot guarantee that the venue and environment are suitable.
We have less Dome shows now than we have had in the past. While I do understand that ATL became cost prohibitive after Mercedes-Benz, I’d be curious about the feasibility of maybe the Kibbie Dome for some of the NW early season swing, or the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Even the Skydome at Northern Arizona would be an option for an Arizona show if we want to find ways around the heat concerns so often faced.
There’s a lot of scuttlebutt around potentially not being able to use many NFL stadiums as venues in the future, due to the movement away from artificial turf due to potential injury concerns, so we have to figure out creative scheduling for some of our cornerstone shows, especially if the activity’s fan base expands as many want it to.
RE: The Spartans and moving to World Class. Aoparently there is some sort of foundational principle in that organization where it is ingrained that they will never actively pursue moving up, on philosophy alone - they want to remain affordable and reachable - physically, etc for the kids in the Northeast. Currently only 7th Regiment exists as an English Language/American alternative, and while they're a plucky group, also a fairly weak one [Les Stentors also has a fairly strong regional focus for Francophone musical kids and I'm guessing there is some serious competition in the Canadian scene if you can speak French].
The only other corps at all up that way is BAC, and they are completely out of reach financially for the vast majority of kids, as well as being a truly uber elite organization since 2020 with truly fierce competition to get a contract.
Given that understanding of Spartans organization, and the inherent structure and design in Concord, GOld might be the only one of those big 3 that would actively pursue moving up. After this year, The Battalion has now placed themselves firmly in the immediate wake of those three - with I suspect some serious challenge from Columbians over the years. If SCVC returns someday, they'll have ot work at it, but might well be able to pull ahead of Battalion -- seeing as how the Utah corps has no such organization as VMAPA backing it.
This year was very enjoyable in Open Class, and I'm happy for BDB, Impulse, GOlden Empire, and the now VERY DEEPLY TROUBLED (even legally threatened) Vessel to have had a full 10 tour dates in California. This Vessel situation is just awful: apparently the organizational structure is very enabling of some very bad and abusive behavior of at least one major staff member, and in the off season that situation will require some serious watching.
I’ve heard a lot of that regarding Spartans, especially when we were touring with them in 2019, but it’s not hard at all to imagine that the calculus has changed since Covid, and especially considering the payment disparity between OC and WC corps. I am a proponent of a strong Open class, but, just like in world class, you have to serve your organization and keep it going before you serve the larger activity.
As for Vessel, that was deeply concerning, though I have heard mostly whispers from people directly impacted by it. Hard to see in this day and age.