Lapsed Fan's Guide to DCI 2024
Part Three
Tonight marks the return of competitive drum corps for the summer! In PART ONE, we went over a few corps you should be paying attention to this year. In PART TWO, we highlighted some big names that changed corps this offseason. In part three, we’ll get into a few storylines from the past few months that you may have missed.
The Silver Screen
This summer’s schedule looks slightly different than the past few years, with one notable event missing. Big, Loud, and Live, the annual pilgrimage to your (hopefully) local movie theater to watch the top 15 corps at DCI World Championship Prelims, looks to be discontinued, as there is nothing available through previous distribution partner Fathom Events. Many fans are disappointed by this, though I wonder how surprising it is, especially considering the changing environment of movie theaters in the past five years. Regardless, this is an event that most fans circle on their calendars each year, as it’s the closest that you can get to live shows while not being there, and it’s unfortunate to see it go.
Bloo-king Up
On a brighter note, the Bluecoats had a very productive offseason, with three major announcements from the Canton, OH-based group. Regarding the on-the-field product, they announced a multi-year partnership with Pageantry Arts darlings Son Lux. This partnership consists of Son Lux songs used in the field show, including music written specifically for the Bluecoats in 2025, and opportunities for the members and staff to work with the leader of the Oscar-nominated band, Ryan Lott.
The Bluecoats also locked down their spring training home at the University of Mount Union through 2028, providing not only stability at a time when many drum corps have been searching for a consistent pre-season location but also providing a setting for multiple events targeted at local students and band directors, including a continuation of the long-running “The Blue Way” camps.
Finally, downtown Canton will see some investment from the corps, as they have partnered with EN-RICH-MENT, a local organization dedicated to providing free music and art education, to construct an education center on the former site of a tire shop. This organization, now an affiliate of the Bluecoats, primarily serves under-resourced communities in the local area.
The Fall of the South
It’s been a rough time since the conclusion of last season for Open Class Corps in the South, to say the least. In October, Southwind, fresh off of their triumphant return to Semifinals for the first time since 2005, announced that they would be ceasing operations immediately. Condolences and best wishes flooded in from the DCI world. Unfortunately, it seems to continue a trend, and we’ve seen even more in just the past month.
On June 11th, Heat Wave posted that they’d be taking the summer off and intending to explore a comeback in the future. This was accompanied by a statement discussing the challenges experienced by the corps over the past couple of seasons, though many groups share those challenges. Finally, while writing this article, Guardians announced that they’d be wrapping up their 2024 tour following the conclusion of the Texas swing.
It’s not the first time we’ve seen corps struggling in such a relatively isolated geographic area, though it puts into perspective the challenges of participating while outside the Open Class hotbeds of the Northeast and the West Coast. Even then, the Northeast has declined in participation, and Open Class shows in that area have been regularly augmented by the former DCA, now DCI All-Age, corps.
What can we do to stem the tide of corps leaving, and how can we potentially create more opportunities for those who may aspire to march but aren’t ready to make the leap into World Class? These will undoubtedly be priorities for those in DCI’s head office over the coming years.
Billable Hours
Continuing on the theme of activity difficulties, In October, a lawsuit was filed in Georgia concerning the incidents and experiences that resulted in Spirit’s 2022 absence from the DCI tour. Various updates and motions have been published throughout the year, and now we have a tentative date for the trial, set for July 15th. This will be a case that all eyes in the activity are monitoring.
Try Something New!
Finally, we have a really cool moment to share. Those of you who are not steeped in YouTube culture may not be aware of The Try Guys. If you do know of them, you know of the deep and abiding love their fan base has for them. If you don’t, they started as a part of Buzzfeed’s offerings before going out on their own, eventually ending up with a Food Network show, a book deal, a streaming service, and over 8 million subscribers on their YouTube channel.
It was announced on May 22nd that Eugene, one of their original members, would be stepping away to pursue other opportunities after this season. This caused quite a stir in their community but also brought more eyes to the final season with the three central figures together. You may ask, what does this have to do with our silly activity? Well, the first episode of their final season concerns Color Guard. It’s certainly worth a watch to see a loving and curious view of what the Pageantry Arts look like from the outside and a bit more understanding of how difficult these activities are.
ALRIGHT! Now you’re ready for the 2024 DCI Season!
Catch the Premiere tonight on FloMarching at 8 ET/7 CT
Matthew Carstensen is currently GEM’s Managing Editor. He has been involved in the Pageantry Arts for over a decade, as a performer at the highest level, an instructor, and a fan. You can find him on Twitter at @SatNightLites. He currently lives in Florida with his dog.
Great article Matt!!