If You Don’t Like the Shows, Focus on the Members
If you’re one of those long-time drum corps fans who struggles with what current shows look and sound like, I encourage you to focus on the members. And I encourage you to do what I did: visit a drum corps rehearsal.
In 2019 I traveled to Texas to do live interviews with corps at the San Antonio Regional. The Bluecoats staff had been kind enough to agree to talk with me the day before the show, and as I drove from San Antonio to Houston I found myself thinking about the state of the activity. In some ways it felt like everything had changed since I marched way back in the 80’s. Costumes, set pieces, props, sound design, electronics, no hats…the things that felt foreign to me were numerous. Was I becoming alienated from an activity that had meant so much to me for 40 years?
As I drove up to the Bluecoats housing site, I encountered corps members eating bowls of cereal out of styrofoam bowls with plastic spoons. Someone passed me carrying their sleeping bag and suitcase, and volunteers were busy preparing meals and getting equipment ready for practice. It was drum corps, exactly as I knew it.
Despite how different things may seem in the show design, the drum corps experience is still the drum corps experience for these members. They are still working long hours in the hot sun, practicing tirelessly, working to perfect their show. They still get excited as they don their uniform and board the bus, and they still experience the thrill as the fans in the stands react and applaud their show.
All the things we love are still there.
As we celebrate Drum Corps International’s 50th year, take a few hours and visit a corps rehearsal. Even better, volunteer for a couple of hours. The crew working from sun up to sun down preparing meals would relish an hour off to take a shower and sit in the air conditioning. You know how to wash dishes. Or offer your car to drive someone on errands. If you have an hour, give them an hour. And peek into the gym and note that the members are roughing it, sleeping on gym floors, and having the time of their lives!
Before you grouse on social media, think of the members. Then decide to support them, clap for them, and cheer on the activity that is still going strong after Covid and 50 years!
See my interviews from that 2019 trip to Texas
Tim Hinton
June 29, 2022
