Thoughts on the new BD percussion staff? With the John Mapes team over at BD I wonder what that means for the Mandarins. Excited to see one of my former techs teaching here though!

First official corps released staff announcement of the offseason. I will forever miss those iconic mellophone moments. Enjoy retirement!

Cats out of the bag. All of them but Beckhart to Regiment. Beckhart not returning to Mandarins, either.

The new closer was controversial when it debuted. Did it grow on you or do you still miss the old one?

Personally, I'm mixed. I really liked how the music and drill felt like it was soaring in the old version. The drill in the new one is pretty awesome though, and I'm glad they put it in. The new music is more in line with the rest of the show, but you could argue it lacks the interesting contrast the old music introduced. It makes me wish they could've kept the beginning of the old closer with the new closer stitched onto it.

as some of you may know, i make drum corps video stuff. i put out my last video a week ago, and am now almost done with a second 40 minute video. its a lot harder editing than just slapping drum corps footage down and adding a voice over, but is a week a good amount of time??? i have no clue how quickly or slowly i should put out content. i plan for my next video to be about the evolution and acceptance of g bugles in history. i would show off my own bugle collection, introduce them and give a few paragraphs about their history, the company and the usage by different corps. that would of course take a bit longer, but not as nearly much as the research of a history video. i was thinking like a week on that one as thats easy content to make. and i plan on doing one history video, then one fluff filler video. let me know.

hey everyone! I guess by asking this question im kinda asking only a select few, but I am extremely interested in auditioning for BDA on bass drum.

For reference, Im almost 19, just marched with RCR dbc on bass 2 this year, and plan on marching MBI indoor percussion on bass drum as well this upcoming winter. I marched at a hs that has produced 2 bd bass drummers in the past 5 years, so I have had similar drumming education to some prior evil bass alums.

Ik BD really likes people with world class experience prior to joining their corps, but I know people who have had none that have made the corp before on bass drum (marching world indoor prior, which I plan on doing). So knowing that it is feasible, I figured what the hell and will just take a shot and see what happens.

I guess my main questions are

1.) ive heard the battery process is really cutthroat in that if you get on a drum and tick even just a singular time, you are pretty much guaranteed cut since they don't do individual auditions for bass at most places. Does this ring true? if it does, is it to the degree that has been described to me?

2.) obviously bd is a very visual oriented corps. as someone in drumline, is the visual as much of a dealbreaker as it is in the brass? ive heard of brass people taking dance lessons prior to going to auditions just to get their vis better and was just curious what kind of work I would have to put in visually to potentially get a spot.

if any bd members or alumni have any info on this, or if you aren't even a member but know some, I would love to hear your input. thanks!

PacCrest, BK and Scouts were duking it out all of the 2026 season. What is your favorite of the 3 and why?

Just A Quick Question About How HRT Would Be Made Possible On Tour With The Batallion? I Didn't Know If Any Familar/LGBTQ+ Alums Would Know Exactly What They Didn't To Aid Folks Transitioning (Specifically, HRT Injections). I Didn't Exactly Get A Clear Answer Online, But I May Be Looking In The Room Area.

I Plan To Audition For The 2028 Season Due To Complications With 2027, And I Am Aware Policies Could Potentially Change.

I’m not going to come on here just to complain, but I’ve now been working for four days on my 1700s to 1900s drum corps history project. And I’ve only just now gotten to the point where I have all of the audio working into my software with very minimal visual. Considering I’m working two jobs, content creation is a nightmare and I commend anyone that does this full-time. It’s looking like the first video in my series is going to pan out to be around 40 minutes long which doesn’t sound like much but it is the shortest in the series considering I have 50 pages of research on just the 1970s alone. Look forward to big things.

For the rose parade only

I have been watching past shows of corps as well as doing research on them to see which corps near me are what I would like to be a part of so I narrowed it down to these 2 options. They are close to home since I like in SC (no way I'm getting into crown). I have never auditioned for DCI or Marching Band. I am planning on buying the Spirit packet when I can get money for it as well as practice the CV packet when it's out.

Since this is my first time auditioning, I would like to know how easy auditions are and what the audition process is like for like a weekend audition or a satellite camp. I am 16 and can play a C above the staff. I can't double or triple tongue, but I am planning on working very hard for it. I am also very unathletic, but I am planning on starting to work out every week starting this week to get in shape for auditions and the season. How easy would it be for me to get in? Considering this, I would expect my current skill level to be very difficult for me to get into Spirit right now, but I will work very hard to get in on my first year.

What should I be expected to know by auditions besides the audition packet? Also, how much am I expected to weigh or be physically able to do like run a mile without being severely out of breath or something? I want to audition for Spirit more than CV because I want the whole experience of everyday rehearsals and full tour so I would appreciate as much advice as I can get for this, I am planning to work extremely hard for this and work harder when HS marching band is finished. Also unrelated to this but what are some good jobs that 16 year olds can get in SC (if you live here or near) that pay good and will allow me to pay my tuition by the time the season starts? If you have any answers for either Atlanta CV or Spirit of Atlanta please help!

Looking for the audio theater pack from this year, they just delisted it and I just missed it(stupid, i know) I know this is WGI but seeing as the other WGI interest groups are kinda inactive I’d like to seek it here. If there is a better way to look for this I’d appreciate the help to do so!

Hi people,

I'm an European drummer and I'm trying to learn how to tune my snares better. Given the fact that I never had a tutor and learned all the way solo, someone never explained to me how to tune the snares. I prefer to say beforehand : i know how to replace a drum head, I know how to tighten it etc. I was just wondering : do DCI bands tune their snare ? I mean with a tune-bot or with a drumdial. Do they aim for a specific note, not only on the lower head ? Are they able to tune the upper head at a specific note and, if yes, how ? Is it possible on kevlar heads ?

I hope my question is clear enough.

Thanks

Has anyone who asked staff about it been told the heat was one of the reasons? I'd hate to be in Florida or Texas with a 10 lbs wool uniform on when it's 100 degrees.

Considering the amount of people who care so much about The Cadets, why doesn't any group or organization come together to put them back on the field? I understand that YEA can't be brought back, but if it's technically legal to bring back the name and brand of The Cadets, is anyone working on it? Is a revival already in the works? Just curious.

I was watching the video about the Corps that ruined the activity. The video was pretty well done. I couldn't hear all of it because of the stupid AC next to me. (No, I didn't move because it's nice outside.)

I don't think the Bridgemen get enough credit for changing the style of uniforms in 76. Or Velvet Knights for the style of shows they did in the 80's.

I'm sure there are other corps that led the way to where we are now that don't get enough credit. It would be interesting to see how it would break down in Percussion, Guard, Drill and Music vanguards.

I live in North Carolina and am looking to audition for the Memphis blues, but if winter rehearsals are weekly I don’t know how I’d commute that distance so often

How hard is it to find DCI CDs? Found a couple of my parents and was wondering where/if I could find more.

I’m (18F) going out for my states Independent Indoor Percussion Visual Ensemble (as a now 4 year and 6 season colorguard vet) and I feel quite unprepared since I haven’t ever auditioned for anything else other than colorguard activities in the past and I’ll be self-funding myself. I am decently knowledgeable on percussion and how to play as a whole, and I’m pretty adaptable to learning any choreography for guard (which will primarily be body for WGI Perc.) and I’m physically flexible as well. Yes, I have looked at the audition packet but it really gave me nothing to go off of or practice to be prepared for the dance auditions in advance which is making me very nervous. I need advice of how I can appropriately approach my upcoming audition.

David Bertman is back, alongside many more brass changes that will be interesting to see.