Anyone else shocked how they stick around when season after season after season they are the basement dweller and still have a fairly sizeable corps on the field?

I have often thought that dci should contract those corps in all divisions that are always at the bottom, or put them on a shorter tour schedule or something along those lines

Why wouldn't they "stick around"? As long as they are financially able to tour i applaud them for keeping their tradition going, competitively successful or not..

Maybe it isn't always about "winning".

It definitely isn't about losing :)

but there are a lot of reasons why someone marches a "lower" corps.. could be the family/friendships, could be money, could be location.. or could be the member isn't good enough to go anywhere else.

Marching in a "non winning" group can be better in a lot of ways that in a top competitive group

oh i get that its not all about winning... and i agree they should continue as long as they can... im just amazed that they have been able to keep the interest up and keep going.

(saw them tonight btw.. they were pretty bad)

I would rather watch the corps that is Pioneer than the band that BD has become. Winning should be the very last priority on any group's list. The idea of judging is a flawed concept, anyway. A corps can be powerfully successful without placing near the top. If your kids have a great experience, learn a lot, and go away wanting to return, than that should be sufficient. Winning is a byproduct of whatever is happening politically/rules wise in DCI at the time.

At BD we were taught "To be champions, you must be a champion in ever aspect of your life. Practice like a champion, perform like a champion, eat like a champion, sleep like a champion, piss like a champion, shit like a champion.. if you do EVERYTHING in your life like a champion, you will be one".

I can respect that mentality, just not the "winning is the most important" one that some corps... I won't name names, but they wear maroon and off white uniforms... Adopt.

I don't think it's the MOST important.. but when it comes down to it.. being in a competitive organization.. you aren't there to lose.

I went from a "winning" group to a DCA corps where we didn't know if we would even make finals, and when we made it (and at the same time scoring the highest our corps has ever scored) was in a lot of ways, better than winning DCI.. and it was then when I finally realized why people march in a "losing" corps with no chance to ever win.. because I was also one of those who didn't get it.

It's a good perspective. I think that winning is merely a byproduct of several things, but shouldn't be top priority... of course, a group shouldn't go out of their way to not do well.

To be completely honest here.. I Love Pioneer. No they aren't what you'd call a "winning" corps scorewise.

They are a winning corps in so many other ways in my opinion. I have spoke to and met some of the members of Pioneer and they are so humble and they are great people. Most of them are at Pioneer because of the supportive environment. They have a great motto, "Better Every Day". They have a great Tradition running for over 50 years. I'd love to march them and i had the chance to march with them two years in a row. Pioneer has some of the kindest, most thoughtful, most respectful members. No they may not win championships or even place in the top 12 in world championships, but they place number 1 in my heart. They go out every year and give it all they have.

In other words, I love Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps.

I was actually in the stands watching the last time Pioneer made Semifinals (17th in 1999).

They made it in 2000 as well. they placed 16th.

I actually marched Pioneer back in 2005. I was going to march Capital Regiment the year before, but couldn't raise the funds since I was a late addition and I believe 2005 was the year they went under.

My whole goal when I first started was to march a lower placing corp to gain experience before moving on to a "Finals" corp. While it isn't uncommon for people to do that it just seemed like when I marched Pioneer I found a home away from home. People tend to stick with a place that feels comfortable to them. I loved my year with Pioneer and would have continued marching until age out with them if I would have been able to afford it.

I have had friends that marched Phantom, Cavies, Madison, and Colts. (Can you guess what part of the US I'm from?) And from their descriptions of their times I think I had made the right choice going with Pioneer. I would have hated marching with Colts or Madison around that time. They were both bubble corps for Finals and my friends said that the stress of that was horrible.

I marched Pioneer 2 years, and it was by far the best experience of my life. I knew I wasn't going to win contests or even make it to Semi-Finals, but I knew that I was with great people that I enjoyed spending the summer with. I could have easily marched with better corps, but you can't beat the family environment I felt there...

But I'm sure you have tons of Corps experience to talk =)

I have a friend who is doing Pioneer in 2013 and although he has only done a few camps he loves it there. I know that Pioneer always places last but Marauders said everything perfectly. There is also the fact that almost no brass players try out for Pioneer, I even have a friend who plays trumpet and was called by one of their directors and personally asked to join the corp. Now give me one other corp that will do that for one trumpet player.

BD has made several personal calls to potential members.. I actually hearing stories about that happening ever since BD started in the 70s.

In 99 our soprano soloist was Gino's section leader at college, Gino was on brass staff at BD at the time, and personally invited him to BD

I have heard of BD calling people, but this person had literally no connection to the corp and was being recruited just due to the fact that she had signed up for information...not her skill level.

That's awesome!