Bill's right. You can always find time to "get away" however brief it might be. I would generally take the time to find some fast food or hang with family or friends at the show.

Things like Nex eluded to, like alcohol, are available. When you've got a contingent of college aged people then you're probably going to find liquor from time to time. I can't imagine someone, of age or not, actually getting hanmered before going to retreat though. I just don't belive that happened.

Ive seen it. I would bet money that it did. only at finals retreat though... odly enough it started becoming more prevalent when finals only retreat started. retreat in the last two years has become a joke. the only way to fix it is to bring back the whole thing more than once a year. before those who experienced it in its full glory are gone.

But to expand on alcohol consumption during tour, at madison we were allowed to drink during free days, if you were of age. And did so responsibly. IE if you couldn't function the next day) the field staff made sure your day was not as fun as the last. You do shows in college towns, there are bars there. and liquor stores. there are no inspections, the staff trusts the kids, and if the rules were broken you aid the price, whether thats being sent home, or touching the the goal post after every rep (while not missing any).

You don't need a lot on tour, your tolerance is WAY down, Most of the guys who did drink, would take 2-3 beers and be done. add a shot or two and guys get sloppy... Drink nothing but water and gatorade for 3 months, then go to

Like 9Volt pointed out, when? Did they finish the show, run off to the nearest Wal-Mart, buy 12 packs of beer, come back and get completely hammered just in time to get back on the field for the retreat? Without the DM/Executive Director knowing any of this? Not likely.

...So? You seriously think Members would get banned because they threw candy?

And this was done.....when? I highly doubt a bass drummer would drill a hole into his bass drum with a power drill, without someone from the staff noticing.

Again, so? There drums, they're meant to be played on! I will admit that playing on another corps drum might be a little uncalled for, but again, nothing to be banned over!

OK, rumors disarmed. We need Cheese here, he would fix this.

First there is a lot of down time between the time you go on and when retreat starts. I would say they brought the "beverages" with them on the bus. Its not that hard trust me.

As said before each corps has its on regulations on behavior some are way more strict. and I can tell you if another corps complained to the director about that kind of stuff going on. yes throwing candy can get you banned.

People do stupid things when they feel like they can get away with it. drilling holes in a bass head doesn't seem all that difficult to believe. for one its a bass head. they change them often. probably a way of rebelling


And again, playing on other corps drums can be taken as a sign of disrespect, I have heard stories of fights breaking out over some "tenor wars" on the parade lap. yes drums are meant to played on. but I know if another group played on my drum like that.. its on. again some corps are very strict with that stuff.

its all speculation, but after the 2000 bd bass drummer incident, I don't discount anything.

What was the accident? I've never heard of that before.

And yea, in the showband world at least, playing on the other bands drum is a big sign of disrespect. Well at least thats what I've been told by the other drummers in the line who think "drumline" is a legendary movie.

Something that everyone needs to understand -

What happens on the bus, STAYS ON THE BUS.

It's a blanket statement. You're not going to get members of these corps to admit one thing or another because 1) the corps' reputation is on the line, 2) a lot of members just aren't allowed to post about corps business on forums, and 3) that kind of stuff will always stay internal to the particular corps' family.

You just don't air dirty laundry on a public forum.

So if you're looking for people to confirm/deny rumors, you are sadly mistaken. It just won't happen. I don't understand why everyone is still so shocked when they hear about some of these things happening. It's not high school band.

Nothing surprises me anymore Patty. I just find it hard to believe that there were some people who might have been intoxicated during retreat. Maybe I'm old and a little naive but I can't fathom someone drinking knowing they were going to be back in uniform for retreat. Of course I don't have any proof of it and I'm not looking for any. Believe me, I could party with the best of them and I know that I did some things on tour that I would never want to be public but the fact is I would never have done anything in uniform. I guess I had too much respect for myself, my staff, the guys marching with me, the guys who marched before me, the corps, and the activity. Now, when I got back to college marching band and put on that uniform it became a different story.

Quite frankly I don't care what they were doing in retreat. I think this whole retreat thing has been blown out of proportion. I think we tend to lose the fact that it was a great year for DCI. If you looked hard enough you could find some fault with every corps that night.

It is true. I've just confirmed it with some other Bluecoats members. I'm not sure about the hornline, but the drumline definitely can't return next season. He's telling the truth.


Wow.

AGHHH....Where's cheese when you need him!?

Like patty said earlier, you're not going to get anyone to publicly admit anything on a forum. SO starting/ spreading rumors about why or what, probably isn't the best idea.