Staff Article
$$$ Get Money For Your Dues $$$
by John Randall, Gold Percussion Caption Head
There are many ways to get money to pay for drum corps! It is not your parents responsibility to pay for you to be in drum corps ! You need to take ownership of the commitment you have made to your corps and meet your financial obligations. This is will be a great life lesson in responsibility and loyalty.
There is an abundance of money in the world ! The people that have most of it love to give it away. You just have to ask for it !
My biggest regret in life is NOT marching the Crossmen in 1997 with all my best friends. I let money get in the way. After 2 summers with the Star of Indiana, and driving 18 hours each way from Massachusetts for camps, I had spend every dollar I ever made ! This was also my first two years of college at the University of Massachusetts where my commitments to one of the best drumlines in the country made it difficult to work extra jobs.
I decided it wasn't only the $2,000 tour fee that held me back, but not making money over another summer while on tour. It wasn't an option for me to ask my parents for money.
As my age-out season approached in 1998 I quickly realized this was my last chance to march in DCI ! At UMass (where most of the Crossmen drumline came from) we had "pre-camps" before the first real camp. I was physically and mentally at my best! I still had money on my mind and had serious doubts if I could make the commitment that was required. At this time I confided in Colin McNutt (who is now one of my closest friends) and explained my concerns. He demanded I speak with Thom Hannum immediately !
Thom was the Percussion Caption Head at the Crossmen AND the Percussion Director at UMass. He was like a father to all of us at UMass (now he is another close friend). Thom personally recruited me to play snare drum at UMass and at the Star of Indiana. I felt like I was letting him down more than I was letting myself down by telling him I couldn't afford to march (again).
Thom immediately calmed my fears. With all his drum corps experience he has probably heard this hundreds of times! Below is a strategy he recommended.
After my "awakening" to what was possible in life financially I found even more ways to raise money!
In 1998 the Crossmen tour fee was $2,400 because we had an aggressive tour traveling through Texas and Colorado.
My fund raising MORE than covered my corps costs and the money I would have made in the summer working. The following fall semester at UMass I received significant scholarships from Zildjian AND Vic Firth for my efforts!
I have taken these concepts with me throughout life and into the business world.
(Disclaimer - As a caption head with Carolina Gold it is not ethical for me to give gifts to members involved in the corps.)
Strategy #1 To raise money for drum corps dues ...
..."Ask for it"
Write a letter explaining the incredible opportunity you have to be a member of the Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps. Explain that this activity is your passion in life and will lead you to be the best person you can be through this incredible learning experience. Also describe there is a hefty financial commitment required to participate in drum corps, due to the high gas and food costs while traveling to perform and compete.
Bring this letter to a teacher, professor or someone you really trust for review, advice or/and feedback (have it reviewed by as many people as possible) ! You never know, those people may want to help you out financially too.
Send it to EVERYONE you know !!!
Family members, friends, neighbors, businesses you frequent, corporations and anyone else you can think of. The more you send, the more you will receive!
Even if you only got $5 from 100 people, you are pretty close. A pizza restaurant I went to for 2 years after every high school drumline rehearsal gave me $200! Two other random companies sent me $100 (I did not know anyone there, just mailed then my awesome letter that they were obviously impressed by).
George Hopkins, Director of the Cadets, shares a similar strategy with members of his drum corps.
It works !!!
Good luck,
Jon Randall
