While it's easy to get caught up in the scores and results of Drum Corps International, it is also important to remember the immense value that is found outside of competition. One of the great unspoken rewards of the DCI season is the camaraderie among its incredibly talented musicians and performers -- regardless of which drum corps they represent.

These members are going through similar experiences and hardships -- so wouldn't it be great to step out of the Dinkles, put on your "real people" shoes, and become a fan of your fellow performers? Well, at DCI on the SoCal Coast, a couple of corps have gotten that chance.


Starting in 2016, "DCI on the SoCal Coast" in Oxnard, California, was added to the DCI Tour, but unlike most other competitions, this show would not be scored. The exhibition initially only hosted three corps: Madison Scouts, Blue Knights, and Blue Devils. The corps performed their shows for the audience, while the other two corps that weren't performing also watched from the stadium seats, which gave the entire atmosphere of the event a different tone.

Fortunately, with the competition aspect removed from the picture, the performers get a chance to relieve some of the intense pressure normally on their shoulders and relive the feeling of sitting on the "other side."



This year, Phantom Regiment and Santa Clara Vanguard joined the show, which was held in Santa Barbara, CA, this season due to Oxnard High School's stadium construction. Unfortunately, Madison Scouts could not join this year because they were busy performing in the Midwest at Drums on the Ohio. On Sunday night at DCI West, Phantom Regiment and Blue Knights performed back-to-back, meaning the two corps were unable to watch each other -- the same situation for the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard.

The 2017 DCI on the SoCal Coast exhibition gave each of these corps the opportunity to watch their peers perform -- to play their hearts out for an audience that they knew would appreciate even the smallest, nuanced details of their shows. Performing in this show can be one of the most rewarding experiences a marching member will encounter on his or her summer adventure. Attending one of these exhibition shows can create an entirely new experience as a fan of drum and bugle corps, so be sure to keep an eye out for exhibition shows via Drum Corps International's website.

We're really excited to see @TheBlueDevils and @MadisonCorps today! Come chill with us at DCI on the SoCal Coast in Oxnard! #KN16HTS

— Blue Knights (@TheBlueKnights) June 29, 2016

You can catch all four of these corps at 2017 Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl on Saturday in Pasadena, CA, streaming LIVE only on FloMarching! It's time to get back into competition, so don't miss Phantom Regiment trying to regain the lead over Blue Knights after defeating them in 2016 DCI Finals and see if Santa Clara Vanguard can close the gap with Blue Devils after outscoring the corps from Concord, CA, in brass, percussion and color guard at DCI West.

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