Yeah, I remember that game...plenty of Bon Jovi eh? Yeah, I've gotten a few recruits already and I'm just hopin' for the best. It always works out in the end.

In case anyone wanted to know.

We have our line set and we're going to be marching 2T, 3S, and 4/5B. We're marching 4 Basses in the show, but 5th bass will be pulled from pit for cadences and in the stands.

- show them, or even better, take them to a Drum Corps show. That is all I ever had to do to get them in. The power and speed is all they really needed to see. Make sure to walk the lot first so the kids are not distracted by the other things going on on the field. Going to a show is also a great way to build line commaraderie..it is a way to experience the activity without practicing. Have people make note of the discipline, how the sections interact when they are not playing, the level of detail. They will get to know each other and see all the people ion the line more as a team, rather than as seperate classes or sections.

Pretty much after every Corps show I have ever taken take my kids to, they want to practice THAT NIGHT, when we get home....usualy after midnight. I'm like "dudes, it's bed time. We have all day tomorrow...."

Once they are "in", make sure that every rehearsal is fun and EFFECTIVE. There is nothing worse than getting a bunch of new kids in, and then they just end up standing around while all the vets talk and show off or goof off. Make sure they are activly involved, and during breaks have the older kids purposefully interact with them. Spend some portion of the practice - I usually do it at the end - where the new kids can ask the vets why they did drumline...what made them stay? What cool non-musical events happen? (In our program we have many traditions that don't involve playing:
- we go to Mongolian BBQ every Weds after practice in July and get crazy;
- the annual TOuristo del Drum Corps where we go as a group to see all the shows in Ohio;
- we have "deep discusion" nights after practices where we all just sit and talk about life; we have movie nights where we go to someones house and watch classic movies like Spinal Tap, Caddyshack...whatever
- we have Golf Day on Thursdays....)

- you want to make drumline something where they feel like they have a connection that is more than just beating on drums and winning trophies. This will also make it easier to work together when you ARE playing and practicing.

Also, DON'T allow "seniority poop" to happen. This breaks down team unity more than anything else I can think of. "SEnior ditch" in line, or letting the older kids go first in things is bad. The drumline should always move as one. This will allow the new kids to have instant comfort and trust in the fact that drumline is a good thing. You should still show respect to the vets for the time invested, but do it in more positive ways. Do it in ways that shows the young kids that their participation, not their age, is what is going to give them cred. Honestly, in the past my older kids almost always failed harder at stuff b/c they thought they had a "pass". I quickly ended that, and the line improved and grew 1000%

Thank you for your comments about "Seniority" that is out of control. Experienced leadership is important. But it is not an excuse to "skate" or worse bully younger students.

Our line is made up of 10 people. 4 snares, 2 tenors, and 4 basses. Our band is only about 40 people, drum line is by far the biggest section. One way to recruit that I've tried and found works is just asking. It's so simple and basic, but it works. Find anybody you know who has any musical ability, and talk to them about it. We got two saxophones for marching season, both on bass. For indoor, we're going to have probably 3-2-4, as I'll be moving off bass to play in the front ensemble. We never seem to have enough in the pit, so I go over and help out on whatever they need me for. For recruiting for front ensemble, anybody who can play piano can play synth/mallets, anybody with guitar/bass guitar experience on that, drum set, etc. And for auxiliary instruments, hey, anybody can learn to hit a concert bass at the right time.

Hope this helps and good luck recruiting!