WELCOME PARENTS!

If you are new to the drum corps activity, or to the Bluecoats organization, we’re sure you may have some questions! We work hard each summer to ensure that the Bluecoats Experience is a safe, enjoyable, and life-changing experience for your young performer. A part of making that experience great is ensuring that you have access to all of the information you may need as you support your performer during this amazing season.

Your student may be a contracted performer, beginning their experience for the entire summer, or may be just entering the audition process and trying their hand for a spot this summer. Either way, we’re here to answer your questions and provide any support you may need.

This page is intended to highlight a few things that we find the parents and guardians of the drum corps performers are interested or curious about. We also know that parents feel most comfortable when they have a way to communicate with us and with other parents. Here are a few places where you can find information, chat with other parents, and contact us at the Bluecoats office:

PARENT INFORMATION MEETINGS

ABOUT AUDITIONS & THE PRE-SEASON

The audition season begins each year with the start of the Audition Experience Camps in mid-November. We host four such camps annually, in Canton (south of Cleveland), Texas, Atlanta, and Southern California (south of LA). Additionally, hundreds of hopeful Bluecoats audition virtually at Bluecoats School of the Arts. (Virtual auditions are typically highly competitive because they aren’t as great of an opportunity for our staff to gauge ability levels. Auditioning in person is always the best way to perform a great audition.)

After this first round of auditions, a few hundred students are offered either a “callback” or a contract. Callbacks and some other invited students attend the Musician Callback Camp in Canton from December 15-17 (musicians only). Then, once the callback round is complete, the Bluecoats begins its pre-season rehearsal schedule with the January Musicians Rehearsal Camp in Canton, OH from January 12-14.

The pre-season schedule is required for all contracted participants (and a select few participants still on “callback status”) is as follows:

• January Musicians Rehearsal Camp - Canton Area, OH - January 12-14 (no colorguard)

• March Brass Rehearsal Camp - DFW, Texas - March 8-10 (brass only)

• April Full Corps Rehearsal & Design Camp - Canton, OH - April 26-28 (includes colorguard callbacks)

SOME IMPORTANT AUDITION/PRE-SEASON NOTES FOR PARENTS & GUARDIANS

• All pre-season dates are required (depending on section). Contact information for submitting absence requests are provided in The Blue Pages.

• Costs for camps and overnight housing information are detailed in The Blue Pages. At camps longer than one day, airport ground transportation is offered.

• Earning a contract does not guarantee a performance spot on the field. This means that any performer may be assigned to an “understudy position” at any time. Refunds are not offered to students who are understudies. The position carries the same level of responsibility and “membership” in the corps as any other participant.

ABOUT SPRING TRAINING

Spring Training is a 5-week training camp where we rehearse, design, and learn the show during 6-day weeks with once-per-week rest/free days. Spring Training takes place at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH. Move-in day is May 23, 2024 with our first full day of rehearsal on May 24, 2024.

During Spring Training, performers stay in the university’s residence halls and eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the university’s cafeteria. Snack/fourth meal is served from the Bluecoats food truck.

ABOUT TOUR

The Bluecoats will perform more than 20 times at events, parades, and field competitions across the US. This exciting national tour culminates at the three-day Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On days without performances, the corps rehearses intensely. About once a week, the corps takes time off to rest, do laundry, and have some fun.

Our full schedule (including housing sites, which are published during May) can be found at bluecoats.com/events.

GET TICKETS!

DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS & THE SEASON BANQUET

Please join us for DCI Championship week in Indianapolis, Indiana August 8-10! Watch the Bluecoats perform at Lucas Oil Stadium August 8-10 and reserve tickets for our annual celebration Banquet August 11 at the JW Marriott! Plus, take advantage of discounted rates at local hotels offered in our DCI hotel block.

We have rooms available at the JW Marriott and SpringHill Suites Downtown. You can book online here or on the phone by calling 317-262-8191 and providing the access code 24DCIBlueCoats. The deadline to book is June 20th.

Please note that drum corps performers do not need to book hotel rooms for Saturday night as DCI will be providing them.