I Don't Like This... 

Forget being a doctor mom, I’m gonna be a met runner. That’s how you make the big bucks😎💸

It’s not always about being on the field, it’s about the METS, BABY. THE METS! Also I’d love to see more cymbal licks like at 6:00

Wage theft is a fundamental part of drum corps. It's bad enough that all drum corps that all drum corps misclassify their instructional staff as independent contractors so they can pay them way less than minimum wage. Misclassifying unskilled labor as an "educational opportunity" and then charging someone dues for performing that menial labor is just as exploitative as the inappropriate sexual relationships that have plagued drum corps for decades.

I personally was not as upset about the post as a lot of other people were, but I do have thoughts. I do think a met runner position would be extremely valuable, and it seems like there are a good number of perks if done right (I.e. SCV). But I agree that the position shouldn’t just be open to people who are of marching age/have brass or percussion experience. I think that post would’ve gotten a lot less hate if it was marketed as more of an admin position. Because admin don’t pay member fees for tour, and they do important behind the scenes work (aka what a met runner would be). Being a recent DCI ageout, if I was asked during my marching years to run the met for a group, I would’ve rejected them. But if someone asked me now to be a met runner that would do more administrative work, I would definitely consider it. You would get the great experience even after you’re done with corps. In short, I don’t think Carolina Crown is immoral for making that post, but it definitely could’ve been marketed better.

If anything, this should be a paid staff position, or at least an administrative volunteer position. If you want _me_ to pay _you_ to do this menial task, I'd better be allowed to do it in performances.

In all my years I never thought I would see a 51-part and growing series with a pro drummer growing out his beard that all started with No-Shave-November

Hey Eric, this is Cole from your video. I would like to shed light onto my situation becoming a met runner and would like to clear up some concerns you addressed in the video. In the run up to the 2019 season I did get cut from the baritone line coming out of January camp. They did not give me the option of doing the met runner position and told me to march somewhere in the top 10 to gain more experience. I was not opposed to marching another corps but at the time I had heard about some of the issues in the lower corps and how some of them were treating their members and I saw how much fees were to march that year and I chose not to march. Fast forward to the beginning of the summer and I see that there was an opening for a met runner position. At this time I did not have a job for the summer yet and I saw that it was labeled as a volunteer position and I would not have to pay anything at all to tour with Carolina Crown. This was an amazing opportunity to get to know the membership and the staff at the corps and was free at the time of me interviewing for the position. While I was on tour I was treated extremely well and got to learn all of the pedagogy from the staff. They let me practice during breaks and also let me bring my trombone on tour to practice my excerpts for school. That summer in particular has helped me in many ways and I loved spending that summer with the corps. I don't discount going to another lower corps would have been helpful and good but at the time when I did not know the ins and outs of each group and how staff and admin treat their members I was not willing to experiment and see what happens. I know you know some of the staff and admin at Crown as a few are still the same from when you marched but they treat members with respect. That is not to discount other corps and say that they don't treat their members with respect but I knew that Crown did as I had friends marching the corps. Now with the situation on paying dues I don't know what the dues are payed for specifically but I know the staff is very good on giving us information on what our money is being used for. Coming out of the pandemic I know lots of corps lost a lot of money and I know it is very very expensive to put on a show. Carolina Crown does not have a bingo hall that does a lot of the fundraising like some corps do and we try and do fundraisers to help with costs but (speculation) I don't think we make as much as those other corps. This situation is hard but I think this is a good way for someone who hasn't had experience in a corps before and want's to get into the activity for cheap can do it. Overall this is just my opinion and am not the mouthpiece for Crown but this position is very valuable to the corps in more way than one and I think it is not something to be discounted when looking at drum corps. I would have liked if you gave me a heads up before putting me in the video but I am not upset. I would like to hear what you have to say about it. 🙂

Hey EMC, I was a metrunner for crown last summer for Project 21. From what I understand the only reason there are dues in the first place are because of Covid. Also being a woodwind player I just wanted to have any form of experience learning and watching from the teaching staff at Crown.

My high school drum major got the position and is too ashamed to explain that they don't actually play an instrument.

The fact that Crown was asking for brass or percussion experience is weird because one of our met runners last year was a bassoonist. (This is also the first year they have to pay dues at all.)

Back in 2010 in my final DCI season, there was a guy who came to our first few camps at the Open Class corps I was marching who was also auditioning for a World Class corps he really wanted to be a member of. He got cut from the World Class on his instrument but was offered the met runner and at the same time was offered a spot on his instrument of choice at our Open Class corps. He ended choosing the met runner spot at the World Class corps. When we saw him at a parade, he told us about his experience and it just did not seem like he was getting an educational experience . I definitely agree with you on this EMC, better to go somewhere else and get the full experience. It will be more beneficial in the long run even if you won't necessarily be getting the foot in the door at the organization you ultimately want to be a member of.

So for this position at the Bluecoats, If they end up not needing the extra spots (since DCI raised the member limit) then the rehearsal assistant will conduct on the field. So maybe that’s why crown wants them in the marching age range.

solution to the problem is making sound faster. we need sound turbo. or plaid.

wait, so they NEED a met runner, but you have to pay? lol what?

There's a lot of "hate" and negative vibes going around in the r/drumcorps activity as of late. It's refreshing to hear that you have a nuanced take on this compared to the folks over there.

A person I marched with posted a similar question on Facebook. He got a myriad of responses. One was from a corps director and he said similar things to what those about crown said. The met runner does pay a reduced dues. It pretty much covers food and travel. That corps doesn’t have the brass/percussion requirement but does want someone who has music knowledge and 18-21.

so in summary pros: -low skill -medium effort -experience with drum corps -accommodations included (depends on type) cons: -one (maybe two) jobs -possible waste of money depending on drum corps -stuck with them for an entire season -highly reccomended previous band/drumline/corps experience, possibly goes to waste since not building on previous skills -small age margin

HIII Eric, I just found out i got promoted from snare to quads for my bands 2022 marching season. WISH ME LUCK lol your videos help alot.

at 2:23 the picture you used is the drumline im in lmaooo

I was so on board till I heard dues and, then the ageout/instrument restrictions were a killing blow. Why on earth... just why? This is such an easy gimme for inclusion too. And yeah having only gotten to March dca and a season of online drum corps... I’d work as a met runner in a heartbeat

Need a METRODRONE! Thats mine. Thats my idea. A drone with a metronome on it that follows you.

These are some solid points! I believe that having a met runner pay dues would be understandable if said runner is acting as an alternate. This gives them the possibility of performing in the event of somebody dropping for the season. Although it's not guaranteed that they will march, being prepared to fill a spot is a good learning experience regardless. However, there is a trade-off in that they will lose a met runner if the alternates are needed. I don't know how common it is in the drum corps world, but I know of this happening. On the other hand, I agree that a fully-designated met runner that is not a stand-in alternate should not be required to pay dues.

I think the reason they want marching age is because the met runner will be riding the bus and housing with the general members of the corps. I think they want to prevent the appearance of an adult in long term close contact with minors, even though that’s hypocritical since they don’t segregate the 18-21 year olds from the minors. This should be a staff position and realistically should be paid.

Funny enough, the first picture you showed was actually one of our drum majors at the cavaliers, a drum major runs our met whenever they aren't needed elsewhere.

Ive marched Mandarins since 2017, in 17 and 18 we had one of our backfield drum majors Control the met, which resulted in a lot of issues because of field placement and listening situations and the lot. 2019 was the first time we had a met runner, and it helped a lot, they payed reduced fees, (I think like 500 dollars) and ran the met almost flawlessly. They also acted as a sort of drum major alternate and had to fill in for some of our other dms for various reasons including concussions and other drum corps happenstances. That met runner went on to become our head dm for the 2020 and 2021 seasons while we contracted someone else for met. I definitely feel like it should be treated more as an alternate or in training position because it definitely helps the individual get ready for a season as dm, but not so much to march in the hornline/battery.

3:38 I just love Backfield Betty! Great hair! Will that be a new character after the beard is shaved???

what if a corps had a subset of the members with tempo responsibility using in-ear monitors? You could even have the corps actually perform with a met if that were feasible.

Video 42 of commenting until EMC makes a front ensemble out of spocks

8:47 truer words have never been spoken

Not related to the video BUT: RCA (Rebecca Compton-Allen) is like, the best. I worked with her back when she was the Front Ensemble director for Shadow Indoor Percussion. She is super helpful and a wonderful person to be around. Okay that's all Also RCA if you just do happen to see this, Hi! Long time no see!

We had a met runner last season his name was chet and we LOVED him, he was all of our favorite guys

I think you need to enter a "met runner solo" at I&E in Rochester this year! I hope to see you there.

on the topic of drum majors being met runner, our (and I'm sure many other's) back drum major run met like you mentioned. Even during a year where we had only 3 drum majors, we positioned them where it was 2 in the front and 1 in the back. usually the back DM who runs met is forced to work fast to start/change the met and conduct, meaning a few times mistakes are made. Of course, this is a high school band we're talking about, so idk if it'll work for corps as well

0:20 hey that’s my university! I’m actually on bass 6 in that photo! The “met runner” in that photo was also our head drum major. We had three drum majors who took turns conducting and running the met in rehearsals

Agreed. A perfect position for a woodwind-primary MuEd major, especially given the criteria over at SCV with no dues. Personally, I don't know how you'd swing that at a less funded corps given it's still a seat on a rental bus with diesel costs and 3 "meals" a day. I could see ~$500-750 for the whole summer season gaining traction if it becomes a marketed position at colleges. The eventual price would come down to supply/demand, how many people are really that interested in this over how many corps want to do this. Me and a friend were going to try and do something similar in 2020 before obviously that season shut down (RIP). With my in at Cavaliers, basically drive out to San Antonio and end it a week later back home in Atlanta for us. The intent solely being from an educational standpoint: how to conduct rehearsal/sectionals/warmups/full ensemble and be a fly on the wall during the staff part and use parts of that later for our own programs. My friend is a middle school band director (of course on his feeder HS instructional staff) and I just like the activity enough to take a week off work to watch it from that perspective (additionally I have been on staff at some HS every year doing marching/woodwinds since graduating 18 years ago). I still, to this day, enjoy the warmup lots/school rehearsals just as much as the full evening shows. I would have jumped all over this the year or two after I graduated as a saxophone player and as someone who enjoys music education and wanted to continue that.

Can you do a video on the traditional grip? I want do snare in the marching band next year and have to learn it by the end of this year. I am having trouble buzzing and doing double strokes with my traditional grip.

Video 43 of asking for a front ensemble feature

Thanks for using GABP for the stadium shot. The 6-23 Reds need all the love they can get.

my highschool sorta does the same thing. Some 8th graders are choosen to march in the show of that year while 7th graders are choosen for like a "band manager" where theyjust help the band move equipment on and off field and get water for them. One of the 7th graders though get asked to be the "Dr. Beat" which is just the met guy/girl. I was it my 7th grade year and I still hate the name to this day

Hey emc could you look up atssb region 1 year b etudes and tell my any tips on how to do them as an 8th grader turning to a freshman with directores that haven’t thought us anything except how to do a flam 3 years ago

That guy on the ad is currently a drumline tech for the LSHS drumline, bass/rhythm section

I'd be a meturnner. As long as a dinner at applebees happens every night.

What if you got a bunch of JBL speakers and used party mode to have simultanious metronome running all around the feild, mabye on props

Yo Eric are you saying anyone watching the outside drum majors? We uhhh fixed tempo issues by ignoring them.

Yoo, we need someone to run the Dr Beats woodblock setting that everyone hates…

I had no idea you had to pay dues of $5000! Glad I wasn’t good enough to make it past HS drum line! 🤣

It only makes sense to have a person with those requirements if they have an opportunity to step in if someone gets hurt. I am almost positive that is the logic behind the stipulations.

I didn't realize you marched Surf 🌊🤙

nice gmu shirt! 💚🔥

That's my teacher on the thumbnail lol

Hey EMC! I was the met runner at Carolina Crown in 2018, 2019, and 2021. I know there is a lot of hate around this post. I would love to talk to you about my experiences as the met runner at Carolina Crown. There seems to be a lot of speculation about the position and what we can and cannot get out of it. Also, the post mentions that those qualities are not required. If you want to know anything else, feel free to reach out! However, this is a great experience that should not be looked down on the way it is now.

I can clarify on the Crown met runner position. So similar to SCV met runners at Crown are considered Members and get all member benefits (even Alumni status) the reason they pay the 1250 is for spring training at Gardner Webb. It pays for the dorm and and food we eat at the Cafe. Everything else is covered on tour but we have to pay for the rooms and Cafe food. With Covid and general expenses rising they had to charge for housing during spring training. Prop Crew for example join after Spring training and don't have to pay dues.

Thanks for calling me a legend!

6:52 me who is learning a brass instrument specifically for drum corps (switched from clarinet) but my band needed French horns so I guess that’s what I’m learning, and oh shoot I no longer have time for the clarinet and whoops looks like I joined my community band as a horn and whoops, looks like I don’t play the clarinet ever anymore…

You need someone doing met, but that doesn't have to nor should it be their only job. At my corps, the drum majors, conductors, and staff all knew how to run the met and all did so at various points based on who it made the most sense to have doing met at that point. The only time we had someone on more or less full-time met duty was in 2018 when we had a trumpet alternate do it, and he was still there primarily as a trumpet alternate. He played his instrument during warmups, standstills, and parades, and if we had a high brass player get injured and need replacing, he would have done that (he actually was in one show technically subbing for a guard member because we needed someone to move props). He still had two years of eligibility, and in 2019 and 2021 he marched a regular performing trumpet spot.

Good morning!

If I were to get a 100% VA rating, I could retire and be a professional met runner.

Your cymbals are too shinny and are reflecting the green screen on them LOL

Why dont they use an wireless in-ear system like a lot of live bands?

E A E A E A E A E A the donkey approach

Give the center snare an ear piece.

At my school it’s the drum major’s job to grab the met

There used to be a thing called "Alternates" because drum corps was hard and ppl would get hurt. Usually one or two for all of brass and one guard. I guess drum corps isn't as hard anymore.

couldnt the drum major and center snare wear in ear monitors with the met click…alla drum set players during a live show? drum major could just control click.

If I volunteer to sell souvies or clean the food truck, do I have to pay to do that?

air pocket city on the last crash at 6:00

im only at 4:12 but when I marxhed dca I believe one of the drum majors just did it

As a woodwind who has 1 more shot for dci, but can't get my hands on/ can't play any brass instruments, I would be met runner 100%

Man I wish I had a snare drum but I can't afford one

Nobody: Grampa Simpson during that church service in The Simpsons movie: 1:12

so, stretches for tenors?

No cause I remember seeing that post from crown

Should have been marketed as a tech position.

What about renting The Grateful Dead’s legendary PA system?

EMC for president

It's weird you bring up a dolly grip for moving the metronome. They are used all the time in filmmaking for smooth moving shots when people walk. Would be worth it if these corps make enough money to afford a set up.

It’s the flub drum of drum majors!

“Eligibly” 😑 good job crown

You have to pay to match DCI? That seems crazy…. Maybe it’s not but still a surprise. The metronome person should be paid.

Eugh

Davis Henry is my met runner 🙏😤

Colin Mcnutt is a beast

Happy Halloween fellow humans

Genuinely is this not the kind of stuff you hire staff for, or at least foist off onto a drum major? (They can rotate so they all get the rehearsal time too, that's what ours did in highschool and college when one of our directors wasn't doing it) Not to mention, by the time you start competing shouldn't you as a regular world class finalist corps be off met anyway...?

9 minutes and 59 seconds. Respectfully going for our entertainment more that the money 🤝

I don’t know if you’ll see this EMC, but the comment you made about the age shouldn’t just be 18-21 I 100% agree with! I unfortunately was never able to march Drum Corps cause of money issues!!

why not just get one of the 4 or so alt players to do it??

Call Mark Rober about your idea with the track

Put a click track on airpods....solved??

i know that guy who took the photo of the guy who posed for the photo

Met runner seems like a good fit for people who enjoy drum corp and being part of a team, but are not motivated to be performers.

Good morning

AP boardwalk represent! lol

When I marched BDB like over a decade ago, I think met duty was either a staff member or one of the drum majors? I don’t remember 100%, but I’m pretty sure our second drum major was met duty often, and he ended up absolutely fine in the long run lol Met bitch should be a paid staff member position, not a corps member position, imo. Save the corps member positions for actual performers who have a limited time frame to participate.

That's the best job.

SCV member here The met runner position always felt like a "drum major in training" position. Every year that I've marched with a met runner, that met runner was a drum major the following season. It's an awesome way to get your foot in the door if you're only interested in hands + leadership (opposed to just trying to get a spot in the corps normally and then auditioning for drum major the following season)

Lol that’s actually a drum major at 0:18

Wooo RCA!

for $1,000 you can be our official head tuner / drum cleaner / stick pickerupper.

They should get paid enough to pay for the next year. Bottom line: This is a staff job (that apparently no one else wants to do) and not a performer position. What are they going to do at finals? Sit on the sidelines? This is some wacky azz shiz. Discounted dues, no dues...no, that's trash. ***PAY THEM***