Putting Our Best Foot Forward


Best Foot Forward

With anything you take pride in doing, ya gotta have the right stuff to do it well. Naturally in any performing drum and brass corp, good equipment is essential. The willingness to work hard, the time spent practicing, great coordinators and volunteers all adds up to nothing if your corp doesn’t have an impressive look. I’m speaking about clothing and the right outfitting. “To look good is to feel good.” Whether you’re corp is physically active or performs on stage, the first impression you give is very important.

Are you polished and put together? Is your look as authentic as your love of the music? Lots to be considered. At Patriots Drum Corp, we have used Dinkles for years. Dinkles has been around for over 6 decades and they have become the go-to place for equipment. Entrepreneur, Sam Savoca sets a standard and won’t settle for anything less than making the best craftsman marching shoes ever produced.

From shoes they’ve branched out to include all things corp. A family owned company from the beginning, Dinkles is the place most Drum and Brass groups know they can get what they want. If Dinkles doesn’t have something a band needs, they employ modern technology and use a 3-D Printer to prototype a piece. From there with approval, it can be custom produced.

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Good Natured Competition


DCI World Drum & Bugle

There is a brotherhood shared among corpsmen and women. To be politically correct, I should say there is a sisterhood as well. One way or the other a common bond exists between corps from all over the country and the world. We share the love of the Corps. As do many groups the Patriots Drum Corp has one particular, friendly rivalry with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corp of Casper,Wyoming.

The Patriots are in an Eastern Division for preliminary competitions, but as we move through the events and take our place at the top of the roster, so do the groups in the Western Division. We know we are the best and start to gear up early for the playoffs, held in Indianapolis against 12 other groups on August 12th.

The International Finals are the next night, and we’ve been preparing for these performances months ahead of time. We all think of ourselves as superstars and we have to tow a ton of gear wherever we go. We arrive in motor-coaches along with massive caravans knowing we can’t win with anything less than an outstanding performance and the right equipment. Even when there are obstacles our way, like the time our tour bus broke down and we had to call a tow service Fayetteville NC to the rescue, we still seem to keep our spirits high.

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