Editing Drum and bugle corps (modern) (section)

=== Tour and competition ===
[[File:Santa Clara Vanguard Bus.JPG|thumb|right|A [[Coach (vehicle)|coach]], like that of [[Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps|Santa Clara Vanguard]], is used to transport members while on tour.  Most corps often rent a public charter bus for their traveling needs.]]

[[File:Carolina Crown Semi.jpg|thumb|right|[[Semi-trailer]]s, such as this one from [[Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps|Carolina Crown]], are used variously as equipment trucks and mobile kitchens for DCI corps.  DCA corps have no real need for such equipment and usually make use of smaller trucks such as former [[U-Haul]]s or other moving van-type vehicles that do not require a special operator license.]]

[[File:Bluecoats food truck.JPG|thumb|right|Members of the [[Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps|Bluecoats]] eat from their food truck before a performance.]]

While on tour, junior corps travel mainly at night after leaving the performance venue. Members sleep on the buses and in sleeping bags on gym floors when the next housing destination is reached. Housing for the entire tour is secured in advance through local schools, churches, or other community facilities. Corps practice their shows for as long as possible each day before getting ready to leave for that night's competition if scheduled. Not every day is a performance day; many days on tour are spent simply traveling to a distant location or entirely on the practice field.

A full-sized, adequately funded junior corps will have a fleet of vehicles, including three or more coach buses for members and staff, a truck or van to carry souvenirs that are sold at shows, and two semi-trucks, one for show equipment and one that serves as a kitchen on wheels. Most meals for all members and staff are provided by the cook truck, but occasionally corps have scheduled free days where there are no rehearsals or performances and the members are free to see some local sights and procure their own meals.

Competitions are not the only performances that corps partake in while on tour. Most corps also participate in parades and standstill performances throughout the summer to gain further public exposure and to supplement their budget with performance fees. On the [[Independence Day (US)|Fourth of July]] weekend, corps often locate themselves in large metro areas so they can participate in more than one parade.

Competitions are usually held at college or high school football stadiums or similar venues, and are scored by circuit-approved judges. Most circuits follow the three-caption system of General Effect (GE), Visual, and Music, with GE carrying the most weight. This is the scoring system currently used by DCI (others are similar):

{| clear="both" align="center" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #aaa; border-collapse: collapse;"
|+ style="margin-bottom: 0.25em;" | '''Total possible score: 100'''

<ref>{{cite web|title=Adjudicators freed to judge 'more like an audience member' in updated system|url=http://www.dci.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=33500&ATCLID=209936977|website=dci.org|publisher=Drum Corps International|access-date=12 June 2015|format=Web|date=10 March 2014}}</ref>

<ref>{{cite web|title=New judging system ready to debut June 16|url=http://www.dci.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=33500&ATCLID=209937964&SPID=166025&SPSID=965782|website=dci.org|publisher=Drum Corps International|access-date=12 June 2015|format=Web|date=6 June 2012}}</ref>

|- style="background: #efefef; border-bottom: 1px solid #aaa;"
! style="text-align: left;" | General Effect
! 40
! style="text-align: left; border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Visual
! 30
! style="text-align: left; border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Music
! 30
|-
| General Effect Visual || 20 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Visual Proficiency || 20 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Music Brass || 20
|-
| General Effect Music || 20 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Visual Analysis || 20 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Music Analysis || 20
|-
| || 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Color guard  || 20 
| style="border-left: 1px solid #aaa;" | Music Percussion || 20
|-
| || 
| | Each 20-point sub caption 
is divided by two 
| || Each 20-point sub caption 
is divided by two 
|
|}

The timing and organization of contests varies significantly from circuit to circuit. Only large DCI corps typically have the funding and time commitment from members to participate in DCI's touring circuit, where corps spend the majority of the summer traveling around the continent performing at different local and regional contests. In other circuits, and for smaller DCI corps, competitions are usually scheduled to allow corps to travel, perform, and return home within a weekend. For this reason, and to boost audience attendance, large competitions are more frequently scheduled on weekends.

A typical regular-season contest consists of fewer than 10 corps, with corps from one or more classes competing together but scored separately. In North America, DCI and DCA corps occasionally perform at the same shows. DCI also schedules larger contests interspersed throughout the latter half of its season. These are restricted to corps in specific classes and feature many (if not all) of the corps within each class. European circuits, such as DCUK, operate on a "minimum performance and lot" system: appearance at the first two shows of the year is determined by lot, and then the corps must appear in a minimum number of shows before the circuit's championships. In such a system, the championships are often the only time all corps in a class compete together.

Some circuits also organize optional individual and ensemble (I&E) competitions for individuals or groups from corps to showcase members' skills outside the field performance environment. These are usually held only once or twice per season at championships or a major regional contest. Members practice their routine(s) in their scant free time throughout the season.