Question -  How old do you have to be to be a member of Capital Regiment?

Answer -  Capital Regiment accepts members that range from the ages of 14 to 21 years of age. In the event a person is 14, we will make a decision based on what we observe from a maturity perspective, responsibility and how driven a young person is. Drum corps is a very demanding activity and not all 14 year old people are ready to participate in this type of activity.
 

 Capital Regiment will accept members who are 22 years of age. This is a policy of Drum Corps International. If your birthday is June 1 to Finals night and you are 22 years of age, you are eligible to march. If your birthday is before June, where you will be 22, you will not be eligible to march. If your birthday is the day after Finals or later, you will not be eligible to march.

Question - Does everyone have to Audition?

Answer - Yes. Everyone is required to audition each year. This includes vets as well as rookies.

 

Question - What is the first step in Auditioning?

Answer - First step in Auditioning is to complete the Online Application. This gives us the ability to create a database of people who are interested in auditioning. Once you know that you will be attending the camp, you will be expected to complete the Online RSVP Form. This gives us several abilities to ensure your experience at camp is good. Next, follow the Capital Regiment Forums for the section you are interested in. If there are instructions or announcements, that is where all communication will occur. The Forums play a significant role in your preparedness.

Question - Where will camp be held?

Answer - The location for camp will be posted on our WEB site. Additional instructions will be communicated on the Forums.

Question - When do camps occur?
 

Answer - Camps will start on Friday evening of a predetermined weekend. Depending on the weekend, a camp may start on Saturday morning. This is communicated on our WEB site. A camp weekend sometimes gets adjusted depending on what is happening or scheduled at the school we contract with.

Question - What if I’m flying to Columbus or riding Greyhound?

Answer - If you are flying or riding Greyhound to Columbus, you assume the responsibility to relay your schedule to the office. We create a database and schedule people to make runs to the Airport or to the Greyhound Bus Station. Communication of your schedule is done when you complete the RSVP form. This is important information to us as we don’t want to leave anyone sitting at the Airport or Greyhound Station. We will ensure you get picked up and then returned to after camp.

Question - How much does it cost to be a member in Capital Regiment?

Answer - The cost is determined from one year to another. A document called “Information Guide” will contain that information. The “Information Guide” will be placed online and will be available to be downloaded. The information in this guide is important and should be read by you and your parents/guardian(s).

Question - What other money will I need?

Answer - In addition to your membership and camp fees, you will need to pay for travel expenses to and from camps during the winter. You are also required to purchase socks, t-shirts and gloves. The only money you need is for meals during free days, meals while in route to housing sites if time to feed the corps as a whole is logistically impossible, replacing personal items and laundry.

Question - Are there ways to reduce my Tuition?

Answer - Capital Regiment will provide information for a program called “Sponsor-A-Member.” This is the only program that Capital Regiment sponsors and is completely dependent upon the member working on it. As the majority of the members come from all of the country, organized fundraisers are difficult as participation is limited.

Question - When will I find out if I will be extended membership in Capital Regiment?

Answer - While many strive to become a member, there are other aspects that are taken into consideration. Talent, attitude, commitment, desire and financial ability are all aspects that are considered when determining whether a person will be offered a spot in the corps. We are only able to take 135 members in the corps each year.

Question -How many people audition each year?

Answer - The number of people who audition vary from one year to the next. The percussion section is normally very heavy with people who are auditioning. The brass and Color Guard typically doesn’t have as many people trying out for it. With the percussion section, we are looking for a limited number of people. With the brass line, we are looking for 64 players. With the Color Guard, we are typically looking for 32 to 36 talented members. History for Capital Regiment is that the percussion section has a lot of interest.

Question - Can I audition for Drum Major?

Answer - Yes. Capital Regiment will audition for Drum Major. Drum Majors are key people and hold a lot of responsibilities. These people are evaluated on additional aspects that include more than what was previously noted. Responsibility, accountability, dependability and how prepared they are will be a significant key point. These people are also considered with input from the Corps Director.

Question - What if I can’t attend all camps?

Answer - Camps are very important. Each camp has goals attached to it. Attendance at camps is extremely important. We recognize there may be conflicts and working the conflict with your Caption Head will be important. In the event a person misses more camps then they are able to attend, the member jeopardizes their spot in the corps. It is important to understand that the more the corps accomplishes during camps, the more rewarding the summer will be. This can only be accomplished with attendance.

Question - How often is there a camp?

Answer - There is one camp per month starting in November. Capital Regiment typically conducts its Audition camp the weekend before Thanksgiving. December is also used as an Audition camp for anyone who had conflicts with the November camp. From there, January thru May, one camp per month on preselected weekends will be announced. In June, the corps will move to Columbus and will start what is termed “PreTour Camp.” This is a two or three week event that will ensure the corps is prepared for the summer.