Everything You Need to Know for Fusion Core Member Experience Day
This season will be our 20th season on the field and we’re so excited for you all to take this next step in our journey.
These are some things to help you prepare for our membership experience day and/or your DCI touring Corps audition.
What should I bring to Member Experience Day?
First and foremost, bring a positive attitude, a smile, and maybe even a friend or two! We want you to feel comfortable, prepared, and excited for your first day with the Fusion family.
To help you get the most out of your experience, here's a checklist of what to bring.
Everyone Should Bring:
Comfortable athletic clothing
Sneakers or appropriate rehearsal footwear
A large water jug, filled and ready to go
A pencil
A three-ring binder with plastic sheet protectors
Healthy snacks to keep your energy up
Any equipment or materials specific to your section
An optional donation for Matthew's Hope (see below)
Brass Members Should Bring:
Your mouthpiece
Valve oil
A purple or black towel to protect your instrument when placing it on the ground
Percussion Members Should Bring:
Sticks or mallets
A practice pad
An additional snare, tenor, or bass drum with a stand, if available
Color Guard Members Should Bring:
Rifle, Sabre or both
Your own flagpole and silk, if desired
Appropriate athletic or dance clothing
Additional attire recommendations will be provided by our Color Guard Caption Head.
A Little Something Extra: Let's Give Back!
As we kick off our 20th anniversary season, Fusion Core is proud to support Matthew's Hope, a local nonprofit helping individuals and families experiencing homelessness and hardship.
If you're able, we invite you to bring a donation to help support their mission. Participation is completely voluntary, and every contribution is appreciated!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need previous drum corps experience?
Not at all! Everyone starts somewhere!
While previous marching band, drum corps, or performance experience can certainly be helpful, it's not a requirement.
What matters most to us is your willingness to learn, your attitude, your work ethic, yourability to commit and your ability to accept feedback and apply it. Our instructional staff is here to help you develop your skills, build confidence, and become the best performer you can be.
Whether you're a seasoned veteran or exploring drum corps for the first time, we want to give you the opportunity to grow. You bring the enthusiasm. We'll help you develop the skills!
Should I bring a friend?
Absolutely! In fact, bringing a friend can literally pay off!
We believe the drum corps experience is even better when you share it with someone you know. And to show our appreciation, we offer a $50 referral tuition credit!
Here's how it works: If you refer a friend who joins Fusion Core, receives a contract, remains a participating member, and fulfills their tuition commitment, you'll receive a $50 credit toward your own tuition. It's our way of saying thank you for helping us build the Core!
So invite your friends, former bandmates, classmates, coworkers, or anyone you thinkwould love being part of Fusion Core. Great experiences are meant to be shared!
Do I need to register before attending Member Experience Day?
Yes, please! We want to be ready for you!
Registering in advance helps us prepare for the number of people attending and ensures we have the appropriate equipment, instructional materials, and food.
The process is simple:
Visit our registration page and go to the Member Experience Day listing.
Complete your registration and pay the $75 Member Experience Day fee.
Receive your audition and technique materials.
Arrive ready to enjoy your day with Fusion Core!
Registering in advance also helps make your check-in process quicker and easier so you can spend more time meeting everyone and getting started.
I'm under 18. Should my parents attend?
Absolutely! We encourage it!
Joining a drum corps is an exciting commitment, and we know it's important for parents and guardians to understand what the season involves.
That's why we'll be hosting a special Parent Information Meeting during Member Experience Day. We'll discuss important topics, including:
What to expect throughout the season
Rehearsal and performance schedules
Travel and housing arrangements
Tuition, payment plans, and financial expectations
Member safety and communication
Volunteer opportunities
Ways families can support their marching members
We want parents to feel informed, comfortable, and confident about their child's participation.
And here's another great benefit: Families can help reduce tuition costs through eligible volunteer opportunities! We'll share more information about how volunteering works and how your family can get involved.
At Fusion Core, we believe the drum corps experience extends beyond the performers on the field. Our families, volunteers, and supporters are an important part of what makes our organization special.
When you join Fusion Core, your family becomes part of our family, too!
I get nervous during auditions. How can I get through this?
Here's a little secret: We're auditioning for you, too!
We know auditions can be intimidating, but we want you to think of Member Experience Day as an opportunity for us to get to know each other. Spend the day meeting our instructional staff, veteran members, and administrative team. Ask questions, get a feel for our culture, and see what being part of the Fusion family is all about.
Remember, we're not expecting perfection. We're looking for potential, a willingness to learn, and a positive attitude.
And who knows? We might be a little nervous ourselves! After all, we want to make a great first impression, too.
So relax, be yourself, and enjoy the experience. And if we don't completely win you over on the first day, we hope you'll give us a callback!
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