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To our alumni, fans, donors and the entire Phantom Regiment family:

It has been an incredibly difficult past several weeks. We all have the same concerns about the coronavirus. It’s been near-impossible to avoid hearing about it every day. Those concerns led Phantom Regiment and other drum corps to cancel their March camps. As the concerns intensified, plans were in place to alter April camps and Drum Corps International had prepared for a July start to a shortened season.

Unfortunately, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Drum Corps International and its member drum corps organizations have now decided to cancel the 2020 tour. What was promising to be an outstanding show performed by an outstanding membership will not happen this summer. We are crushed. For the first time since 1967, there will be no Phantom Regiment on the competition field.

This will have an enormous impact on Phantom Regiment and the entire drum corps activity. We do not have the reserves to simply absorb the costs of a missed season. That being said, this is Phantom Regiment. We have faced serious adversity before, and we’ve come out stronger on the other side.

Phantom Regiment has weathered major financial hurdles several times over its more than six decades. We WILL come back strong again and be a force to be reckoned with. This time, we’ve got all our drum corps friends in this with us. There is strength in numbers.

This situation is unprecedented. We know there are many questions. We will answer them as soon as we can. We’ve been preparing for the worst for weeks now, but, until a short time ago, we weren’t sure what that worst-case scenario might be. Now that we know what we’re up against, we can start moving forward.

We will most definitely need your help. This may be the biggest financial challenge the organization has ever faced. We will keep you up to date via our Web site, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. And for those who don’t spend much time online, you can expect that we’ll even use the postal service to send some updates the old-fashioned way.

We’ve put together a few Q&A below for what we know now. More information will be coming soon.

Stay safe. Take care of yourself and those around you.

SUTA

Questions and Answers

How has the coronavirus crisis affected Phantom Regiment so far?
It started with our March camp being canceled and then an expectation that the April camp would be done as a “virtual” camp. A delayed start to the season was being planned. Then the spread of the virus escalated to the point where it would be irresponsible of us to hit the road with busloads of members and staff – even if we were able to find someplace to house 180-200 people each night. So, for the first time since 1967, Phantom Regiment will not field a competition corps.

Does this mean Phantom Regiment has folded?
No! We are already planning for the 2021 season. With the generous support of our fans and donors, that will happen. We are anxious to get back on the field with an exciting show that we’re sure you’ll love.

Can Phantom Regiment survive this crisis?
Yes. While this may be the biggest financial crisis we’ve ever faced, we’ve survived some big ones before, and we darn sure intend to do it again.

How can I get my Phantom Regiment fix?
The past two Sundays, we hosted a Phantom Regiment “Watch Party” on Facebook. We are planning additional events and entertainment options online, so be sure to follow us on all the social media channels.

What will we be doing this summer?
We are going to do everything in our power to fulfill the organization’s mission of providing a life-changing experience in the performing arts – even without touring. Our 2020 members are incredibly important to us, and we want them to have the opportunity to learn as much as they can. Additionally, we are working on changes to the format of our educational camps so that those can continue and grow. We see this as an opportunity to reinvent those camps to reach even more aspiring marching arts performers. Stay tuned for more. And, of course, we will continue our fundraisers and expand on those in preparation for 2021 and beyond.

Will Phantom Regiment do any performances prior to 2021?
We’re exploring all options, and nothing is definitive yet. Stay tuned to Phantom Regiment on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates.

What if I already purchased tickets to a canceled show?
We are working through the logistics and will announce more as soon as we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Is the Phantom Regiment office staying open?
We have a full-time administrative staff who will continue to work on our 2020 activities and in preparation for 2021. The office will re-open for normal hours when the Governor of Illinois lifts state-wide restrictions. In the meantime, our employees are working from home.

How can I help?
Today your gift to Phantom Regiment is more important than ever. Without appearance fees and revenue from our shows, we will depend on your contributions and souvenir purchases to support our daily operations, even while the drum corps is not on the field. You can help your Phantom Regiment emerge from this crisis strong and poised for a great future of providing life-changing experiences through the performing arts for all our young people AND fans! If you have already made a gift to Phantom Regiment, you have our most heartfelt gratitude. If you are in a position to help further, please consider the role this extraordinary organization has played in your life and in the lives of thousands for more than 60 years.

• Make a donation. This is a great time to consider becoming a member of our Club56 program – our ongoing giving program designed to give exclusive access and perks to our most dedicated supporters. We’re brainstorming new ways we can engage with our community throughout the this season, and these folks are the first to hear about it. Plus, all members, at any donation level, will be given Insider Access through the end of 2020. Join here.
• Buy a T-shirt. Our brand new shopping experience – The Phan Shop – went live earlier this week. We’ve also introduced a new “phamily” collection to promote our solidarity during this time. Get yours here. 
• Engage with us. We’re staying active via our social media channels to ensure that we all stay connected. You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. And, if you’re not getting our email newsletters, be sure to subscribe today!

How are YOU doing?
We’re concerned about you, too. We know this is difficult news, and it will be a challenging year for all of us. This time of “social distancing” is necessary, but it can be lonely and isolating. We hope you will stay safe and healthy – and enjoy the videos we’ve been posting on social media – as we look forward to bringing our phans together again soon. Our alumni, fans, and friends truly mean the world to us.

How can I reach Phantom Regiment?
Email us at pr2020@regiment.org, and the appropriate person will respond as soon as possible. Our mailing address is 420 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103.

Dear Phamily,

Like you, we’ve been closely following the ongoing coronavirus. There’s been a lot of uncertainty about how this pandemic will affect our activity and our summer tour; we wanted to update you as soon as we had more information to share. Phantom Regiment, DCI, and our fellow corps agree that the most important thing when making decisions about this season is the safety of everyone involved with our activity, and that will remain our top priority going forward. Here’s what we’ve been up to:

In response to the most recent developments with the coronavirus (COVID-19), DCI held a call on Tuesday, March 17 to discuss the current impact on the DCI community. Representatives from member organizations shared their mitigation strategies and discussed planning options for the 2020 summer tour.

All DCI corps have canceled their in-person weekend rehearsal camps for March and will cancel camps for April, adhering to current guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the White House (President’s Guidelines 0316) regarding non-essential travel and avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people. Corps will continue to respond accordingly as the situation unfolds over the next few weeks.

Working closely with the Board of Directors, DCI’s Indianapolis-based staff has shifted its focus from normal pre-season preparations to business continuity and contingency planning. With hope for a safe and vastly improved environment in the coming weeks, DCI’s current efforts include developing a revised and compressed schedule for the 2020 summer tour to be used as necessary. 

The entire DCI community is united in its commitment to protect performers, staff, and volunteers, along with housing site hosts and everyone who’s associated with our national tour and competitions. This remains our top priority.

DCI and Phantom Regiment will continue to release information as more details become available.

Phantom Regiment held its first “PR Social” in Austin, Texas on Feb. 25 at the very hip Cosmic Coffee Bar+Beer Garden. New executive director Stan Mauldin and visual designer Jeremy Hunt were in attendance to introduce themselves, and about a dozen came and enjoyed a couple hours of meeting other PR alumni and friends — and discovering the many connections they have with each other. Numerous times, it was said that “we should do this once or twice a year.”

Plans are already in the works to organize more of these events around the country as there are Phantom Regiment alumni everywhere, and we want to help keep you all connected! If you’d like to be the host of a PR Social, just let us know at social@regiment.org. Regiment’s social media team can help promote it, you just need to identify a location/date and help spread the word.