2. Indoors: the drum line performs on the basketball court in the gymnasium.
If outdoors: the drum line sets up on the football field sideline, at the 50 yard line, or other designated asphalt area, and performs for the judges in the box & in the stands. Performing on the track is also an option.

3. The drum line has a11 minute slot to set up, warm-up, compete & exit the performance area. There is a 1 point penalty for every 30 seconds overtime. At your signal, your school's name will be announced and your judged performance will begin. The judged show length should be between 4-8 minutes. We recommend 4-5 minutes of music for most groups. Again there is a 1 point penalty for every 30 seconds under or overtime.

4. Conduct your warm-up rehearsal away from houses and the stadium. No marathon rehearsals - Begin warm-up 1 hour prior to performance. We must be sensitive to the neighborhood. Indoor drumlines: Report to the ready area inside of the gymnasium 11 minutes prior to your performance time, at the latest. If outdoors, drumlines: Report to the track area, or asphalt area, at the 20 yard line, 11 minutes prior to your performance time, at the latest. [There is a 0.1 of a point penalty for every 30 seconds late. If you totally miss your performance time, you will receive a 2 point penalty and be reassigned a spot at the end of the show. If you are a no-show for the day your 2 point penalty will carry over to the next show.].

5. DAC judges consist of championship DCI percussion instructors & performers, who are also expert at high school percussion programs.

6. The judges will be evaluating in 3 areas: Execution (how you play), Exposure (what you play), & General Effect (total show).

7. There is no minimum on the size of each drum line. Although for maximum exposure we recommend at least 3 snares, 2 tenors, 3 bass (tuned), 2 cymbals, 3 keyboards, & 2 auxiliary (timpani, etc.). Recruit from the band to fill the line.

DAC AXIOM: IT IS BETTER TO BE SMALL & CLEAN THAN LARGE & DIRTY.

8. DAC schedule: The last Saturday in February is the Season Opener show, usually in March is the Preview of Champions and the Quarter-Finals, in April is the Semi-finals, and the State Championship Finals is the second Saturday in May. The February schedule is posted 9 days in advance. Each show's schedule is posted the night of the previous show. We need the scores to place the lines in the proper order for the next show. However it is easy to get a general schedule by using any show that is posted. They remain approximately the same in general categories.

9. DAC divides the lines into 6 divisions:
1. novice standstill
2. advanced standstill
3. indoor/outdoor(on tarp) marching
4. Jr. High/Middle School
5. small ensemble (marching drums, 9 players or less, one per part, a maximum of 1 snare, 1 tenor, 1 multi bass, 1 cymbal, 1 orchestra bells, 1 xylo, 1 marimba, 1 vibes, and 1 timp/aux.
6. traditional classical concert percussion ensemble (all levels, novice-advanced), performing for a festival rating and medals. Maximum of 9 players. You may enter 2 different concert percussion ensembles for one normal entry fee.

Note: Most novice lines sign up for novice standstill. Most intermediate lines sign up for indoor marching. Most advanced lines sign up for both indoor marching and outdoor standstill at each show. Of course there are exceptions.

10. Each show also has 6 solo competitions: 1. solo snare, 2. multi-tenor, 3. keyboards, 4. drum set, 5. timpani
6. duets, trios, and quartets. All solos are1 1/2 - 2 minutes. In addition to first place medals at each show, sticks or prizes are given to every soloist at each show.

11. 5 extra gold head Sweepstakes trophies are given away in May at the Championships. These are based on adding each divisions lines 2 highest show scores to the Championship score. In addition Gold Medals will be given to each player in the drum line who wins the Grand Combined Sweepstakes. This line is the highest scoring line who competes as a marching indoor line & competes with the same show as a standstill line. These 2 scores are added together at the May Championships.

12. All soloists and drum captains (in uniform), should line up on the field sideline at the presentation of awards announcement. This is approximately 15 minutes after the last line.

13. The schedule for each line at the first shows will remain flexible, depending on each band director's needs (10:00 AM-3:00 PM). The schedule for the finals in May will be very inflexible. Each line will perform in reverse order of score from each lines' highest scoring performance.

14. DAC charges a $7 admission fee to all parents. This allows us to keep our entry fees low. (You may pay this with a booster check if you desire.)

15. Partial scholarships are awarded to lines under special circumstances. Two examples would be: lines who are new to DAC, and lines from out of the Southern California area. These scholarship lines still pay $200, and they are allowed to enter any two DAC shows. These special scholarship fees must be arranged and paid by Feb.1.

16. The host school supplies: 4 timpani,1 concert bass,1 xylophone, 1 marimba, 1 set of big chimes. However, we recommend bringing your own set of equipment if you wish to use them for warm-ups.