DCE Close Up (13): Marco

In the DCE Close Up series you will meet the DCE personnel. Who are these people behind the scenes who offer their leasure time to run drum corps events? In this episode we'll meet Marco Janssen. In the DCE Close Up series you will meet the DCE personnel. Who are these people behind the scenes who offer their leasure time to run drum corps events? In this episode we'll meet Marco Janssen.

Name: Marco Janssen
DCE function: office manager
Age: 34
Residence: Oost-Souburg NL
Job: cameraman/broadcaster Zeeland television


Drum corps history: 'My first drum corps steps were in 1982, when I joined Blue Spirit Drum & Bugle Corps from Middelburg as a trumpet and baritone player. In 1989 I became an instructor, and in 1992 I joined the management team as manager public relations. Together with friends I run the Dutch drum corps magazine 'Drum Corps Nieuws' in the late 90s. That was a very intensive, but great job to do. After Blue Spirit folded in 1998, I joined Juliana Drum & Bugle Corps and played the trumpet in 1999.

That summer, I felt something was wrong with drum corps in The Netherlands. Very few corps entered the contests, and in my eyes it wasn't an inspiring activity anymore. I felt something had to be done."

Working for DCE from: "The beginning in 2000."

Why? "In September 1999, I wanted to start a new, European drum corps organisation. I talked to people who shared the same passion and had the same ideas. With a small group of people, we launched Drum Corps Europe as an indoor drum corps organisation. We thought an indoor activity would have many benefits compared to outdoor. The first DCE Championships were held in Gent - Belgium.

In 2002, many clubs asked us to move from indoor to outdoor, so we decided to replace the sports halls by soccer fields in 2003."

Is it fun off the field? "It's fun to experience drum corps from the 'other side of the gate'. We aren't marching members anymore, but we know what the members feel when they are on the starting line, waiting for the sign to enter the arena. The excitement, the emotion, the audience cheering - that's drum corps.

As an office manager, I'm dealing with the day-to-day business. We receive a lot of e-mails and phone calls from corps, drum corps fans and organisations. It's a lot of work, but it is great. I love it, especially when you see all those corps and fans having a good time."

Greatest drum corps memory: "Our very very first contest in Antwerp - Belgium. We only had three corps in competition and a very small stand. But when we arrived in Antwerp, we knew: this is it, it's starting. That was a memorable moment, and I will remember it for a very long time."

Do you want to be a DCE staff member yourself? Please contact us, and we'd be happy to welcome you in the DCE team!