Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Buccaneers?
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The Reading Buccaneers are a 501C3 non-profit organization competing in the Marching Arts circuit called Drum Corps International (DCI) All-Age Division. Our mission is to provide people of all ages a unique and enriching educational experience in the performing arts in which they develop as individuals and performers.
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Who runs the Buccaneers?
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The Reading Buccaneers are run by an administration team consisting of volunteers. The administration team is supported by a team of additional volunteers that help with the day-to-day operations of the corps. The members are taught by a team of staff, most of whom are professional educators. Background checks are performed on all staff, volunteers, and administration.
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Do you have spots open for 2025?
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Yes! Spots are available in all sections. Everyone, including vets, earn a spot each year.
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What show are the Buccaneers performing in 2025?
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Come to Membership Day and you will find out!
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How much does it cost?
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Please visit our Tuition FAQ page here for more information about tuition.
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Are there opportunities for tuition assistance?
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Yes. There are scholarship opportunities presented throughout the year that offer tuition assistance. Members will be made aware of these opportunities as they come up. Members typically will need to apply to be considered for these opportunities. Please click here for more information about tuition/tuition assistance.
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How often are rehearsals?
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During the winter season, rehearsals occur on average two weekends per month starting at the end of November and going through April. Weekends will either be Saturday and Sunday, or just Sunday. A typical day runs 9am to 6pm.
Starting in May and through the end of the competitive season in the middle of August, rehearsals run every weekend from Friday night at 7pm through Sunday 4pm.
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Do members need to attend all rehearsals?
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It is expected that members attend every rehearsal. During the winter, we understand that scholastic based activities can and should take priority. Members are expected communicate any conflict ahead of time to staff. Once late spring comes around, we expect that members honor their commitment and make the Buccaneers the priority.
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If you are a member coming from an extreme distance (outside of PA, NJ, DE, NY, MD, MA, or VA), we expect you to have communication with your caption head regarding your attendance. If needed, you and your caption head will work out a plan to address any absences that you will face in the winter season. Once spring comes around, it is expected for you to be at all rehearsals.
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Do you feed the members?
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We do not provide meals every weekend. Camp updates are provided before every camp and will notify members if meals are being provided. If we are feeding the corps we may ask for a nominal $5-$10 to cover some of the cost. If we are not feeding the corps, members will be on their own for meals. Food establishments are typically near our rehearsal facilities, making it easy to get meals.
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Does the corps house members?
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The corps typically does not house members overnight. The main exception is finals weekend when we travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for Championships. We do work with alumni, friends, and other members of the corps that offer overnight stays at their homes for members that are traveling long distances. Our Membership Manager can work with members that feel they may need housing assistance, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to find housing for all.
If you are coming from an extreme distance that makes commuting in summer impractical, we ask that you have communication with the Corps Director, Membership Manager, and your caption head to discuss your plans. We urge that if you need weekday housing, that you have school or work already in place to occupy your time outside of rehearsal.
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How do the Buccaneers communicate with members?
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Communications are mainly through 2 channels: email and Discord. Discord is a communications application used to communicate corps-related information as well as educational information, i.e. to communicate changes to music or weekly assignments. Email is used to provide camp updates.
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Can parents be included in communications?
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Parents are encouraged to sign up to receive email updates that are sent to their child.
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Can parents be involved in corps activities?
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YES! Parents are encouraged to sign up to volunteer to assist the corps administration. We are always looking for additional hands to help with feeding the corps, running our home shows, driving trucks, building props, etc. Email director@readingbuccaneers.org for more information on how you can help!
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Are there age restrictions?
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DCI All-Age is an all age activity, however, given the nature of the activity, the Buccaneers have instituted a policy that all members must be 16 years old on or before Championships during any competitive season.
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Can parents watch rehearsals?
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Absolutely. Our camps are open camps, meaning that you can attend and watch if you’d like.
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How are spots given out to members?
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No one is guaranteed a spot. Our musical and visual staff will evaluate members for experience and capability to learn and improve upon what they are being asked to perform. Other factors include attendance and adherence to the core values of the corps as described in our Member Policy.
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Do members feel safe at the Buccaneers?
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The Reading Buccaneers administration strives to provide an inclusive and safe environment for all members. Last year all members, staff, administration and volunteers were SafeSport trained, which focused on abuse awareness and prevention. The Buccaneers also have comprehensive policies that cover important topics including but not limited to expected behaviors, abuse and harassment, safety protocols, and whistleblower policy.
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Who can I reach out to if I have additional questions?
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You may contact us at membership.manager@readingbuccaneers.org and let us know what your question is!