Help Tim march his age-out with the Bluecoats

Hi, I am Tim Franklin. I am proud to announce that I will be rehearsing with The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps in preparation for the 2024 summer performance season. It’s quite an honor to be a member of the Bluecoats, as hundreds of talented auditionees from all over the world compete for the 165 open performer positions each year. I am working hard to be a performer in one of the world’s premier youth performance ensembles. This is my final eligible year (There is an upper age limit of 21), and I am excited to "age-out" with the Bluecoats.

Bluecoats are well known for their commitment to educational excellence and for entertaining audiences across the US during our summer tour. The Bluecoats are among the most elite of all DCI World Class corps, winning the DCI World Championship title in 2016 and second place in 2019, 2022, and 2023, as well as winning the "Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance" in 2022! Participating in our demanding summer tour this year will provide me and other performers with an unmatched marching and performance experience, as well as life lessons in self-reliance, teamwork, discipline, leadership, self-worth, and work ethic.

Bluecoats performers work incredibly hard with our dedicated and experienced staff to bring their passion for the marching arts to life through our incredible, awe-inspiring, productions. This summer, our tour begins with a 5-week “spring training” followed by a week of local performances in Canton, OH, then a 6-week, 8,000-mile, tour across the US which culminates in the DCI World Championships on August 10th! During the summer, we rehearse 8-12 hours a day and perform 3-5 times a week. The payoff for this dedication is the joy of performing for and meeting thousands of fans who will travel hours just to see the Bluecoats perform!

Providing this incredible experience is no small undertaking. The corps travels all summer with five motor coaches and three tractor-trailers, including our brand-new, state-of-the-art, equipment and food trucks! Performers pay a fee of about $6000 for the privilege of membership, which helps Bluecoats, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, offset the costs of housing, food, transportation, instruction, instruments, equipment, costumes, and other expenses. These fees cover only a small portion of the cost of running our programs but is still a large sum for me to bear alone. You can make a true difference by pledging your financial support to help me achieve my goal of marching with Bluecoats in 2024!

The sooner you can send your donation, the greater its impact on the performer’s experience. Support from people like you allows the Bluecoats to continue to provide life-changing experiences for our performers, fans, and the thousands of people we serve every year - thank you for your consideration!