Agreed. I'm a HD. I marched DCI...have the championship ring. The first time I had to hire an assistant, I posted that DCI experience would be nice...but *not* required. I got 6 resumes, and eventually brought in 2 people for interviews. One had DCI experience, the other didn't. I hired the person with NO DCI experience.

During the interview, the candidate with DCI exp. demonstrated they didn't know how to work with beginners, or prep a concert band during rehearsal. This isn't because they were "green" and didn't have any experience outside of their student teaching, I can understand that because a lot of that you learn by doing. No, it was this person was CLUELESS...they couldn't tell me what the fingering for second line G on a clarinet is! The person was a dud...and all they could point to was their DCI stuff.

Well, that candidate managed to get a position elsewhere that year...long story short, they strung together about 6 or 7 "one and done" situations. The candidate I did hire has gone on to be a very successful director making a struggling band a Sweepstakes band within two years.

When DCI experience is the *lead* requirement for a posted position...meaning that's what the HD is primarily looking for...granted this is a "you do you" thing, but I always wonder if the school is looking for a director...or just a glorified marching tech.