Luke Holland is a very diverse drummer that transcends genres. From his work with Jason Richardson (fast and technical metal) to RÜFÜS DU SOL (dance) and everything, you can imagine between you need a versatile stick.
This is where the Luke Holland Signature stick came from.
It is designed to be used for a wide range of applications. A taper and length that gives a great balance of both speed and power, a ball tip for clarity on both cymbals and drums as well as a thick shoulder for enhanced durability.
As someone who needs a fluent combination of power & finesse, I am very proud of this stick & what it allows me to accomplish behind the kit.
Luke Holland
What size are the Luke Holland Signature Drumsticks?
The Luke Holland signature stick has a diameter that sits between a 5A and a 5B, a length of just over 16″ with a short taper and a ball tip.
Credit – Meinl Stick and Brush
Full Specs
Material – American Hickory
Tip – Round
Size – 41.1 cm (16.2″)
Diameter – 14.7 mm (0.58″)
Taper Length – Short
Weight – Medium
Where can I buy Luke Holland signature sticks?
Luckily Luke is a popular drummer and his sticks can be picked up from a range of online drum stores.
We recommend checking out either of the following.
Luke Holland is a very accomplished drummer with a clear need for a versatile stick. Combine this with the product excellence of Meinl and you should have a great pair of sticks.
If you have tried 5A’s and 5B’s but neither of them feels quite right we suggest giving these a try.
Have you given these drumsticks a try? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Meinl Cymbals can often be seen leading the way with cymbal innovation. In 2021 they show no signs of slowing down with the new Meinl Byzance Trash Crash range.
In total Meinl have added eight new trash crashes to the Byzance range covering the full sound and finish spectrum. No matter what style of music you play, if you are in the market for a trashy sound to add to your kit you will likely find something here.
The trash crash is a unique type of cymbal that has grown in popularity over the past 5+ years. It sits nicely between a crash and a china cymbal. You get a nice crash sound with a shorter sustain like a china cymbal with a bit of that trashy sound added for good measure.
This sound is created by adding specially cut holes into a crash cymbal. Depending on the brand and model there has been may of different approaches taken. In a Meinl Trash Crash, you will see either 8 or 10 holes. Half larger and half smaller, alternating around the cymbal.
What cymbals have been added to the Meinl Byzance Trash Crash range?
The Meinl Byzance range is broad covering bright to dark cymbals with everything in between. Due to this a good selection of trash crashes have been added with something for every style of drummer.
Meinl Byzance Brilliant Trash Crash – 16″ and 18″
Credit – Meinl Cymbal
These are made from B20 bronze alloy and are hand-hammered. These give off a bright and rich sound. These would be great for a rock or metal drummer as they give you a crisp cutting sound.
Meinl Byzance Dark Trash Crash – 18″ and 20″
Credit – Meinl Cymbals
These are made from B20 bronze alloy and are hand-hammered. These have an unlathed surface and produce a darker sound.
Meinl Byzance Extra Dry Trash Crash – 18″
Credit – Meinl Cymbals
These are made from B20 bronze alloy and are hand-hammered. These have a natural finish that produces an extra dry sound.
Meinl Byzance Vintage Pure Trash Crash – 18″
Credit – Meinl Cymbals
These are made from B20 bronze alloy and are hand-hammered. These have a special surface treatment for a vintage sound, look and feel. Apart from the great sound, this cymbal has a truly unique yet beautiful finish.
Meinl Byzance Traditional Trash Crash – 16″ and 18″
Credit – Meinl Cymbals
These are made from B20 bronze alloy and are hand-hammered. These cymbals have the traditional finish that showcases individuality.
What do the new Meinl Trash Crashes sound like?
Luckily Meinl has an incredible YouTube channel that is dedicated to just featuring what every cymbal they offer sounds like. Here are our top two:
As a fan of trash crashes, I think these are a great addition to the Byzance range. The Meinl Byzance range of cymbals are of the highest quality and it is always a joy to see them adding more options for drummers to find the unique sound.
If I could only choose one I would be sure to pick up the 20″ Meinl Byzance Dark Trash Crash. What a beautiful cymbal.
David Raouf, better known as rdavidr, is a well know drummer and content creator due to his YouTube channel where he creates unique videos that are informative and entertaining.
If you haven’t heard of rdavidr you are truly missing out.
rdavidr’s YouTube channel is stacked full on unique and creative drum content. He currently has over 220,000 subscribers and over 47 million views! Wow!
On his channel you will see videos ranging from drum hacks, making drum kits out of random things as well as converting loads of gear in beautiful and wonderful ways.
All of his videos are entertaining and you are bound to pick up some helpful tips along the way.
Check out these videos of rdavidr
Why not make a pizza kick drum?
If you are after some hacks for your drums check out this drum hacks video
Our top pick from rdavidr
It is hard to pick out just one rdavidr video as they are all so good! After much debate… is has to be the video where rdavidr and Stephen Taylor took a kids drum set and attempted to make it sound good.
Unsurprisingly this is his most viewed video at the time of writing at over 3.3 millions views and we are not surprised. Haven’t we all wondered if one of the check kids drum sets can be made to sounds decent? If anyone is capable of doing it, it is rdavidr.
Anyway, check out the results below.
rdavidr’s drum kit
Unlike most content cretors, rdavidr has a lot of different drum kits! He has a range of different kits covering many brands and well as vintage and modern gear.
That is one of the joys of watching his videos. You never know wht kit you are going to see.
One thing that is usually consistent is the configuration of the setup. In general, you will see a 4 piece kit.
Kick
Snare
Rack tom
Floor tom
This is usually accompanied by a pair of hi-hats, a ride and a couple of crashes.
Where can I find rdavidr
Luckily for you he can be found on most social media platforms. Make sure you go check him out on the links below.
Electronic drum kits are becoming more sophisticated and closer to acoustic drum kits every year. This is great news for drummers wanting to get in some practice at lower volumes. That being said, the selection of electronic drum kit china cymbal pads compared to traditional cymbals is lacking.
Luckily things are changing and some great electronic china cymbal pads are being released. Let’s have a look at some of the best ones currently available on the market.
Why would I want electronic drum kit china cymbal pads?
In short, you do not need pads to be shaped in a certain way to produce a certain sound. That is one of the beauties of electric drum kits. Any pad, no matter the shape, can make whatever noise you program.
This doesn’t take away the desire to have an electronic drum kit that looks like an acoustic one though. The ability to trigger acoustic drums accurately is now common but the cymbals have been neglected a bit. We have pulled together a collection of electronic drum kit china cymbal pads you can buy today.
Electronic drum kit china cymbal pads currently available
Triggera D14 14″ China Cymbal Pad
This is a great looking china pad that fulfils the visual requirements. The only issue you may have is with the size at just 14″. It is a one-zone pad, this isn’t an issue as acoustic chinas only really have one sound. Best of all, it is well priced. At the time of writing, you can pick this cymbal up from Thomann for just £56 ($75).
ATV aDrums Artist series 17″ “China” cymbal
Now, this is a truly amazing looking china pad from ATV. At 17″ this comes the closest to a full-size acoustic china cymbal. These cymbals aren’t cheap though at around £400 ($545). We have also had issues trying to find suppliers with available stock.
Jobeky Low Volume “Real Feel” Electronic Dual Zone “China” Cymbal
Technically this isn’t an electronic cymbal pad but we thought it was worth a mention. This is a hybrid of a low volume cymbal crossed with a triggering that can be plugged into your drum module. You get the real cymbal feel with the triggered sound. The main thing is that you will get the ping sound from the metal rather than the tap of a rubber cymbal pad. These cymbals also come in a range of finishes. You can see more on the Jobeky website.
Which electric china would we choose?
This all comes down to budget and taste, just like most things in drumming. Luckily the selection of electronic china cymbals covers all bases.
If you have a lower budget
Go for the Triggera china cymbal. The price can’t be beaten in the market currently.
If you have a higher budget
Go for the ATV china cymbal. It looks great and it is the closest china pad available to the real deal.
If you already have hybrid cymbals
Go for the Jobeky china. I love the Jobeky cymbals but the only thing that hesitates me is metal sound produced when hit. If you are trying to keep the volume down this could be an issue. Also, if you only have pads on your setup you might not want to bring hybrid cymbals into the equation.
Final thoughts
It is great to see more innovation in the electronic drum kit cymbal space. Currently, the range of electronic china cymbals is still limited but we have high hopes for things progressing even further in the next couple of years. As more options become available we will make sure to update this page for you.
One issue drummers often come across is being able to hold onto drumsticks. Although this is more of an issue for beginners, it can also be an issue for those playing live shows under hot and sweaty conditions. Vic Firth has recognised this and has come up with the Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks to give you a bit more grip when you need it.
Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks are the Vic Firth drumsticks you love but with a bit of extra grip. This has been achieved with a special DoubleGlaze lacquer formula that has been created by Vic Firth. As to what is in this formula we aren’t sure.
A consistent and classic feel that’s great for extra grip when you need it.
Vic Firth
Why would drummers want Vic Firth Doubleglaze sticks with more grip?
There are many reasons drummers would want a stick with a little bit of extra grip.
You are new to learning the drums and just need a bit of extra help whilst you learn.
You are playing live shows on very hot stages. As you get sweatier the sticks get slippier and become hard to hold onto.
You are a sweaty player and need some extra grip.
For some reason, you are dropping sticks and you need something to help you out.
You are holding your sticks extra hard causing hand pain. A stick that is easier to hold may relieve some pain.
There are many reasons you may want to try out these drumsticks with a bit of extra grip.
What are the alternatives?
There are two main alternatives that drummers have used over the years.
Stick tape
Stick tape is a great alternative when looking for a bit of extra grip. There are some disadvantages to consider though.
It takes time to wrap up your sticks
It can be costly buying all the tap
It can cause an imbalance in your sticks
Drum gloves
Drum gloves do increase the amount of grip you have on the drumsticks but they do have a different feel. This could be the make or break for you. If you like to feel the response and nuances of your sticks when playing your drumkit it is likely drumming gloves are not for you.
What size Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks are available?
You can currently get the sticks in the following sizes:
5A
Extreme 5A
5B
Extreme 5B
7A
The range isn’t that great at the time of writing but the most popular sizes are covered. Hopefully, more sizes will be added as time goes by.
How much do Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks cost?
From what we have seen these sticks cost around £1 ($1) more than the standard stick. If these sticks help with your playing this seems like a reasonable cost to us.
Where can I buy Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks?
You can pick up Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks from most drum stores.
The Vic Firth Doubleglaze drumsticks are a great solution for drummers looking for a little bit of extra grip. At the end of the day, this will all come down to your preferences. We recommend you go and pick a pair up and see if they are right for you.
In this heel-toe kick drum technique lesson, you will learn the technique as well as exercises to improve consistency, speed and power. The heel-toe kick drum technique is perfect for anyone wanting to improve their kick drum speed.
Over the past 20 years or so kick drum techniques have been quickly evolving to catch up with the progression that has been going on with the hands. This started with the introduction of the second kick drum in rock music in the 1960’s but has fast progressed to where we are today.
Double kick now goes far beyond just metal music. It is common to find double kick in some pop songs and electronic music.
Foot technique is now more important than ever as drummers are expected to create more sounds and complex patterns. You can no longer just have one foot on the bass drum and one foot on the hi-hat.
There are many different bass drum techniques available but the heel toe is fast becoming a favourite amongst many drummers.
The heel toe technique combines the benefits of both the heel down and heel up technique to create a seamless double motion on the pedal. With the heel toe technique you will gain:
New enhanced speeds you couldn’t previously reach
The ability to play at speed over long periods of time
Play complex feet patterns almost impossible without this method
Faster double stokes for single kick players
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
A clearly explained and broken down introduction to learning the heel toe drum technique
How to change your thinking when approaching this method
A range of exercises to get you started with the heel toe drum technique
Advice, tips and exercises for overcoming common sticking points while learning this technique
Lesson form Chris Bowling who has been mastering the heel toe technique for the past 5 years in practice, studio and live environments
Heel toe kick drum technique lesson
We hope you enjoy this free drum lesson covering the heel-toe bass drum technique.
Can my pedal types make it easier to do?
It is true that the heel toe technique is easier to do on a longer bass drum pedal, such as the Axis pedals. It is also common to see drummers using direct drive bass drum pedals but this is not essential to the technique.
Direct drive pedals are considered the fastest pedals so combining the technique with this pedal is a favourite amongst metal drummers.
Final thoughts
The heel toe bass drum technique changed my drumming. It allowed me to play double pick patterns that I could only imagine and not translate to the kick.
If you are wanting to go faster and play more complex patterns, make sure you give this technique a try.
But is it truly the best way toimprove your drumming?
In this article, we are going to talk through the benefits and disadvantages of taking drum lessons online as well as the differences between free and paid lessons available online to you.
What are the benefits of using an online learning service?
So why are online lessons becoming so hugely popular. It surely must be for good reason. Lest start off with why you would want to take drum lessons online:
Instant access – Once you have started your subscription you will have instant access to all the lessons available. You just need to find what you would like to learn first.
Learning at a time that works for you – Unlike visiting a tutor you can access lessons at a time the suits you, not when a tutor can fit you in. Work odd hours in your job? Learn at a time that fits your needs.
Watch lessons on any device – To access your lessons you don’t need a fancy pc. All you need is any device with Internet access and away you go.
Learn from world-class tutors – Most of us have a drumming idol and it would have used to been impossible to learn from them. Now the majority of world-class drummers have lessons available online for you to access.
Discover technique and methods your local drum teach may not know – You might have an extremely good local drum teacher but even there knowledge will have boundaries. You may have seen a technique online you would like to learn more about but your tutor may not know it. What do you do? For example the heel toe technique is becoming extremely popular but a lot old school drum tutors won’t know of it due to it still being fairly new.
Cheaper than a local tutor – If you take lessons with a local tutor you could be paying between $25- $50 for a hour of tuition. That is more than the cost of you average online learning subscription.
You can see it is clear that there is plenty of reasons to take drum lessons online. Great content that you can access however you want at a time that fits your schedule for a small monthly fee. Where do I sign up?
So what are the disadvantages of taking drum lessons online?
So at this point you may be thinking that your local tutor isn’t needed and you should just drums learn online. For some people that may just be the case, for others not so. Here are some reasons you may still want to learn locally:
Someone to give you feedback – If you learn something new you may practice it until you think you have it master but in reality it might not be quite there yet. A tutor can correct you on something you may be playing wrong or an issue with your technique.
A logical learning path – Lessons online are often ordered or grouped in a particular why to make it easy for you to progress. If you have a tutor they may see how you are playing and see something logical you should work on next.
Regular learning schedule – If you take lessons with a tutor it is more than likely that you will see them on a set schedule. For example once a week on a Saturday morning. If you need more of a push to imprve your playing this can really help.
They can push you to try new things – A lot of drummers like to out themselves in a camp and stick to it. For example you may class yourselves as a metal drummer, you only want to play metal and that’s fine. Your tutor may push you to try something new from another genre that will add to your playing that you may have never even considered.
Even though we may be in the digital age there is still reason for having a tutor if you have the time and have enough money to be able to afford it.
Free vs Paid? Which drum lessons are better for you?
So you’ve done your research and you’ve decided you want to learn online. That’s great. It is now time to decided which route to go down. Free or paid?
If you are looking for free drum lessons there is one main source online for you to look at, YouTube. The main question is which channel on YouTube to learn from. This is where free lessons can become an issue. If something is free the majority of the time it is normally one of these 3 things:
Poor quality – Making lessons to a high standard to a lot of equipment. At least a camera and recording equipment. Buy all of this or paying someone to do this for you is expensive. This is why a lot of lessons on YouTube aren’t of great quality.
Not a great tutor – If you learn from a person on YouTube how do you know how good they are? Do they have experience? Are they producing regular content for you to learn from? It is often the case that if someone is releasing drum lessons for free they don’t want to take the risk in investing in a setting up a paid service, this would make me question their commitment to giving you lessons in the long run.
Part of the lesson – You have found a great tutor with high-quality videos. Sweet! Now you have the common issue of previews to full lessons or an introduction to something to learn that you need to pay to learn fully. That is fine and to be expected as YouTube is a great way of generating traffic to a website to gain customers.
Paid lessons don’t have these issues above. This is down to having dedicated students subscribed to the learning service paying a monthly fee allowing them to invest in higher quality more frequent content. The more students they have the more high-quality diverse content they can create.
FREE
PAID
High quality content
❌
✅
Regular content
❌
✅
Clearly explained lessons
❌
✅
Supportive community
❌
✅
Learn anytime
✅
✅
Logically organised
❌
✅
Monthly fee
❌
✅
So what’s our conclusion? Should you take drum lessons online?
From what we’ve seen it is clear that learning drums online has obvious advantages but there is still room for a traditional lessons with a tutor if you can afford it. Below are some recommendations for learning sources based on different monthly budgets.
0$ – YouTube
$30 – Paid drum lessons online
$45 – Paid drum lessons online + 1 lesson with a tutor
$60 – Paid drum lessons online + 2 lessons with a tutor
$100+ – Multiple paid drum lessons online + lessons with a tutor
Everyone who plays drums has different budgets to dedicate to education. Playing drums is expensive before you have even invested a penny in learning them properly so it is easy to understand why so many people fall into the YouTube bracket.
Even though $30 per month at the entry level to drum education may seem like a lot it is actually only $1 per day which is less than the cost of a bottle of coke. How much do you value progressing is the question?
So where should you learn?
DRUMEO. If you are reading this article you have probably already heard of Drumeo in some shape or form. But that’s a good thing! Drumeo has the largest collection of drum lessons brought to you by a huge range of world class tutors.
MIKES LESSONS.Mike Johnston is one of those drummers that clearly loves to teach. You can see it in every lesson. He is very passionate and truly wants you to learn, it is very inspiring. If you want to learn how to groove and build up some new chops this is a great place to start.
DRUM AMBITION. If you are at the very start of your drumming journey this may be the place for you to start. Drum Ambition takes you from knowing nothing about drums to a solid foundation of playing with is clearly organised curriculum.
180 DRUMS. This platform takes a similar approach to Drumeo in its focus around a large selection of guest tutors. This is a good thing as 180 Drums brings you a great selection of drummers that aren’t currently available on Drumeo and is a fraction of the price.
SO MANY MORE. The available options for lessons online are increasing every year. As we come across more we will check them out and add them to this article.
We hope you have enjoyed this article and it has helped to give you some clarity around if you need to invest in some extra lessons. If this post has helped you share it with your friends, we really appreciate your help and support. If you sign up with your email below we’ll keep you up to date with all of our latest posts, lessons and reviews.
If you are a drummer and have a social media profile it is more than likely you have already seen Eric Moore even if you don’t know it. Between his exploding social following and the great content, his endorsers are making he’s hard to miss. He is also an amazing clinician and drum tutor.
And if you somehow have missed take a minute to watch this video ⬇️
So if you have just watched that your face should be something like this 😲
He seems to have an almost endless supply of chops and rudiments to play around the kit as well as creative ways to use them. Add to that power, groove and a tonne of passion you get Eric Moore. He is truly a joy to watch and he makes me want to improve my playing and have fun at the kit.
So who is Eric Moore?
At a very young age (toddler) Eric started playing the drums. Being from a church family most people played and instrument and his uncle was a drummer. He then went onto learn how to read music and play rudiments and the rest is history. He was going to be a professional drummer.
He seems to have an almost endless supply of chops
The big break
Back in 2003 he won the Guitar Center Drum Off. For those of you that don’t know it is arguably the biggest drum competition in the world giving young drummers a great platform to start a career. Unfortunately the filming quality wasn’t as great at the time but you can find some low quality videos on YouTube if you look around.
Touring Career
Since winning the Guitar Center Drum Off Eric has toured with a range of great artists across many genres. His first big gig was with Sly and the Family Stone, Bobby Brown, Debarge Family, Infectious Grooves, Suicidal Tendencies and Lillake.
More Than Just Chops
Even though Eric Moore is known as the flashy chop player and one of the founders of the Gospel Chop movement back in 2004 he is a lot more than that. When you hear him playing on a track he grooves… HARD! It is great to see that he knows where it is at and can deliver what matters most.
Check out this performance of Eric for Zildjian Cymbals
Eric Moore is an incredible drummer and is worth at least a few minutes of your time. With his passion and charisma I believe we are yet to see a lot more of him in the years to come. Make sure you check out his videos online, watch some of his drum lessons and clinics.
Have any ideas for the next drummer spotlight? Post them in the comments below!
It is great to see companies pushing the boundaries of what a cymbal has traditionally been. Today we are looking at the FRX offering from Sabian. We think these are really exciting concept and a type of cymbal to keep an eye on.
These cymbals are very exciting for a huge number of reasons. But who are they for? Lets find out!
The Sabian FRX cymbals range have been built to offer drummers a cymbal that has select frequencies removed. Almost as if they have been pre EQ’d in a recording studio. This does also result in a slight volume drop at around -4db.
So why would you want this?
If you are a keen studio session drummer these are also a great option. We all know cymbals can sound different in different scenarios. The shape and textures in the room can make a huge difference. The Sabian FRX cymbals range offer a great tool for your arsenal in those tricky environments where you can’t quite get the sound right.
For the smaller shows in bars and clubs (like most of us play) this is hugely beneficial. Often in these size shows you will need to either play quieter or you need to try and dampen the ring on your cymbals with tape. Both of these have downsides. Tape can cause the wrong sonic qualities to be removed hindering your sound. Playing quieter can kill your groove and performance. No one wants that.
Sabian have fixed both these issues in the FRX range. They have managed to hammer and drill the cymbals in certain places to remove the frequencies you need less of in these environments. This is no small feat when you are also providing great sounding cymbals.
If you are wanting to lower your practice volume, these are also a great option. If you are looking for cymbals specifically for practising, have a look at low volume cymbals.
What cymbals are available in the Sabian FRX range?
Like with most cymbals when a new range is launched you don’t have everything you need to create a full diverse set up but the key things you need are here. Don’t panic just yet!
Hi Hats
Currently only 14″ Hi Hats are available. This is a little disapointing as you don’t have any options to meet you preference, especially with 15″ being very popular at the moment. Luckily they sounds great!
Crashes
The Sabian FRX range have a good selection of crashes for a new line. Currently you can pick up either a 16″, 17″ or 18″ in the standard weight. There currently aren’t heavy or fast versions of the cymbals available.
From what we have heard so far the Sabian FRX crashes have a very quick delay and sit towards the brighter end of the spectrum. This is what you would expect from these cymbals as the crashes are often the ones that can over power the sound in smaller venues.
Rides
Currently available in one weight in either 20″ or 21″ these are nice sounding rides although maybe not idea for all players. Overall as a cymbal it is very diverse with the bell, bow and rim all having distinct sounds.
Personally I like the sounds of the bow as well as the rim when crashing. Like the crash it has a very short distain. For me though the bell doesn’t cut as much as I would like although maybe more than you would expect considering all of the wholes drilled into the cymbal.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Sabian FRX cymbals for?
These cymbals are designed for drummers who want the sound and feel of real cymbals but at a reduced volume. They don’t reduce the volume as much as purpose-built low volume cymbals but they do sound better. These are ideal for drummers doing small gigs.
What are Sabian FRX cymbals?
FRX cymbals are a range produced by Sabian. They offer a reduced volume whilst maintaining a full acoustic cymbal sound.
How do Sabian FRX cymbals reduce volume?
This is done using a combination of tactical drilling and hammering to remove select piercing frequencies.
Where can you buy Sabian FRX cymbals?
Luckily for you Sabian cymbals are available from almost every online music store or local music shop. Here are our suggestions if you are looking to order online.
The direction Sabian are taking with the FRX range is great. The majority of cymbal manufacturers are focusing on quiet cymbals at the moment (granted Sabian also fall into this with the Quiet Tone cymbals) but this is a key market that has never had any focus on them.
This range is nowhere near perfect in its current state but it has a lot of potential and is on the right track. To become a go to cymbal range for session players Sabian will need to expand to at least include a couple of splashes and chinas as well as some more diversity in the hi hats and crashes.
The good
Great idea for a range of cymbals that supports a large volume of players
Perfect for smaller live scenarios
Crisp and clear sound
The bad
Small selection of models currently available
To find out more about the Sabian FRX range you can read more over on the Sabian website
We can’t wait to find out more about these cymbals and see how they expand the range in the future. If you have enjoyed this article subscribe to our mailing list below for future updates.
At every point in a drummers career, you are more than likely going to think “Damn I want a drum endorsement, I would love loads of free cymbals etc etc”. It is true. Endorsements do happen although getting one can seem like a distant dream if you don’t know the correct steps to achieve this. There are many things to consider before embarking on this goal as well as a few stepping-stones you may face along the way.
At its simplest form, an endorsement is you promoting a product in return for either free or discounted gear or even money. This could be anything from drum kit; cymbals, heads, sticks or electronics the list is endless. The majority of brands out there do offer endorsement so if there is a bit of gear you like, there is a chance you can get an endorsement.
A general rule is the more expensive the product, the harder the endorsement will be to achieve.
So what do I need to get endorsed?
To get drum endorsements there are a few things that you need to have. You don’t need to have all these points; you could be really strong in a couple of the areas or have a nice rounded profile. So here’s what you need:
A social following. In the age of social media, it is extremely important to have a following across at least a couple of channels. YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and more recently, Tiktok are key areas to look at. Remember you need to be showing these products looking and sounding at their best to the largest audience possible. If you have a couple of hundred followers you need to start investing some time into raising your profile into at least the ten’s of thousands to be in with a good shot.
A high profile gig. If you are touring with a huge artist it is likely companies will want to get you on board. If you are performing larger shows and TV slots this gives the products you use a big audience to be promoted to. This is extremely desirable for companies.
A busy touring schedule (100-200 shows per year). Okay, so you aren’t performing with the biggest act but you are getting a lot of time on the road playing in front of a lot of people.
Being talented. You are probably wondering to yourself why isn’t this number 1? It makes sense right? The better you are the more you deserve? Unfortunately being the best drummer in the world and no one knowing who you do help brands sell products.
Being an ambassador. If you are one of these you will already know. As defined by Wikipedia an ambassador is a “willing figureheads to attract media attention”. Put simply, you will already be a known figure in the drum world due to your positive influence and association with drums.
I know what I need so how do I make it happen?
If you have a strong combination of the above it is more than likely that companies will approach you. They will see your hard efforts and want to work closely with you to promote their products.
If you are actively touring and part of the drumming scene it is likely you will know other drummers who may already have an endorsement. If you could get them to introduce you to an artist rep that would be a good way to get started and make a positive first impression.
If neither of the about hasn’t happened already you may want to consider working on your profile a little longer or the other option is to contact companies directly. Most companies will have a section on their websites about applying to be endorsed.
The best scenario is for you to be approached by the company, not you asking them for free stuff. Remember, first impressions are extremely important. They will want to see willing on your part before giving you products.
Important things to consider when looking for drum endorsements
Be passionate. The main thing is that you truly have to be passionate about the products you are using. Often companies will like to know that you have been a long time advocate of the product before you get an endorsement. For example, if you have been using Zildjian cymbals for 10 years and then ask Meinl for an endorsement they will likely question your sudden change of mind. How can you truly promote a product you have never used?
Do you like the product? Do you actually like the product that has been offered to you? You may be offered an endorsement by a company you have never used, this may be the case when a newer, small company is trying to raise brand awareness. Make sure you take the time to at least try the product before potentially tying yourself into a contract.
Endorsements might not be for you. The other thing is that an endorsement might not be for you. Maybe don’t want to be tied to one particular brand for all of your cymbals or heads. You might not want the restrictions working with a singular brand can bring.
Let’s summarize
After reading this article I hope you have a clearer picture of what a drum endorsement is, what you need to have one and how you can achieve getting one. Out of all the points explained if I could only tell you one it would be that you truly have to be passionate about the product. You should want to use that product even if the company has shown no interest in endorsing you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a drum kit, cymbal or stick endorsement?
To get a drum endorsement of any type you need to have a following or influence within the drumming community. This could be a large following on social media or a renown session performer.
What is an endorsement?
An endorsement is a two way relationship. If exchange for you promoting a product to your audience to increase sales of that product, you will be provided with discounted or free products.
Are some drum gear endorsements easier to get?
The cheaper the item the easier the endorsement will be to get. For example, giving away free drumsticks is less of a risk than giving you a full set of cymbals.
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