Your First Drum Circle
Hey, Be Encouraged!
Most drum circles are the friendliest places on Earth - usually. You can walk up and say, "I'm new. How do I join in?" Or, you can contact the organizer beforehand.
You will likely catch on in the first 20 minutes!
But also true is that lots of people are hesitant to try it, thus we have this page for encouragement and to clear up some hesitancy. But nothing you will read here matters as much as you just showing up and giving it a go!
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Teaching Circles (Workshops) vs Basic, Public Drum Circles
Try them all! Here are a few things to understand.
Public drum circles are usually open to everybody, have a leader or a few to lightly facilitate the main rhythm and to guide the group to play together and take breaks, and they are loosely organized. In other words, there's plenty of freedom for players to break out into all kinds of cool supporting or lead rhythms.
Public drum circles sometimes have an overhead, such as permits or facility rentals, or maybe they are paying off their share-drums for you to use! They are not going to burden you with all that because they are creating a safe and welcoming place for you.
But I'm telling you.
There may be a suggested donation, or an indication that donations are welcome. Please remember that your organizers are driving to and from the event, lugging percussion 2 times, paying off that percussion maybe, maybe paying for parking, and they are creating a safe space for you to "fret not".
Consider donating - if you can.
Some circles are actually classes with an "I drum, you copy it" kind of feel. These are not normally called "drum circles." They can be, but something in the description may say "learn" or "class" if learn and class is not already in the event title. Or, they may simply say "facilitated."
Also, adjectives may tip you off that it is a class-like event. Those might be "wellness" or a specific culture or genre like "Afro-Cuban." Many people go to learn Afro-Cuban rhythms (and more) from those who specialize in them. And I have done "wellness" circles where I facilitated new drummers in combining rhythms and vocal techniques for whole body wellness, for instance.
Classes often require payment or donations, and many teachers who do these classes rent a space and/or travel from afar to bring their skills for you to learn.
Anyway, my advice is to simply read descriptions and start out with whatever interests you. Keep trying new things and new circles and classes. Enjoy all the people you'll know and see. Have fun! Do it all! Haha.
Chairs and Stuff, and What to Bring
To know what to bring and what not to bring, read the circle's description. Look at photos from past events if they have some. Reach out to the coordinator if you're still not sure.
Usually, you'll need to bring your own water, folding chair or drum stool, or whatever you use to plant yourself and to be comfortable when the event is outdoors. Keep in mind that circles usually break a few times between "sets". That's when everyone walks about and talks, snacks, or drinks their water. But, you should be free to break as needed without disturbing other players if you're not in a class.
Lots of us just keep our chairs and stools and even a folding wagon in our trunks!
Friendliness & Accommodation Meter
All circles are not the same, but the highest percentage of them are high on the friendliness meter! If you are concerned about how children or special abilities people in your party will be received and accommodated -or- whether the facility or grounds are suitable for your party's needs, contact the event organizer.
(I am a special needs mom. I do not bring my daughter to every circle, but almost every outdoor circle is suitable!)
Finding a Circle
Chances are that you're here because you've had your eyes on one or two local drum circles. But if you haven't, you can try the following:
-Use Drum Circle Locator on FB (No, it's not me, haha. People around the world use it though.)
-Use your town or city and the words "drum circle" to search online or on FB for circles near you.
-Look for circles near you on MeetUp.
-If you don't like those options, call your library and ask if they know of any, or call your local nature centers and community buildings!
-Go along with a friend.
Note/Tip: Always do your research and make sure groups are real and safe. Warm weather affords more opportunity for outdoor events, where you may forge new friendships in public and get to know groups.
Etiquette in General
Every type of event or place has it's own etiquette. If you're old enough to remember The Ground Round, you know that you were expected to throw peanut shells on the floor inside the restaurant - crazy as that sounds! But you probably knew through exposure not to throw food or garbage on the floor inside other restaurants. You understood different etiquettes - through exposure.
You will learn drum circle etiquette (probably within 20-40 minutes) through exposure too!
So, drum circle etiquette is something that you'll also pick up on easily - just by being there. While circles are all a little different, some universal tips can be found in the main image on this page.
(If you’d like a more comprehensive etiquette flier for tough crowds which addresses some common issues like “sound take-over” and placing food on drums, etc., you can download one here. Facilitators might want it, but most people really won’t need it. Even at my own circles, I don’t make a big deal of it because most people automatically respect the property of others and ask questions.)
Drum Treatment (more etiquette)
There are different kinds of drum owners. No matter which kind you are, it's good to assume that someone else's drum is cherished by them.
From experience, some drum people will place greasy food in paper plates atop their $450 Wula drum. Other people (like myself) will not allow anyone to place anything atop a $140 Toca travel djembe; I cover it when I need to walk away from it. At home, I keep a sign above my drums that says "Not Tables" because guests often try to place their drinks on them.
Why be careful? Well, drum skins shouldn't be getting wet, and temperature and humidity control is also important. And, the cost to repair a ripped or damaged drum skin, no matter how much you paid for the actual drum, can be upwards of $125 - sometimes more than you paid for your drum on sale. And, before it gets repaired, you're down a drum for a while unless you have others.
And.. No one wants to have to ask someone at a drum circle to pay for damage! That would suck! (If you're someone who walks up and bangs on somebody else's drum without permission, please stop. You're making it weird!)
Besides cost, there's the respect that we should have for each others' property and spiritual tools. Yea, drums are spiritual tools to many of us - even if the spirituality is simply considered to be the healing and joy that comes from recreation and the friendship that turns into family over time.
Share-Drums and Percussion (some more etiquette)
Anyway, please respect the drums, and don't wear rings or hard jewelry when using someone else's share-drum. Keep the drums safe, and keep your fingers safe!
Share-drums and extra percussion for you to borrow or to try are sometimes brought by the facilitators or guests and are kept in the middle of the drum circle. You are expected to go use those instruments and then put them back - if you don't have your own or if you'd like to try something new that you see there. But you don't have to of course.
Think about a cafeteria and the etiquette used where people eat rather than drum. Drums and percussion that are not inside the middle of the circle are not designated share-instruments.
Please don't grab instruments that are at and around other drummers - just like you wouldn't grab someone else's sandwich just because they put it down on their own tray! Or, don't bang on them - just like you wouldn't bite someone else's sandwich while it's in their hand. Those are their.. personal ..instruments.
Many of us bring and use a few of our own drums and small percussion (or we cart a ton) when we attend circles. Sometimes people have flutes and stuff too.
However, if something looks interesting to you, you can go ask about the instruments you see between sets. Everybody mingles and tells about their instruments between sets, and it's great fun! People usually want to talk about their instruments as much as they want to tell about their kids!
The Wrap Up
That's all you really need to know, and drum folks will help you with all the rest!
Everything else you read in the pages that follow is extra - to grow your knowledge and support your interest.
So, don't worry about knowing or remembering anything. Go to that circle you've been thinking about! People there will help, and you'll catch on in the first 20 minutes, I bet.
Let me know!
