Drumming Up Some Business By Jack Gilfoy

t the age of eight I asked my parents el and directs a summer percussion camp. are many things to sell to drummers, Jared for a snare drum for Christmas. I got He also is involved in designing drums and has produced items for other folks as well. Ait, and the rest is history—perhaps sticks. And in his spare time, Wes is active And his use of current methods of distribu- not the way I had originally planned, but with the Washington, D.C. chapter of PAS. tion and attracting new customers, even I’m still drumming. These days I also do a Then we have Jared Falk, who would be though he doesn’t live in New York or L.A., lot of teaching, and there are many ways to happy to sell you his well-produced One is clearly out-of-the-box thinking. teach. Handed Drum Roll DVD. Jared, from Ab- Neither Wes nor Jared are yet in the Somewhere along the way I realized botsford, BC, Canada, has been playing league of well-known, big-name drummers. that I could increase my income sources if the drums for ten years, and he already But they are getting there. Their products I had some stuff to sell. Okay, that’s an old has a lot of products for sale on his site show that they are still enjoying playing story, but it still is true. I tell my Business of (RailroadMedia.com). Jared has packaged the drums. And because they have several Music Students (Indiana University School book/DVD materials on rock, jazz, and Lat- things to sell, these guys are well on their of Music at IUPUI) that they should have in drumming as well as double bass drum way to making a great living in the music something to sell. If you can put together technique and the Moeller system of drum- business. several things, that’s even better. Appar- ming. One can easily say that Jared is on ently that idea occurred to U.G. Leedy, Wil- a roll (I know…). But here’s the best part: This is my first article as the new Career De- liam F. Ludwig, Vic Firth, Remo Belli, and he’s giving away free drum lessons via the velopment editor of Percussive Notes, and my numerous other drummers as well. Internet (FreeDrumLessons.com). As any agenda is to explore the many ways that drum- These days, it’s a whole new world. Yes, business person would tell you, this is all mers and percussionists have made and contin- new companies keep cropping up ue to make a living in an ever-changing just to make sticks, drums, etc. But world. If you would like to share your a current crop of entrepreneurs are There has never been a better time career moves with the PAS, please send finding services and products to me an e-mail at [email protected]. sell using the latest technology. I for drummers and percussionists am referring to Websites and Web marketing. Just go to most big name to actually make a living doing Jack Gilfoy is a drummer, bandlead- drummers’ sites and I’ll bet there are er, educator, and producer in things to buy without any middle- what they love to do. Indianapolis, Indiana. Jack was the men. It’s the age of a direct deal first jazz drummer to complete the between the buyer and the person who has about good marketing via giving a little bit percussion program at Indiana Uni- the product or service. for free to interest the potential buyer. Jared versity, developed by George Gaber, and The upshot of all of this is that there has also has also put together packages for bass he holds BM and MS in Education degrees never been a better time for drummers and players and audio engineer types. His com- from IU. Jack also studied jazz drumming percussionists to actually make a living do- pany, Railroad Media, advertises that more with Shelly Manne and Joe Morello. In 1965 ing what they love to do. And you can be “stuff” is on the way. I’m sure there is, be- Jack started touring as the personal drum- living anywhere. You do need to come up cause the entrepreneurial spirit has clearly mer for Henry Mancini, an association that with ideas for products or services, and you bitten Jared. lasted until Mancini died in 1994. Jack has will have to successfully market your prod- So we are back to my point about having also performed with Teddy Wilson, Erroll ucts. But doing business on the Internet has as many things to sell as possible. Com- Garner, Doc Severnsin, Randy Brecker, literally leveled the playing field. Anybody bine that with new ways to make the sale Jamey Aebersold, Larry Elgart, Nelson can do it now, not just the big drum compa- through the latest technology, and add a Riddle, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Andy nies. dash of thinking outside of the box. Wes Williams, Johnny Mathis, Nancy Wilson, You possibly noticed the recent Percussive produced what is arguably the first virtual and Elvis Presley. Since 1965, Gilfoy has Notes article by Wes Crawford about his play-along DVD for drummers. This is a been involved as a teaching artist with Drumset Play-Along DVD (PN Vol.45, No.4). classic example of “find a need and fill it.” Young Audiences of Indiana. In 1988 Gilfoy Wes started playing drums at the age of Wes saw a need involving drummers who started teaching at Indiana University four. Now, Wes has a lot of goods and ser- don’t have a band to play with as yet. His (Bloomington and Indianapolis). His cur- vices for sale, mostly from his Website (Mu- DVD is one step closer to really playing rent title is Director of Jazz and Music Busi- sicAndGames4U.com). In terms of playing, with a band. The “find a need” idea is a ness Studies, IU School of Music, Indianap- Wes has worked with many bands and classic in the world of good business suc- olis (IUPUI). Another long-standing part of singers in the Washington, D.C. area. He cess. Gilfoy’s musical life has been recording and has produced several CD and DVD proj- As for Jared, he’s not just producing producing concerts and recordings. PN ects. Wes teaches drumset at the college lev- products for drummers. Even though there percussive notes 34 DECEMBER 2007 percussive notes 35 DECEMBER 2007