Team Building Drum Circles, Corporate Entertainment, & More

Team Building Drum Circles - Group Drumming With drumcircles.net

Drum circles are an excellent activity for any group, and for all ages. But especially as a tool for team building. Letting
people express themselves through drumming and then seeing how that can build to a musical performance is at the
heart of team effort. Learning to let go of self involvement in order to synchronize with others is the essence.

Not everyone can or will play the drums the same way, just as they don't do their jobs exactly the same way. And those slight
differences, if done from each person's strengths, are what make the musical result magical. People learn that playing and
working together are something that is it's own reward because the results are beyond what any individual can do.

Drum circles can be extremely effective for companies that want to enhance the generation of new ideas and better team work.
When people discover that they can collectively produce a good sound without any musical training or background, they start
to realize that they can be more effective at work by putting their heads together and working as a team.

Drumming uses the brain in a different pattern than the linear thought process that is usually needed in the work environment.
For example, when suggesting a drum circle rhythm, I like to vocalize the first few measures before we play it. The logical
analytical side of the brain can process it quicker, which then frees up the creative intuitive side. People can then play what
they feel, rather than over thinking it. ie: The Heartbeat rhythm: Boom Boom chicka-chicka Boom Boom (pause, & repeat)

A drum circle brings the group to a more open mental and psychological process, which can be carried over to the production of
new and better ways of working. An excellent tool to kick off any kind of brainstorming session and optimize the quantity
and quality of new ideas. In other words, your team improvises and is more creative.

Many drum circle facilitators who offer team building drum circles use a variety of team building rhythm games, and then finish
up the remaining time with a drum circle. It's a tried and true method. But over time, I've developed my own approach. I suggest
that you do the same thing. Study what the others do, and develop your own sense of style and unique way of doing things.

These are just my opinions, and I hope that some of it will be helpful to you. There are certainly other ways to go about this.
Based on my style, and experience, this is how I do it. It is not the only way, or even the best way, but it's what works for
me. The clients have been happy with the results, and that's what matters.

Lots of companies and small businesses are having to cut back on expenses. While I would be happy to come over and
facilitate a team building drum circle for you, I understand that times have changed. Perhaps it might make more
sense to just buy some drums, and have your own team building drum circles from time to time. It is a great way
for employees to connect on an even plane, thereby increasing productivity, and harmony. I'm happy to answer
any questions you might have about doing it. Explore the possibilities, by reading a few posts on my blog:

Drum Circle World Blog at blogspot.com

For many years, companies have strived to implement the concepts of empowering employees to find and implement better ways of
accomplishing work processes. Deming, one of the world’s foremost authorities on quality assurance and employee productivity,
was also one of the first to recognize the fact that it is the employee working at the lowest level who knows the most about how
to improve the flow of work. The stumbling block has always been how to convince workers to speak up and propose changes
and then find ways to make those changes happen to achieve optimal results. Drum circles provide a unique and
highly effective solution to this quandary.

Drumming has been around for thousands of years. Virtually every culture on earth has a history of community drumming being used
to unify the group. Different cultures produced different instruments and rhythms. Your company is a microcosm culture that can
use the same approach to unify the group & improve their interactions, resulting in improved productivity.

I’ve worked for, and talked with a lot of businesses and corporations about using drum circles to improve the performance
and productivity of their employees. This is not as crazy as it might sound. It is currently being used extensively in large
corporations and I believe that it can be just as effective in smaller companies. A small investment of time and money can
reap benefits that will improve a company’s effectiveness for a very long time. This is where many of the drum circle
facilitators make the big bucks. The proof that drum circles are effective is right there.

And as a drum circle facilitator, I work to define objectives and construct an approach that fits their particular environment.
I typically work with 5 to 80 people at a time. I provide all of the instruments, and I can also help to coordinate
the event itself. Everyone is free to participate, or just sit back and anticipate the results.

A corporate drum circle at the Hyatt Hotel prior to start. This was a brain storming circle.

Team Building With A Drum Circle?

Team building through the interactive process of a drum circle is a relatively new approach to employee productivity that is
becoming increasingly popular throughout the United States. Successful corporations know that good team building improves
the success rate, not only of the team, but of the corporation. But, knowing how to create truly effective teams is a distinct
set of skills that is rarely taught to the employees who would be in a position to implement them.
There are two obstacles to team building in the corporate environment.

Unlike sports, where it is known that the team has to work together, corporations are often highly competitive environments.
And, people who view their co-workers primarily as competitors, are unlikely to interact in a constructive team setting.

In addition, employees are accustomed to passively accept the work assigned to them by their bosses and work primarily
towards doing only those specific tasks that they believe will please their boss.

Building a successful team requires a significant shift in these two patterns of interaction. A good team's members will help
one another overcome obstacles and improvise new and better ways of accomplishing all of the goals that the team faces, rather
than individual tasks. This makes the entire team more productive. Plus, as humans are social by nature, this interaction
makes the work place more enjoyable. And people who enjoy their work place are more productive.

Drum circles are a highly effective way of introducing the revised shift in attitudes necessary for building teams. While an
individual can beat on a drum and produce a rhythm, it only becomes true music when a group of people play together. A drum
circle facilitator teaches the basics of drumming, then guides the group into creating a musical experience. The type of
facilitation used can be a major factor. A too highly structured drum circle can emphasize the mindset
of only just following instructions.

I think the ideal type of facilitation to kick start or improve team building is one in which the participants are
encouraged to improvise within the rhythm structure provided by the facilitator. It is a direct parallel to the
team improvising solutions to the group of tasks that the team needs to accomplish.

Drumming immediately reduces stress and breaks down barriers between the participants. The process then brings the group back
together in a nonverbal form of team interaction. The group learns how to listen to what is going on and respond to it in a
way that adds to the total product. Once people do this in a setting that is fun, they can then carry it back to their
regular work tasks, resulting in better communications and increased effectiveness.

Please email me with any questions about rates or availability. We can tailor a custom program to meet your vision.

If it's for a special opening...

Maybe a simple brain storming session by the lake, or at a park...

Or at a convention, company luncheon, or business meeting...

My rates are reasonable, and competitive. If you expect to have more than 80 people drumming at any one time,
I need to hire another facilitator. I respect your privacy, and never share email addresses with anyone.

When Inquiring about a team building drum circle, please provide me some of the particulars, & what you have in mind'
For a team building drum circle, I charge depending on several variables, such as the amount of time,
type of organization, location, approx. amount of people, and any specific requirements.

Testimonials, Letters of Recommendation, & Resume (link)

I am based in the Saint Louis area now. I provide facilitated drum circles for various groups, events & parties.
My rates are very competative. They include the equipment, loading, set-up, facilitating the drum circle, and
one hour travel both ways. It may seem like it costs a lot, but a one hour drum circle can take up to 4 hours.
There is the loading, travel, set-up, facilitating the circle, load back up, travel back, and unload to storage.
Plus, the cost/wear & tear of the drums - percussion, & all the years of musical training to host drum circles.

To Contact Me With Questions

I provide facilitated drum circles for various groups, events & functions. Whether it is hosting, or facilitating
a drum circle, I do the very best I can to help really make a difference. I offer something that's unique,
and inteactive. Anyone can sit right down and play drum rhythms. The teambuilding happens by default.

A Few Hints, Tips, & Ideas For Team Building Drum Circles

When I book a team building drum circle, no matter how large a group it is, I try to find out a few key pieces of information.
In fact, one of the most important things I do is some homework about the company, business, or group. I try to find out names,
who does what, and get as many details as possible. Often I get hardly anything other than a brief from their site. But I try
to get as much information as possible in advance, (within reason of course) from the hiring person.

For example, what's the theme they have in mind? Company values? Better synergy? Leadership? Stronger communication? Risk taking?
What's the purpose or objective of them wanting this drum circle team building event? Finding some of this out helps me to custom
tailor activities, (or lack of them) specifically for them. You can't fool most of these business management types, they have seen
it all, and can spot BS right away. The important thing is to deliver on a clear theme, and meet their objectives, not mine.

For me every event is different, but there are a few mechanical things I do at the start, and at a few points during the drumming
process. There are a few "welcome activities" I've learned from others, such as the handshake circle, the egg shaker pass,
and so on. (Do a search on them if you need the specifics.) These are both good ice breakers.

More often I just get them drumming to a basic foundational drumming beat as quickly as possible. The reason is, corporate types
tend to over think things if you give them too much time. A simple vocalization of a rhythm for a few bars in 4/4 time,
gets them quickly out of their heads, improvising, and creating.

For example, nice and slow tempo, 4/4 time, each word is a 1/4 note, 4 notes per measure: (This is 2 measures, or 8 beats.)

bass, rest, bass, rest; tone, tone, tone, rest; & repeat the phrase.
Let it go for 5 minutes and slowly bring up the tempo. Let it evolve...

From then on it's just a series of different rhythms from around the world. The vocalizing emphasizes listening and dialogue between the
employees. The rhythm Heartbeat, or Hi-Life are good after the warm up. It leaves openings for call and response. Once you demonstrate
it, and let them know it is okay not to have to strictly follow the rules like in their normal working environment, this is when the team
building begins. Various drumming games and activities do work, but not as well as creating a setting to just letting them figure it out
for themselves. Not the best analogy here, but if you are stuck at a level in a video game, is it more satisfying to figure it out,
or have someone show you? It stays with you if you accomplish it on your own.

I don't go much for the body beat percussion thing, the layering in of percussion, as many others use it. I think of it how I would like
it to be if I was an employee. I have sat in that chair waiting for some silly team building activity before. So I don't leave people
sitting there waiting for their turn to play. I do like to take a 5 minute break at the half way point for a brief discussion.

After that, I ask everyone to pass their drum or percussion instrument to the person on their right. They have to figure out a new
drum, and how to play it. They experience the change in themselves, the sound, and the circle. It is similar to them having to
figure out their own strategies for dealing with something different on the job.

I usually do this one more time about 15 minutes later, but this time we break and I ask a few of them to comment on the differences of
the new drum they are playing. It opens up some interesting discussion, and job related metaphors. I've found this to be very effective,
the suits can see what is happening, and they can see the value of why we are doing it. I like to get the particpants to openly talk
about what they are experiencing after specific drum rhythms at a few different points during the program.

My experience is that most executives are very sharp, and they have short attention spans. Not because of ADD, but they tend to learn very
quickly, so they can also get bored quickly with basic team building drumming games and activities. They figure them out fast, and want
to move on to something else. I can't say I blame them really. Just drumming works better than gimmicky things that waste time. (But I
always have a few at the ready just in case.) I keep two lists in my back pockets. One is a list of rhythms, and the other is a list of
drumming activities. I hardly ever look at them, but if they are there, I feel more confident. If I do get a brain freeze
I can just glance at it for reference. It happens.

My overall pacing of the various drum rhythms is slow and steady, with a few ebbs and flows to keep things unpredictable. The main
objective is to create a group dynamic as fast as possible, and a group rhythm that represents the goals of the company. The group
downbeat rhythm represents the basic working process, and goals of the organization. They just don't know it until after
we are done. It is their unique company "groove". The rhythm is the vehicle.

I like to spend a few hours planning out the program the night before, and also after I have seen the room, and set up my drums. I take
a half hour to figure out and visualize my program that is about to start. One thing I got from my years in show business and appearing
on live TV, is the there is an ever so fine line between fear, and excitement. All I have to do is convince my mind that I AM EXCITED.
How cool is it that I get to do this? I'm not nervous, or scared...I'm excited. Incorporate, and use your life experiences.

As the facilitator, my job is to provide the instruments and guide the participants through the process. I do not tell them what to do,
but give them the tools to figure out what their group pulse is. This is a surprisingly powerful tool. I start by letting them just beat
on the drums to get a feel for the physical motion involved and to release any tensions. Then, I start showing them a series of basic
rhythms and, once they get those, show them how to feel the rhythm and add their individual flavor to it. The sound moves around as
different people will dominate a pattern and affect it. Then, I introduce a new beat and someone else ends up taking
the lead, and away we go team building, while having a good time.

Trying to encourage employees to think outside the norm and find better ways of working is a highly worthwhile goal. Drum circles show
them how to do this in a context that removes their routine ideas of constraints. It gives a simple joint goal to the group, then fosters
a creative and spontaneous accomplishment of that goal. It enhances the ability of the members to function together at their best by
providing a path that is relaxing, invigorating, and just plain fun. And, people who enjoy working together are consistently
more productive. The stress reduction of the drum circle can also significantly reduce absenteeism.
Many large corporations are now using drum circles on a regular basis.

I try to provide a safety net by being constantly tuned in to the group and the individuals as things progress, so they can have a good
time, and not really think about the team building process. (Although that is what's also happening.) I mention on my drumcircles.net
page, helping people to find their own inner sense of rhythm takes very little guidance and can be done spontaneously in the
middle of an ongoing rhythmic drum beat. Natural rhythm flows within all of us. Our hearts beat to a rhythm,
we walk to a rhythm, many aspects of our daily lives are done to a rhythm.

Whenever we hear drumming, we begin to move to the universal rhythm inside us all. The drum connects your heart to your hands.
We start out a beat, we just follow the beat, and all of a sudden we are improvising, experiencing and talking with our drums.
You are the instrument, the drum becomes your voice. Drumming conversations begin to emerge as people become connected
beyond the music being played. They are finding their inner natural rhythm.

My Biography
I've been a performing artist for most of my life. I've been playing the drums since 1968. My love for drumming
started as an outlet for childhood hyperactivity, and I went on to be the lead snare drummer in the school
marching band, then on to be a symphony percussionist.

After moving to Florida in 1975, I played percussion in various bands and orchestras,
toured and recorded with a number of them, plus worked as a session musician.

I also started my acting career while in Florida. I moved to New York briefly, then on to Los Angeles, where,
for 15 years, I worked as a musician, and a character actor. I appeared in a number of TV shows, films, and
commercials. I was also a frequent guest performer on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" for 8 seasons.
I'm a member of AFTRA/SAG, the two major performing arts unions that merged into one.

I've been attending - facilitating drum circles, and training drum circle facilitators for over 30 years. I think
it helps to keep me sane. I've facilitated drumming events for the U.S. ARMY Chief Of Chaplains Religious Education
Conference, Jazz Festivals, County State Fairs, The Florida Festivals & Events Association's Convention Trade Show,
as well as many other major groups and companies, including OSI Restaurant Partners, Outback, on over to smaller
groups, such as churches, veterans, college sorority reunions, weddings, seniors, schools, and special needs
groups. I was also a faculty member who taught drumming at The Dunedin Fine Arts Center.

My mission statement is: To help people discover their own sense of rhythm, at their own pace.

The title of the drumming book is, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles". It's 300 pages of text,
retail is $17.95 (physical copies). It is self-published, and available for purchase directly from me.
It is also an E-Book on Amazon Kindle for $8. It's available in most languages.

Many musicians and other artists cross over into the acting business, like I did. If the acting field is something you
might be interested in, please check out my other book, "An Actor's Face" $5 on Amazon Kindle. $5.

My website started as a drum circle article back in 1997 in the Santa Monica Outlook, LA Times, and just grew up from
there. Check out my site's global drum circle finder, and locate drum circles near you. Even just as an observer, it
is an interesting social activity. Please also consider my 2 hour DVD "101 Drum Circle Rhythms" ($16 on Amazon).
Thanks in advance for considering my books / DVD / CD's, and for helping to support an independent artist.

Shannon Ratigan

For much more in depth information on drum circles, or facilitating them, please consider picking up my book.

It's 300 pages, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" + Free Drum Circle Jam CD
($8 on Kindle) To get the free drum circle CD, the book needs to be purchased from my website only.

A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles Book Link

Physical copies are also available at Amazon.com (But the free CD isn't included.) Here's the Kindle link:

Drum Circle Book On Amazon Kindle

Here's a short outline Of The Benefits of Drum Circles
It uplifts the spirits of all the participants, & Unity is achieved through diversity.
It invigorates the body and mind. Enhances focus and clarity.
It builds group cooperation skills and camaraderie.
It’s proven to reduce stress, and it’s cheaper than therapy.
It reduces employee routine and burnout in the workplace.
It improves motor skills, and it’s a positive musical experience.
It's an opportunity for self expression, and increased listening skills.
It stimulates creativity, experimentation, and self confidence.
It breaks down communication barriers, and celebrates the joy of life.
It’s empowering, healthy, and most of all it’s Fun!

Scientific research is now validating the health benefits experienced by drumming. Across the nation,
organizations are bringing together people of diverse ages, cultures, and even work teams through the
community building of a drum circle. Some of these articles can be read on my home page: drumcircles.net
A life is not measured by what we have, but what we have given.

Locate a drum circle near you with my drum circle finder. A free service to the drumming and dancing community.
It was established in 1999, back in the days of the free websites, Lycos, Geocities, and etc. Thanks kindly for
the help, and support from everyone. 1000's of drum circles listed now, there is probably quite a few
in your state. This locator is updated monthly. Here's the page link:

USA Drum Circle Finder Link

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