Drummer Connection Forum

Home Forum Drummer Events Modern Drummer Festiival

What's the appeal of this event to you?

Dave Heim - Fri, 07/11/2008 - 17:13 | 7,942 views

I've not yet been to a MD Festival. Just wondering what the appeal is for everyone? Is it the clinics, the trade-show, the networking? All of the above?

For those who have attended - what made you go? Why would you go back?

Drummer Comments (3)

[+] Add Comment

King Says Re: What's the appeal of this event to you?

Submitted On: Tuesday, Jul 29, 2008 - 12:53 PM

I just think it's a great place to meet up with other drummers to share our common bond. It's also a great time to drop in on a clinic or two.

drumfreak Says Re: What's the appeal of this event to you?

Submitted On: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 9:56 PM

I haven't yet been to Modern Drummer Festival but I do plan to make it out to this year's. Since they didn't have it last year, I'm hoping they spice this one up to make up for it. Who knows.

Regarding the click track, I respect an artist who plays to one, in fact I'm almost positive that all big productions are played to a click track nowadays. It's senseless not to when you're performing in front of a large audience who paid to be there and then have a DVD published about it that could define your career.

I hope it will be a laid back event. I'm sure there will be people there to make connections and suitcase promote their stuff, but hey, in this industry it's about meeting the people with the suitcase who have something kick ass to sell you that could enhance your drumming.

I look forward to the experience.

smoggrocks Says Re: What's the appeal of this event to you?

Submitted On: Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 5:35 PM

heya--

i have been to several of these, and initially, the real appeal for me was meeting a group of cyberdrumchums that i'd made from another forum. the same cast of characters always hooked up, and we had a great time.

but of course, the main draw was the artists. there is usually a great range of performers from different genres, and the focus is on playing and performance. the best performances are when there's a full band, but a lot of the artists play to a recorded track/click thing and then give something of a mini-clinic.

it's not a real trade show thing a la PASIC; the only commercial stuff you really see is some of the artists hocking their cds outside the auditorium, some MD reps, t-shirt and calendar sales...things of that ilk. of course, i haven't gone to the last 3 or so, so it might've been biggified some in this arena.

what's great is that it's a much smaller-scale event than PASIC, so you do get the opp to converse with a few of the performers, see them wandering around the campus, etc. sometimes you spot them at a nearby restaurant. it brings it all down-to-earth.

there's networking, but not in a 'ooh here's my business card' kinda way. more laid-back than that.

some of the most memorable performances i've seen were gene lake, thomas lang, sonny emory, zoro, cindy blackman, horacio hernandez...and i can't remember who else. i wanna say weckl, but i think that was at PASIC.

in any event, a very fun time, well orchestrated, with neat door prizes to boot!

Add Video Comment Remove

Take New Picture

heya-- i have been to several of these, and initially, the real appeal for me was meeting a group of cyberdrumchums that i&#039;d made from another forum. the same cast of characters always hooked up, and we had a great time. but of course, the main draw was the artists. there is usually a great range of performers from different genres, and the focus is on playing and performance. the best performances are when there&#039;s a full band, but a lot of the artists play to a recorded track/click thing and then give something of a mini-clinic. it&#039;s not a real trade show thing a la PASIC; the only commercial stuff you really see is some of the artists hocking their cds outside the auditorium, some MD reps, t-shirt and calendar sales...things of that ilk. of course, i haven&#039;t gone to the last 3 or so, so it might&#039;ve been biggified some in this arena. what&#039;s great is that it&#039;s a much smaller-scale event than PASIC, so you do get the opp to converse with a few of the performers, see them wandering around the campus, etc. sometimes you spot them at a nearby restaurant. it brings it all down-to-earth. there&#039;s networking, but not in a &#039;ooh here&#039;s my business card&#039; kinda way. more laid-back than that. some of the most memorable performances i&#039;ve seen were gene lake, thomas lang, sonny emory, zoro, cindy blackman, horacio hernandez...and i can&#039;t remember who else. i wanna say weckl, but i think that was at PASIC. in any event, a very fun time, well orchestrated, with neat door prizes to boot!