ISSUE #25 \__\__\___THE____/__/__/  Jan 5, 1999 _____________TEMPO DISPATCH _____________ Newsletter For Drummers and Drumming Enthusiasts     Copyright Bill Powelson 1999 all rights reserved. ___________________________________________ ____________'IT'S ALL ABOUT DRUMS'__________ Tips * Tricks * Hints * Ads * Freebies * Lessons * __________NOW 1,750 SUBSCRIBERS!__________ "THE TEMPO DISPATCH" is a FREE publication Originating From: BILL POWELSON'S,            HOMESTUDY INSTITUTE OF DRUMS ____On The Web * Where Beginners Learn FREE ___ http://www.studydrums.com/drummers/bphome01.html             E-MAIL: drums01@worldnet.att.net _____________________________________________ The focus and intent of this publication is to unite, enlighten, instruct and entertain all the percussion enthusiasts of the Internet. For REMOVAL, simply hit reply and type REMOVE on the subject line. _____________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS:  What is in this issue? Contents:       1. Feature Article:                         First Night On A New Gig!                            (Calming the jitters!)       2. Humor: (MORE . . . Dumb Bass Player jokes.)       3. Advertisements       4. Drum Instructors Wanted!       5. Special Message for Paid Mac Students ______________________________________ |__________FEATURE ARTICLE___________|                 First Night On A New Gig!                     (Calming the jitters!) SCENARIO . . .       It's 7:30 pm, the phone rings . . . It's your buddy Fred the bass player . . .  and there's a problem.  His band is playing tonight at the joint down the street from your house . . . The old drummmer ran off with the guitar-players wife and they desparately need your help!  Will you play?  It pays $125.00 and the gig is a little over 4 hours!      Sure you'll play!  Who wouldn't help their buddies out and make money too.  You've been waiting months for a chance like this!       Now what?  Can you cut it?  This gig is up for grabs permanantly!  Can you snag it with all the grace of a true pro?       Sure you can!  Just keep your cool and . . . FOLLOW THESE TIPS . . .       #1.    Hope that someone in the band knows a little about beat structures.  I always try to train my bass player for a few minutes before the gig starts . . . especially if we have never worked together before . . .        Make sure he (or someone in the group) knows what 16th rock, Blues, 8th rock and shuffle beats sound like.  Try to make sure you are communicating using the same terminology. That way . . . as the band kicks off a song you have never heard, maybe you can get a clue as to the structure . . . before the song starts.       #2.  If you can get a tape of some of their more complex tunes and listen/play them before the gig . . . it will help a lot.       #3.  Relax . . . :>)    As you crawl on stage . . . keep these points in mind . . .       *  Know in your heart that there isn't any way on earth that you can get every lick in every song exactly right . . . I wouldn't be able to do it either!  No drummer could . . . unless he had worked with them before . . .        We are not mind readers!  We are only human!       *  Listen intently to everything that is happening on stage. When the band notices you doing that . . . it rings up BIG points.    DON'T TRY TO LEAD THE BAND!  Follow as best you can . . . Listen to the bass player and stick like glue . . . he is your seeing-eye-dog!  I rag bass players a lot . . . but in reality, my best friends are all bass players!  It's a 'team' thing that goes down between the bass player and the drummer!  If you can get that to happen . . . magic will follow!        Every band is looking for personality traits that they can live with over the long term.  Happy, compliant, humble, easy, flexible . . . If you walk away leaving those impressions behind . . . your phone will probably begin to ring off the hook . . . even if you don't snag this gig permanently!!         And . . . stop flirting with the lead-singers girlfried . . . you'll wind up on the run just like the last drummer, haha!        *  THIS POINT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE FIRST:         Tempo . . . tempo . . . tempo!        No matter what happens in the music . . . hold that tempo SOLID! Let them play the fancy stuff . . . hold the tempo 'in-check' at all times! Blend with the bass guitar!  If only you do that . . . the gig will be yours! THE BEATBUG WILL HELP HERE!!!! (Hint,hint)       A Beatbug will take away all your apprehensions about this!  You should own one already!  If you don't . . . then get with it, at:       www.studydrums.com/drummers/z.html                           AND . . .       www.studydrums.com/drummers/zz.html NOTE:  Bass players usually have the most clout as to which drummer gets the gig!  Play up to the bass player . . . let him/her know that you will endeavor to 'click' with their creative ideas!  This may make you more BIG points than you can imagine!          Most pro musicians will realize that no-one in the World can replace their old drummer on the first night.  It takes time!  A drummer must grow with a band!  All PRO players know this and allow for it . . . some amateurs haven't learned it yet . . .  Don't let the snide remarks of an amatuer bring you down . . .               REMEMBER THIS TOO . . .        Some amateur groups are the absolute hardest to work with . . . If THEY don't know what they are doing, their next tactic is usually to try and blame the drummer (or new guy) for everything that goes wrong.  A good group of pro musicians will carry you through with flying colors . . . even if you screw-up everything, BIG-TIME!  Amateurs will tend to blame you for every mistake that they themselves make.  It is a fact!  Take it from an old-timer!         The easiest gigs to play 'unrehearsed' are the gigs with solid BIG time professional bands!  I've played both types and know this as a fact!         The hardest gigs are when we sit-in with bands who expect the drummer to pull them out of their own quagmires & mistakes . . .  These are the amateurs!  If that happens . . . shoulder the blame with inner-strength and knowledge . . . take solace in the wisdom that you are dealing with dummies and green-horns . . . then shrug off any feelings of failure!         When a band sounds bad . . . it is usually the fault of the WHOLE band.  When a band sounds good . . . the 'STAR' takes all the credit, haha  (So, maybe it's ok to flirt with his girl-friend for revenge!) STAGE FRIGHT:       You will get over it!  Usually if you focus and concentrate on the music itself . . . the shakes will dissipate after the first 2 or 3 songs. As the night wears on . . . you will completely forget the crowd is there.  By the time the last set rolls around, you'll probably be wearing a monkey-mask and doing hand-stands on your floor tom.  Attention and adulation are totally addictive, even to the shyest of the shy!   You'll learn to love the crowds and the lights once you relax a little.  IF YOU ARE REALLY SPOOKED, AND . . .        If the band uses spot-lights, you might ask if your 'spot' could be aimed at someone else.  Tell them you play better when treated like a mushroom. (ie; "Keep me in the dark and feed me B.S.".)  Haha, This always gets a laugh and usually they will cut us some slack. Most often there will be someone in the band who craves the extra the light anyway!  Often . . . they will jump at the chance to take yours! For now . . . encourage that!  The lights can burn you to the soul when you are already nervous . . .      Try to make eye contact with the crowd . . . and smile a lot!  99% of the time, they will never know how bad you are playing!  Crowds are visual!  They only pickup on what we show . . .   If we show confidence and control . . . they'll usually chalk us up as ok.  As the old saying goes . . . 'Never let them see you sweat"!       Now go kick some butt!  :>) ______________________________________ |_________THOUGHTS & GRINS__________| MORE . . . Dumb Bass Player Jokes . . . Q:  What do you call a bass player with half a brain? A:   Gifted. Q:  Why do bands need Roadies? A:  To translate what the bass player says. Q. Why are bass players buried 12 feet underground? A. Deep down, they're good. If you laid all of the bass players in the world, end to end, on the equator -- It would be a good idea to just leave them there. ______________________________________                        *** MAKE  MONEY *** www.a2zmoney.com/drummers/money/a2zmon01.html ______________________________________ ____________________________________ |____*** BEATBUG SPECIAL ***_________| TELL YO'  MAMA  . . . YOU WANT A BEATBUG FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY! 'BEATBUG' SPECIAL!!!  $139 Discounted from $150.00 (list price) to $139.00 . . . . . .$139    GET THESE BONUSES! $139 **** BEAT BUG ($150 value) **** MY COMPLETE COURSE ($35 value) **** TD ARCHIVES (Now 23 Xtra lessons) ($22 value) **** UNLIMITED E-MAIL Q & A HELP (priceless value) **** E-BOOK: 'Old Drums Into New Money' ($18 value)       Get a BEATBUG, plus EVERYTHING ABOVE for only $139 (US Funds) WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!  I'm up to my neck in Beatbugs!  I ship on the same day you order (via cc)! ORDER NOW!           https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ______________________________________ |__ COMPUTERIZED DRUMSET LESSONS _|  $35.00   HOMESTUDY DRUMSET LESSONS $35.00 (Complete Course Includes Unlimited E-mail Help)   STUDY DRUMS FROM YOUR COMPUTER ANYTIME! *  At home via floppy disk (offline), *online via password authorization. * Unlimited E-mail questions ENCOURAGED & WELCOMED! * DRUMSET TECHNIQUES, Beginner thru ULTRA-ADVANCED. See 'Contents' at:           www.studydrums.com/drummers/contents.html * For ALL ages 10 to 90 . . .(almost) * Student sets the pace & the schedule. * Study at home on the computer ANY TIME of day. * Study drums online via secret website. * Or, study drums offline via two IBM compatible floppy disks, mailed directly to your home. * Also includes optional downloadable zip file of entire 31 lesson drum course (for offline study). * BONUS!!!!  23 additional lessons (TD Archive.) * THESE PROVEN METHODS REALLY WORK! (38 years in development) * This course in drumset techniques also includes FREE additional monthly lessons via this E-mail newsletter.   * No scheduling hassles and no rush hour traffic. Getting to your drum lesson is easy.  Just turn on the computer! * Private (E-mail) help too, with your instructor, Bill Powelson. * Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.  No hassles. TO SEE THE COMPLETE LIST OF LESSONS IN THE HOMESTUDY PACKAGE,  DIRECT YOUR BROWSER TO: http://www.catalog.com/drummers/contents.html ____________HOW TO PURCHASE__________   The Homestudy Course in Drum Set Techniques HOW TO PURCHASE (Method#1) With Credit Cards                    All for one price.  SPECIAL!!         *   *   *   *   *   *                          $35.00 (US FUNDS)                         WILL BUY IT ALL!!! * Homestudy Course (31 html lessons) * BONUS #1: Old Drums Into New Money (E-Book) * BONUS #2: Tempo Dispatch Archive (23 lessons)        $75.00 Value - Only $35.00 TOTAL PRICE                   MASTER CARD OR VISA TO PURCHASE WITH YOUR CREDIT CARD NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html One thing is certain!  These lessons will NEVER be priced any lower than $35.00!  This price will soon increase to 49.95! I am currently adding new lessons. Buy now and get everything at this limited one-time low price . . . or wait and pay more. SIGN UP NOW! $35.00 COMPLETE COURSE $35.00 (US) https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html ___________________________________________________ HOW TO PURCHASE (Method #2):      SPECIAL NOTICE!!! ******************** ELECTRONIC CHECKS ********************** US residents!  Now you can pay by check via E-mail.  Any of the drum school products or services will be on their way to you in minutes!  Send an E-mail enquiry to: drums01@worldnet.att.net . . . Mention 'E-Checks' to get details on how to pay instantly, electronically with an E-mail check. _______________________________________ HOW TO PURCHASE (Method #3):    REGULAR MAIL $35.00 US FUNDS WILL BUY IT ALL!!! * Homestudy Course (31 html lessons) * BONUS: Old Drums Into New Money * BONUS: Tempo Dispatch Archive (17 additional lessons) (A $75.00 Value - Only $35.00) SEND CHECK, CASH or MONEY ORDER in US FUNDS to: Bill Powelson 107 Douglas Dr. Holly Hill, Fl. 32117 NOTE: Please include your E-mail address. ___________________________________________________ TRIVIA QUESTION:           What is a BeatBug? DON'T KNOW?           Find out here . . . Http://www.catalog.com/drummers/z.html __________________________________________ AD #3      "OLD DRUMS INTO NEW MONEY"           FREE with purchase of Homestudy Course                        OR BEATBUG! 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Amps * Woofers * EQ * CD Players * Cassette * Speakers * Boxes, Etc * FREE SHIPPING in USA Why pay more? 30 day return if not completely satisfied.... Website: http://www.nexxon.com Questions: mailto:nexxon@bigfoot.com Instant Price List: mailto:info@nexxon.com ******************************************************************* Join Over 11,000 Drummers and Percussionists World Wide. DrumNetwork.com - A Place for Rhythm Nuts. Send email request to... drummers-request@list.to Leave Subject line BLANK and enter the word SUBSCRIBE in the body of the email message. or Visit Us http://DrumNetwork.com ********************************************************************* IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE DISPATCH!!! Place your own inexpensive ad in the Tempo Dispatch!  Reach a target market of 1,750+ avid drumming enthusiasts aged 7 to 70! (5) 10 word lines/$5.00 (US) per insertion 4 MONTHS OF ADVERTISING FOR ONLY $15.00 (4th insertion FREE!) ORDER NOW AT: https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html     _____________________________________ |__TEACH DRUMS !  *  TEACH DRUMS!___| *** THE DRUM INSTRUCTORS GUIDE ***     If you have some stage experience, why not TEACH DRUMS???? Teach my methods in your locality.  I WILL SHOW YOU HOW!  Great income potential in most areas. TO ENQUIRE:  Mention The Instructors Guide in a note to:   Bill Powelson:  drums01@worldnet.att.net _________________________________________ |___________THE TD ARCHIVES_____________| $22.00 *** TEMPO DISPATCH ARCHIVE *** $22.00 (US) I have put 23 issues of this newsletter, the 1997/98 Tempo Dispatch, into a self extracting zip archive. It is selling for $22.00.   That is all 23 of my best Newsletter lessons downloaded to your computer for $22.00.   It's FREE to all All PAID STUDENTS . . . just ask via e-mail. UN-PAID STUDENTS:  Order with your credit card . . . ($22.00 US) https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html                                          Or, by regular mail, send check or money order: Bill Powelson 107 Douglas Dr.   Holly Hill, Fl. 32117 (US/Canadian residents) could ask for the E-check form and pay for it with an instant online check.. _______________________________________________ |_SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR MACINTOSH STUDENTS_|                           (PAID STUDENTS) A new, more Mac compatible version of the homestudy package is now downloadable from the secret website.  If you don't have the homestudy course installed on your system already, download the 'drums.sit' version from the secret website.         The lessons are all the same but this file does not contain any pc file types that might confuse you or your system. download & extract the Mac version, open your browser offline, Once installed, go to the designated folder on your system and click on 'bphome01.htm'. ________________________________________ If you enjoy this little 'e-zine' please show your support by reading the ads and buying the products.      TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE DRUM SCHOOL PRODUCTS WITH MASTER CARD OR VISA NOW, GO TO . . . https://secure.catalog.com/drummers/nlccard.html       _______________________________________          Your drumming questions are always welcome at E-MAIL:  drums01@worldnet.att.net I LOVE E-MAIL!!!! END OF TEMPO DISPATCH #25  Jan 5, 1999