I was watching Gateway Indoor's show from this past year and the cymbals appear to do a visual that is impossible. They bend down at over 45 degrees while keeping their body completely staight...WHAT!!!
Heres the link of the clip.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/994298/

it doesnt look like they use any ropes or anything to support themselves. i can only go about 10 degrees until i fall on my face

anyone have any idea how they do that?

Er, not to be too blunt but I think it's fairly obvious.

Cymbals are heavy, yes? Just by putting them behind your back you shift your center of gravity a lot.

I'd recommend trying it yourself before you say it's impossible

i just noticed...the 2nd cymbal from the left has some difficulty getting off the platform, she seems stuck on there for a second. it looks like maybe they stick thier feet into a strap??

but that still doesnt explain how they keep from falling over...

i dont get it :P

Their feet are strapped in. She had problems getting down because her foot got caught in the strap.

i did try it, and i cant even get close to the angles they got down to.
however, i did NOT have a set of foot straps...but i still dont see how strapping in your feet would keep your body from falling. all it would do would keep your feet in place.

THIS IS BOTHERING ME SO MUCH!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!

So your feet are secured to the ground and they can't move. You can't even lift your heels off the ground. You fall forward because the lean causes your heels to come off the ground and eventually your toes follow. If you're heels can't come up, you stay on the ground.

They did a good job focusing on the pit while they set that up, but if you were watching that show live, it was really obvious how they secured their feet.

The giant panels they used for only that and nothing else in the show were also a giveaway.

I saw it when they came for the Indianapolis Regional at my high school, and from what i heard and what it looked like was a big magnet, i know it sounds retarded, but if you look to the side under the white box they're standing on there is a little black box, from what i remember.

i am hoping for someone who marches or teaches gateway indoor will see this post and tell me how they did it...

magnets huh? that would be nuts.

Their feet were strapped in. I know a number of the staff at Gateway. They strapped their feet in. The 2nd girl from the left had problems getting her feet out of the strap.

I think you're trying to make it seam more difficult than it actually is. their feet were strapped in...that's it. clearly they practiced it like crazy to get it just right, but it's not some amazing mystery. he's telling you exactly how it was done. take it.

I saw them do this at the Nashville regional, I was able to get a picture too. Only thing was the 3rd cymbal player fell out or something. Guess he must of slipped out.

Good thing he was able to catch himself.

That is really cool, but not impossible, or even hard with the feet straps probably.

Well seeing as he got caught in them, I'd say it's not quite easy either.

What class is this group?

that's cool i didn't even realize he did it

oh man...that dude fell right out of his shoes haha.


gateway is in world class. they got 8th? this past season

That is pretty amazing, I believe the whole changing center of gravity thing is accurate though.

oh I didn't see the picture.

That's sick! Gotta love gateway.

this is kinda off topic, but doesn't it look they're about to take off with rocket boots or something?

They had boots. thank you Brian Pezzullo, Gateway snare drummer, for the info.

Dude! I was watching them when they were performing in Dayton, pretty crazy! If I recall correctly, this was the Michel Jackson show. Despite the one cymbal fallout, you can tell it took quite a lot of work to get that to happen.

Of course it takes more than JUST strapping your feet in. The center of gravity does play a part in it as does putting your weight on your toes, probably locking your knees, and a couple of other little things. However, that their feet were strapped in (or booted in as we now know) is plain enough.

Just to clear everyone's confusion, there is a device that was created for Micheal Jackson for his weird dancing and stuff, but i allows you to lean forwards exactly like they did and not fall over. And it could be hidden under your clothes to create the illusions like in the video.

It's not impossible just challenging. Thanks for sharing this video link here at http://www.drumlines.org