Hey,
I've gave enough stories on this site, This time i'm just going to say it. Our small school needs Bass Drum and Snare Drum Heads, and we can not afford it. At all. If anybody would be willing to donate 13" snare heads, and 18" 20" 22" and 24" Bass Heads, it would be awesome. My family is willing to pay the shipping, and maybe come to a deal past that. If anybody would be willing to donate any of this, it would be completely awesome!!! The snares have High Tension Hardware, and the Bass's already have Foam installed, although its not very nicely installed.

Like I said, it would be highly highly appriciated if any of this could be donated, or purchased cheaply. Beggers can't be choosers, so I really don't care what it is, but please no junk.

Thank you guys.

I don't what to sound rude but, how does a school not have a band budget that you can't afford heads? It's not you XB just I find it hard to believe that a band boosters club can't provide your line with new heads. Sounds like something.

I wish there're were some way I could help. Why can't your drumline raise money. I instructed and wrote for a line in the poorest county and school system in Alabama, they were able to raise money for themselves. Don't get me wrong, money is tight every where.

Sorry, I wish you luck, heck call around some music stores and tell them your situation. I've not ever seen a music store not what a chance at a high school account.

Call Evans and talk to them or Remo, ya never know till you try!?

Well our booster club started about 3 weeks ago, and I just happen to be the son of the President. With that being said, the booster club can't afford it yet. To save you the details, they just can't.

Our school has like no budget. I think 2 scores was all the dircetor could afford last year, besides 2 parades. And she is not willing to push for anything drumline. Her theroy is buy the drums, never touch them until the head is so broken it falls off, then put a pinstripe on it.

We are talking to some different music stores, trying to get a deal...none want to help.

Thanks

Brother I feel for you! Not much of a band director!!! I don't know where you are but any Krispy Kreme doughnuts has fundraising deals. I paid my way through DCI selling doughnuts. Just a thought. Hit up another high school for their old heads, but find one with a big budget. Then go to the drum section leader and tell him how hard and awful it is and what a drum hater your band director is, lay it on thick!

One more question, is it impossible for each drummer to buy their heads?

Let me guess, your BD is a wood weasel!!!

I worked at Pro-Mark for a period of time, and we usually cleaned out our extra stock from time to time, and anything that we employees didn't want, we donated to schools on tight/nonexistent budgets. It might be worth contacting Remo or Evans to see if they have similar habits.

Thank you Zach !

In the short term, scrounge for what you can. (Sorry, I don't have any heads in those sizes worth shipping.)

In the long term, this is why we fundraise. There are many bands who receive little or no money from their school district, so it's up to the boosters and band members to raise money to make things happen. It's a difficult and never-ending job raising money to keep a band equipped and on the road.

I talked to the Drum Guy (I Can't think of the proper term) from a much larger school today. I play guitar with him anyways, but he is going to do what he can for getting me some Second Hand heads, but that they will be here and there. The booster club is planning on doing some fundraisers effective very soon, and we have actually made a lot...well to me it seems like a lot. But I have to remember that there is other people in the Music department besides Drummers...unfortunately. :p

I will try and find a way to contact Pro-Mark, Evans, Companys and see if they can do anything for me. Could anybody tell me how i should present myself? Like as a FreshMen Drumline leader
from a tiny school, or not say anything like that and maybe imply...not lie...but imply that I'm more of an instructor.

My drummers are not in the finicial position to buy heads, let alone mallets hardly. And sorry for the stupidity, but what is a wood weasel???

Thank You,

Woodwind

Oh, I see. I may have to use that term, hope you don't mind...

Yes, as a matter of a fact, she is. Clairnet and Bassoon.

I thought wood weasels were marimba players! And they are part time players who may play other battery instruments but just show up for certain drum line features and play on mallet instruments(marimbas).

In answer to you question about how to present yourself, you should be totally honest. If you are the section leader, say so. In my opinion, it is bad practice to take advantage of someone's generosity by manipulating them into thinking what you think may produce more results.

If you are going to call, ask for someone in public relations, or promotional departments. You will need to speak to a manager, so be prepared to give the basic story at least twice.

If you are going to write a letter, make sure it is very well written and professional. Just because you are a high school student doesn't mean you need to write a formal letter like you would text your friends (not accusing, just warning). Spelling and grammar are important, so check it multiple times, have your parents check it, maybe even ask your English teacher.?

Regardless of your contact method, don't beg. You need to convey a genuine sense of need, but maintain pride and dignity. Begging is unlikely to produce results. People feel awkward when they are on the listening end of that.

Another thought, if one of your parents is the booster President, you may even consider having him/her draft the letter. Even if you are student leadership, you are a student; a staff member or booster leader will be much more likely to have success.

I wish you luck in getting heads.

Assuming you are successful, I would recommend using a relatively low tension on your high drums. The higher the pitch of a head, the shorter its life. If you tune low, you can raise the heads (very) slowly, and you will be able to get a longer life out of them.

Happy Drumming!

Well thank you for that, but I should have said this before you wrote all that. My dad wanted to send them the emails because he is able to talk on the phone better then i am. I suck at talking on the phone formally, but i get told i can right a letter really well when i try. I don't Know.

Anyways, he has sent a couple companys email, and so far nothing. But he just sent them yesterday evening. So i wasn't expecting them by now.

I will try and do that with the snares and bass. I kinda have to tune the quads high, so that the sound carries farther. The way our drumline is, quads really lead it all. But, I can afford $35-$40 in quad heads every year anyways. I will tune them lower, i like the lower basses anyways, and...well...i'm going to have to figure out how to tune a marching snare with a fiber head.