How did you get your equipment. I am trying to start up a new Independent A line and for the most part, have found schools in the area to be pretty difficult to deal with. I can get a batterie, but I have to keep it in the school district which is kind of special if the school district isn't interested in hosting the line and getting a pit is for all purposes, impossible. So I'm curious, how many independent lines piggyback off of schools and how many actually worked to get an endorsement or bought their own drums. If you wouldn't mind, would you share how you did any of these things?
Just an idea, but my state has several music grants that can help. Check into it you might luck up. Hit me with your phone number and I will explained what little I know.
There can be a LOT of red tape when dealing with schools.
If a school's booster organization owns equipment, they can loan or sell it at their discretion. Of course, you may need to make it worth their while. Most sane people won't let another group put wear and tear on their valuable instruments without getting some kind of consideration in return.
If equipment is district-owned, band directors' hands might be tied by regulations that prevent or limit using taxpayer-purchased equipment by private groups. These kinds of policies keep a school administrator from doing something like using school funds to buy football equipment for use by his son's Pop Warner team.
But acquiring equipment ISN'T step one of starting a winter drumline. Get the organizational and financial stuff taken care of, which could include incorporating as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. With this official status, donations to your group become tax-deductible. Many companies or organizations that could potentially offer donations won't do it unless you're incorporated so they can state it on their tax paperwork.
There can be a LOT of red tape when dealing with schools.
If a school's booster organization owns equipment, they can loan or sell it at their discretion. Of course, you may need to make it worth their while. Most sane people won't let another group put wear and tear on their valuable instruments without getting some kind of consideration in return.
If equipment is district-owned, band directors' hands might be tied by regulations that prevent or limit using taxpayer-purchased equipment by private groups. These kinds of policies keep a school administrator from doing something like using school funds to buy football equipment for use by his son's Pop Warner team.
But acquiring equipment ISN'T step one of starting a winter drumline. Get the organizational and financial stuff taken care of, which could include incorporating as a 501(c)3 charitable organization. With this official status, donations to your group become tax-deductible. Many companies or organizations that could potentially offer donations won't do it unless you're incorporated so they can state it on their tax paperwork.
I've found that red tape quite a bit recently. Everyone wants their kids involved, but no one wants to offer up drums. I've wrangled a batterie, but I have to keep it in the district that owns the drums and I cannot get a pit at all. It's very frustrating.
As far as the order of things to take care of. Ben there, done that. I am currently seeking housing (which I believe of 5 minutes ago, I have received) and equipment. I don't know what I am going to do as far as pit. The area I am in has no competitive schools so pit equipment is very meager and the groups that have anything obviously needs that for concert band. It is looking more and more like I will need an endorsement to get this group off the ground.
You are not likely to get an endorsement by any major company except for maybe sticks. Everyone has dreams of starting there own group but in reality it takes a lot of money and a lot of time to start a group. The major companies, even when they do give endorsements, are not giving away equipment. In fact, most of the companies have really really tightened up on how much they give away. If you are lucky enough to get a deal going, they will want you to buy something and that is usually pit equipment. Companies are more likely to give you a battery after you buy a full pit. Your best bet is to do what SkyDog said and get established as a 501(c)3 but even those loops in our state are a pain. You are going to need around a $1000.00 to get everything off the ground and that will cover all of the fees and basic stuff to get started. Before you incorporate, you need to have a business plan and all that set up because you will have to put all of that on the Michigan paperwork. Good luck to you though.
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Registered: 06/16/11
Loc: Sheboygan, WI
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My son’s school runs drumline as a sub group of the band. The drumline got little to no support from the school because of budget cuts. As a parent I stepped up and got a local company to purchase “new” equipment for the drumline. Then we hooked up with a music store that supplied and sponsored a large drumline for a NBA team. We ended up purchasing all of our equipment from them after they finished up their commitments for the year. With a lot of NFL and NBA teams having sponsored drumlins I would recommend looking into who sponsors them and see if you can purchase their equipment at a reduced price. My advice would be to find a parent that believes in your line and is willing to put some work into it. I spent about 4 months figuring it out for my kid’s drumline.
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