Scott Mercado of Sky Cries Mary/Candlebox, Elvis, Derek Roddy, and Tony Coleman
We did not break our Guinness record and we didn't raise a lot of money for hearing regeneration, but boy did we throw a party. We were afraid that metropolitan drummers might not make the trip to Puyallup. Some did and some didn't, but those that did had a great time and many mentioned that theywill return with their friends next year. We had participants come from as far away as Florida. Unfortunately, the Nigerian drummer who has been trying to attend for years, still did not make it to America. We were pulling for him.
Take a look at our gallery of Woodstick 2007 as well as our Elvis photographs. Even celebrities want to be photographed with Elvis and our Gallery of Woodstick Photographs from Participants.
The ShowPlex facility was fantastic. Unloading and loading was extremely easy. We only used one roll-up door for drummers and their vehicles, while the other one was used for tradeshow people. Loading was a snap. There were six doors we could have used for complete access.
The Puyallup Fire Department was a joy to work with. The ladies at the counter were both helpful and friendly. The fire marshal made his inspection so quickly, I never even knew he was there on Saturday. This was a complete turn-around from Seattle and Quest Field in 2006.
The people at the Western Washington Fairgrounds were professional and extremely easy to work with. They helped out and made suggestions and just generally made life easier at the event.
The last three days were a flurry of media coverage. Chris and Donn with a pack of drummers were on KGNW, KZOK, KMPS recording segments. Tim Robinson from King5 recorded three segments at Donn Bennett Studios for Morning Edition and news programs throughout the day. Jessica Corey-Butler’s article about Woodstick in the Weekly Volcano made the cover of the newspaper on Thursday.
Blue Thunder performing and entertaining
The three pre-events were absolutely wonderful. People crowded forward to watch and listen to the South Sound Warriors, Pacific Alliance, and Blue Thunder. During the performance by the South Sound Warriors I watched a lady from one of the concession stands as she moved to the beat with her hands wide open in a typical native American dance gesture. She smiled afterwards and told me, “I’m one of their teachers at Chief Leschi.” I met her earlier as I bought my burger.
The Army Band from Ft. Lewis was wonderful. What a way to start off the main event. They looked so serious and people really enjoyed their version of our national anthem. After watching the antics of Pacific Alliance and Blue Thunder I whispered to the soldiers as they marched past me to play, “We want you to dance, too.” They didn’t crack a smile of course, but I could see the twinkle in their eyes.
Our conductors Deb Kovach (Bellarmine Prep) and Christophe Chagnard (Northwest Sinfonietta) had a ball. Between them they worked out how to best conduct the drummers from the stage and half-way down the floor.
The News Tribune article on Sunday printed a picture of Christophe and their website had a slide show featuring audio of Deb giving instructions to the drummers. Both conductors afterwards told me how much they enjoyed attending. Christophe was a little concerned about conducting drummers rather than a full orchestra, but he soon got the hang of it.
I missed the inspirational award. Donn Bennett presented Forest Whitacre with a snare drum autographed by his heroes. The presentation ended with Alan White's band White performing Imagine. I did see Forest later smiling and holding onto his treasured and autographed drum.
I can hardly wait to see both the Woodstick video produced by Don Burkheimer from Celebrations from the Heart as well as the Comcast on-demand video produced by Charles Dallum with his on-screen hosts Rick Oldenburg and KK Ryder.
After the event, Chris DeLisa, the Woodstick Sabian rep, took Dr. Ed Rubel aside to talk about hearing loss. I could hear Chris say, “I’m a professional drummer.” Ed joined me after the conversation with a huge smile on his face he said, “This is the definitely the right group.” Later he wrote me, “Lets keep young drummers hearing and lets allow drummers around the world to drum for a cure for hearing loss.” Dr. Rubel is the person who discoverd that birds regenerate hair cells in the inner ear. His thought, "If birds can do, why can't we." His team of scientists share information and continually work on the possibilities of hearing regeneration for humans.
The tradeshow booths seemed to work well thanks to Nan Peele and my sister Marsha Doman. We can expand this for next year. We made a small profit and people busily visited each booth from Fusion Massage to the Drum Exchange.
Drummer Murray Greenwood walked by the raffle booth and finally gave in as his son begged for a raffle ticket just for the possibility of going to Tahiti. It was a good thing Murray listened to his son. He won the trip. The Greenwoods have two young sons and will have a great time in Tahiti. I asked them to send us photographs. Meanwhile, Bob and Mary Hammar who donated their home in Tahiti for two weeks sold raffle tickets to friends and relatives to raise money for hearing regeneration. Their daughter Taryn Oestreich from Bellevue won third prize: a guitar autographed by country western stars Toby Keith, Trisha Yearwood, Chris LeDoux and others. She was thrilled. She listens to country music and even plays the guitar. She had a tear in her eye the morning I called to tell her . . . but of course if she was really a country fan it would have been a tear in her beer.
We had volunteers all over the place. One student from Bethel helped out wherever he was needed from directing traffic to setting up. It was nice seeing research scientists from the University of Washington selling raffle tickets and wearing a Woodstick “I’m a drumhead” hats. I had to laugh when Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh, PhD put on a Woodstick Staff tee-shirt and it hung down past her knees. We had volunteers from the Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, The Tacoma Exchange Club, Clover Park Rotary, the Rotary Club of Tacoma #8, Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration, craigslist, and past Woodstick participants, and helpers as well as relatives and committee members.
George Jetson playing on Ruston Way raising pledges and taking donations
I was overjoyed to see George Jetson win the prize for collecting the most money in pledges. He raised $3700 and won a drum set worth nearly $4500. I met George on Ruston Way along the Tacoma waterfront over the summer as he played from his trailer with Woodstick signs all over it. He performed at my TACID (Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities – www.tacid.org) fundraiser in September. The theme was Imagine and George accompanied ten different versions of the song on his drum set as people came into the Tacoma Sheraton Ballroom for breakfast. He made the morning really special. Now, that Woodstick 2007 is complete, he will start collecting pledges for 2008.
Steve Boultbee of Drummertalk (www.drummertalk.org) had this to say about Woodstick, “ . . . I wanted to let you know there was a nice plug for Woodstick on Friday's show. We managed to get a couple of interviews before we had to sit down and play. When we "air" the interviews we will identify them as being from Woodstick so there will be visibility of your event throughout our broadcast year. We had a blast and wanted to thank you for allowing us access to the green room. We are already planning to be there again next year.”
Woodstick committee stalwart and member of Rotarians for Hearing Regeneration Brian Knutson decided at the last committee meeting that he too would play at Woodstick. He took one private lesson from Chris Kimball and learned about the bass pedal, the high-hat and how to use the snare and tom tom, "What? I have to do three things at once?"
Platinum Package purchaser Lester DeSouza had this to say about Woodstick, “The show was just great!! I had a blast. It was well worth a trip for me.” Lester flew here from Connecticut. He stayed with a childhood friend in Federal Way. They both grew up in India and then came to America. They had not seen each other in almost thirty years. Drumming brings people together.
Chip Norris from Port Angeles said, “I was going to surprise everyone by bringing Pete DePoe of Redbone with me, but he couldn’t make it at the last minute.” Chip promised to bring more friends next year.
Tireless volunteer Laura Able wrote, “I just wanted to touch base with you and let you know what a great time I had on Saturday! It truly was a blast.”
John DeCremer brought his two sons to help set-up and worked both Friday and Saturday. Their pay? Our warm regards. His thoughts? “We had a great time. It would have been good to beat last year's record, however I thought this year was a lot of fun. I look forward to hearing from you when the meetings start up for the next great event. I'll be happy to service any way I can.”
I joked and laughed with founder Chris Kimball about the solos from all the celebrity drummers. Chris played last and I asked him, “What was going through your mind as each celebrity played a fantastic solo leading up to you?” Chuckling, Chris said, “I always play first, I always play first.” I told him, “You did a great job . . . for a financial planner.” Then we both bent over laughing. Actually Chris did play well and held his own. I was proud to know both Chris and Donn (who played in the middle of the solos).
Drumming god Carmine Appice asked if I was in the travel business since the Emerald Queen Hotel & Casino was one of our sponsors. He liked one of their showrooms. He thought it might do well for one of his drumming classes.
Packing up her yellow Mini-Cooper was Donna Renae who drove by herself all the way from Coos Bay, Oregon. Yes, her entire drum set fit into small car. She asked me to stop by and talk to her. She requested a certificate to commemorate the largest group of drummers playing Louie, Louie. Donna had just read the book 101 Things to Do Before You Die. One of the items was to play in a rock and roll band. She is crossing that off her list, now.
One of my fondest memories at Woodstick: My son Del had our celebrities sign two Woodstick caps: one for him, and one for me. Then he gathered Alan White and Carmine Appice for photographs with me as I was on my cell phone listening to a vendor chew me out because I didn’t have a check ready for him. I put my hand down with the cell phone just in time for the photograph.
The look on Alan’s face was priceless. He had to be thinking, “What kind of idiot is this?” In the photograph note the cell phone held in my right hand.
A school teacher friend of committee member Fred Frohmader, brought along an autistic child who plays the drums. He sat down at Fred’s kit and played along with the Wailers changing his beat according to the music. Fred’s friend asked why Fred was not playing since he had paid to attend. Fred looked at the little kid playing the drum kit and said, “I’m getting paid back right now.”
The day after Woodstick it was nice just to stay in bed and then snuggle down on the couch reading the great article about Woodstick by Debbie Abe in The News Tribune.
Deb Kovach explaining about her gloves and conducting
Deb Kovach our conductor from Bellarmine sent an email confessing, “ . . . I LOVED the cause, and I wish Woodstick and Dr. Ruble continued success in their ongoing efforts . . . Again, thanks for the invitation. The celebs were truly inspiring, as were the little teeny guys. I have never worked with a nicer bunch of folks.”
Don Doman
Woodstick 2007 Chairman
Check Out Our Photographs of Woodstick
Be sure to check out our Photographs with Elvis, our Gallery of Woodstick Photographs, and our Gallery of Woodstick Photographs From Participants.
Woodstick 2007
P.O. Box 881037
Steilacoom, WA 98388
(253) 759-6639
info@woodstick2007.com
