I think this is a good problem to have. What’s the problem? One where there’s so much interactive drumming happening through so many drum circle service providers that one may not fully understand the difference between interactive drum circles, drum circle team building activities, and percussion ensemble performances (bands). How does this problem come about? I think this is because of both the overzealous drum circle service providers (who want the business at any and all costs) and also ignorant customers who only chase after the best (read: cheapest) deal.

Interactive drum circles could (ideally) look like a closed circle (ish) setup of one or more concentric circles, or when this is not possible, we usually work with the setup of the audience already (which is usually a theatre-style or a cluster-style seating). This brings the question: what is not possible? When one is invested in the best possible experience for the group, then anything can be made possible and it doesn’t always mean it is going to cost more. Yes, it will take more time, effort and energy to modify the setup, hire another space or make more time for Corporate drum circles and drum circle team building activities to truly shine through. But do we have this time? That is something for the customers to mull over and for the drum circle service providers to emphasise as much as possible.

Else it becomes more of a percussion ensemble performance  a band, a djembe workshop, a drum jam of sorts  where we quite often force-feed the audience with some learning jargon, and many times even that is not there. Is it not then just a recreational group drumming activity? Also, let me make this disclaimer: I have nothing against any form of interactive drumming. I am very happy to be at this stage where we have so many applications of this simple group drumming session that we can now debate and nitpick on how to make it better, bigger and go deeper into truly delivering this high-stake potential that we are advertising (read: drum circle team building activities). This way, we will ensure a long and prosperous future for the field of using drumming & arts for health and wellbeing, whether in community spaces or in more structured percussion performances.

We’re still predominantly in the era where we are drumming with large groups of people over a short 45-60 minute time frame and delivering our behavioural objectives to varied levels of intensity. As a call out to all facilitators, let’s try to focus more on the latter? I know that it will help and in the least, it will spark a new feeling for you, a new discussion that you can have with the group as a part of your debrief session. If you are unsure as to how to go about this, then write to us and we will direct you to our drum circle facilitator training course that happens annually. You will not regret this. It is an intensive week-long course where you can learn, unlearn and re-learn a lot of concepts that you will immediately apply in the field of drum circles with a wide range of groups. 

As for companies; what can you do? You could talk to those with the authority to make these decisions to invest more time, effort and energy into understanding the value proposition of what the drum circle service provider is offering. This in itself will help you accommodate something extra this time around when you organise drum circle team building activities. Otherwise, it simply turns into another djembe jam, missing the deeper experience and potential impact these sessions can truly create.

Here’s a video of me leading an interactive corporate drumming session where my focus was to simply equip the group to be independently drumming by themselves… Let me know what you think about this. Sessions like these often show the true essence of drum circle team building activities, where the goal is not performance but participation. It also highlights how effective well-designed drumming workshops can be in empowering groups to take charge of their own rhythm….

https://youtube.com/shorts/JZ_ArsjJzFg?si=wDksMjw6ozF-F6Ex

What’s your reason to drum?
Come. Drum. Be One. 
Varun Venkit
Taal Inc.