Team Building Drum Circles, Corporate, Conventions, & More


Corporate, Company, Small Business, & Group Team Building Drum Circles
By drumcircles.net in Pinellas County - Tampa Bay - Florida State

Drum circles are an excellent activity for any group, and for all ages. But especially as a tool for team building. 
Letting people express themselves through drumming and then seeing how that can build to a musical performance is at 
the heart of team effort. Learning to let go of self involvement in order to synchronize with others is the essence.
 
Not everyone can or will play the drums the same way, just as they don't do their jobs exactly the same way. And those 
slight differences, if done from each person's strengths, are what make the musical result magical. People learn that 
playing/working together is something that is its own reward because the results are beyond what any individual can do.

Drum circles can be extremely effective for companies that want to enhance the generation of new ideas and better team 
work. When people discover that they can collectively produce a good sound without any musical training or background, 
they start to realize that they can be more effective at work by putting their heads together and working as a team. 

Also, drumming uses the brain in a different pattern than the linear thought process that is usually needed in the work 
environment. For example, when suggesting a drum circle rhythm, I like to vocalize the first few measures before 
we play it. The logical analytical side of the brain can process it quicker, which then frees up the 
creative intuitive side. People can then play what they feel, rather than over thinking it. 
ie: The Heartbeat drum rhythm: Boom Boom chicka-chicka Boom Boom (pause, & repeat)

A drum circle brings the group to a more open mental and psychological process, which can be carried over 
to the production of new and better ways of working. An excellent tool to kick off any kind of brainstorming session 
and optimize the quantity and quality of new ideas. In other words, your team improvises and is more creative. 

Many companies and small businesses are having to cut back on expenses. While I would be happy to come over and 
facilitate a team building drum circle for you, I understand that times have changed. Perhaps it might make more 
sense to just buy some drums, and have your own team building drum circles from time to time. It is a great way 
for employees to connect on an even plane, thereby increasing productivity, and harmony. I'm happy to answer 
any questions you might have about doing it. Explore the possibilities, by reading a few posts on my blog:

Drum Circle World Blog at blogspot.com




I’ve worked for, and talked with a lot of businesses and corporations about using drum circles to improve the performance 
and productivity of their employees. This is not as crazy as it might sound. I mentioned that It is currently being used 
extensively in large corporations and I believe that it can be just as effective in smaller companies. A small investment 
of time and money can reap benefits that will improve your company’s effectiveness for a very long time. This is where 
many of the drum circle facilitators make the big bucks. The proof that a drum circle is effective is right there.

And as a drum circle facilitator, I would work with you to define your objectives and construct an approach that fits 
your particular environment. I typically work with 5 to 80 people at a time. I provide all of the instruments and I can 
also help to coordinate the event itself. Everyone is free to participate, or just sit back and anticipate the results. 

A corporate drum circle at the Hyatt Hotel prior to the start. (The calm before the brain storm.)



Team Building With A Drum Circle?

Team building through the interactive process of a drum circle is a relatively new approach to employee productivity that is becoming 
increasingly popular throughout the United States. Successful corporations know that good team building improves the success 
rate, not only of the team, but of the corporation. But, knowing how to create truly effective teams is a distinct set of 
skills that is rarely taught to the employees who would be in a position to implement them. 
There are two obstacles to team building in the corporate environment. 

Unlike sports, where it is known that the team has to work together, corporations are often highly competitive environments. 
And, people who view their co-workers primarily as competitors, are unlikely to interact in a constructive team setting. 

In addition, employees are accustomed to passively accept the work assigned to them by their bosses and work primarily 
towards doing only those specific tasks that they believe will please their boss. 

Building a successful team requires a significant shift in these two patterns of interaction. A good team's members 
will help one another overcome obstacles and improvise new and better ways of accomplishing all of the goals that the 
team faces, rather than individual tasks. This makes the entire team more productive. Plus, as humans are social by 
nature, this interaction makes the work place more enjoyable. And people who enjoy their work place are more productive.

Drum circles are a highly effective way of introducing the revised shift in attitudes necessary for building teams. 
While an individual can beat on a drum and produce a rhythm, it only becomes true music when a group of people play 
together. A drum circle facilitator teaches the basics of drumming, then guides the group into creating a musical 
experience. The type of facilitation used can be a major factor. A too highly structured drum circle can emphasize 
the mindset of only just following instructions. The ideal type of facilitation to kick start or improve team building 
is one in which the participants are encouraged to improvise within the rhythm structure provided by the facilitator. 
It is a direct parallel to the team improvising solutions to the group of tasks that the team needs to accomplish.

Drumming immediately reduces stress and breaks down barriers between the participants. The process then brings the 
group back together in a nonverbal form of team interaction. The group learns how to listen to what is going on and 
respond to it in a way that adds to the total product. Once people do this in a setting that is fun, they can then 
carry it back to their regular work tasks, resulting in better communications and increased effectiveness. 

For many years, companies have strived to implement the concepts of empowering employees to find and implement better 
ways of accomplishing work processes. Deming, one of the world’s foremost authorities on Quality Assurance and employee 
productivity, was also one of the first to recognize the fact that it is the employee working at the lowest level who 
knows the most about how to improve the flow of work. The stumbling block has always been how to convince workers to 
speak up and propose the changes and then find ways to make those changes happen to achieve optimal results. 
Drum circles provide a unique and highly effective solution to this quandary. 

Drumming has been around for thousands of years. Virtually every culture on earth has a history of community drumming 
being used to unify the group. Different cultures produced different instruments and rhythms. Your company is a microcosm 
culture that can use the same approach to unify the group & improve their interactions, resulting in improved productivity.

As the facilitator, my job is to provide the instruments and guide the participants through the process. I do not tell 
them what to do, but give them the tools to figure out what their group song is. This is a surprisingly powerful tool. 
I start by letting them just beat on the drums to get a feel for the physical motion involved and to release any tensions. 
Then, I start showing them a series of basic rhythms and, once they get those, show them how to feel the rhythm and add 
their individual flavor to it. The sound moves around as different people will dominate a pattern and affect it. Then, 
I introduce a new beat and someone else ends up taking the lead, and away we go team building, while having a good time. 

Trying to encourage employees to think outside the box and find better ways of working is a highly worthwhile goal. 
Drum circles show them how to do this in a context that removes their normal ideas of constraints. It gives a simple 
joint goal to the group, then fosters a creative and spontaneous accomplishment of that goal. It enhances the ability 
of the members to function together at their best by providing a path that is relaxing, invigorating, and just plain 
fun. And, people who enjoy working together are consistently more productive. The stress reduction of the drum circle 
can also significantly reduce absenteeism. Many large corporations are now using drum circles on a regular basis.
 
I provide a safety net by being constantly tuned in to the group and the individuals, so they can have a good time. 
As I mentioned on the facilitation page, helping people to find their own inner sense of rhythm takes very little 
guidance and can be done spontaneously in the middle of an ongoing rhythmic drum beat. Natural rhythm flows within 
all of us. Our hearts beat to a rhythm, we walk to a rhythm, many aspects of our daily lives are done to a rhythm. 
Whenever we hear drumming, we begin to move to the universal rhythm inside us all. The drum connects your heart to 
your hands. We start out a beat, we just follow the beat, and all of a sudden we are improvising, experiencing and 
talking with our drums. You are the instrument, the drum becomes your voice. Drumming conversations begin to emerge 
as people become connected beyond the music being played. They are finding their inner natural rhythm.

Please email me with any questions about rates or availability. We can tailor a custom program to meet your vision. 

If it's for a special opening...



Maybe a simple brain storming session on the beach...



Or at a convention, company luncheon, or business meeting...



My rates are reasonable, and competitive. If you expect to have more than 50 people drumming at any one time, 
I can suggest other facilitators. I respect your privacy, and never share email addresses with anyone.

THE FOLLOWING IS IF NEEDED AS RESPONSE TO AN INQUIRY:

I have four rates, all of which include everything including one hour's travel time.

- NonProfit - schools, scouts, churches, groups, etc.
- Private Parties - Private events such as weddings, birthdays, reunions, etc.
- Comm/Corp/Business - Commercial, corporate, small business, or funded.
- Performance Gigs - Bands, singer/songwriter backup, studio recordings, solo percussion, yoga, etc.

For more information - Email me at drumcircles_net(at)hotmail.com



My Biography

I have been a performing artist for most of my life. I've been playing the drums since 1968. My love for drumming 
started as an outlet for childhood hyperactivity, and I went on to be the lead snare drummer in the school 
marching band, then the percussionist in a symphony. 

After moving to Florida in 1975, I played percussion in various bands and orchestras, 
toured and recorded with a number of them, plus worked as a session musician. 

I also started my acting career while in Florida. I moved to New York briefly, then on to Los Angeles, where, 
for 15 years, I worked as a musician, and a character actor. I appeared in a number of TV shows, films, and 
commercials. I was also a frequent guest performer on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" for 8 seasons. 
I'm a member of AFTRA/SAG, the two major performing arts unions. 

I've been attending and facilitating drum circles for over 30 years. I think it helps to keep me sane. I've facilitated 
drumming events for the U.S. ARMY Chief Of Chaplains Religious Education Conference, Jazz Festivals, County State Fairs, 
The Florida Festivals & Events Association's Convention Trade Show, as well as many other major groups and companies, 
including OSI Restaurant Partners, Outback, on over to smaller groups, such as churches, college sorority reunions, 
weddings, and special needs groups. I was also a faculty member, and taught drumming at The Dunedin Fine Arts Center.

I have trained with a number of highly respected hand drumming instructors. My drum circle hosting, and facilitation 
style is influenced by what I've learned from various top rated drum circle facilitators, including Christine Stevens, 
Kalani, Jim Greiner, Arthur Hull, Jim Donovan, and Babatunde Olatunji. But mostly by just attending lots of drum 
circles, learning by doing, watching and working with the pros. My mission statement is: 
To help people discover their own sense of rhythm, at their own pace.

I've got some ink in my blood. Both my adopted, and biological parents were writers, so it was important to me to write 
a good book in their honor. I have published two books that are available on Kindle. One is on drumming, and drum circles. 
The other book is about the acting business. I'm also a contributing author in a few other books, and various newspapers. 
I've released a hand drumming instructional DVD, and multiple CD's worldwide. 

The title of the drumming book is, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles". It's 300 pages of text, 
retails for $17.95 (physical copies) and on Kindle instantly for $8. It is self-published, 
and only available for purchase directly from me.

Many musicians and other artists cross over into the acting business, like I did. If the acting field is something you 
might be interested in, please check out my other book, "An Actor's Face, Audition, Casting Advice, And Anecdotes 
From A Working Actor". It's 240 pages, and priced right, at $5 on Kindle. (Amazon.com electronic book reader.)



My website started as a drum circle article back in 1997 in the Santa Monica Outlook, LA Times, and just grew up from 
there. Scope out my site's global drum circle finder, and locate drum circles near you. Even just as an observer, it 
is an interesting social activity. Please also consider my 2 hour DVD "101 Drum Circle Rhythms" ($16 on Amazon). 
Thanks in advance for considering my books / DVD / CD's, and for helping to support an independent artist.

Shannon Ratigan

Website Copyright © 2003 - 2012 drumcircles.net



For much more in depth information on drum circles, please consider picking up my book.
300 pages, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" + Free Drum Circle Jam CD for $18.



 A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles Book Link








Here's a short outline Of The Benefits of Drum Circles

It uplifts the spirits of all the participants, & Unity is achieved through diversity.
It invigorates the body and mind. Enhances focus and clarity.
It builds group cooperation skills and camaraderie.
It’s proven to reduce stress, and it’s cheaper than therapy.
It reduces employee routine and burnout in the workplace. 
It improves motor skills, and it’s a positive musical experience.
It's an opportunity for self expression, and increased listening skills.
It stimulates creativity, experimentation, and self confidence.
It breaks down communication barriers, and celebrates the joy of life.
It’s empowering, healthy, and most of all it’s Fun!

Scientific research is now validating the health benefits experienced by drumming. Across the nation, 
organizations are bringing together people of diverse ages, cultures, and even work teams through the 
community building of a drum circle. Some of these articles can be read on my home page: drumcircles.net
A life is not measured by what we have, but what we have given.



Locate a drum circle near you with my drum circle finder. A free service to the drumming and dancing community. 
It was established in 1999, back in the days of the free websites, Lycos, Geocities, Webtv, etc. Thanks kindly 
for the help, and support from everyone. 1000's of drum circles listed now, there is probably quite a few 
in your state. This locator is updated monthly. Here's the page link:


USA Drum Circle Finder Link



Read about Drum circles and myself in the news - at TBO.com (click below)
(Please note, this link redirects you to the Tampa Bay Online website)
 Drumming with Drumcircles.net