Hire Me. I'm A Trained Professional.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. But seriously, I believe a good sense of humor plays a big
role in team building. This photo of me is from one of the zanier commercials I did many
years ago. (well...not That many) Please read a little of what I have to say about real
team building. Even if you don't hire me, it may still be helpful to you. Thanks.
Corporate Company & Small Business Team Building Drum Circles
Pinellas County - Tampa Bay - Florida State
Drum circles can be extremely effective for corporations, companies, and small businesses 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. A drum circle brings the group to a more open mental
& 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 brain storming session and optimize the quantity and quality of new ideas. It works well.
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.
And as a drum circle facilitator, I would work with them to define their objectives and construct an approach that fits
their 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. (Have to respect their privacy)
Team Building With A Company Drum Circle?
Team building through the interactive process of a drum circle is a 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 coworkers 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 another beat and someone else ends up taking the lead, and away we go team building while having fun.
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.
Copyright SL Ratigan 2003 - 2008
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...
(I am very flexible, and I charge a lot less than most of the rest.)
I work primarily in the Tampa Bay area, but I do work throughout the State of Florida.
References, and letters of recommendation upon request. Thanks
My drum circle facilitation style has been influenced by what I've learned from various top rated drum circle
facilitators, including Christine Stevens, Kalani, Arthur Hull, Jim Donovan, and Babatunde Olatunji. But more
so, by over 30 years of just attending and hosting drum circles. By seeing what works, and what does not, in
order to create a fun and magical atmosphere that encourages creative expression, and productivity.
A Short Outline Of The Benefits of a Drum Circle
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
Drum Circle Advice
If you live out of the Florida area, and need some advice, suggestions, ideas, or anything at all about hosting
any form of drum circle, I am more than happy to try and help you along. Even if you arn't sure what kind of drum
might be right for you, or your group, just email me and I will try to help you out. I don't actually sell drums,
but I do have years of experience with most major brands, styles, and retailers. I can recommend the places to you
I buy mine from. If you are wanting to host or facilitate drum circles, this art form has evolved a lot in the last
10 years alone. Art can be very subjective. There used to be only one or two widely accepted ways to facilitate drum
circles. Now there are dozens of styles all around the country, and the world. (Some of them are mentioned above.)
Even at age 50, I am always looking for new innovative ideas and ways to work with various different groups.
Think of it like the way martial arts has evolved. It used to be if you were proficient at Judo, Karate, wrestling,
or some other disipline, just being an expert at one style left most at a disadvantage. The ones who are the most
well rounded in all the different styles do the best now in mixed martial arts. And drum circle facilitation is similar
in this way. We have all these different cultures that each have their own style of drumming, and ways of group drumming.
So in my opinion, the way to become the best, is to try and learn from as many facilitators as possible. (Not just one)
And also learn as many cultural styles as possible, so you can be more well rounded in your skills, and work with any
group under any circumstances. Try to study, or study with as many professionals as you can. The learning process should
never end, because we are in an ever evolving field. Your style that you develop can be uniquly yours, a combination of
the best of all of them. It takes a lot of work to be a good facilitator that understands group dynamics, and musicality.
My Review Of "The Visitor" - A Movie With Drum Circles & Hand Drumming in it.
(And photos of the drum circle held the opening night of the film.)
There is a new movie out called, "The Visitor". I think it's helping to bring drum circles more
and more into the mainstream. In the film, it showed how drum circles can help to bring people
from different cultures together. And how hand drumming can help you to be a better person.
It also addressed some important immigration issues. Anyway, here's my review of the film from
a drum circle lover's perspective, also a review of the drum circle just before the opening.
The Visitor Film Review
This link will redirect you to the official "The Visitor" film website where you can view a short video
and more. Or just do a search on The Visitor Film and it will come up.
The Visitor Film Official Website
Read about Drum circles and myself in the news - TBO.com (click below)
(Please note, this link redirects you to the Tampa Bay Online website)
Drumming with Drumcircles.net
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