The Critics Have Spoken

Today I want to take a quick moment and talk about the Internet. Ever since the development of social media sites to include YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, etc. people have communicated online with reckless abandon. The concept of posting comments in a virtual setting using a pseudo-anonymous personality has opened the door to both positive and negative comments. In many cases critical analysis of one’s work is understandable, even welcomed. That said mean and hurtful comments also come with the territory. By “putting it out there” one has opened themselves up to an assessment. I have found that often a balance can exist between the constructive and destructive. I am experiencing this trend over on my YouTube channel. Folks either like or dislike my posts with no feelings in between.

Fortunately for every negative comment that is posted I usually receive a positive one. As a result I welcome these online reviews and the remarks they represent. Good or bad. There is an old saying that goes “you can’t please everybody all of the time.” This is true. These comments can only make me better as I strive to improve my playing as a drummer both on and offline. Instead of becoming discouraged I am encouraged. I recommend maintaining a confident attitude no matter what people think. Don’t let the negative vibes overcome the positive. We all play drums for a variety of reasons and our journey with the instrument takes us down many paths. Stay steadfast regardless of others reactions and you will move forward. Here is an example (*click image for full size):

The Lotus Jingle

Creative Percussion is the perfect name for a company that produces some of the most creative products in the drumming business. From ching-rings, and stacks, to hammered cymbals, shakers and bass drum beaters, there is a unique, hand-crafted product for everyone. You may remember we reviewed CP’s exceptional Twisted Hybrid Rods in a past post (Get Creative). CP was nice enough to send their Lotus Jingle for us to try out. The combination of this Hi Hat FX accessory consists of a Lotus Jingle, a Utility Clutch and a Rebound Clutch.

The first thing you notice about CP’s products is the craftsmanship. Everything is put together so well. Some of these contraptions are very strange but they are also user friendly. I appreciated the construction of the Lotus and the ease at which it was installed on my hi-hat stand. The product’s two clutches that are also included are a great addition. They do not to interfere with the vertical motion of the hi-hat. They really improved the spring’s rebound and it didn’t add much weight so the action of the pedal remained quite natural. You can adjust the space between the Rebound Clutch springs by moving the top spring higher or lower to achieve a faster or slower bounce.

Creative Percussion’s tagline says “Making our own sound in the drum world with products you never knew you were missing.” This is a true statement. I would have never looked at the Lotus Jingle but now that I have one I can see using it in a variety of situations. The sound it produces is a great addition that accentuates the hi-hat and really makes it stand out. All of CP’s products are American made and this makes me appreciate the company even more. CP’s website is extremely well done and does a great job of presenting their products. Stats for each item are posted.

If you are interested in unique, quality constructed products that can make your sound stand out, visit creativepercussion.net.