PASIC 2013 In Review

In November of 2013, more than 5,000 drummers and percussionists converged on Indianapolis for over 120 clinics and performances during the 2013 Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention. The exhibit hall was as noisy as ever, and there was plenty of established star power among clinicians, featuring heavy hitters like Chad Smith, Peter Erskine, and Dave Weckl. Perhaps more so than in previous years, the 2013 edition of PASIC also heavily showcased younger, up-and-coming artists, particularly in the symphonic world, and notably during the event’s opening concert, which, at times, seemed to drift into the unfamiliar terrain of theatrical performance art as much as standard rhythmic percussion playing.

Amid the barrage of prototypes, demos, and the latest percussive instruments, accessories, and literature on display at the International Drum & Percussion Expo, chatter around the exhibit hall voiced decidedly mixed opinions about the show’s turnout. Still, many exhibitors raved about sales, booth traffic, and overall interest.

“We’re having a great time,” said Ron Vaughn. “It’s a very busy show and we have a lot of new products that we’re excited about. We’re seeing many people, lots of players, great performances, and it’s an excellent show this year.”

“The show’s wonderful,” said Alliard’s David Cloud, who was manning a booth displaying a Canna Sonora, an instrument comprised of vertical resonant rods. “There’s been a lot of interest. We haven’t sold much, but that’s to be expected with a big instrument like this. It’s been a nice experience. People are enthused and interested in the instrument, so I’m really happy with everything.”

“This is my 38^th PASIC, and this is another great one,” said Meredith Music Publication’s Garwood Whaley [on the morning of the second day of the show]. “We had a very good day yesterday. It started off a little slow, but it really got moving towards the end of the day.”

Still, several other exhibitors questioned the level of excitement among attendees and bemoaned a perceived decrease in the number of booths.

“We had a slight drop in the number of exhibitors – actual booth count,” admits Matthew Althizer, the PAS marketing and communications director. “But that’s really because some companies decided to share booth space. It may look a little small but it’s really about the same number of exhibiting companies.”

Still, there’s plenty of reason for optimism going forward. “We’re looking at doing some new things in the exhibit hall in 2014,” says Althizer. “It will still be the same concept in terms of what the exhibit hall stands for, and what the manufacturers, retailers, and publishers will get out of it, but we’re excited for improvements that we think will make both the attendees and exhibitors even happier.”

And modest changes to the exhibit hall aren’t the only modifications in store. “Expect next year to be just as good, if not better,” Althizer affirms. “We have a new, young board and executive committee who are really chomping at the bit to do some amazing things. Exhibitors and manufacturers are all going to be thrilled with how PAS is going to progress in the future.”

The Percussive Arts Society’s museum, the Rhythm! Discovery Center, had on display a drum set exhibit that has deservedly earned PAS substantial notoriety, both locally and nationally. Kits by Glenn Kotche, Ndugu Chancler, John Bonham, and Neil Peart were just a few of the items showcasing the evolution of the drum set from the Civil War era up to today.

Over the course of the convention, a number of awards and honors were bestowed. Clifford Alexis, Harold Jones, Dr. Gary Olmstead, and Salvatore Rabbio were inducted into the 2013 class of the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame for their outstanding accomplishments and continued work in the percussion world. Ryan Lassiter was given the Outstanding PAS Service Award, while the Outstanding PAS Supporter Award went to Eric C. Hughes. Steve Weiss was honored with the PAS President’s Industry Award, and The PAS Illinois Chapter was recognized with the Outstanding PAS Chapter Award. The Percussive Art Society Lifetime Achievement Award in Education was given to Ruth Cahn for her contributions in the field of percussion education.