Tell A Story With A Snare
We’ve all been there before. Your favorite band is playing on stage right in front of your eyes. Thousands of people, united by a common love for an artist and their music, are surrounding you. The music takes you to a different world and the set design makes you feel far from home.
Concerts create an unforgettable moment in time, and it’s the combination of many elements – the artist, music, the set design, and the environment – that all come together to truly make an event into a work of art and an unmatched experience.
It’s not only about what you hear at concerts, anymore; it’s also about what you see. Commonly, drum shells and other instruments can be personalized to aid in transforming the stage and backline into a visually stimulating experience.
We took a look at some of our favorite snare drum designs and highlighted a few key components that positively infuse art and life into the instruments on stage:
1. Make it personal. Although we live in a digital age and so much can be done with graphic design on a computer, sometimes it’s best to try your hand at creating art and using sketches hand-drawn designs that only you can create.
2. Translate your music into the design. Mellow, relaxing music? Maybe use some warm colors that blend together. Hard rock? Paint some bold colors with jagged edges. The music can set the mood, while the visuals can set the tone.
3. Use abstract designs. Translucent and transparent material can bend the audience’s’ mind and compliment the spotlights and flood lighting on the stage. With abstract designs, the audience can be mesmerized by an illusion while being entranced by the music.
4. Tell a story. The designs on the instruments can extend the meaning behind the music and continue to share the artists’ vision with the audience. By using album art or graphics that correspond with some of the musicians’ songs, the story behind the song is shared not only through music, but visually as well.
Since those aren’t the only factors that make for a great drum shell design, we’re curious to know what you think! Submit your own design in our “Style Your Shell” contest for the chance to win your own personalized snare drum that will be showcased on our stage at our Labor Day Festival.
We look forward to reviewing your submissions and seeing you in the Arena District on September 5 + 6, 2015!
