How many singers do you need for a full crew...

**kiyaanii mom** · 10-27-2005, 02:01 PM

If your drum group was asked to be host drum how many singers would be a good number for a contract?

8, 10, or 12

If someone doesn't show up with a full crew (per the contract - $4000) what would be a fair penalty?

Less $500 per missing singer?
Less $200 per missing singer?

yngkbrd · 10-28-2005, 10:48 AM

It really don't even matter as long as the drum sounds good, some drums sound just as good with 3 or 4 singers as a group that as 8 or 9 singers as for the contract goes it shouldn't say how many singers you should have they are asking for the drum to be their, Bring who you can bring and I think that should be good enough, If not their is always alot of dancers that travel around looking for some one to sing with. My 2 cents Miigwech

**injunboy** · 10-28-2005, 11:37 AM

are two well known singers enough to cover $4000. haha, the answer was no. i jusst have this bad thing for MNX now..

**kneegrow_native** · 10-28-2005, 12:12 PM

I worked on one committee where the chairman asked the host drum to submit a roster of who they will be bringing to make sure that they weren't going to show up with 2 guys and pick up nothing but locals.

**rkbtmeyb** · 10-28-2005, 04:32 PM

One for each direction!

**billyjoejimbob** · 10-28-2005, 05:42 PM

Ive heard some kickazz 4 person drums. But you really need more so you dont get burnt.

I sang with 3 other guys once, we all took a drink at the same time. Talk about luck.

**kiyaanii mom** · 10-31-2005, 03:51 PM

Thanks everyone for your input....

Last year our committee got burned by one of our host drums. They only brought 2 singers and picked up 3 locals. Of course, they were hurting all weekend. Every time we talked to the lead singer he said he was bringing 12 guys. We paid for a top notch drum groups and got stiffed. So now it looks like our committee needs a contract.

It seems that at least 6 singers need to be from the host drum group, then they can pick up a few locals. 8 singers should be the minimum.

How does that sound?

opwaaganasin · 10-31-2005, 09:13 PM

when you contract a host, pay em the big bucks, they better come correct. are you talking about the navajo nation fair? some guy asked one of our doods if we would host there in 2006. just curious to know?

Pushtay Hill · 04-10-2006, 05:42 PM

I think if a Drum group committs to being at your p/w to host,they ought to bring a full set of singers,like Northern Cree did for Pullman. From talking to their manager,they believe in having all their singers there to give the true sound of who Northern Cree is. I've heard comments about other drums who were listed on pow-wow posters and when they made their appearance they had to pick up singers and the comments made were that "they sounded weak"! But yet,I've heard Midnite Express without their full krew and really jam and uphold their style of singing at a major p/w. But for the drum groups themselves,they oughta show up ready and sing for the people and make a good impression,especially to our young observers who idolize the big name drums these days.AHO

**badmaninc** · 04-11-2006, 05:04 AM

Hey if the group are decent fellows and believe in fair play and all they should explain when they don't have their whole crew with them. It would be great on their part if they agreed to give back some of the money but you know that's never going to happen. I had a buddy of mine hire a mid-level host drum and they were given 1,000.00 up front. Just prior to the powwow, they managed to come up with "One of our close relatives died" story. They kept the 1,000.00. They have never traveled to this area again. If it was true about their relative then they should have done the honourable thing and send the money back or set up at the powwow the following year. So now my buddy is pretty strict in his contracts. He had a group only bring 3 singers and they hired pick up crew. They sounded alright but not great.

traddancer2021 · 04-20-2006, 09:34 PM

Geez...I dont know where yall are getting this 10-12-14 singers to a drum group...........you only need 5

105 · 04-23-2006, 04:50 PM

4 to complete the circle

Raven Seesequasis · 07-20-2006, 04:47 AM

I think all u need is just 4 singers, one for each direction and if u sound bad it dont matter, at least u tried. eee

SPINNA · 07-25-2006, 03:23 PM

I dont think they should have to give some money back if some of the singers couldnt make it at the last minute,(depending on the circumstances), because the fact of the matter is, those singers that did show up are going to have to sing even harder because some of the crew is not there.... Ive been through this crap before, and it's not easy when you only have 8 members to start with, and then something happens and only 5 can make it to the powwow, so we have to carry the load of the missing 3 to meet expectations. We can handle it with 5, but we have to put a little more effort in it...so we definitley earn what's paid.

Wakalapi · 07-26-2006, 05:45 AM

I just wrote up the first rough draft of our powwow's host drum contract. It's a fairly large powwow in central Washington. I threw into the contract that they've gotta have eight of their own singers (rather than pulling the last-minute drumhopper recruitment tactic).

esabun · 10-02-2006, 03:57 PM

...to have a good loud enough sound especially if everybody can blend their voices with one another it sounds good old style or even contemp. here it all depends on the individuals in question.

knowing the songs inside and out goes without saying. that is kinda bummer when you see a well known crew come thru your community and they got 8 heads 3 of which are hummers or dont know the word songs etc it's better off going with 5 in that case. to me, once you add up to 10-12 or even more(!) you're not really gainin that much over having 8 strong singers.

QUESTION ON DRUM ACOUSTICS: to me, it seems like

10-27-2005, 02:01 PM	#1 (permalink)
kiyaanii mom We'll See.... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Waiting for you all to go to Firerock!!! Posts: 3,458	How many singers do you need for a full crew... If your drum group was asked to be host drum how many singers would be a good number for a contract? 8, 10, or 12 If someone doesn't show up with a full crew (per the contract - $4000) what would be a fair penalty? Less $500 per missing singer? Less $200 per missing singer?

10-28-2005, 11:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
injunboy Ganado 3A North Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: nizhoni arizoni Posts: 1,650	are two well known singers enough to cover $4000. haha, the answer was no. i jusst have this bad thing for MNX now.. __________________ thanks dad for showing me the way, teaching me the language, and not leaving my mother...L *original XXL * jus like McSteamie

10-28-2005, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
kneegrow_native whip cream is better Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In God's Country Posts: 1,431	I worked on one committee where the chairman asked the host drum to submit a roster of who they will be bringing to make sure that they weren't going to show up with 2 guys and pick up nothing but locals. __________________ It is so sad that a family can torn apart by something as simple as a wild pack of dogs.

10-28-2005, 04:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
rkbtmeyb Leg Wrestling Champ! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: just fine where im at Posts: 4,988	One for each direction! __________________ Mens inhumanity to each other is surpassed ONLY by what women do to each other. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Quote: "I blame it on my youngnessness..." BTH DEATH TO ALL LURKERS!!!! ME

10-31-2005, 09:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
opwaaganasin Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 55	sounds good when you contract a host, pay em the big bucks, they better come correct. are you talking about the navajo nation fair? some guy asked one of our doods if we would host there in 2006. just curious to know?

10-28-2005, 10:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
yngkbrd Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22	It really don't even matter as long as the drum sounds good, some drums sound just as good with 3 or 4 singers as a group that as 8 or 9 singers as for the contract goes it shouldn't say how many singers you should have they are asking for the drum to be their, Bring who you can bring and I think that should be good enough, If not their is always alot of dancers that travel around looking for some one to sing with. My 2 cents Miigwech

10-28-2005, 05:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
billyjoejimbob Fat Singer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: white guy land Posts: 1,526	Ive heard some kickazz 4 person drums. But you really need more so you dont get burnt. I sang with 3 other guys once, we all took a drink at the same time. Talk about luck.

10-31-2005, 03:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
kiyaanii mom We'll See.... Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Waiting for you all to go to Firerock!!! Posts: 3,458	Thanks everyone for your input.... Last year our committee got burned by one of our host drums. They only brought 2 singers and picked up 3 locals. Of course, they were hurting all weekend. Every time we talked to the lead singer he said he was bringing 12 guys. We paid for a top notch drum groups and got stiffed. So now it looks like our committee needs a contract. It seems that at least 6 singers need to be from the host drum group, then they can pick up a few locals. 8 singers should be the minimum. How does that sound?

04-10-2006, 05:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pushtay Hill Pow Wow Visitor Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 14	Host Drum Krewz I think if a Drum group committs to being at your p/w to host,they ought to bring a full set of singers,like Northern Cree did for Pullman. From talking to their manager,they believe in having all their singers there to give the true sound of who Northern Cree is. I've heard comments about other drums who were listed on pow-wow posters and when they made their appearance they had to pick up singers and the comments made were that "they sounded weak"! But yet,I've heard Midnite Express without their full krew and really jam and uphold their style of singing at a major p/w. But for the drum groups themselves,they oughta show up ready and sing for the people and make a good impression,especially to our young observers who idolize the big name drums these days.AHO

04-11-2006, 05:04 AM	#10 (permalink)
badmaninc PowWows.com Addicts Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Saanich Tribes, B.C. Posts: 3,036	Hey if the group are decent fellows and believe in fair play and all they should explain when they don't have their whole crew with them. It would be great on their part if they agreed to give back some of the money but you know that's never going to happen. I had a buddy of mine hire a mid-level host drum and they were given 1,000.00 up front. Just prior to the powwow, they managed to come up with "One of our close relatives died" story. They kept the 1,000.00. They have never traveled to this area again. If it was true about their relative then they should have done the honourable thing and send the money back or set up at the powwow the following year. So now my buddy is pretty strict in his contracts. He had a group only bring 3 singers and they hired pick up crew. They sounded alright but not great.

04-20-2006, 09:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
traddancer2021 Lakota Gurl!!! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: somewhere....over tha rainbow....lol Posts: 45	Geez...I dont know where yall are getting this 10-12-14 singers to a drum group...........you only need 5

04-23-2006, 04:50 PM	#12 (permalink)
105 Area Director Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 41	4 to complete the circle

07-20-2006, 04:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Raven Seesequasis Crying Eagle Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beardy's & Okemasis Posts: 7	All u need.... I think all u need is just 4 singers, one for each direction and if u sound bad it dont matter, at least u tried. eee __________________ Raven Seesequasis

07-25-2006, 03:23 PM	#14 (permalink)
SPINNA Tiny Tot Dancer Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 38	I dont think they should have to give some money back if some of the singers couldnt make it at the last minute,(depending on the circumstances), because the fact of the matter is, those singers that did show up are going to have to sing even harder because some of the crew is not there.... Ive been through this crap before, and it's not easy when you only have 8 members to start with, and then something happens and only 5 can make it to the powwow, so we have to carry the load of the missing 3 to meet expectations. We can handle it with 5, but we have to put a little more effort in it...so we definitley earn what's paid.

07-26-2006, 05:45 AM	#15 (permalink)
Wakalapi www.wakalapi.com Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East of the Mountains Posts: 1,283	I just wrote up the first rough draft of our powwow's host drum contract. It's a fairly large powwow in central Washington. I threw into the contract that they've gotta have eight of their own singers (rather than pulling the last-minute drumhopper recruitment tactic). __________________ "Friends don't let friends drink decaf..." Relaunched Nov 1, 2008. Completely rebuilt and easier to use than ever.