WhoMe

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How many of you have seen the center drum get money from a blanket dance, honor songs, giveaways and the head singer pockets it all?

How do you feel and what do you do?

Several head singers have gained a bad reputation for constantly doing this over and over.

I have been taught if you treat "the drum with respect, it will take care of you."

What are your thoughts?

Tom Iron Eagle

I am not sure what some of the Large Drums and very well known Drums do. But I have heard many stories from many singers about bad and even worse ways of handling the monies and expenses.

I know a few small drums that split everything perfectly - money, gifts, expenses, etc. As far as a gift they either keep it for the drum or sell it or something to that effect.

I know that many of the rather Large Drums should have a regular manager/accounant like person to take care of the finacial problems.

billyjoejimbob

Is he pocketing it for himself or to divy up later?

I have seen drums count the money and divy it up on the drum. I think that is wrong. Its like openning your wedding cards in front of the person that gave it to you and counting the money.

I usually pocket it and divy it up at the end of the dance.

storm

Down here the discreet singers divy up after the dance at the drum. Used to the head singer didn't much mess with the money just for the reasons stated. My Uncle usually let a friend at the drum keep it till after the dance. But there also is a long tradition down here of a few scoundrels in it for themselves. keep it all and take offf. Usually they were visitors from other tribes. Back before "drum groups" were big everyone at an open drum was payed. I have seen big name singers in the past few years divy only to friends or members of the group and ignore others. Modern times.. now its a business... God, I miss the 60"s.

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My bark is worse than my bite

Peacekeeper83

Singing in Oklahoma and Texas...I see head singers do the same...blanket dance and money given during the giveaways are usually divided amongst the singers as the head singer sees fit..as an AD on occasion...I have always counted out money off to the side..put the money in folds of $5.00 and hand it to the head singer..making it easier for him to distribute...when he gets his envelope at the end of the dance..I seen head singers even divide that with the strong singers that helped him...we all know...not everyone who sits at the drum ..in the southern dances are always singers..some tend to be drum beaters.... anyways, that is from my observations

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billyjoejimbob

Is that why there is always about 30 or 40 singers at a southern drum? maybe 6 are actually singing?

been there.

storm

It's better than Northern... where you have 10 drums around the edge and NOBODY is actually singing.:p

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My bark is worse than my bite

travelingmocs

I have been at a few drums where the head singer will only pass out blanket money to the singers even the help he may have brought in to help and then keep all the contrat money for himself.

I by no means are a great singer and I feel honerd to just get some blanket money. But when I hear of singers not even paying the people he asked to come and help him, that upsets me. If your asked to be a head singer, no one can do it by them selfs and if you have good singers to come and help you pay the help.

Now paying the people who just sit around and do not help, well a couple dollars is all they deserve.

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If I do not know the answer someone else will!!!!
Also forgive me, this system does not have a spell check so forgive the bad spelling

powwowbum49

Well...yes this does happen all to often with certain singers that will stay unnamed. The only thing I can say about that is those that do this seldom have many people traveling with them cause no one wants to be burned. but to be honest it is totally up to the head singer how he handles it, but as I said...hard to sing by yourself.

Most singers I know and singing with will divide the money from the blanket dances, honor songs, giveaways (day money is what I call it) at the end of a session between all the singers in attendance ... if possible anyway. When I have been head singer I have my right hand man handle all the day moneys. He collects it and distributes it. I, as head singer, deal with the honorarium moneys. I give to the men that travel with me to help me sing and those that help leading songs and the like that just show up.

When my local drum group is contracted, I handle the money pretty much the same way. I let my right hand man handle the day money and I pay out to the contract money to the guys in the group and any strong singers that came to help out. If we have group expenses they come out off the top first.

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PB49

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." Pablo Picasso


My comments are based on what I have been taught and my experiences over the years I have been around the circle. They should in no way be taken as gospel truths and are merely my opinions or attempts at passing on what I have learned while still learning more.

Mato Winyan

Say what?:Thinking :dontknow:

:rtf:

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"We see it as a desecration not only of a mountain but of our way of life. This is a genocidal issue to us. If they kill this mountain, they kill our way of life." ~Debra White Plume

cheif buffallo meat

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kiah smith

cheif buffallo meat

Bing a head singer myself i know its wrong some of us knot all but some of us are taught by elders that give us a right to be around the drum that bring us in that way, and they teach us how to carry are selfs at the drum and holding back money$ is wrong kola! i'm only 26 years old but singing around thouse reaspected elders and bing spirital threw God it has made me wise., but i know where you are coming from i see elder men do that too (hold backmoney) i wont say any names but i consiter them not a very good person because everyone that sings should git money when they site ate the drum rether if they sing or just drum. because if you dont that is wrong and that would be bing bitter or having bitterness at that person and we need all the (brotherhood) that we can get out ther singing that makes the singing that much better.,

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kiah smith

billyjoejimbob

Mato I think Storm is talking about any contest powwow out there. Like Schemitzun, 40+ drums, maybe you get one song. If there is a special you may not sing all day. Unless your name is Black Lodge or Young Bird (no offense to these great drums). But I think their new policy of invited drums is gonna take care of that.