First let me say I don't know how I ended up being 2000 years old in my profile. Anyway, I've attended a few of these Drum Offs at different stores in SO CA and this is the first time I've had to comment on what I witnessed Wednesday night. The Hollywood store is very pro and have a great staff and had the best MC I've seen at any of these events. And I know that getting real drummers to judge these events is hard, but the stores need to dig deeper on who they bring in to judge these hopeful drummers. These players put their heart and soul into their solos and deserve the respect due to them. The first drummer up was pro, had class and covered every groove and genre of music you could think of. He covered everything that GC was asking for in the solo requirements and more.
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One of the judges never looked up from the table the entire time he was playing. I couldn't figure out why. That same judge brought a typed resume with him that never told us exactly who he was or why he was allowed to judge. The MC became overwhelmed with his resume and just said "I can tell you he's studied alot".

The players that followed all had their own styles and grooves but by far, the first drummer was the best. Then the final drummer got up. He had his Hollywood crew with him and was totally full of himself. He started his solo with theatrics - swinging his stick like a pendulam, tapping his cymbals and then putting his ear to them, making wierd faces. Then he started bashing. And I mean bashing. I felt like I was watching a little kid just going crazy on a drum set. His finale was picking up the floor tom and flinging it on the floor as hard as he could which put a very noticeable ding on the side of the floor tom. This was a $4350 set that GC brought out just for this night. At that point, I was convinced that the first drummer had it in the bag. After only 5 minutes of deliberation (which I couldn't figure out how they calculated the scores so fast when on the prelims, it took about 15-20 minutes) they announced that the basher was the winner. I was stunned. Not only was he a terrible player, but he disrespected the store, a set that didn't belong to him and the other players. His friends were taping the solo and weren't stopped until he was midway through. I thought that wasn't allowed.

So I guess it takes theatrics to win these events and not real skill. And as long as GC allows High School Science teachers, drum teachers that don't judge on what they teach and amateur players that only like jazz or show drumming, the real musicians will never get through.

The MC made the point that Hollywood should have the most talented players and that the store should be well represented in the district finals.

Well they had a really talented player that would have represented the store well and the judges went with the player that will make Hollywood, CA, the entertainment capitol of the world, look like clowns.

no doubt.this is my second year in "drum off" and both times i was runner up at store finals to dorks.they should name this competition "dork off"!

Posted less than a minute ago

HOLLYWOOD DRUMOFF FINALS !!!

wow... the drummer named ELMO JAMS stole the nite... yes, he KILLED IT !!!

you all must see him rip shiiit up at the district finals in Sherman Oaks...

ELMO JAMS is representing HOLLYWOOD GUITAR CENTER, and properly like no other drummer can do !!!

i would like to give props to the other drummers that came out and did there best... they all get an A fo effort

and i would like to comment on the cat from Music Institute in Hollywood... dude you should be going on auditions for theatre... that is def your calling... not drumming !!! haha

SYC FUK ELMO JAMS rules the competion... hands down he will take the finals !!!

Wow, after reading all these posts I don't feel so bad about not advancing. At the end of the day it seems that business is the bottom line, as it should be. All good though as I got some good exposure, earned some respect from the store staff, and made a couple of fans. As for elmo jams, they say pride comes before a fall. Hope you don't get let down.

"pride comes before a fall."yep im guilty."i take alot of pride in my ability.when you know you have something very special and try to share it and no one hears you, it's very difficult to let your talent to be heard.im not saying im the bomb,but what i want to get through is that i absolutely thank everybody who has been a positive influence in my life.peace to all!!!

ELMOS JAMS RULES !!!

i hope elmo wins it.good luck.

Does he really? For some reason I am less than convinced.

i've learned alot about myself through this competition.it's been very painfull to know i have hurt people by what i wrote.im going to do 2008 right!!!

haha, yes that Elmo guy... My body kinda twitched when he picked up the floor tom and bashed it... I was there that night, let alone competing. I agree, the first guy had it in hand. He was GOOD. And that one other dude with the long blond hair. I dont remember his name.

But yea, competing was scary, I think i was 2nd or 3rd to go up, kinda sucked and made me nervous.

I was prolly the only asian competing in Hollywood. Scary stuff. hahaha

Testing testing.