October 2008

We get asked a lot of things in the shop. What kit should I buy first. Which cymbals suit jazz. Why do my hi-hats sound like that. But lately we've been getting a question that's slightly outside our usual territory: who should we use for our band photos?

It's a fair question. If you're putting a band together in South Yorkshire and you want to take it seriously, you need press shots at some point. Not snaps on a mobile — proper photos that look good on a MySpace page, in a local listings mag, on a flyer for your first headline at a Sheffield venue.

We've had a few customers mention Yorkshire wedding photographer Nicholas Teal, who also covers bands, live music and gig photography across the region. From what we've heard from the people who've used him, he knows his way round a live music environment and doesn't get in the way of the performance. A couple of our regulars who've done sessions with him said the results were exactly what they needed for promotion without having to travel to Manchester or Leeds to find someone decent.

It's not something we've got any financial stake in — just a recommendation that's come through enough times from enough different people that we thought it was worth passing on. If you're at the stage where you're thinking about getting proper photos sorted, it seems like a sensible place to start.

On a related note — if anyone is putting together a band directory for the Sheffield / Chesterfield area and wants Drum-Stop involved as a sponsor or listing, drop us an email. We're always up for supporting the local music scene.

— Craig & Emma, Drum-Stop