I am often asked what is the optimum duration for a drumming event. Because we offer flexibility in the logistics and content of our drumming activities, we have found ourselves working in many challenging time slots, and with very different sizes of group. Even with the ever-changing expectations of the team building event world, time and group size requirements can sometimes seem to range from the sublime to the (almost) ridiculous! In this blog, I recall and discuss the enormous range of event durations for DrumPulse team building activities and ice breakers through the years.
Thinking about some the shortest team building activities and ice breakers we have ever done, my mind drifts right back to the early days of DrumPulse. We were once given 16 minutes to teach 1200 delegates in Euro Disney Paris four different rhythms to play together, to create a unified drumming orchestra. The event went very quickly, and was highly successful, and I still picture the sight of the amazing mountain of drums in the hall after the room had emptied!
It’s purely coincidental that some of our biggest ever events have also been our shortest. We will never forget the sight and sounds of 1800 Body Shop employees all playing instruments that had been rapidly brought into their conference hall by an army of fifty helpers. Everyone was equipped and ready to go in under four minutes, and then we only had another 15 minutes to work with them!
These, however, are not the shortest events we have been asked to deliver. We once delivered a ten-minute drumming ice breaker for a 400-person conference. To top even that, Lisa and support facilitator Carl flew to Frankfurt to work with a group of 30 lawyers for 90 minutes. Unfortunately, our client’s previous business meeting overran. Although they were profusely embarrassed, they informed us that they just had time for a ‘quick’ ten minutes! We never forget business comes first, and ensured that it was one of most energising and motivating ten minutes of their lives.
The examples above came from clients wanting to achieve the almost impossible. They wanted to use our creative and dynamic team activities to demonstrate to their teams that, even within such a tiny window of time, anything is possible with the right leadership and input from participants.
At the other end of the time spectrum, we also often get asked to provide drumming activities that last up to a whole day. How do we keep everyone engaged with so many hours to fill? Well, over the years we have developed a variety of relevant musical team challenges and musical exercises that enhance the listening and communication skills needed to create a wonderful drumming ensemble. Our mini breakout sessions maintain momentum and ensure the continuing enjoyment and attention of the group, while giving a welcome calm to the hands and ears of participants!
When we do have half- or full-day events of just drumming, we create a blend of sitting behind a drum playing and fun breakout options to keep everyone constantly learning, entertained and surprised. The extra time also lets the newly-adopted drumming talents in every individual to have time to sink in, to create even better music.
If we have additional rooms available and the client would like team building activity options other than drumming, we can offer our rotational multi-activities, such as Global X Factor and Urban Jam.
So what is the perfect duration for a drumming event?
It’s a difficult question to answer, as we have to take into account many factors, including room size, the number of participants, how packed the agenda is and the need to incorporate business messages. Typically, I would say that the optimum duration to create a confident and cohesive drumming orchestra is between 90 minutes and two hours.
This gives the head facilitator time to embed the playing skills needed later to release a group’s innate creativity. It gives the music time to grow and develop, and yet does not take up an entire business day. Also, it provides adequate opportunity for participants to engage in the interactive fun that is now the trademark of DrumPulse.
Whether you choose a high-impact fast and furious activity or a full musical journey, we bring teams together for the ultimate corporate surprise. The powerful feeling of playing music together will remain in the memory of each participant for years to come!
For more information, please contact us.
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