BBDWelcome                                Thank you for your interest in the “World’s Largest Drum," otherwise known as the Purdue Big Bass Drum (BBD, as we’re known to the band). We are excited that you have taken notice of Purdue’s oldest and most iconic tradition. Under the direction of Dr. Pamela Nave, director of percussion here at Purdue, and the BBD captains, the drum crew represents Purdue University at the highest level. Whether on the field working in tandem with the “All-American Marching Band” or at various Purdue functions, the Drum and her crew represent Purdue University at all times.

    The following information is a history of the drum, physical requirements to be on the drum, certain public related events that might occur, how to handle the drum, and a brief Q&A portion. All of the above are part (excluding the Q&A) of a tryout process that will occur during band camp. You must do well in all categories listed to be considered for a spot on the crew. We take these tests very seriously. Dr. Nave and the BBD captain have the right to change any of the listed physical requirements at any time, however any information change that occurs will be communicated as quickly as possible. No changes will be made within a month of band camp.

If you have any questions or concerns, don’t be afraid to contact our director!

Dr. Pamela (Pam) Nave - Percussion Director pjnave@purdue.edu

Dan Clark - BBD Captain 2015 Brady Ubel - BBD Asst. Captain 2015

Introduction

Being a member of the Big Bass Drum crew is one of the highest honors you can achieve at Purdue and is filled with tradition. Crew members participate with the “All American Marching Band” (which we will dub the “AAMB” for short) in practices, traveling, and performing, as well as marching in parades and football games. Outside of the “AAMB”, the Drum and her crew members serve as ambassadors for Purdue University. The Drum attends several events and functions outside of what the “AAMB” will do, these events are meant to showcase the Drum and Purdue. The benefits to becoming part of the drum crew are numerous, and include meeting important individuals, both Purdue Alumni and otherwise, traveling abroad, and of course, the freedom to hit the “World’s Largest Drum” whenever possible. Physical fitness, knowledge of the BBD’s history, public relations ability, your handling of the drum, and your attitude are all part of the tryout process. You will be tested on all of these categories, so be prepared!

HistoryIn 1921, then Director of Bands, Paul Spotts Emrick, decided that Purdue’s band needed

something to set them apart from other bands. Emrick’s idea called for a bass drum bigger than any others at the time. However, the idea for a big bass drum had already been imagined, and there were already bass drums 4 feet in diameter. Emrick wanted one twice the size, a “...drum larger than the man playing it...,” and the idea for BBD was born.

Most people thought of Emrick’s plan as ludicrous and just plain crazy, and in 1921, a drum that size simply wasn’t possible. That is until Ulysses Leedy of Leedy Drum Corporation (now Ludwig drums) took notice. At the time, Leedy was the largest manufacturer of drums and they recognized publicity such a drum would bring to their company. Leedy intended to go big, but the problem was finding materials for a drum as large as Leedy wanted. After much searching, they settled on 2,000-3,000 pound Argentinian steer, with hides thick enough to be stretched into drum heads. On June 1st, 1921, in a letter from Ulysses Leedy to Paul Spotts Emrick, Leedy stated that a large enough hide had been found. Production of the BBD was ready to begin.

With the materials for the drumheads found, actual construction of the drum could begin. The shell of the drum consists of 3 layers of maple wood pressed together in the same style as a traditional bass drum. The lugs were larger and made to be hand turned (as they were too big for a standard drum key) for tuning purposes, and they were chrome plated to add shine. The original finish of the drum was polished wood. In 1937, the current drum crew decided to paint the drum to match the school colors and the drum shell was painted old gold with black diamonds. The drum still looks the same way today with the exception of the diamonds, which are now silver. The silver diamonds are provided by Mad Men Creative, a graphical design company in Lafayette. At some point during the Drum’s history, the diamonds were metal plates attached to the Drum’s shell. The current diamond design pay homage to both of its predecessors' designs. The drum is transported around on a metal-frame carriage with wheels, originally bike wheels but replaced with Model A Ford racing tires, due to its immense size and weight. The drum itself weighs ~315 pounds while the carriage weighs ~250 pounds, totaling ~565 pounds. A bar attached to the front of the carriage and 2 handles on the back of the drum allow a crew of 4 to operate the drum.

Construction of the drum was completed in June 1921 at the cost of $911.12. A band concert was to be held to raise the money for the Drum, with Elks BPO lodge 143 agreeing to donate the remaining money needed after the band concert. The band concert was a huge success, raising $500 dollars, which left Elks donating the remaining $411.12. Leedy had the drum showcased at the Circle Theater in Indianapolis during the week of August 14th, 1921. The drum then began its trip to West Lafayette with a display in the Indiana Statehouse and a weeklong exhibition at the Indiana State Fair before reaching its new home with Purdue.

The drum was a big hit among Purdue fans and an immediate success. When it appeared at a football game at the University of Chicago, Chicago fans went wild. Chicago wanted their own big drum. Immediately following the game, University of Chicago contacted the Conn Company to make them a big drum as well. Conn Company responded with Big Bertha, a drum supposedly larger though unproven and untrue. Big Bertha did not remain in Chicago forever, as Bertha eventually moved to Texas. After the entrance of the United States into the Second World War, Bertha was put into storage. Having superfluous materials such as Bertha was not considered important at the time (The BBD was also put into storage). Bertha was stored in the University of Chicago’s football field but became irradiated due to the testing for the Manhattan Project at Chicago’s field. No one wanted the irradiated Big Bertha, and she was sold to an unknown alumni of the University of Texas for one dollar. The Texas alumnus then paid for the necessary de-radiation processes of Big Bertha and donated it to Texas, where it has been since 1955. A sort of rivalry sparked between the BBD and Bertha and lasted until a challenge was issued in 1961. The 2 schools were to bring their big drums to Wichita, Kansas where they were to be measured to end the game once and for all. Texas and Big Bertha never showed to the Kappa Kappa Psi national convention and Purdue went into the Guinness book of the world records as the “World’s Largest Drum”. The phrase can be seen on the side of the BBD. The exact measurements of the BBD are known only to the crew and Dr. Nave.

The Bertha crew doesn’t handle their drum like we handle the BBD. Bertha sits inside a display case near the football field and is only wheeled out for football games and special events and occasions. The Bertha crew does not run or do any tricks with their drum, although they do spin Big Bertha during the University of Texas' pre-game show. The crew charge $5 dollars per picture with Big Bertha and only the crew can hit it.

Things are a lot different amongst the BBD and her crew. Purdue’s drum is involved in every practice, parade, pre-game, halftime, and post-game show of the "AAMB" and we have our own routines to complete during each performance. We run with the drum, we do tricks on/with the drum, and we perform aerial tricks with drum as well. Not only are we an active part of the “AAMB” but we also attend various other events, representing Purdue wherever we go. Pictures with the BBD are free, and we encourage all photography. The crew aren’t the only ones allowed to hit the BBD, we let all little kids hit the drum as well as military personnel, honored Purdue officials and alumni, and various celebrities and famous people. It’s up to the individual discretion of the crew to decide who hits the BBD beyond that. “AAMB” seniors are also honored with a chance to the BBD during halftime on senior day.     Due to the immense size of the BBD, traveling tends to be a bit of hassle, but never an obstacle that hasn't been overcome. In the early days of the band, travel occurred mostly by train. To accommodate for the BBD’s size, larger train cars from New York Rail Company were sent as standard cars were not big enough. The drum also faces problems traveling by air, as commercial aircraft don’t have the room for the BBD. Some planes have an adequate sized cargo bay making transcontinental travel possible. The first time the "World's Largest Drum" took a

transcontinental journey with the "AAMB" was in 2013 when it accompanied the band to Ireland. In Ireland, the BBD led the “AAMB” in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For normal travel circumstances, it was decided in April 1937 that a truck was the best way to transport the drum. A Chevrolet truck was decided as the best option to transport the Drum and in April, 1937 the Drum was sent in for a facelift and for modifications to ride in a truck. Today it’s still loaded into the back of a Chevrolet truck and travels with the “AAMB” to each away performance. In 1976 the drum actually fell out of the truck and went rolling down the highway, hitting a Semi. The semi’s engine and grille area suffered damage but the drum was relatively unharmed. One of the heads and rims were damage, but the shell of the drum was left more or less intact.   

From 1940-1954, the drum predominantly sat in storage. When Al G. Wright took over as Director of Bands in 1954, the first thing he did was haul the BBD from storage and ship it to Leedy for repairs. On the inside of the drum, you can see printed “Elkhart, Indiana”, where the drum was repaired in 1954 and “Indianapolis” where the drum was created in 1921. In 2013, the drum was damaged on the way back from Ireland and needed new lugs. Dr. Nave was able to get into contact with friend and fellow musician Galen King of the EE department. King, after a donation made by Dr. Nave, put us into contact with Mike Sherwood. Sherwood is the head of the ME machine shop, and was able to create mostly new hardware for the drum, some of the older lugs were deemed acceptable and remained on the drum. Excluding the cost of the materials, Sherwood completed the task completely free of charge. The total cost was about $1,200, which saved the restoration roughly $9,000. Sherwood completed all but 6 lugs and they were polished by King. The drum was also repainted during this time by an employee named Don who works for Sherwin Williams (Sherwin Williams is a painting company with stores in Lafayette). It took 3 passes with a paint gun, each pass took about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. Materials for the new paint job were donated by Ben Dye, a manager of Sherwin Williams. Yet another challenge for the Drum arose as the Argentinian cattle hide heads grew increasingly hard to acquire. Due to the difficulty of finding steer hides to replace the ones that were breaking, Wright sought out DuPont Research Laboratories in Wilmington, Delaware. DuPont was the inventor of a plastic called Mylar, and Wright hoped they might be able to make heads for the BBD. Fortunately, a Purdue alumni working at DuPont took interest in the case, and found a way to make it work. He stretched out the Mylar heads into long, thin layers, creating a solution to Wright’s problem. The BBD became the first drum ever to be fitted with a plastic Mylar drum head, and most drum heads today are made from Mylar. Remo is the only company capable of making heads for the BBD, because they’re the only ones with the equipment large enough to do so. The cost of a new head is ~$338, coupled with the paint design you see present on the drum heads which is ~$262, the total cost of a head is ~$600 dollars. The images present on the drumhead are hand painted by Dave Nelson. The cost of a new set of heads is ~$1200 dollars.

The drum has been a part of Purdue since 1921, and has been become an icon of the university. As a result, some interesting things have happened to the crew and the drum. There have been attempts to steal the BBD, mostly by rival universities such as IU and Northwestern. A few nearly successful attempts have been made, but the drum was always recovered. In the early 80’s, Purdue students used to throw crab apples at the drum and its crew, which is why the drum crew can be seen wearing helmets, called domes. The BBD has also come into contact with various famous people, and to show off where the drum has been, we offer notable people a chance to sign a special drum head and to hit the drum itself. On this particular drum head you’ll find signatures of Snoop Dogg, Harry Truman, the Blue Man Group, and Neil Armstrong.

     The Crew members use the drum for practices as well as every football game show with the “AAMB”.  During the pre-game and half-time shows, the drum executes a series of maneuvers and stunts in tandem with the members of the “AAMB”. These maneuvers demonstrate the speedy and agility of the crew as a whole. There are various types of stunts included in BBD routines such as: aerials, launches, jumps, and spins.

Drum Handling

All crew members must demonstrate that they possess the balance, strength, speed, agility, and endurance require to handle the drum safely and effectively. The BBD requires two crew members in the front and two in the back in order for the drum to be operated effectively. Two beaters are necessary to hit the drum, one on each side. The left-front position of the drum is referred to as the “driver”. The driver controls the speed of the drum, how the drum enters or exits maneuvers, and ensures the drum executes all maneuvers with precision. The driver is one who initiates and calls the commands for any movement, tricks, and spins. All spins move in a counter-clockwise direction unless called otherwise by the driver. It is important that all calls made by the driver are repeated by the crew members so that no errors are made during the maneuver, especially on spins. The right-front position of the drum is called the “brakeman”. The brakeman position is responsible for stopping the drum during spins. The brakeman halts the drum in the correct position in order for the next maneuver to take place. A movement called the “veer” is used to quickly change directions when moving at high-speeds. The veer is used predominantly on the football field during pre-game and half-time shows. This movement is shared between the driver, who will yank the drum for a left turn, and the brakemen, who yanks the drum for a right turn. These quick movements enable the drum to maneuver quickly around the field. The crewmen on the back of the drum are called “pushers” and act as the drum's engine. They are responsible for acceleration and deceleration of the drum as well as hard stops. They maintain the speed of the drum during each movement and secure the drum down during any aerial tricks that we might preform. Communication between both crew members in the back is imperative as the drum blocks direct sound so commands may be misunderstood. The 2 people that hit the drum are called “beaters”, with 1 to each side of the drum. The beaters will hit on the same side when the drum is not in motion. Beaters hit the drum to school songs, cadences, and other tunes that band plays as well as during pre-games and half-time shows.     For the drum to move smoothly and safely around, all of the crew members must act as team and a unit. This is evaluated through team and individual ability, which will be assessed during band camp. The goal is to see how pairs work together in the front and back and how the crew overall communicates with each other while the drum is in motion, and how well an individual controls the drum through spins, starts, and stops. It is important that everyone functions as a unit and not as an individual. When you’re on the drum, your head should always be on a swivel. Situational awareness and good communication are paramount!   

Public RelationsAs a member of the BBD crew, you are also an ambassador of Purdue University. Social

skills are a huge part of the BBD crew tryout process, as we are asked countless questions by countless people. When we are not on the field during pregame and halftime, we are stationed in the south end zone of Ross-Ade Stadium. In the South end zone we converse with both Purdue and away team fans. Crew members must be able to speak with, relate to, and pose with complete strangers as if they have known them their whole lives. Crew members must be able to deal with people ranging overly-enthusiastic fans to those who will be severely intoxicated. Intoxicated fans can sometimes be a danger to drum, so your head must be on a swivel at all times. For your own personal safety, the safety of others, and the safety of the drum, crew members must know how to respond to all types of situations. During the tryout process, you will be tested with various “what if…” scenarios to measure your ability to handle stressful and challenging situations. Crew members can expect to be photographed and/or videotaped thousands of times throughout the course of the marching season and many more outside of that. We allow people to be photographed with the drum, but under NO circumstances are people allowed to be photographed with alcohol or a tobacco product in the picture. Alcohol and tobacco products of any kind are strictly prohibited in photos with the BBD. All alcohol/tobacco products must be set to the side and outside the photo, not in the photo, hiding behind person(s) foot or the drum itself. No exceptions will be made to this rule. Alcohol and tobacco are not permitted. As an icon of Purdue University, a photo of the BBD with alcohol or tobacco products in it could be construed as Purdue supporting their use. The crew reserves the right to deny any person who isn’t compliant with these rules. That being said, since we allow fans to pose with the drum, we often allow them to pose with the beaters. We ask fans not to hit the drum, but sometimes they are a little excited and proceed anyway. If you notice it, and can stop it, do so by grabbing ONLY the beater.

The attitude of each candidate will be observed by the captain and Dr. Nave throughout the week. A good and upbeat attitude is whats needed when conversing with people about the drum. We strive to maintain a good image for ourselves and Purdue University. There are no tests to determine attitude. Dr. Nave believes attitude to be the most important part of the tryout process, as do myself and the rest of the crew. Dr. Nave and the captains will be watching during the course of band camp. An elite athlete with a poor attitude will never be selected for this crew. A good attitude is crucial for a strong crew. This cannot be overemphasized.

Drum Storage, Maintenance, and TravelWhen not in use, the drum is stored in the Purdue Armory. It is to be kept locked at all

times in its enclosure as the Armory is an active building for the Purdue ROTC and Purdue University groups. Incidents of vandalism prior to the enclosure being built have occurred, and we’d like to avoid future ones. Only the captain will have a key to the cage for security reasons. It is important to be respectful of the ROTC and military groups inside the Armory, as they let us use their facilities free of charge. Hats will be removed when we enter the armory and if the ROTC is conducting any events inside the Armory, we will be silent and conduct our business as

quickly and quietly as possible. If an ROTC or Military member speaks to you, be polite. These are our future soldiers and some of them have served already, treat them with respect.

Due to the rigorous nature of our work, the drum suffers some general wear and tear. The entire drum must be cleaned before every home football game. Wet rags and detergents are used on the heads before every game and Windex the vinyl diamonds that are seen on the drum. Tire polish is used on the wheels to keep them glistening. The heads are typically changed once a year as they get closer to breaking or break themselves. When the heads are off, crew members are permitted to sign the inside the drum, once for every year on the crew. New heads have foam strips placed on the side to help with sound quality when we hit it. The drumheads are finger tightened as the lugs are too big for a standard drum key. Contact paper is place just above the center of the head to reinforce the preferred spot to beat.

When transporting the drum long distances, it is loaded into the band pick-up truck on its cradle. The cradle is a crew designed contraption that holds the drum in the bed of the truck while in transit. It is important that the drum does not rest on the lugs as they bend easily. After the drum is placed on the cradle, it is lifted into the bed of the truck and covered with a specially designed cover that was donated by a former crew members’ father. It’s then strapped down to secure it to the truck. The loading/unloading procedure takes about 10-15 minutes with the whole crew helping out. The captains/veterans are responsible for driving the truck.

SelectionOnce all physical, drum handling, drum history, public relations, and attitude evaluations

have been completed, selection for the crew will begin. Cuts will be made on Wednesday of band camp. Everyone who tries out will be given an evaluation, and those who don’t make the cut are encouraged to try out again next year. If you play another instrument, you will have the opportunity to try out for that instrument, as the band holds their cuts on Friday.

    Crew members will also be required to make beaters (the mallets used to strike the drum). The skill will be taught during the remainder of band camp to the crew members that are selected.

           Selected members will be required to register for the marching band course, Band 110. This two hour course occurs Monday through Friday from 3:30pm-5:20pm and is the “AAMB” practice time. Game days typically start at 6am for us when the kickoff occurs at noon. You can expect to be finished on those Saturdays by 5:00pm.

    The BBD crew is responsible for all performances outside of the regular marching band season in both the fall and spring. This will include appearances in commercials, Purdue Senior Day, and the Indianapolis 500. Many other appearances throughout the year will occur on short notice. If you are unable to fulfill this requirement, then please do not try out. (i.e. don’t try out if you are on co-op in the spring).

I look forward to meeting all of you in the fall,Best of luck!

-Will Traub

Frequently ask Questions

How many people are selected for the crew?

    A minimum of 6 is needed to operate the drum. Typically 7 or 8 people will be selected to compensate for injury, illness, etc.

When should I start my physical training?

    Most start at the beginning of the summer, however it’s not unheard of to start in January.

I did poorly on my <physical fitness test>.  And I did no better on my retry, should I be worried?

    No. We take into consideration all portions of the tryout process from the moment you arrive. We have a pretty good idea if you will be a strong candidate or not.

Will I be able beat the drum for a football game?

    It depends. Hitting the drum is not reserved for senior members or captains only. It runs on a rotation between crew members. You might not hit drum for one game but may hit during the next game. ~Though for special occasions or events, such as being filmed in a commercial, hitting may default to captains/seniors.

I am a freshman and I signed up for Boiler Gold Rush (BGR). I just realized it is at the same time as band camp. What should I do?

    If you signed up BGR and THEN decide to participate in marching band, you may request a refund for BGR only until July 22. If you would like a refund contact Dr. Nave, and she’ll point you in the right direction.

Will I miss out on anything by attending tryouts instead of BGR?

    You will not be missing anything as far as orientation. You will hear from, the football coach, basketball coach, (volleyball coach?), and the president of the university. The band will give you a tour on campus and show you where your classes are. We provide a good foundation for the beginning of your academic career. The sense of community you get in band is just as good if not stronger than BGR. Also, if you are dismissed on Wednesday, there are still BGR functions going on throughout the week.

Is there any additional information about the drum?

    The information listed above contains about all we know on the BBD. We maintain a Wikipedia article on the BBD, but you’ll find more information in the history portion of this packet. If you can get your hands on a copy of the The Complete History of the Leedy Drum Company (ISBN-10: 0931759749), you’ll find about 8 pages of information of the drum. Additionally, Heartbeat of the University: 125 Years of Purdue Bands (ISBN-10: 1557535965) as well as the related book from 25 years earlier, you’ll find a chapter on the drum.

What should I bring with me to the tryouts?

    Good pair of running shoes    Sunblock (lots of it, we are outside a lot)    Sunglasses or a hat. Or both    Water bottle or jug. (I recommend bringing at least a quarter gallon jug)

This manual, printed and in handSmall bag to carry these itemsGood attitude Clothes to work out in

How much does band cost?

There is a semester fee of $90. The following items will only be needed IF you make the crew. Crew members will need to buy a pair of black running shoes, black cleats, and a pair of black batting gloves. You can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $90 for the running shoes as well as the cleats. $30 will more than cover a decent pair of gloves. It’s possible that the band will cover some of the costs, but it’s rare. Please do not purchase these items unless you make the crew. We will help those that make it pick out acceptable items.

I am in <major>, and I am taking 18 or more hours. Will band take much of my time?

    Absolutely. Band is a huge time commitment, and again, we don’t recommend you trying out unless you have the time. However, you’ll find that the band does better academically than the average student. Average band GPA is in the 3.0-3.2 range while the university average is in 2.6-2.9 range.

Do returning members automatically have a spot on the crew?

    NO, no spots are guaranteed except for the captain. Returning members are required to complete all aspects of the tryout each year. However, as returners, they have experience from previous year(s) and that will show up in most of their tryouts. No exceptions made.

I am a freshman. What are my chances of making it?

    Just as good as anyone else. We’ve had history of freshmen, women, grad students, and non-musicians being accepted.

What do you do for food during band camp?

    90 minutes for lunch and dinner are provided each day, you should eat a light breakfast before coming to band camp. You are free to eat whatever, but we advise you eat smartly. The BBD crew will be doing a lot of physical work and a bacon cheeseburger is not an ideal meal for lunch. If you live in the dorms, it is recommended that you get a meal card, it comes with 3 meals a day. We also advise that you eat with other members of the drumline and the AAMB to get to know each other. The BBD will also do a few lunches during band camp, but if you decide to eat alone, your time away will be respected.