My Favorite Rudiment on the Drums

Personalized drumsticks are a huge part of my business, but before I started Custom Stix, I was a professional drummer for the band Big Daddy Weave. While studying the drums, the 6 stroke roll was always my favorite rudiment. Check out the short video below where I share the easy way to learn this amazing rudiment. It's my go-to lick for song intro and a great addition to a lot of other licks I like to play. Leave a comment below and let me know what you think or what other rudiments you would like to see.

Personalized Drumsticks

Our latest personalized drumsticks are really amazing. We have been working on a few new custom drumstick designs and they are finally here!

Check out the latest designs and have them personalized with your name or message. You will love them!

Click here to get yours.

Drumsticks in Time for Christmas!

If you are like most people you have a musician or a drummer on your list somewhere. That is usually one of the hardest people to buy for. Until now you may have had a slight problem. That is exactly why I started http://www.customstix.com/. After meeting with a good friend and Guitar Hero fan, he mentioned making available to the world for the first time full color graphic personalized drumsticks. I knew when he said it, I had to make it happen. That's the short version of how Custom Stix™ began.

Three years and thousands of drumsticks later, we are still the only company in the world who can do a 2 pair minimum order of full color graphic personalized drumsticks with free shipping for only $29.99. Here are just a few of our most popular designs.





Here are a few testimonials of what others are saying about their drumsticks from Custom Stix™:

“I thought the graphics on the sticks were awesome. They far exceeded my expectations. Your toughest critic…my son Chris…thought they were incredible. He thought the sticks themselves were going to be crappy. He was amazed that they weren’t. He loves them so much, he wants the Drumline to use them during the next Marching Band season”.

Helen

“I just received the drum sticks and they are SICK!!! I love them! You did an awesome job. Thank-you so much. I appreciate all your help with this. He’s going to love them for his birthday surprise!”

Kristy-

____________________________________________

Click here for more testimonials.
Click here for more photos.
Will they make it in time for Christmas? YES!!!!

All orders in the US will arrive within 2 weeks from the time of order. We ship via the USPS.

Most international orders will arrive in 3-4 weeks (see our FAQ page for international details)

_____________________________________________

*******Click here to order your very own personalized drumsticks. Trust me, you will be blown away!

Personalized Drumsticks That Really Stand Out

If you want some drumsticks that will help define your image behind the kit with more than just a plain wood grain drumstick, Custom Stix™ is the answer. Notice the plain stick in the middle below. To say it is boring would be an understatement. This is what most other companies are offering. They don't apologize for their limitations either. They simply assume their clients don't want them because they don't get request from them for graphic drumsticks. This is a common excuse used by companies all over. However, it doesn't bring about change and forward thinking, only more of the same. We try to offer what our clients want. We as drummers have been playing the same boring drumsticks for hundreds of years since the first cave man made some from a tree. I want to change that by offering drummers something different, something unique.


I've had endorsement deals with both Vater and Promark and was never given the chance at a great price to develop my own image and brand of drumstick. Well, now I can and I am offering that same opportunity to others. Check out our Personalized Drumsticks and our Custom Drumsticks and let us set you up with some drumsticks that truly represent what you are all about.

New Personalized Drumstick designs

Here are just a few of the new graphics available at http://www.customstix.com/. We are excited to bring these new graphics to you. We have been working behind the scenes for months to develop a fresh new look. We have everything from American patriotic themes to modern pop star themes.

Order your own personalized drumsticks by clicking here. We are the only company in the world who can offer you 2 pair minimum full color personalized drumsticks for only $29.99 with FREE shipping in the U.S. in less than two weeks!

Check out these new graphics:

We are always looking for new designs and ideas so please send us your comments and thoughts by visiting our contact page here.

Custom Printed Drumsticks

This is an overview of what it's like getting the amazing custom printed drumsticks from www.Customstix.com out the door. Here is a look at what happens when things get busy around here.
We have to have a huge space to keep everything in order. I am blown away with how much the company has grown over the last year. This has been a lot of fun and I hope things continue to grow as customers keep coming back for the coolest sticks around! Check out the method to our madness!




Want to know more about our sticks? Check out www.Customstix.com

New Blog!!!!!

Click here for my new blog.

Thanks,

Jeff

Custom Drumsticks for bands and organizations

Custom drumsticks have come a long way. Here are just a few of the sticks that we provide to our clients. As you can tell, the sky is the limit on details. You might wonder about the quality of the sticks. Well, don't let the amazing graphics fool you. The stick quality is awesome! As a drummer of over 25 years I can tell you that not only do I think they are great, I actually play with them on stage at all of my live shows.

You will have your fans wondering how you got such great lookings sticks at your merchandise table. We constantly hear from fans about how amazed they are at the amount of detail that is on the sticks. And did I mention that they are made in the U.S.?

We provide the very best custom graphic drumsticks in the world. Check out http://www.customstix.com/ for yourself and you will see.

Jeff

Personalized Drumsticks photos are up!

Finally! Here are some more photos of the personalized drumsticks that we have on http://www.Customstix.com. Check out the site if you haven't been there. There is nothing like our 3D image viewer on the web. You can get 2 pair of custom graphic personalized drumsticks for only $29.99 with FREE shipping.

These sticks rock and if you get them, you will too!

Jeff

Custom Drumstick photos are up!

Custom graphic drumsticks with attitude! Finally the new photos are up! After months of trying to figure out how to take great photos, I had a major breakthrough. It's all in the lighting. I wanted to show everyone the amazing quality of our drumsticks. We can print almost anyhing on a drumstick and wow your audience.

Our sticks are amazing quality and won't peel, chip or rub off. These sticks are made to take a beating! We can do minimum orders as low as 12 pair for an amazing price. Our in house graphic artists are amazing and are very creative.

Let us know if you want to take it to the next level.

Jeff

How's your grip?

How you hold your drumsticks will effect the way you play the drums more that almost anything else. I currently play the drums using the Matched grip. If you play matched grip, remember these three key elements:

1. Keep your wrist flat. This allows you to have the most power and allows you to have more control over the stick.

2. Choke up on the stick. Don't hold the stick too far back. You must find the pivot point that is right for you and your sticks.

3. Keep your thumbs on the side of the sticks. Don't let them fall under the stick or fall on top of the stick. This will also give you the most control possible.

Keep in mind that you will find this to be most effective when you also have your drums set up properly. That is another blog topic that I will address soon. Another very important thing is the type of drumsticks that you play with. I prefer a hickory 5B wood tip made by Customstix. They are well balanced, feel great, and last a long time. I also like having a custom drumstick that represents the image that I am trying to get across to the audience.

Never settle for the same old normal boring sticks that everybody else plays. Be different!

Check out the new designs at www.customstix.com

Jeff

Check out our website at www.Customstix.com

Custom Drumsticks! 2 pair minimum, free shipping for only $29.99. Personalized Drumsticks like the pros!

Check out our site for more details and to view your custom drumsticks with our 3D image viewer in real time. You won't find anything like it on the web. Why play what everybody else plays when you can have your very own personalized custom graphic drumsticks. www.Customstix.com The only choice!

Drummer Jokes

1. Q: How many drummers does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A: None. They have a machine to do that now.

2. Q: How is a drum solo like a sneeze?

A: You can tell it's coming, but you can't do anything about it.

3. Q: What's the last thing a drummer says in a band?

A: "Hey, guys - why don't we try one of my songs?

4. Q: What did the professional drummer say when he got to his job?

A: "Would you like fries with that?"

5. Q: How can you find a drummer in Nashville?

A: Ask for a refill.

6. Q: What is the difference between a drummer and a savings bond?

A: One will mature and make money.

7. Q: How can you make a drummer's car more aerodynamic?

A: Take the Pizza sign off of it.

8. Q: How can you tell a drummer is walking behind you?

A: You can hear his knuckles dragging on the ground.

9. Q: What's the best way to confuse a drummer?

A: Put a sheet of music in front of him.

My personal favorite:

Q: What is the difference between a drummer and a large pizza?

A: A large pizza can feed a family of four!

Just having some fun with my fellow drummers and friends. I have played the drums for over 25 years now and think I have earned the right to pick on my choice of instrument. Share these with a drummer that you know or someone that knows a drummer.

Jeff

How to "Make it" in the music business

It seems that everywhere I travel with the band I meet aspiring musicians that are longing to "make it" in the music business. I hear them tell me about their desire to play music for a living. We usually get a few cds a week from people that want our opinion of their music. Some of the music is good and some of it is not so good. Regardless of the music quality, the dreams are all the same. Passion is interesting to say the least. For me to write a detailed list of all of the things to do in order to “make it” in the music business would be pointless. There is no formula! I don’t believe in luck so we can throw that out, but I do believe in divine intervention. There is a problem that could be debated for years, but for now I will only touch on it. That problem is this: Why are there so many “bad” musicians that have made it and why are there so many “good” musicians that haven’t made it? If I knew the answer to that, all of the “bad” musicians would have a warrant out for my arrest. So for now I will tell you what you can do in the interim on your way to the top.

Ask yourself the following question: Am I waiting on something to happen or am I making something happen? I believe that God gives all of us gifts and talents. Jesus talks about what we are to do with what we have been given in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30. When I talk about how our band got our start I always talk about the fact that all five of us were active in our worship band at church. We were faithful in the “smaller” things. We weren’t doing it for fame or fortune but because we knew that God had called us to be a part of the local church body and use our gifts and talents in that way. While we were busy doing that the phone began to ring with other opportunities. The point that I want to make is that we were not sitting around waiting on things to happen; we were busy doing what we could to use the talents that had been given to us. It's ironic today that many of the conversations that I have with traveling musicians tell of how they long for the time when they were active on their worship teams at church. The "grass is greener" syndrome is alive and well in the music business.

Keep in mind that we all make up the body of Christ. If everyone is the same part of the body, then the body will be off balance. There is an appeal to being a "professional" musician that tours around the country and has music on the radio. Many people associate this as glamorous, or high profile in nature. There is some truth to that, but most people are not willing to make the sacrafices that it takes to live this type of life. Most people don't know what is involved in the daily life of a "professional" musician. Life on a bus can be interesting. Sometimes we are gone for exended periods of time from our families. Having small children and spending long periods of time on the road can be very difficult. You have to really count the cost that is involved in being a "professional" musician.

Does this fit into the life that you want? What about your spouse? Do they support you? Are your children going to remember you for the time that you were away and not the time that you were there? I have to be very careful with the time that I have at home. It has to count in every way. When you are on the road, there is a tendency to feel as though reality is on hold until you get back home. Your spouse and children are going to work, school, dance class, ball games, etc... while you are playing concerts all across the country. I might be gone for 10 days at a time. During that time I might travel through 12 states, sleeping through the night in my bunk on a 45 foot bus. We usually eat breakfast on the bus, lunch in the green room, a quick shower at the hotel, dinner in the green room, play the concert, and then back to the bus to go to the next location. Again, I ask the question, Is this the life that you want? If it is,then hold on. If it is not, then there are many other ways for you to fullfill the calling that you have on your life.

Jeff

Getting ready for the big KLOVE Radio cruise

Wow! It's that time again. We are getting ready to head out on the KLOVE radio friend and family cruise. FEB. 1st-5th. Every year or so we get invited as a band to play on a cruise ship. What a dream, right? Well, yes, it is fun but it certainly has been interesting over the years. This year, I am bring my brother. My wife couldn't get off of work for 5 days straight, so I am having to leave her with the kids back on dry land while I sail across the deep blue.

I am really looking forward to going on the ship this year because I get to experience getting to see my brother enjoy hanging with a lot of the Christian music artist that he really enjoys. I am also going to enjoy getting to go to the all night Pizza Buffet and Ice Cream parlor. Two of my favorite foods! Internet is always a challange on a ship. The price for connecting is highway robbery. This year, I think it is $100.00 for just a few hours. So I won't be surfing the web for "fun". Another challenge will be trying to communicate and run my site http://www.Customstix.com and handle all of the customer service phone calls that I have on a daily basis. However, I am up for the challenge. We will be in port for a few days and this will allow for some internet time.

Did I mention the Ice Cream? Anyway, I am looking forward to some serious down time and relaxation. If you haven't been to the new site, check it out when you can. I am really excited about the response and the excitement about custom drumsticks!

Jeff

New Years Eve in Myrtle Beach

(above)Getting ready for the show, approx. 11:15 pm. It's always strange playing that late. I usually end up going to bed on the bus around 2:30 am. However, for that night, that was a good thing. We had a 10 hour bus ride to Orlando for a show the next day. The show in Orlando was no ordinary show. We played for the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders. That is certainly not your average crowd. We have never heard a louder audience for sure. We had a great time with that group. Finished up around 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 1st, then hit the bus for another 10 hour ride home to Mobile, AL.



(Below) photo of the crowd in Myrtle Beach on New Years eve as the clock struck midnight! We always have fun at the Big God conference. -Jeff

Are you tired of the same plain drumsticks?

I am so excited about the launch of my new site http://www.customstix.com/. I have been counting down the days and the time is almost here. We should be set to launch the first week of December 2009. I am able to provide, for the first time in drumstick history, a full color graphic, personalized, custom printed drumstick with only a two pair minimum order at an amazing price!





Until this summer, I had an endorsement with one of the largest drumstick companies in the world. I now endorse Custom Stix! Have you ever wondered why more people don't play custom printed drumsticks? Well, I have and I found the answer. The sticks haven't been very good quality and they haven't been personalized. Well, now the excuses are gone. They not only look cool, but they are amazing drumsticks that take a beating! I could play any drumstick in the world and I choose Custom Stix!





Check out this picture of my samples. The graphics are amazing and the options are limitless!

Are you going around in circles?

Do you feel like you are merely going around and around and around? Do you feel like you are wasting your time at work? Do you refer to your job as the "Daily Grind?" Are you like the merry-go-round in this picture? Why do so many people feel like they are spending their days at work doing a job that has no REAL meaning? Well, I think that many people take jobs for reasons that have nothing to do with what they are passionate about. I know several people that have a BTN attitude about work. That is a "Better than nothing" attitude. So many people feel that their job is their lot in life and that the idea of enjoying their job is beyond comprehension. Society has gotten used to this attitude.

Many people are forced into this position due to choices that they have made that may have put them into a desperate situation. Some people are put into this position due to circumstances beyond their control; divorce, sudden death of a spouse, etc... But for those of us that don't have an excuse like that, what is your reason? Why are you going around and around? Take a moment and reflect on your passion. What would you like to fill your days doing? What type of impact do you want to have on those around you?

You are the only one that can make this choice and time is ticking away.

Jeff

What does your desk look like?

Is your office where you want it to be? Do you spend 40+ hours a week at a place where you want to be? This is a picture of my 2 desk today. We are in Kansas and I am set up in a lounge behind the sanctuary at a big church in the middle of nowhere. I am constantly talking with people who tell me that they hate their job. They feel trapped and they are stuck there without another choice. Do you feel trapped? What can you do about it? Well, there is good news. You are the only one that can change where your office is. Do you feel like you are doing what you were created to do? Are you merely giving the best hours of your day to someone that is getting rich off of your hard work? Even if you don't aspire to be wealthy, do you feel like your hard work is really only helping your boss get rich? Do you feel like your current job will allow you to make a difference? Are you merely punching a time clock until you can retire in a senior adult village one day? These are hard questions that we must answer if we are honest with ourselves. We aren't getting any younger and we don't get any do-overs. What is your choice? There is no time like the present to really start living.

Why are we in such bad health?

Why are we in such bad health? My opinion is that for the most part we decide to be. I will be the first one to say that sometimes there are circumstances that make it very hard to have any type of exercise routine. However, if we are really honest, we would still make it a priority if we really wanted to. I have a great excuse if I want to use it. I travel for about 165 days a year. Everyday I am at a different location with different surroundings. Many times the weather is an issue and sometimes it is very inconvenient due to time restraints and last minute changes that I have no control over.
Today I am sitting in a doctor’s office waiting on some test results for my lungs. I have had a really bad cough for a while and have not had any results with my family care physician. As I sit here in the waiting room I can’t help but be aware of all of the very unhealthy people around me. I don’t mean to judge, but I have a feeling that very few of them made it to the treadmill this morning, me included.
Well, I have made up my mind that starting today I will take a step towards being healthier. That is one step further than I took yesterday. I hope that tomorrow I will take one more step that I didn’t take the day before. That is the only way that I will make any progress. I close in saying that life is too short. I want to be able to walk both of my daughters down the isle without the assistance of an oxygen tank on wheels. As Americans we are very lazy, too busy, and too selfish. I pray that today is the first day of my new, healthier life.
The treadmill is meant for more than this.

I can do it, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can, I know I can,

Jeff