FROM THE FLOOR...
Still Feels Like
a Dream
Q&A with Murat Baslamisli of Drummer’s Hangout in Aurora, ON
I
n the fall of 2015, Murat Baslamisli penned
a From the Floor article called “Living the
Dream” from the perspective of a brand
new MI storeowner. His shop, Drummer’s
Hangout in Aurora, ON, has now been in
business for two years, and in that time has
grown substantially in terms of its inventory
and reputation. Let’s check in to see how
things are progressing.
CMT: Something that stood out from
your first article were your ideas for
creating a unique store culture – wel-
coming people just coming to hang out,
offering them a beverage, having a TV
with drum videos playing around the
clock, etc. How do you think you’ve done
in realizing that customer experience in
a relatively short time?
MB: That aspect of the shop got established
fairly quickly and is working out great! Folks
come here, hang out, have a drink, and we
argue about why Vinnie Colaiuta is better
than everyone else and watch videos to
prove our point and have a good time. They
do buy some stuff, too, and I am OK with
that [laughs]. I have my regulars now that
go straight to the coffee machine. I love it.
First time visitors, and I still get a lot of those
because, let’s face it, I am not even two years
old yet, they get confused a bit when I offer
them a drink – “Do I pay for it?” or “Why is this
dude offering me a tea?” But I explain to them
how things are and then they are good.
CMT: I’m sure your wish list of things
you’d like to do with the store is endless,
but speaking realistically, what are your
goals for the rest of this year as far as
getting closer to your vision for Drum-
mer’s Hangout?
MB: It seems to me that this whole thing
will always be a work in progress, but I am
also learning to be patient, which has never
been a strength of mine. As far as goals, I am
still trying to get the word out that I am here,
so that is one thing. Securing a couple more
lines that I have been wanting since day
one is another. I recently had a great drum
clinic with the legendary Kenny Aronoff, and
I would love to have one more clinic before
the year is over. I am aiming for at least two or
three clinics a year and those are great oppor-
tunities to bring new people into the shop.
CMT: Ongoing learning is critical to any
retailer’s success. What or who are some
of the sources you’ve consulted thus far
to continue bolstering your knowledge
and sharpening your business acumen?
MURAT BASLAMISLI (LEFT) & HIS WIFE SANDY (RIGHT) WITH DRUM ICON KENNY ARONOFF (CENTRE) AT
DRUMMER’S HANGOUT
MB: I have been in the business for a long
time, but as a business owner, I am still a
rookie. I ask anyone and everyone who has
been doing this way longer than me about
their experiences all the time, even when
they don’t want to listen [laughs] – and not
even just the music industry. I talk to my cus-
tomers about their businesses, listen to their
ideas and advice. The world has changed
considerably since the days I studied business
in university, so I will listen to anyone and
everyone, but I will filter it down and come
up with my own way. The beauty of owning
your own business…
CMT: What would you say has been the
biggest ongoing challenge you’ve faced
since you opened?
MB: As the word is getting out, we are
constantly growing, but the thing is, it is still
a challenge to get the word out. I have only
so much funds for advertising, so certain
media is not doable yet. Social media is great
but it is very easy to get lost in the shuffle
there. I would say competing with the online
stuff and getting folks in the shop is still the
biggest challenge. Once people come to the
shop, they come again, so my goal is to get
people in the shop for the first time. The rest
will take care of itself.
CMT: Looking ahead to the next few
years, are you optimistic about what’s to
come? What are some of the trends you
feel will emerge or continue to develop
that will affect your operations and
those of your fellow retailers?
MB: I think doing one thing and doing it
right will be the name of the game as far as
brick and mortar is concerned, instead of
trying to be everything to everyone. Bringing
more unique products that the big boys in
the industry do not offer is something that
will continue to work for the little guys like
myself.
I am generally an optimistic guy, but
one thing really has to happen for the wellbe-
ing of the MI landscape: we have to try our
hardest to make being in a band cool again
for the kids. I know, easier said than done,
but it is on us and on the parents. I talk to all
my students and ask them if they are playing
with friends and such. Most of the time, the
answer is, “I don’t know anyone in my class
that plays anything.” That is sad. I am a drum
shop and I only have drum lessons. I know
music schools that offer band camps and
such to kids, and that is awesome, believe
me, but also sad because this used to happen
organically. You would play drums in your
garage, a kid in the neighborhood would
hear and bring his guitar, and some other kid
would volunteer to sing, and that was that!
I know there are lots of other things these
days for the kids to spend their time with, and
in the instant gratification society that we
have become, learning a musical instrument
may not be a priority, but we have to try and
make it so. Once these kids get the taste
of performing in front of their peers, that
experience will never leave them. If kids play
music, we will be alright as an industry. Less
fidgeting, more shredding!
CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE
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