On Drumming And Websites

posted on May 18, 2006 in Drums Websites // View Comments

I wrote this a few months ago for another website, but didn’t think it would work there, so, to appease my inner critic that hates when some writings never see the light of day, or the glow of a computer screen, here it is:

How the Three Piece Classic Rock Trio Affects Web Design

I’ve played drums in churches for 10 years. I’m only 25. Although I should be a lot better than I am now, I’m not bad. Most people, if they’re not impressed with my playing, appreciate what I do. There are those that are impressed, and that always makes me laugh because I know hundreds of drummers quite more accomplished than myself.

If you’ve ever heard a new drummer practice, it’s an experience you wouldn’t want to repeat. It’s mildly controlled, endless noise. Excruciating comes to mind. New drummers are the worst, because they want to do the things they hear on CDs. They want to emulate drummers that have been playing for years. So, to make up for their lack of experience, they try to play more notes, as loud and as fast as possible. I speak from experience on this point.

Although “church drumming” for worship services is somewhat different than drumming for bands, there remains one hard and fast rule of the drummer. He is not the important one, but he is necessary. He is the backbone, and, unless given freedom to do so by the rest of the band, he should remain on his drum throne keeping time instead of playing lots of notes really loudly.

I learned this lesson early, and often played too simply, restraining my creativity because I didn’t want to affect the mood of the room. Then I learned how simple drumming, coupled with precise dynamic control, and merged with an underlying sense of the room’s atmosphere, could become my creative outlet. I became a better drummer, but, moreover, I became a better band member.

Enough about me. Web design is just like drumming, only with less broken sticks and fewer hot chicks. (I married a hot chick, so we’ll just say it’s true). Web design is a creative outlet with one purpose in mind: communication. A song communicates to the heart; a site communicates to the mind. Both require knowledge of the audience in order to reach them in the most effective way.

Much has been said about web design shifting from less complex and less visually schizophrenic to a more clean and efficient look.

Web designers are the drummers in the three piece classic rock trio. You are not the important one (your church or your clients are), but you are necessary. As many have said before, your casual internet user should be able to go to your site and have it “just work.” Pieces of flair mean nothing if content isn’t accessible, straightforward, or easily found.

Don’t try to emulate everything you see on websites you appreciate, but do try to emulate one or two ideas or visuals you would like on your site. Make a list of items you’d like to be on your site, then work through that list at your own pace, making sure you have a good understanding of what you are doing, and, possibly most importantly, why you are doing it. Your church has a reason for existence; so should your website.

BlakeAtwood.com