The big deal

 

Hi Natty!  How are you feeling?  You must be quite pleased and all excited about your interview.  Great going, Honey!  Now I'm sorry if I kill your buzz, but there's something I need to advise you.  Please don't boast about how modest you are because it means that you're not.  That was cute, though!

Ah, the mighty cable tie.  Since I can't afford a real drum set, I had to turn an old plastic water reservoir into a bass drum.  I bought a 20 inch drum head and managed to fit it on top of the big plastic bucket.  I didn't have means to attach tension rods but I did find some tension hooks at the hardware store, probably meant for pitching tents.  That and a lot of cable ties, and I acquired a really mean sounding bass drum!  I was so scared to play it because it sounded so monstrous, and I might invoke the wrath of my mother next door.  Anyway, I snagged the tension hooks to the edge of the drum head and now it's warped and I have to rebuild it.  I found something to use as a drum hoop which I can snag the tension hook to, which came off a dead 20 inch fan cage.  It has a sharp edge though, which cut through the cable ties.  But I think I found a solution to that, so I'm enjoying this bass drum build.  I used to grumble to myself about not having quality equipment, but now I don't seem to care anymore because finding and creating solutions to musical equipment is a lot of dang fun.  Even when the money comes inshaAllah, I don't think I would ever make a purchase if I can rig something up instead.  Be this a lesson to musical instrument makers: find your endorsements, don't force them to come to you.  Especially in my case mashaAllah.