If you have been to a major sporting event, concert, or festival around the Tampa Bay Area, or any one of a number of other major cities in the South Eastern United States, then you may have had the pleasure of being fantastically entertained by a native St. Petersburg drummer that many refer to as, The Bucket Man. Chris Harris has been playing on the street, captivating large audiences with just a set of buckets and a pair of sticks since 1995. His talents and a tip bucket have supported him and his family right from the early beginnings of this peculiar choice of vocation for a U.S.F. Alum that holds a degree in finance and economics.
Chris' time spent as a touring D.C.I. drummer is evidenced with a blazing speed and precission that have caused people to dub him with YouTube distinction as the World's Fastest Street Drummer. Although in most cases he is not directly credited, his marching style beats, stick twirling, and one handed speed exhibitions are currently responsible for better than a million video hits. He has become so popular and well recognized that he has even been extended offers to travel and perform in drumming festivals in other countries. When the Letica Corporation found out that Chris exclusively plays on their buckets, he was invited to perform at a private party for the company's C.E.O., and was eventually offered a lifetime supply of buckets to play on. Most recently, the Tampa Bay Rays have labled him a Fan Favorite and have given him exclusive privelege to set up in the parking lot of Tropicana Field and play at all of their home games. On the other hand, the stigma associated with street performances in many places has also caused him to be kicked out of, and even banned from some locations. Chris takes it all in stride with his phylosophy that time is more important than any amount of money that a person could earn, and playing buckets has made him rich with the luxury of time to spend with his family and the ability to enjoy life at his own pace.
The following are portions of our fascinating one hour interview:
I've been seeing you playing buckets around the Tampa Area for about 15 years now. Your playing style is seriously demanding. Has your body shown any signs of slowing down as your are getting older?
Yes
So your feeling it?
I have to pace myself more. I used to do what I called "Boot Camps" where you do festivals for like 4 or 5 days where you are drumming for 8 to 12 hours a day, show after show after show. Usually when that type of festival is over you go home with an injury.
You actually suffer an injury from playing?
Oh yeah, its some type of tenden injury, rip, broken bone, something in the shoulders or hips. Because of the heavily phisically demanding style that the buckets demand, the injuries will come. So now I find myself trying to pace myself more and not playing as hard as I used to. I try to get a lot of sleep.
Do you do any calestetics, exercise, ride a bike or anything else to stay fit?
I practice Aikido which is a Japanese defensive art. I have been doing that on and off for the last 20 years.
You must be high up in the ranks of Aikido.
Not really, I am preparing for my Shodan test which is first degree black belt. So it takes a long time, and I have taken years off to have children, go to college, build a career on buckets. Its something thats been in my life. I haven't been able to attend classes as often as I would like to but all the excersises, techniques and principals I still practice at home.
So would you say thats your secret to being able to keep at this after all this time?
Yes
Do you have a plan "B" in place for a time in your life when you may no longer be able to do this type of playing?
I'm going to run for Mayor.
Seriously?
Of St. Petersburg.
What is your platform going to be?
I'm the mayor of the people. Everybody knows me. I am going to get the popular vote, or I feel like I will. I went to all my schooling here. Elementary through high school, graduated from USF Bayborough campus with a Bachelors in finance and a minor in economics. So when people are like whats your plan "B" well plan "B" is just sittin over there waiting for me to fail on the buckets. The day I have to go get a day job then I am a failure. So plan "B" I am hoping that just my name alone will work. I could put my name on a car dealership "Bucket Man Auto" and be successful.
But I don't understand how you can call it a failure if you have to stop playing. You've had what, 15 plus years playing bucktes, I would call that a pretty damn good run.
Yeah it has been, but there have been so many great opportunities in front of me that just haven't worked out the way I would have wanted them to. I just feel that the buckets are a stepping stone on to something bigger as an performer. I have many other talents and I am kinda hoping that this will give me the opportunity to say hey, if I'm good at this, you'll believe that I'm good at all this other stuff too. I see myself growing as a performer into maybe the theatre.
Did you ever think that maybe your bucket performances would have been a heck of a Broadway show like what the Blue Man Group is doing or something like that?
I got involved in the buckets back in 1995 and then Stomp was doing their show at the performing arts theatre within a year or so after that. So I thought I would go and do an informal audition. Thats where you go to the back door and wait for the cast to come out and just give them a show. And they were like "oh thats cool" and I came to find out that in this show you have a nucleus of performers that created this and they surround themselves with union drummers and they just get filtered through at union rate. One of my friends that I marched drum and bugle with was a Blue Man for like 7 years. It was very phisically demanding. He doesn't do it any more. He still does Vegas shows. Unfortunately though, you have to be between 5'11" and 6'1" and I was too short to be a Blue Man. I've had some friends that I did drum corps with that were very successful at Disney World, drumming in the parks and they all want my job. Well I cant really say that, maybe I'm exaggerating but they see what I have as something that is a bit more secure. Some of them just lost their jobs last year.
We have spoken a few times in the past, and I recall you saying that you started out playing in the Orlando Magic, DCI Corps. What kind of formal training did you have prior to that on drums?
My father is a music major. When I got into middle school and he saw that I wanted to take it a more serious. He hired a private instructor to come out to my house once a week and that probably lasted about a year and a half maybe two years. He was a very recognized Jazz drummer here in this community at the time. So I had rudimental drum set training. Then high school came along. In high school I was heavily influenced with drum corps. All the teachers were in corps and marching band was the big thing. So my direction went to who's next to give me the education. So I was looking up to these guys that were all marching corps right here in this community. We used to have a big drum corps in this area, Suncoast Sound. Well, those people kinda let that go and then formed another one in Orlando.
I have followed a lot of DCI throughout my life and I have seen the type of playing that is developed there. I know the audition process is tough, so you must have been a really good player to have made it into DCI in the first place.
It took me a few years to get through the corps. When I first got involved it was with Suncoast in 1989 but I was just too young of a player and the other guys were just too experienced. So it wasn't until I got older, about 19 years old before I felt like I was mature enough as a musician to hang with those type of guys, because thats no joke. They are trying to constantly stretch you and break you down and stretch you again. It was probably the hardest 2 years of my life.
Do you think that type of playing was what mainly preped you for this bucket job that you've created for yourself?
I think so. In drum corps when you come off the road, the rest of the world seems lazy. It was really hard for me to come back in to the normal grind of school and work, paying the bills and daily activities. I wondered where were the goals.
DCI is like the Marines of drumming.
Yes it is. Its the Marines of life. I mean, it was hard enough your first year to hang with your suit case. It is harder to hang with your suit case than it is to hang with the drumline. You have to know where all your stuff is, where's your sleeping bag, where's your tooth brush, where's your next pair of underwear. The whole time you've got this going on, as a musician and a marcher your trying to hang and not be the weakest link. So sometimes you loose your bags, you loose your belongings and you loose your girlfriend. It was tough.
So has it been hard on your family life as you've had to tour to keep up your income?
I think everybody has made sacrifices in the family. But at the same time they are also starting to recognize the benifits that my job creats for my family. It is really hard for us to compare ourselves to what would it be like if I worked at a bank 9 to 5. What would our life be like then compared to what it is now. Next year I am home schooling my son. Without the buckets I wouldn't be able to do that. So the buckets are giving me my son back from the govenrment. Its given me the time to invest in my family. Its one of the things you learn in finance school. They are always preaching the time value of money. This much, plus this much interest, over this much time. If you reverse the formula and focus on time, thats the one variable where we are all equal. No matter how rich or poor we are, we all have the same amount of time. I invested so much time as a drummer throughout my early childhood, teenage years, early twenties, I feel like I am finally getting the benifits of that now. I feel that if I take that same type of investment of time and devote it into my family I am hoping that investment will show itself.
Did you ever participate in the "National Teach In" at your kid's school?
I did that last year, my son was in the band program. Once he told the kids who his dad was, he became a very popular kid at school. The band director contacted me and he invited me in. I went in and did a show for the kids and talked a little bit about how to make something like this your career. You just can't find "Bucket Drummer" in the classifieds.
So then obviously your kids are pretty proud of you.
I want to hope so, but sometimes I think they are a little ashamed of it. Not my two younger ones so much, but maybe my son. But at the same time when we are walking through the theme parks and people recognize me, all of a sudden thats good.
They like the star factor.
Right, so we can't normally get through a Walmart, I can't get through a theme park or grocery store without somebody stopping me and saying something or comlementing me or just to say hello.
I wanted to ask you, what drummers have been your influences. Are there any bands or big names that you have followed after?
I was fed Buddy Rich albums from my father. Then in my teenage years it was Neal Peart. When I got a little older it became Dave Weckle. But these aren't the drummers that I learned from. There are some drummers here in the Tampa Bay area and in Florida that are just phenominal. Like the guy who taught me drum corps, John Campece. He's still doing drum corps today. He's got a drum corps out in Jacksonville and does an indoor drumline in Orlando. He was a Disney drummer for a while. Another guy here in Tampa Bay, his name is Mitch Marcum. Mitch and I go way back. Being around those type of drummers that are motivating to just keep you learning and keep going forward. You can keep getting better. It doesn't stop.
Do you ever play on a regular drum set?
Every time I go to Sam Ash.
You don't have one at home?
It is in my brother's lesson studio. My father and my brother have a music store in Covington Georgia.
Have you played in any bands.
Yes I have, nobody famous, nobody big. Out of drum corps I started playing in bands. We did originals and covers. Again it seemed like this whole thing of coming out of drum corps, the whole band was lazy. I told them if they wanted to be successful then why didn't they quit their day jobs, and then they go "well how will we pay for our equipment." So I'm like oh no, this is bad already, this is a hobby then, this is not what you want to be.
I've watched your street performance showmanship improve over the years. How have you developed the showmanship portion of your performance. It's more than just playing buckets, your putting on a show, so how did you learn that?
That was definately learned from 15 years of street performing, experiencing the crowd and what they will react to. I also learn from other performers, maybe not other drummers, but my show, I learned from other entertainers.
Other street performers?
Other street performers, I don't like that term. It just has a bad ring to it. Buscar even, I don't like that term either.
Well what do you call it then?
Its a street performer or buscar, but either one. Buscar is not used commonly enough for people to really relate to what it is. A buscar is a street performer. They have buscar festivals in other countries. Street performer sounds too much like street person. You know what I'm sayin?
Right
But leanring from other entertainers from all over the country and watching shows. Not just watching shows but getting to know them. I have probably learned more about my show over dinner talking to other performers than watching other drummers or performers.
Do you have a favorite other entertainer that you try to aspire to be like.
No, but I have a vision of myself, of what I am trying to aspire to. I really feel like when I go to festivals with other buscars or street entertainers I have already plateaued to the top of the list. I have the biggest crowds, I am making the biggest buckets of money. Festivals are calling me up. I have to turn people down all the time.
Do you, or have you gotten hassled much by officials at the locations where you have set up at?
At first it was all the time. I felt like it was always me against the police. I think over time I have kinda found my place where I'm tolerated. Here at the Trop its a permission so thats good. In Tampa I have a place over by the Times Forum which I feel I am tolerated. They're nice to me. I've been going over there for years in the same spot and the police are very nice to me. Sometimes here in St. Pete the cops leave me alone but if there's a noise complaint they will come shut me down, which is so unfair. So I try not play in St. Pete as often. I try to avoid it. I've been trespassed from Ramond James, I've been trespassed from the Georgia Dome, Philips Arena, hold on, the Atlanta Convention Center. Just this last year I got a noise ordinance ticket in Athens Georgia. I had played there for over 10 years on game day. Finally the police officers are starting to enforce this new sound ordinance. Now I just don't go to Athens anymore.
I have had some of the meanest things yelled at me. I have haters.
I cant imagine why, every time I have seen you I have always been blown away by what you are doing, I can't imagine anyone getting nasty with you.
Get a job, thats the biggest one, learn something new, you suck.
How do you deal with that?
It all depends, if their just walking by then they are walking by and their gone. If its something where I have a crowd and they shout get a job I just turn to them and say "I dont want to be your boss." But there is some level of disrespect.
But it stabbs you though anyway doesn't it?
Sometimes, because it makes me wonder, out of thousands of these people walking by, only hundreds are going to stop to enjoy my show, are the majority of the people walking by really thinking that I should get a job and that I am only out here because I dont have any other tallents. What is the majority of the public thinking as they are walking by. And I'm thinking that the majority of people are taught that street performer equals street person and street people live like this, and don't give him any money because he's going to go spend it all on crack or alcohol.
Thats funny because I know from talking to you before that you make a lot of money doing this and have traveled and everything off the money that you make on this. And I think that sets you appart from other people that are out here just asking for money.
Most people don't see it. The people who have never seen me before, they don't know music, they don't know drumming, I'm starting to see that most people have to be told that I'm good. They just cant make that judgement for themselves. Thats why with sales and testimonials they have to have someone else say that their product is good. Its the same thing, people have to be told what is good.
Where do you get your buckets, is there a certain type that you look for?
I use the Letica bucket. Thats my favorite. A couple of years ago I actually did a show for Mr. Letica. Their company is based out of New York and they had their anual employee golf party in Orlando so the representative from Orlando found me and brought me to the banquet. It was a suprise show for Mr. Letica. They make half the plastic stuff in your house. Every time you buy a big gulp, the cup is Letica. Their buckets are the most consistant like when it comes to sound. They have certain mold numbers and I can look for those mold numbers.
Thats amazing to know that much about buckets. So how long do they last?
They last about 45 minutes of play time and then they crack.
What type of sticks are you using?
Vic Firth 2B. No matter what city I'm in I can always find them.
What type of tip, wood or nylon?
Wood tip, no plastic tips. They hurt when they fly off. They crack and fly off, you hit kids with them. Its not a good thing.
Have you ever considered a stick or bucket endorsement?
I was kinda hoping with Letica buckets but I dont think they needed to go in that direction. If I ever decided to use my act to start selling buckets I am sure their representative would want to talk to me.
Where do you go to get your buckets?
Thats a trade secret.
I won't go there then.
This is what I did, I have two sources that supply all I need here in Tampa Bay. One of them I have got to tell you how I got it because its so funny.
Now, do you want me to not print this?
No, I'm gonna tell you. I was at the Wing House trying to get buckets and the Cisco delivery guys were there. So I went up to the delivery guys and asked them where they delivered the most buckets. They told me that it would be the Pickle Barrel up on Missoury, Pickle Barrel. Letica offered me free buckets for life. But I already get free buckets for life.
I have always atributed you with coming up with the idea of lifting the buckets to get the bass sound, was that you?
No, that was shown in a Levis commercial back in the 80's. He is a drummer named Larry Wright. He is a very popular drummer today in New York. He wasn't the first kid to start playing buckets, but he was the first kid to get noticed on television and on commercials. They showed him in the Levis commercial and asked him whats that your doing with your foot and he'd say thats how I let the bass in.
Was that one of the hardest parts to learn doing buckets? Because that is like a reverse foot movement, usually a drummer puts their foot down to get the bass sound and here your putting your foot up.
I wouldn't think about it technically hard like that because any hi-hat sizzles with the left foot up, but what it was is having your leg bent in that position and then lifting. I had a chiopractor constantly putting my hip back in for 2 years because of the awkward movement my hip and buttocks muscles would have to do to get the foot to lift that way. It took me about a year and a half to two years to get some proficiency out of lifting the bucket.
And you sit on buckets too right?
I sit on a milk crate.
So all plastics, is the milk crate Letica as well?
No, its not.
I see that you have recorded some of your beats. Is there any place where readers can go to get a copy of your CD?
You can order my CD at Bucketdrummer.com. I want to put out a new one soon. People keep asking. I've had the same CD for over 10 years.
Where do you record at?
This one was recorded by a gentleman named Pete Church who runs a recording studio out of Palm Harbor about 10 or 11 years ago and I'm still selling the same CD.
Any thought to where you would go to record your new CD.
It would probably end up being done at home. With all the technology that available for home recording I can probably produce something very high quality right out of my house. But we will see, because my next CD won't be just buckets. I dont want to do another CD until I have my theatre show ready so I can have the CD go along with the theatre show.
So you are definately putting something together for a theatre show?
Yes, its been written. I'm very fortunate that I have some friends that have done theatre that I could consult with. I've written it over and over again so weather its successful or a flop I still have to do it.
If my readers want to see you is there a web site they come to or how do they find you if they want to see what your doing?
Well, I don't keep up with my web site, but there is an email address on there so people can contact me if they need to. You can almost count on me for every Rays home game. Clearwater Pier 60 from March to September, if I'm not at a Rays game I am probably at Pier 60. Thats pretty much what I'm trying to stay steady. I am trying not to travel as much.
I walked away from our interview feeling enlightened. I had not realized that there was so much that went into a performance like Chris'. I am still amazed every time I watch his show even though I have seen it hundreds of times. If you have not yet seen what he is doing then instead of hurrying by the crowd that is gathered in the street, next time, take a few minutes and push your way through to the front. You will be entertained and you will be driven to go home and practice till your hands bleed.
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