By Rob Cook, promoter of the Chicago Drum Show
In 1991, Jack Hutchinson of Jack’s Drum Hutch organized a Drummer’s Swap Meet which was held in a lower level conference room of a Holiday Inn in Loves Park, Illinois. Participants included Rebeats, Randy Rainwater and Bun E Carlos, Chuck Scalia, Joe Luoma, Blair Holben, Jack Brand’s Percussion Express, Skins N Tins, and a couple of others.
Later in 1991 Rob Cook phoned Jack to check the date for the 1992 show, but Jack said he had lost money on the project and did not want to repeat it. “If you would like to take over and continue the show,” he told Rob, “I would be happy to give you my mailing list.” Rob took him up on the offer, and held the 1992 gettogether at his shop, Cook’s Music, in Alma, Michigan. The show was still pretty much a swap meet attended only by the half dozen or so participants. Skins N Tins made the trip to Michigan from Champaign, Illinois, Joe Chila traveled from Detroit, and John Orlich introduced his glass drums.
It was obvious to Rob that there was enough interest out there to maintain this event, but if it was to achieve it’s growth potential, it would have to be moved to a more metropolitan area. He partnered with Robert Carone and Marek Piotroski to produce the third show at the Hillside Holiday Inn in 1993. The show attracted 21 exhibitors and 400 attendees, but did not quite manage to break even.
The 4th show in 1994 was the first show that Rob produced by himself in Chicagoland and was titled the Midwest Custom And Vintage Drum Show. Karl Dustman had heard about the planned event, and contacted Rob to offer a free venue; the newly remodeled Chicago Music Mart. DePaul University had recently purchased the former Goldblatt’s Department Store building and renovated for the express purpose of creating a music facility; offices, studios, retail space, and performance areas. There were 28 exhibitors. Most of the exhibitors would become regulars at the Chicago Drum Show. Terry Breese would continue to exhibit every year until his passing in 2010, and 8 of the exhibitors are still exhibiting in 2021. This was the first show to present a printed exhibitor listing and schedule. This was also the first show to demonstrate Rob’s vision for making the gathering an entertainment and educational event. Lectures were presented by John Aldridge, Rob, Wm. F. Ludwig II, “Sir” Alan Buckley, and Harry Cangany. Although it was not on the schedule, Barrett Deems played a solo and returned to the show every year through 1998; he passed away in September of 1998.
In 1995, Rob moved the show to the Kane County Fairgrounds in St Charles, Illinois. The show was held in a steel utility building, “Trades One” through the year 2002. In 2003, the show moved to Robinson Hall on the Fairgrounds where it was held until 2008.
In 2009 a new building was completed just in time, as the drum show was outgrowing the exhibit space in Robinson Hall. This remained the home of the Chicago Drum Show through the 2015 show. In 2016 the show moved to the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park. Although there was great sentiment to keep the show in St Charles because of the great ambience of the community and all the memories that had been generated there, the reasons for the move were rather overwhelming. The show had grown to the point that a County Fairgrounds was no longer suitable. Rob needed a venue that could accomodate exhibitors who wanted to ship materials directly to the venue. He also needed more space, a clinic area that was separated from the exhibits, closer proximity to the airport, a box office, and other amenities afforded by a commercial facility.
Then came the Covid-19 Pandemic. The 30th Chicago Drum Show was set for 2020 at the Odeum Expo Center. It became clear by mid-March that such gatherings would not be safe or permitted, so the show was postponed until May of 2021. Rob tried to secure the 2021 dates at the Odeum so the rescheduled show could be announced immediately. Unable to verify the dates, Rob decided to move the show back to the Kane County Fairgrounds in St Charles for 2021. The clinic and master class programs were suspended for this show, primarily because of venue space and infrstructure limitations.
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