At a Glance: Ed Hamrick

Ed Hamrick
Atlanta Pro Percussion, Inc.

Location: Smyra, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta
Founded: April Fool’s Day, 1978

Inspiration: “I started playing drums after seeing the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964.”

Stupid is as stupid does: “I knew I wanted to be in the musical instrument business when my high school marching band drum line buddy came back to Atlanta after two tours of duty in the U.S. Army Band and said we should start a drum shop since there wasn’t one in Atlanta. I said, ‘If we could find a bank stupid enough to loan us money, let’s do it.’ We got $7,000!”

Low point: “In the beginning we had a very limited inventory, so I would break down my drum kit every night after my six-night-a-week club gig and carry it to the store the next morning. I would set it up and put a SOLD sign on it to look like we were doing some business. That got old!”

High point: “In 1997, when I finally convinced my landlord to sell me the small shopping center in which my store is located.”

Best thing about the gig: “Interacting with my customers and seeing my ex-drum students and longtime customers bringing their children into the store to become second-generation drummers.”

Most unpleasant part of my job: “Watching the business change from a group of people who loved what they did for a living, where their word was their bond, into a cut-throat commodity business where trust is severely lacking.”

Oops: “My biggest mistake was telling the Simmons sales rep that nobody would be willing to pay $3,500 for an untried electronic drum kit, the SD5.”

What’s love got to do with it: “If I could go back in time and tell my younger self one thing, it would be to exercise discretion when ordering inventory. Do not fall in love with your inventory!”

The three most important things about managing a music store: “Cherish your customers, be flexible, and treat everyone fairly.”

The most important thing about doing business with a manufacturer: “Be aware that your business relationship is constantly in flux and take note of the 800-pound gorilla that is now always in the room!”

Who I admire most in this business: “Rob Birenbaum, former owner of Drum Headquarters.”

Prodigy: “My son, 22-year-old Brad, who is a drummer for Hellcat Recording artists The Heart Attacks.”

In my car’s CD player right now: “Five Live Yardbirds from 1965.”

Last good movie seen: “3:15 to Yuma.”

Surprise: “I am an avid home brewer, a certified beer judge, and I write a regular article, ‘Tasting Notes,’ for a local beer publication,  Southern Brew News.”

Not so surprising: “I still play gigs in Atlanta!”

Could have guessed that: “My favorite meal is lobster and beer.”

True or False: You can be happy and rich in the music instrument business? “I’ll have to get back to you on that one.”

Favorite drummer joke: “What do you call a guy who hangs out with musicians? A drummer!”

Words to live by (apologies to Steve Martin): “Want to make a small fortune in the music instrument business? First, start with a large fortune …”