Member Questions for STEVE...finally done!!

1. eLiZaBeTh: How many times have you got lost?

Wow...a good question since I am not sure.  I have been traveling by Garmin GPS for several years now, and so, in those years, I have only gotten lost a handful of times (such as the time that Garmin took me to the middle of a cornfield in SW Iowa while I was looking for a school that was out in the country.  Prior to the GPS, I would assume that I was lost many more times since I find myself directionally challenged (I rarely know which way North is when I am in unfamiliar places...unless of course the sun is out! (or the North Star if night)).  There have been a few times that I had to **drive quite fast** when I thought I was actually going to miss a show or be late for the start...those were bad experiences for sure.

 2. Kelli - How have you changed (other than age, hair, ect.) since the beginning of SR?

I guess the thing I would say that has been the biggest change in me is actually a sad thing (in some respects) but a good thing (in most respects).  That would be my resiliency in terms of dealing with what I call "crazy people syndrome".  In the past 14 years, there has never been a year where there was not some kind of crisis, always with adults, who have made a decision to try and cause problems in SR...in terms of power, control, who is in charge, what it is about...and always, the change that was desired was one that runs counter to what SR is about.  In all of these, very bad things have been said about me personally, and in each case, it hurt quite a bit.  So, that is the sad part...that I have dealt with this since the beginning.  Of course, all of us go through this...at school, in our jobs, with our "friends", even in our churches quite often...and always, the person on the attacking side has been after something for their own personal gain, glorification, or simply to cause "drama". 

The good part in all of this...I am MUCH stronger now than I was 14 years ago, and I can let things like this roll off my shoulders much more easily than in the past...not saying that I still don't let it get me down...for awhile...but there is one thing that has helped me more than anything...knowing that God put me on this path and He is there for me through all of the bad times...therefore, most of my strength in dealing with these situations comes from God.

 3.  Benjamin J. Arnold -how much money do u guys go through in just 1 month for flights and rental cars, hotels, gas, etc.?

More than you want to know!  We try to travel as cheaply and efficiently as we can, but doing it 327 days per year certainly does add up!!  The flights are the most costly of course, but that is why we try to have more than one practice site attached to each flight, as often as we can...it helps with those costs.

4.    Colleen-  Is it really hard traveling with Jordan because he is so much youunger than you?

Interesting question Colleen!  I have known Jordan since he was 6 years old...taught him for 2 years of private drum lessons (which I had done at a music store since I as 14 years old) and so, in many ways he is my little brother...and therefore, I know him very well, and most of the time, it is very easy to travel together.  However, that is a LOT of time on the road for any 2 people, and yes, we do run out of things to talk about and to do...for many hours at a time...which can be hard to handle somedays.

-Do you have fun while coming up with new songs?

YES!  This has always been my favorite part of being a musician...and that is creating new things to music that complement it...and add definition to it...AND then, at the same time, challenging myself to create new things that we have never done before...as much as I can, and without overwhelming you all (at least too much). 

-Is it difficult coming up with new songs to drum to that actually have all of the steps of sucess?

Yes...sadly, there are so many songs out today that are about...well...NOTHING.  This makes me sad because it seems that if we had many more songs nowadays that actually talk about something important, we would have more to choose from.  But, then, at the same time, each song does not have to be about every step...and some can truly be just for fun!

5.    Karen S.- What is life like for the two of you with always being on the go?

It can be very overwhelming.  One thing I notice the past 3 years, as I moved more and more of my "days off" to December only (and this year I am doing the most of that, with little time off until then to make sure we can book and cover as many shows as our out there)...that I come back SO ready to go in January.  Then, by June I am feeling tired...by September exhausted.  It is because you have to take the usual schedule that everyone follows for schools OR your job...and add in the pressure of having to travel hours per day to get there AND then to get to the next part...that part can be simply exhausting.  It can also get lonely out there...because every day is a new place.  But, at the same time, I love to travel...see new things...even if they are the same places each 6 week block.  I also like to meet people (such as the check in person at a certain hotel) who is always there, and therefore, they become someone to talk to and catch up with...so those are good things for sure.

   - What do you do in your non-sr time (at home and on the road)?

Most of my down time is spent doing...catch up at home (laundry, mail, cleaning things)...but more often...watching movies, working out, swimming (my number one thing to do on the road whenever/wherever I can), eating out (or at home, cooking favorite things), zoos/birding/nature trails/hiking when I can...and then, in December, going to Florida for fun in the sun!

 6.    Jovanna- How do either of you have enough energy to constantly be on the go? Lots of God power or Monster?

Jovanna, if you mean Monster energy drink...YUCK!  I do not like energy drinks (but Vault Zero and Coke Zero do help!)...yes, it is all God power, because somedays I wake up...and am sore all over (from either drumming, working hard on choreography, or most often, after having driven 8 - 13 hours the day before) and I don't want to move...so I have to remind myself that God gave me this journey, and I must take it...whether I like it or not.  It is a lesson to all of us to think about the fact that we may not always get what we want, but if God has it as part of our plan, we must do it!

7.Sonja Youngquist -When you started SR how did you think it would end up? Are you surprised so far?

I did not plan on anything at all...just wanted to collect 2 years of data on music as a motivational tool...so I could finish my PhD and become a college professor (in a college of education, in science education of all non-musical things!)...but when I saw that it worked...and really took off...YES...I was shocked beyond belief that a simple thing like a drum lesson could be...truly God given and could change the world!

 8.    Autumn- what was your favorite show EVER!?

Opryland, 2007.  This show was our first "REAL" professional production, complete with timed entrances and exits, and exact clock to follow, and SO much pressure I thought I would explode from stress the first day...but God gave me the words that day and gave the performers the Spirit...and we rocked the house.  Twice!!

 9.  David R.- Where do you get the inspiration for making your songs?

I have never been able to answer this fully.  It is a feeling about a song when I hear it.  I have found over the years that just because I "like" a song does not mean it will be one for SR.  Other times, I might NOT like a song, but it feels like it should BE.  I always say that the songs that God wants us to connect to the audience with are the ones that work.

-Which song so far was funnest to make?

Eho Pathan Gia Sena...our first shared drum song.  This was the biggest challenge I have taken on creatively speaking...because it took so long to actually decide what worked in terms of side to side playing on each others' drums...and therefore, once it was finally done (one year later) I felt like we had truly done something EXTRA special.  We took the song out of the show (mine at least) about 2 years ago, which is why I am excited about If I Had You, our new one, and have even put the Pirate song on the backburner until the new shared song is done.

 10.  Kim- What do you miss the most since you started traveling?

Feeling like I belong SOMEWHERE.  Even when I am home, it never feels right, since my body and mental state are so used to being in a new place everyday.  When I have a day or two in the same place, especially if no drumming is going on, I always feel like something is wrong.  So, I guess feeling grounded in one place, and feeling comfortable there is what I miss the most...though, I finally work through that in December when I actually allow myself to relax.

11. Scott "Scooter" Urban-what is the one thing that has inspired you most to keep this going? (besides getting to see ME of course)

Oh, Scott, it is all about seeing YOU!!  The thing that continues to inspire me to keep going is seeing long running members get excited about NEW members starting their journey, and then watching those long running members do Whatever It Takes to empower success in new folks.  That is my favorite part.  Right behind that is each new story we have about having changed a life dramatically, and watching audiences, new and old (repeat) responding once again with emotional reactions that prove that we CAN make a musical difference in the world!  Great question!!

12.Dee-What is your favorite thing to eat?. Then when your traveling what is your favorite thing to eat?

Same answer to both...Chinese food is my favorite thing...on the road or at home (where my favorite restaurant is Pei's in Cedar Rapids, IA!)

13. Dylan - How has SR changed since it first started?

We have had to make many adjustments because of the size of SR...it is very hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I used to see kids once per week, every week...and then, for awhile, each site had 3 days of practice IN A ROW...can you all imagine that?  It was insane to do it that way...YES...drumming was tighter, but to think that folks used to block off 3 nights in a row for practice blows my mind today!

-Have the Steps of Success changed at all, other than you adding another step?

They have simply gotten bigger in definition because of all the ways that people use them to motivate themselves in SR and beyond!

14.  Kristen -How do you remember everyone's names?!?

I don't..which is sad!  I try my best, but get in a panic when I am heading to practice and realize there are X number of new kids/parents and I cannot remember a single name :(  It is very embarrassing for someone who truly loves meeting new people...there are just so many of them!

15. Tom- Did you ever think SR would get this big when you started?

Not at all...and I still in awe of what God's plan for SR has been!

-How big would you like it to get? How many sites, how many drummers?

As big as God wants it...as big as it can get...I would love to say someday there is a group in every state.  We still have a long ways to go for that, and would need to make more adjustments for sure!!

16. Alex Lang - Is the show SR is doing on the 27th of February the same mall that you played at the beginning of SR? If so, do you think the reaction will be better at the mall? And has SR played at any interesting places in small towns when you had the singers and stuff?

Nope, different mall for sure!  Good memory Alex!!  Hopefully, this mall will NOT be like the past one (in West Burlington)...where the show was shut down for being too loud.  When we used to have singers, and songs that I wrote myself we played in the same kinds of places we do now...though since those songs were NOT very good, I am not ever sure why people liked SR!!

17. Colleen- have you ever had doubts about having SR grow to the size that it is today? i mean you guys are constantly going almost all year long...dont you ever get too tired?

Yes, I get too tired all the time...and more each year, as I get older...but, I would not trade what has happened for anything at all.  It is great to have a dream and do Whatever It Takes to help it succeed in God's plan!!

18. Anne-Marie- Steve, what it the one single thing you wish would happen to SR in 2010?

For every member, every adult, to feel more connected through the BLOG to each other, no matter where they live!  COMMUNICATE people...to each other...come on...let's get everyone on there, and talking to each other, time permitting!

19.  Tina Seals - Where did you get the name Sheltered Reality?

So many audiences end up asking this one :)  Originally it was all about helping homeless kids, as our main mission in the world, and it has always seemed that in America we try to hide from the problems our citizens face, but are always willing to help in the world first...and therefore, I said that we are "Sheltered from Reality" here in the country...in terms of the problems our kids face, and what we MUST do about it...and from there, it became Sheltered Reality!

I hope you have all enjoyed this, and sorry it took me 2 weeks to finally get these done.  If you have more questions from here, we will do this again sometime on a future blog!!