Bright Star - Steve Bartosik - The Miller Machine

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2 min read

Steve Bartosik’s setup for the National Tour of Bright Star.

Read Joe Mowatt's write-up about the show, below the photos.

Joe Mowatt's comments on Steve Bartosik's setup for Bright Star. Joe subbed for Steve on this tour.

“The original drummer for the show was Steve Bartosik. August Eriksmoen (orchestrator) and Steve worked together to create a drum book that would blend with the traditional bluegrass instruments in the show but would add an additional rhythmic and textural element to the music, all while not disturbing the integrity of the bluegrass sound.

Some interesting things they are using are a Meinl Cajon that can switch the snares on and off so they get that cardboard box sound when needed. The use of a Remo Frame Drum on a towel on top of the floor tom made for a perfect ‘suitcase’ sound when played with Promark Broomsticks. A couple of songs call for a ‘knee slap’ sound so Steve came up with using a vacuum practice pad that has a strip of leather or chamois cloth wrapped around it on the snare drum. This is then played with a pair of Regal Tip Conga Sticks to replicate the knee slap or hambone sound.

The djembe is always covered with a towel and is only used on downbeats for a very low, woofy sound. Drumsticks are never used during the show, only variations on brushes: Promark Broomsticks, Meinl Cajon Brushes, Meinl Plastic Retractable Brushes, Innovative BR-9 Fanned Bundle Sticks and Cat Paws Spoons. Shakers are LP One Shots (two pairs tapped together), LP Soft Shake, and a Toca 6" Aluminum Shaker. Two Miller Machines are used with an Alan Abel 4" Triangle and a Mini Tingsha. A Meinl Mini Cajon (Mini Me as August likes to say) is used at the top of the show.

I started the tour in Los Angeles, and it was determined that I would run the click, so the trigger button and screen are mounted to my left on the Mark Tree Stand.

All of the gear belongs to Steve and he sent the exact kit he used on Broadway.

Drummer's World 20" Kick Drum (just the batter side of the nesting kit kick)
Slingerland 6.5” x 14" Snare
Slingerland 14" x 14" Floor Tom
Zildjian 18" Medium Ride
Zildjian 17" A Custom Crash
Unknown 15" Crash
Zildjian 13" New Beat Hi Hats

To help with cajon ass fatigue, Steve took the top off one of his drum thrones and put it on top of the cajon. It added a little height but saves your behind and your back. Since the cajon has a rubber top, the seat doesn't slide at all."

The show was written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, and orchestrated by August Eriksmoen.

Steve's Broadway Credits.
Joe's Broadway Credits.

Bright Star - Tour - Steve Bartosik
November 2017

Conducting a National Tour by Danny Taylor

"Conducting a National Tour is incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. Stepping on to the podium with a new orchestra every few weeks really keeps you on your toes. Every player responds differently so you are constantly adjusting to get the desired result. I would compare it to playing a multi-percussion piece where the instruments are constantly moving."

5 min read

Reporting from the Broadway Trenches by Jon Berger

"After a grueling four years at SUNY I still had one theory class left to finish. I was really depressed. A classmate of mine recommended me for a tour of a Broadway show. This completely changed the course of my life."

7 min read

Drumming for "Ain’t Too Proud" by Clayton Craddock

"When I first got the call to start working on Ain’t Too Proud - The Life And Times Of The Temptations, I was curious about which era the show was going to focus on. Their career began in the early 1960’s and they’re still releasing albums today."

7 min read

The Little Mermaid - Brian Kirk

"The timpani tunings are the real challenge of The Little Mermaid. Changing pitches must be done by feel, that was my biggest challenge. Memorizing the mallet parts was also very necessary."

2 min read

The Little Mermaid - Alec Wilmart

"As you can see in the pictures, I prefer to have as much 'stuff' right in front of me, as close as possible. Because there are so many instruments close in, I have mounted a music stand off of the tom mount.

2 min read

Kevin McNaughton's setup for the National Tour of Pretty Woman at the Old National Centre (formerly the Murat Theatre) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Pretty Woman - Kevin McNaughton

"Different from the tour, the original Broadway production had acoustic drums, an acoustic set of timbales, and an acoustic tambourine - the tambourine is now programmed in the SPD-SX."