Choosing a group

One of the requests I got for topics was that on choosing a group and evaluating over time if that group is still right for you.

During a discussion session at the Taiko Conference held in Sacramento, one woman said how she didn't like the "cliquey-ness" of her group; how if you didn't know Japanese you couldn't really get into the "inner circle". One of the panelists responded, putting it best: maybe that wasn't the group for her, then.

It's not always easy to find the right group for you. It's easier with martial arts, since they're a lot more wide-spread and it's easier to find something you like. Although there are exceptions, you can generally find more than one style/dojo to choose from in a given area.

With taiko, well, it's a different story. There's reportedly over 300 taiko groups in North America, but does that mean there's a handful right by you? Take into account that many of those groups are church- or college-based, where you have to be a member. Or perhaps the group is for the wrong age range that you're in.

Most people, including myself, fall in love with taiko and know little to nothing of the art when they start. We scramble to find the nearest group and assuming they'll take us, we want to join! It's not ideal, but it's common. It would be better to find all the groups in the area, observe a practice, find out about their core values and goals, then choose which one to join. But who really has a choice? Groups are spread out pretty thin, like I said, and the options are pretty limited. If I didn't join SJT, my closest option would have been a good hour away. And I'm in a place with "moderate" taiko density!

Most of us will put up with a lot to be in a taiko group, but it's always important to think about how and where you fit in. Are the members people you want to hang around with? Are the commitments you have to make to the group balanced out by what they offer? Is simply "playing the taiko" enough for you or will you want more? Do they provide opportunities for "more"? It's a lot to ask, but if you don't know the answers, you might find yourself invested in a group years down the line, that you're ill-fit for. Also, don't think this is a question that you'd only ask once - you need to ask this of yourself even after you're in a group! Groups change over time, so re-evaluate where you are every now and then; don't let things move around you without being aware of how they affect you.

I'd bet money that the high majority of people who read this are already in a taiko group of some sort, so it's a bit late to ask "should I join this group?" But you should never stop asking yourself if the group is right for you. Accepting your place without question is ok for some people, but I see it as the lazy path!