Please Help me Regain my Livelihood!

My name is Brandon Smith.

I am a professional drummer living in Columbus Ohio. I play over 300 shows a year in order to make enough to pay the bills and support my passion. I am one of the premiere drummers for the theater company Shadowbox Live, and I also play other weekly gigs around the Columbus area.

On January 2nd, I woke up to find my van stolen along with most of my equipment. My drum set with which I make my living... gone. I had just purchased this used van on December 15 because my jeep started having issues, and after all if I can't make it to a gig, I can't make my living. As you might imagine having this van less than a month only to have it stolen from me with my drums inside is pretty stressful.

Everyone in my social media network has been amazing; helping me repost and share my situation with all their friends in order to hopefully find the ones who took my livelihood away. So thank you, my friends, are truly wonderful! Getting my stolen gear back is unfortunately very unlikely, so I'm starting this Go Fund Me campaign. I'm asking you for a little help financially in order to get me back on my feet because I got hit pretty hard.

Below - I have a detailed record of everything that was taken from me for anyone to look over because I want you to know what your money is going towards. I will be personally contacting those who donate over $50 about incentives to show my appreciation. No donation will go unappreciated as I come to you asking with a humble heart in an unfortunate situation. I make people smile and dance with my music and drumming, and it's sad that happiness and joy can be taken just like that. Most likely by someone who has no idea the depth of their actions and its effect on others. Thank You again everyone for being so supportive, and I appreciate anything anyone can give to help me continue doing what I do! You rock!

Brandon Smith

Items Stolen on 1/2/15

Purple 94 GMC Safari Conversion Van and its contents. The van was recovered on 1/4/15 with no items inside. As of right now the steering column is the only thing that needs replaced because it was ripped apart to be started by the theif.

Customized Pearl Masters Retrospec drum set. Black shells w/ all Black hardware rims, lugs. Customized at Columbus percussion by Chris White. Badge on drums say Masters Retrospec even though the drums are all black. I still have the 8" 10" & 14" toms to this set.

Sizes:

20"x18" $900

case $125

16"x16" $659.00

case $120

12"x10" $428.00

case $120

In Humes & Burg hard shell cases with no liners that have the name Brandon Smith painted all over them.

Pearl Signature Series Virgil Donati 14"x5" Snare Drum. Silver Sparkle. $499

Hard shell Cymbal Case $120

Meinl Byzance Brilliant 14" Fast hihats pair. $369

Meinl Byzance Brilliant 18" Medium Thin Crash. $279

Meinl Byzance Brilliant 19" Medium Thin Crash. $309

Meinl Byzance Dark 20" Raw Bell Ride. $329

Meinl Byzance Extra Dry 18" China. $279

Zildjian K Custom Hybrid 13-1/4" Hihats pair. $399

Axis A21 Longboard Double Pedals Black w/ pedal bag. $787

Tama Ergo-rider drum Throne. $150

Pearl H2000 eliminator hihat stand. $295

Yamaha snare stand. $159

Yamaha cymbal stand with boom arm. $140

Gibraltar cymbal stand with boom arm. $140

Pacific cymbal stand with boom arm. $120

Pearl multi clamps with Tom arm mounts (2) $200

Tama Multi clamps with cymbal arm mount. (2) $150

Six black PEARL floor Tom legs with memory locks. $100

Extra tom mounting arms and brackets. $100

Drum first aid kit including moon gels, extra cymbal sleeves, washers, wing nuts and felts. $50

Total stolen not including Van: $7,300