General SR Performance Facts

• In 2004, SR performed 150 shows in 11 states for 41,662 people.
• In 2005, our schedule increased to 161 shows bringing 120,770 people to hear our message.
• Continuing this increase into 2006, SR performed 333 shows for approximately 136,240 people.
• In 2007, our calendar filled up with 427 performances for approximately 164,365 people.
• 2008 brought on 365 shows for approximately 151,930 people across the United States.
• 2009 was filled with SR performances!  A total of 339 shows with approximately 176,120 people viewing the performance.
• Although 2010 was a tough year for the economy, we were thankful it didn’t affect SR too much! Across 312 shows, approximately 175,855 people enjoyed a performance.

In 2003, SR had 75 members, all based in the state of Iowa.  However beginning in 2004, we began to branch out into other states. This has allowed our membership to grow exponentially within the last few years bringing us to early 2009 with over 300 members!

On November 25, 2006, Sheltered Reality performed its 1000th show!

On July 19, 2009, Sheltered Reality performed its 2000th show!

It was requested that SR perform for the Mt. Rushmore Easter Sunrise Service in 2006. We brought 83 drummers from 6 different states to participate that day. Because the first year was such a success, we were asked to return in 2007.  We did, but this time we came with 104 drummers from 10 states and 3 different countries.  

Starting in 2006, we’ve had the privilege of having multiple foreign exchange students as a part of our organization during the school year. We have had youth from Germany, Russia, Norway and Finland.  Each of these students took the SR message back to their home countries.

In March of 2007, we were requested to perform for the Wal-Mart Logistics' Year Beginning Meeting.  We had the privilege of performing at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN for 12,000 people over 2 days.

In 2010, Sheltered Reality created the first-ever Sizzlin’ Summer Drummer Bash.  It was a weekend where 113 SR members from across the entire country gathered for a day of hands-on mission work, a day of practice, and a full 2-hour outside performance in the blistering August heat of the Troy, IL/St. Louis, MO area.

During February of 2011, Sheltered Reality performed its earliest show ever!  For a youth lock-in in central Kansas, drummers from across the state gathered to perform at 4am (yes, 4 in the morning...) and actually gathered to set up equipment at 3:15am!  The show was a huge success and SR plans to have this experience only once a year. :)

2011 also brought our second-annual Sizzlin’ Summer Drummer Bash; a great follow-up to the year prior. Events were again held in Troy, IL/St. Louis, MO area all weekend.  All day mission projects were completed on Friday along with 8 hours of drum practice on Saturday.  The show on Sunday included 115 drummers from 11 states, many of which did not meet each other until this weekend.

Sheltered Reality School-Year Fast Facts

• 69 school shows in the 2003-2004 school year.
• 60 school shows in the 2004-2005 school year.
• 74 school shows in the 2005-2006 school year.
• 78 school shows in the 2006-2007 school year.
• 82 school shows in the 2007-2008 school year.
• 73 school shows in the 2008-2009 school year.
• 75 school shows in the 2009-2010 school year.

Schools collected almost 50,000 stuffed animals for Project Eric from Nov 2003 - May 2004!

During the first 10 years, from 1996-2006, Sheltered Reality was blessed to perform for approximately 386,662 people of all ages at 1,014 shows. 

Sheltered Reality Awards

SR has been awarded the Presidential Award for Best Youth Project Aimed at Ending Homelessness in America, given to us on October 17, 2003, from the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth.

On November 8, 2003, our Executive Director, Steve Schlosser was awarded the Outstanding Young Iowan award by the Iowa Jaycees. Soon to follow, in Fall of 2004, Schlosser was awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Young Americans (TOYA) award by the National Jaycees.  Over the years, and across the nation, the prestigious TOYA award has been presented to such dignitaries and luminaries as Arthur Ashe, Steve Garvey, Virgil Grissom, John F. Kennedy, Henry Kissinger, Elvis Presley, and Barry Zito to name a few.