Steve Weiss Memorial Grant
Application Opens:
April 1, 2026
Deadline to Apply:
June 1, 2026
If you have any questions, please reach out to Justin Ramirez, PAS Director of Membership, at exhibitor@pas.org.
Steve Weiss served the percussion community for over 50 years as owner of Steve Weiss Music. His shop became known for its extensive inventory of hard-to-find world percussion instruments and percussion music, as well as for its quick service to those needing to rent or purchase instruments or mallets on short notice. His booth was a popular destination on the PASIC exhibit floor every year, and in the age of self-publishing, Weiss’s business served as a central source for locating music, CDs and videos by many composers and artists.
The Steve Weiss Memorial Grant is managed and administered by the Percussive Arts Society funded by a generous gift from Joe Cochran. The purpose of the Steve Weiss Memorial Grant is to act as a business incubator for the percussion community, providing emerging vendors with the opportunity to showcase their products and services at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Honoring the legacy of Steve Weiss by fostering growth within the industry, this grant offers recipients a platform for massive exposure, networking, and business development.
The Award
The Steve Weiss Memorial Grant is specifically designed to remove the financial barriers to entry for small businesses and innovators. The program covers:
- Standard Booth Fees: Direct registration costs for a booth in the PASIC exhibit hall.
- Support covers the cost of a standard booth only. Additional fees for custom booth elements such as tall structures, overhead signage, specialty lighting, or other upgrades are the responsibility of the vendor.
- Supplemental Expenses: Additional funds to assist with travel, lodging, meals, and shipping/drayage.
Eligibility
To ensure the grant supports true industry growth, the selection committee will prioritize vendors who have never exhibited at PASIC or those who have been absent for a substantial period.
- Focus: Open to vendors of percussion instruments, accessories, sheet music, and directly related services.
- Exclusions: The grant is intended for commercial business growth; organizations focused solely on recruitment (such as universities or military groups) are not eligible.
