The subject of allowing others to use you drums was brought up in another post. I have had a numerous experiences with this. I'm going to explain my experiences and what seems to help me.
First and best situation, the club has a "house" set of drums. Drummers tend to shy away from using the house set. That is understandable because the drum set is the most personal of instruments. I'm sure all of us here can agree that every drummer is different and has different personal preferences. That being said I can see why the house drum set may be an intimidating or irritating thought.
You need to make the best of it though. Remember that most of us drummers are fanatics and we stereotypically practice more than most people who have music as a hobby. Just keep it in your mind that you know the music, get a feel for the set you now must use and above all stay positive. You will surprise yourself with how good you really sounded after the gig. A house set may not be the best for you, but all it takes is the correct attitude to make up for the lack of an extra crash cymbal or tom. Using the house set isn't always the best, but its still better than allowing someone else you don't know to use your set.
Second and potentially bad situation. Someone else is using your drums. The easiest way I have found to get around this is make it known to the club or bar when booking the gig that no one else will be using the drums. If you have to sign a contract like alot of bars in my area do, make certain its written in the contract.
I know sometimes you need to have that same talk with band members as well. That can be a touchy subject, but you need to remember how much time and effort you put into making the drums sound good on top of the money spent.
If it is insisted someone needs to have their set out for an evening to be used by two or three drummers, talk to the other drummers. Find out who needs what and reach a compromise. Lastly make certain the club pays that drummer (who's set is being used) enough extra for the evening so that any new heads may be purchased as neccessary.
I know this sounds a little like I'm being a hardass, but I go to every gig with my drums and I don't expect the other drummer to set his drums up for me. Why should I do so for him or her? Speak up so that everyone knows how you feel, the key thing in the situation is to let everyone know in a civil manner.
I too have had equipment ruined because a certain band member told his friend to come up and play without my consent. I tried write this in a positive manner so that this doesn't become the start of a negative or pissed off group of posts. Please try not to let it get that way if you post something, be cool as we always are here.
-Joe
gear loaning
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fw
You make a lot of sense, Joe.
I think the nature of drums have changed over the years, too. Everyone used to have similar sizes, pro cymbals used to just mean a choice between zildjian A's or Paiste 602's or 2002's unless you could get Turkish K's, and all hardware was the same. Nowadays, set ups are way more idiosyncratic, drummers can't be trusted to have decent technique, and as much as gear prices have dropped on the low to mid end, they've skyrocketed on the high end. There's a huge difference between letting someone play, for instance, your Ludwig speed king v. your DW 9000 bass drum pedal. Almost all drums had wrap finishes in the old days, too--now tons of people have more delicate lacquers and stains. Drummers from a jazz tradition rarely dented heads or cracked cymbals, but we've had 35 years of bashers in our history, now. Also, in the midwest at least, it's easier for people to move gear than it was in the past--it's not like we have to take the subway to move a 4-piece to some basement club in New York.
I always liked it back in college when my drummer friends and I all played on each other's sets--it was a good way to test our ears, our ideas, and our versatility. But it's different when strangers or people with different technique hop on your gear and you don't know what to expect. It's also different when your older and either your gear is nicer than it was in the old days, or it's the same gear held together now by duct tape and could fall apart if someone re-adjusts anything. It's also tricky when your older because that cymbal you owned for a year or two when you were 18 has now been your voice for over a decade and can't be replaced. Some of our gear becomes more precious and irreplaceable over time.
I've noticed that guitar players will loan out their cheap back up guitars, but I've never seen one loan out a Martin. But our drums, even if they are cheap, cost at least as much as high-end guitars, and it isn't like someone would smack a guitar around with drumsticks. Maybe a guitar might get scratched, but a pick isn't going to crack the neck or anything. And strings are way cheaper than heads.
I didn't think you sounded bitter or negative at all, Joe. And I think talking about this kind of stuff helps reinforce ideas about being courteous with other people's gear. I know if I ever shared a bill with any people on this list, I'd have no problem sharing my gear, and that's because posts like yours show you know how to treat gear.
Will
I think the nature of drums have changed over the years, too. Everyone used to have similar sizes, pro cymbals used to just mean a choice between zildjian A's or Paiste 602's or 2002's unless you could get Turkish K's, and all hardware was the same. Nowadays, set ups are way more idiosyncratic, drummers can't be trusted to have decent technique, and as much as gear prices have dropped on the low to mid end, they've skyrocketed on the high end. There's a huge difference between letting someone play, for instance, your Ludwig speed king v. your DW 9000 bass drum pedal. Almost all drums had wrap finishes in the old days, too--now tons of people have more delicate lacquers and stains. Drummers from a jazz tradition rarely dented heads or cracked cymbals, but we've had 35 years of bashers in our history, now. Also, in the midwest at least, it's easier for people to move gear than it was in the past--it's not like we have to take the subway to move a 4-piece to some basement club in New York.
I always liked it back in college when my drummer friends and I all played on each other's sets--it was a good way to test our ears, our ideas, and our versatility. But it's different when strangers or people with different technique hop on your gear and you don't know what to expect. It's also different when your older and either your gear is nicer than it was in the old days, or it's the same gear held together now by duct tape and could fall apart if someone re-adjusts anything. It's also tricky when your older because that cymbal you owned for a year or two when you were 18 has now been your voice for over a decade and can't be replaced. Some of our gear becomes more precious and irreplaceable over time.
I've noticed that guitar players will loan out their cheap back up guitars, but I've never seen one loan out a Martin. But our drums, even if they are cheap, cost at least as much as high-end guitars, and it isn't like someone would smack a guitar around with drumsticks. Maybe a guitar might get scratched, but a pick isn't going to crack the neck or anything. And strings are way cheaper than heads.
I didn't think you sounded bitter or negative at all, Joe. And I think talking about this kind of stuff helps reinforce ideas about being courteous with other people's gear. I know if I ever shared a bill with any people on this list, I'd have no problem sharing my gear, and that's because posts like yours show you know how to treat gear.
Will
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mangorockfish
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palacki808
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I'm glad to see everyone was cool with that last post I made. I'm glad I didn't sound bitter because this subject does irritate the hell out of me when someone gives you a hard time because you won't allow them to sit in for a tune (or even worse when one of your band members complains after all the time and money they know you spent on the drums).
I'm surprised no one has posted anything regarding this earlier because its a common problem. Will, I know what you mean about cymbals. I have had the same zildjian for about 8 years and now that it has recently cracked I really don't know what to do. It wasn't abused by another drummer, but the fact still remains that I love its sound and until I find another that makes me happy I'm a little lost. Mango, your comment about band members don't touch the drums because they know how you are. I'm the same way, there are only two people besides me who I trust enough. One of which being my brother.
I have only had one occurance of the opening band showing up without drums. When the drummer saw what I had he simply said "I can't use that". Which is understandable because every drummer is different and not many have ever seen a cocktail set let alone play one. Luckily though, the club had a (very nice) set of tama swingstars in a back room.
One last thing to mention, if you do play a gig where you are expected to use someone else's equipment you should still bring your own. Just in case. You may not have time or be allowed to move toms or adjust tunings, but it only takes a minute to swap out the pedal for your own or use your own ride cymbal. Small things like that can make you much more comfortable on an unfamiliar drum set.
-Joe
I'm surprised no one has posted anything regarding this earlier because its a common problem. Will, I know what you mean about cymbals. I have had the same zildjian for about 8 years and now that it has recently cracked I really don't know what to do. It wasn't abused by another drummer, but the fact still remains that I love its sound and until I find another that makes me happy I'm a little lost. Mango, your comment about band members don't touch the drums because they know how you are. I'm the same way, there are only two people besides me who I trust enough. One of which being my brother.
I have only had one occurance of the opening band showing up without drums. When the drummer saw what I had he simply said "I can't use that". Which is understandable because every drummer is different and not many have ever seen a cocktail set let alone play one. Luckily though, the club had a (very nice) set of tama swingstars in a back room.
One last thing to mention, if you do play a gig where you are expected to use someone else's equipment you should still bring your own. Just in case. You may not have time or be allowed to move toms or adjust tunings, but it only takes a minute to swap out the pedal for your own or use your own ride cymbal. Small things like that can make you much more comfortable on an unfamiliar drum set.
-Joe
I think that it hasn't been brought up before because, if you are playing Cocktail Drum, most other drummers wouldn't even want to go near it!palacki808 wrote:I'm surprised no one has posted anything regarding this earlier because its a common problem.
-Joe
One very simple solution to the 'other band' problem is this: Tell them you have to leave right after your set. No one has a right to expect you to wait around for them to play their set, or show up early for their set, without having you agree to it well in advance.
Another option for clubs is to tell them in advance that if they want to use your kit for the entire night it costs $XXX to rent them. Make it high and they will skulk off with their tails between their legs. If they say yes, take the money and bring a kit that you don't mind renting out!
- John
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palacki808
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Something I had forgot to mention in the previous posts. It helps to have a few drummer friends who are reliable. In the past I have worked with a very good drummer who would sit in for me when I needed him to and I would sit in for him when he wanted a night off.
This was a semi-regular occurence. When it was neccessary to have two or more bands at a gig, both of our bands would play. We would recommend my buddy's band to the club, my friend's band would get booked and that way the sharing of equipment was much easier to deal with. Since this happened quite often we would take turns as to who's drums would be setup for the duration of the evening. Working together with other groups can also help both with new places to play and new connections.
The point is to always talk to local bands you go see, if you find certain people to be trustworthy enough you can plan things like this in advance. It makes the gig much easier when you have someone you know you can trust with your drums, not to mention a band that you can trust will show up every time.
Of course its much harder to find someone who would play a cocktail set, but you never know.
This was a semi-regular occurence. When it was neccessary to have two or more bands at a gig, both of our bands would play. We would recommend my buddy's band to the club, my friend's band would get booked and that way the sharing of equipment was much easier to deal with. Since this happened quite often we would take turns as to who's drums would be setup for the duration of the evening. Working together with other groups can also help both with new places to play and new connections.
The point is to always talk to local bands you go see, if you find certain people to be trustworthy enough you can plan things like this in advance. It makes the gig much easier when you have someone you know you can trust with your drums, not to mention a band that you can trust will show up every time.
Of course its much harder to find someone who would play a cocktail set, but you never know.
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mangorockfish
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Joe, When my band is opening for another band and I am going to use the other drummer's drums, I ALWAYS bring my snare and cymbals. I can live with a bad sounding bass drum,but I have to have MY top end.
John, I have used the old, "I have to leave right after we play" ploy before and it didn't bother me one bit.
John, I have used the old, "I have to leave right after we play" ploy before and it didn't bother me one bit.