first gig on my new kit

[kcronin]

I'm taking my cocktail kit on its maiden voyage this weekend. I have three gigs, each of which seem appropriate for using the kit.<br>
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I built it using a 16x24 shell I bought from Phattie Drums, and have built a baffle to separate snare and bass, and cut 3 holes in the shell 1.5" in diameter to vent the snare and one 4" hole for the bass chamber. I added a set of Remo kids bongos, and will be using a closed hat, and a Sabian El Sabor crash/ride with an 8" china splash on top of it, separated by a felt washer.<br>
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This will be my first time playing a gig like this, but I've always learned best using the trial-by-fire approach. <br>
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I figure by the end of the weekend, I'll either be a pro at it, or I?ll be ready to list the kit on Ebay! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /smile.gif ALT=":)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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Any tips for a "virgin" cocktail drummer? (Other than "wear comfortable shoes"?)<br>

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[malabeau]

Wear a polyester suit, and make sure you got some bossa-nova style moves. If you could cop a smooth foreign accent....dont forget to smoke ALOT. Comfortable shoes? Hell, wear a pair whose shine rivals that of your chrome. You're gonna get a lot of questions, You WILL be cooler than the singer AND the guitarist when you play the cocktail, so be ready. Theyll dig it the most..............
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[John Mettam]

Hey Keith,<br>
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I just saw your post so I wasn't able to give you advice in advance! Glad to to see you got your drum built. So how did your gigs go? How's your left leg doing? : > )<br>
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Three gigs in one weekend for your first stretch must have been pretty intense. I definitely start getting sore in the leg after a few nights in a row or after a 4 hour gig! As much as it is important to wear cool looking shoes you should also make sure they are comfortable if you're playing a long set or night after night!<br>
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Glad to see your using the bongo trick too. Those little things sound amazing. How did you mount the high hats? Are they on the drum? People are always looking for new ways to set them up.<br>
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I did a tour a while ago where my setup was cocktail drum w/bongos and cowbell, snare converted to a low tom, and 3 cymbals plus closed hi-hats. The main drum was the kick snare with the bongos, cowbell, and ride cymbal attached. The converted snare was tune nice and low and mounted on a snare stand at the same height as the top of the cocktail with a splash mounted on an LP claw. The only other peice was an old small Ludwig cymbal stand with a small china on top and pair of small hats resting on top of the second joint of the cymbal stand. I had felt washers on the bottom and top and adjusted the tension of the hats with a cowbell clamp on top. A lot of drum in a compact setup and it sounded great!<br>
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Congratulations on your new kit.<br>
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John
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