Making a conract for the use of my drums...

[fldrummer]

Well...The school I'm attending is having a battle of the bands this year and they will ONLY allow ONE drumset for the whole show. I think that we all should use are own like they did a few years ago but I guess they only wanna use one. Nobody has a decent set at all. I'm the only one with a set thats usable. The only problem is that I'm pretty damn picky when it comes to my equipment. And my set isn't a cheap one(around $4-5,000). The wood stained finsh is really easy to scratch too plus they don't make these maple/mahogany pearl prestigue session select sets anymore. So I wan't to make up a huge ass contract for each of the players to sign so if anything happens they have to pay 100% of what need to be replaced to make the kit identical to before they played it. Have any idea on how to put it? I want to make one of them long scary lookin contracts nobody reads so my drums are covered. I don't want to leave anything out so they might be able to get out paying 600 for a tom or somtin. Thanks

[Bulls Hit]

Well, it's gonna get scratched, contract or no contract. You have to accept that at the battle of the bands. If you don't want to get it scratched, don't take it. Just bring some hats & cymbals

[VTgreen81]

IMO a $4-5k drum kit should never leave the studio!!! Drums that rich are meant for recording. Live, there are so many variable that compromise the sound that it's not worth it. Use a more middle of the road kit (not a piece of crap) insist on fresh heads and proper tuning, and proper tuning and proper tuning ( get the point?), each player will swap in their own snare, cymbals and pedals so they have the feel of their own kit. This is common practice in multi band shows at smaller venues, usually the headliners kit is set up with no cymbals, pedals or snare and each other player can have their own gear swapped in in less time than it takes to find the bass player.

[fldrummer]

Yea..the only other drumset is some kids thats about a $200 drumset. I played on it before. It's sooo shitty. It's so bad that their's no way I could play the stuff I'm playing on my set up. It's like playing on some trash cans compared to mine. I wish the school would look into renting a decent normal kit for it but their really cheap asses. Their gonna charge like 8 dollars a piece for 2 shows and it holds about 1000 people and it will be packed and they don't want to pay a couple 100 for renting amps and such. Thet just dosen't make sense to me....

[VTgreen81]

If this is a school event you may find a local retailer willing to donate rental of a kit in exchange for ad space on a program. Heck you may find someone to sponsor the whole event and set you up with a decent PA etc. This is not a fairy tale, it happens. If their gear is not being rented that night it costs next to nothing to let you use it( believe me, it's insured so risk is minimal). And if every guitarist and drummer appreciates the gesture and stops in for a pair of sticks or strings they've increased their customer base at little cost. It's just good business. Oh yeah, and for a NPO such as a school the donation would be tax deductible. Talk to the head of your school's music dept. and see what he/she can set up.

[mikeh]

First - I agree, if you don't want you gear trashed, don't take it to this gig. There are way too many drummers that 1) don't respect other peoples gear and 2) have such poor control of thier own technique that they may trash the drums by playing too hard etc.

Second - a contract is only as good as the people who sign it. If I sign a contract that I will pay for your gear and then I refuse to pay - what are you gonna do? Sue me? Do you have the money to pay a lawyer?

Third - while I don't know what kind of school (grade school? high school?) keep in mind - a minor can not enter into or be held to a contract. If I'm 16 and sign your contract and then default - there is nothing you can do.

The advice to look for a music store that may lend some gear in exchange for some marketing exposure is very good advice indeed.

If the school has a music program, they may (should) already have some business relationship with a music supplier (the school must get thier gear somewhere) - maybe that supplier can provide some gear.

[zekthedeadcow]

...and being less than 18 year old highskoolers thay arn't bound to contracts they do sign.

I wouldn't take it as it will get damaged... I'd tell the school event cooridinator to supply the set. ... I hate playing on otherpeoples sets...it still takes just as long to set up and it sounds worse.

I'd recommed to the event director that they setup a pre-stage so a non musical act performs between bands while everything is set up...then 30sec sound check and play...

or...

did this a fe times...set up all the drumsets on the stage.

or

I did this once a few years ago... if you're playing on an auditorium stage or gym floor (smooth surface) set up the sets on a big rug ... and drag the entire set on and off stage... you're only going to have what? kick, snare, and maybe overhead mics?

[branded]

I know this dosn't have much to do with the question but,
our band is playing in a battle of the bands on the 27th
and im really nervous about the drums, it sucks having
to play some one elses kit, it's like driving somone elses
car for the first time. And im worried that im not gonna
have enough time to get them set up the way I want because,
the guys that im playing with now have been at the previous
battle of the bands and they said that they felt rushed to get
there stuff the way they wanted. This will probably be the
first one and the last one for me haha!.
Now for fldrummer, DO NOT TAKE A 4-5,000.$ kit to the
battle of the bands. Ive never been to one but I got a feeling
that they will not leave in the condition that they went in.

[Rimshot]

If you have a $4-5000 drumset, then it appears that you are a serious drummer. If you are a serious drummer, you need a gig set that is well tuned and sounds good that you become equally familiar with. That's your answer.
If you bring your very expensive kit to this venue, be prepared for some serious heartache.
As said before,a kit like that should never leave the studio. When
you become a world famous drummer and play gigs with a $5000 kit regularly, you'll have a drum-tech and the drums will be free to you from the companies that you are endorsing....and your personal kit wil still remain in your studio.

[Drummer706]

Well on the 19th of march i have a little battle of the bands at skool 2. but we have 2 take our own set. that sux. the skool has a decent yamaha 5 piece but the teacher in charge says he dosent want 2 risk his jazz band drums. so we have 2 take our own and i got stuck because i dont know wat 2 do. i can take a pearl session series set but the problem is that i have no way 2 carry it except by hand. i have no drum bags or cases. or if not i have 2 use my friend's mapex but im scared because i dont want 2 scratch it. so i dont know wat 2 do. any ideas?

[VTgreen81]

BUY CASES....PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT........BEFORE YOU SPEND A DIME ON ANYTHING ELSE

[VTgreen81]

http://search.ebay.com/search/search...ery=DRUM+CASES

win an auction soon or use "buy it now" and you'll have them in plenty of time.

[lbcstudios]

if i were you.. i would not bring it.. ive seen way too many nice sets get knocked over by some kid that goes crazy at a show.. usually a guitarist.

[fldrummer]

Heres the down low so far...


Since theirs no way that I would bring my set to this gig I told some of the kids if they supply the drums and mounts I can bring everything else. This should work out ok but I still need to find some way so that they will still have to pay if they break a cymbal or bust a pedal. Since some are under 18 if I get their parents to sing to they will have to pay..will that work? their again..my cymbals arn't the $200 full set in a box either. They're a pretty penny but I think they can hold up the show. It's in a auditorium if you're wondering but the stage is some type of really compressed cardboard like material so sliding it a no go. Maybe each person will set it the way they want when they go on stage w/ a stage hand so they can match the set-up to how they like it. One of the other players is willing to bring his drums. So if somebody pulls a Kurt Cobain I'm pretty safe..

branded, My BOTB is on the same date! good luck to ya and ya'll.

[Fall From Grace]

Seriously, if you need minors to sign a contract affirming that they will replace whatever they break, then you shouldn't be bringing your kit.

A good drummer is a good drummer no matter what kit he is playing on. It doesn't matter if it's a DW or a CB700. You put Neil Peart on either kit and he will still amaze you either way.

If you are THAT concerned about your kit then just deal with having to play someone else's sub-standard kit. If you're a good drummer the audience will know by your playing, not by the size and oppulence of your kit.

[fldrummer]

Thats why I'm not bringing my drums..just all my other gear but the drums.

[Fall From Grace]

don't even bother with a contract. What are you planning on doing if someone breaks something and doesn't pay? Sue them?

[fldrummer]

Well..prob not but if the person really thinks thet they'll have to pay they'll be more cafeful with them.

[branded]

Originally posted by fldrummer
Heres the down low so far...


Since theirs no way that I would bring my set to this gig I told some of the kids if they supply the drums and mounts I can bring everything else. This should work out ok but I still need to find some way so that they will still have to pay if they break a cymbal or bust a pedal. Since some are under 18 if I get their parents to sing to they will have to pay..will that work? their again..my cymbals arn't the $200 full set in a box either. They're a pretty penny but I think they can hold up the show. It's in a auditorium if you're wondering but the stage is some type of really compressed cardboard like material so sliding it a no go. Maybe each person will set it the way they want when they go on stage w/ a stage hand so they can match the set-up to how they like it. One of the other players is willing to bring his drums. So if somebody pulls a Kurt Cobain I'm pretty safe..

branded, My BOTB is on the same date! good luck to ya and ya'll.

hey! are you from newfoundland by any chance?

[fldrummer]

Nope, I'm in Daytona Beach, FL.

[seryozha]

My 2Cents;

Ive played in 3 HS battle of the bands, 2 years we got to bring our own sets, 3rd time...no dice. So heres what we did, we each brought our crappiest drum, there was about 7 bands so each drummer brought like a tom. Then we brought our own snare and cymbals and such.

Remember, its live, its not american idol, simon won't come harping when your kit sounds like a person farting on a garbage can.

Live shows require 60% show and 40% talent. You don;t need to sound great to look great.

First battle of the bands i did we destroyed every peice of equipment we had, singer jumped into my drums, i smashed his guitar, bassist rammed his axe into his speaker....good times,good times.

All in all,...HAVE FUN!

[mikeh]

I've spent 35 years of my life trying to be the best musician I can be, and now I find out you don't need to sound great - just look cool and trash gear.

Now I remeber why I prefer to stay in my studio rather than trying to find decent players to gig with.

[VTgreen81]

Originally posted by seryozha
My 2Cents;


Remember, its live, its not american idol, simon won't come harping when your kit sounds like a person farting on a garbage can.

Live shows require 60% show and 40% talent. You don;t need to sound great to look great.

First battle of the bands i did we destroyed every peice of equipment we had, singer jumped into my drums, i smashed his guitar, bassist rammed his axe into his speaker....good times,good times.

All in all,...HAVE FUN!

You do need to have a decent show, yes, but bottom line........It's all the about the music. I don't care how spectacular the stage show is, if the music sucks, the whole gig sucks..........period.
If you can't play the theatrics just look silly. If you can't play like Townsend you'll look kinda goofy smashin' your gear like him.

[A GUY NAMED JON]

Originally posted by VTgreen81
You do need to have a decent show, yes, but bottom line........It's all the about the music. I don't care how spectacular the stage show is, if the music sucks, the whole gig sucks..........period.
If you can't play the theatrics just look silly. If you can't play like Townsend you'll look kinda goofy smashin' your gear like him.

What you said is totally correct, except they are playing for high school kids who for the most part don't care what you play and just want to see there friend act dumb on stage. Also it's something for the kids to talk trash about the next day at school.

[Rimshot]

Originally posted by mikeh
I've spent 35 years of my life trying to be the best musician I can be, and now I find out you don't need to sound great - just look cool and trash gear.

Now I remeber why I prefer to stay in my studio rather than trying to find decent players to gig with.

Preach on Pastor!

Fortunately there are decent players to gig with. Unfortunately if you are good and play decent music, you don't get paid as well.
For most it's all about wardrobe and image. Music is usually the last concern.
But we keep doing it because we love it. Thank God for teaching and session work or the mortgage payments would never get made.