High School Drummers - AARGH!!!!

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PhilGood

PhilGood

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As a parent of a senior departing school this year I had the honor of sitting in with the high school jazz band for a performance under the stars. I offered the use of my kit, both so that they would have a nice sounding rig for the performance, and also so I would have something familiar to play on. I didn't bring the whole kit, just the essential elements I thought I would need. I brought it to rehearsals, set it up and left it to be brought over to the stage for performance. When I get there, one of the drummers (who thinks he's a real hot-shot) changed my pedal for his own, changed the cymbal setup, changed the hi-hat tension, and tightened the snares up waaaay too much!!

I was a little annoyed because everything felt wrong to me. I know every drummer has a certain way they like things to be, but I couldn't get over the attitude that he somehow thought he knew more than me.

Then he heard me play.


I felt better after that somehow.:)
 
That's the reason I've got a few kits. Let them do what they want with my Pearl, but there's a select few drummers that I know and trust well who get to touch my Ludwig.

If I use other people's kits I use just make do with their set-up (obv change snare & cymbals to my own), unless it's really weird and/or badly set up. I figure I'm not a position to moan or I should bring my own kit!
 
It has alot to do with musical maturity. It seems to me that the cockier the drummer, the less his ability to play. Everyone should respect other musicians around you, especially those who play the same instrument. I try to always treat every player as someone I can learn something from. These kids now a days, think they know everything and dont respect anyone.
 
Reminds me of when I was in high school learning to play drums (I was in all-state band on trumpet but drums was what I was meant to play) and our group was playing in the talent show. I didn't have a drum set so I threw together pieces out of our band room and a couple of things that our guitar player had. Things were going great out on stage until I realized my snare drum was falling over. I grabbed it between my knees and then the crash stands fell to their lowest position. Then I noticed the bass drum was creeping away from me... Thankfully I made it through and realized A) I needed my own set, B) never ever would I play somebody elses set unless I was allowed to set it up the way I wanted and C) Nobody cares about the drummer anyway...:rolleyes:
 
It could have been an honest mistake thinking it was ok to do that sort of thing and didnt realize you would mind. But you said he was cocky and acted like he knew more then you so he was probably a little brat. Oh well unless he did something you cant fix its not the worst problem in the world.
 
I think the sad thing is that I remember being like that...





...until someone knocked me down a peg or two...






...or fifteen.:D
 
haha that brings back memories of what was it now...three years ago! haha. I have a hard time watching people play my kit..esp. because most of the shows down here in hawaii-when theres a bunch of groups playing- theres not that much time in between to setup/breakdown so usually one drummer brings their kit for everyone to use. or, in certain cases theres a house kit.

man, watching your kit being used is like watching your girl make out with another guy..or worse.. depends on how hard theyre slammin it! hahahaha
 
Around here, the headlining band always provides the basic kit, guitar cabs (bands use their own heads) and bass cab and others bands often end up using my kit. Luckily we're quite big on the local scene and known as decent guys so we often get to choose who supports us. More often than not we get our mates on with us and I don't mind them using my kit so much, cuz at least I know where they live if they break anything :D

Its worse when we get the metal bands full of 15-16 year olds using our stuff and they can't understand why I have fusion sized drums and only two toms. Apparantly if you don't have 97 huuuuuge toms you're not metal enough. Then we start playing and they soon change their mind.
 
When ever there's a gig around here you take your own:

snare, pedals, and cymbals.

guitars and heads.

Singers mic.
 
monetmelly said:
You shoulda made him tune it back!
Click to expand...

He probably couldn't! I remember when I thought that the snare wires had to be insane tight. I would choke that snare out to the point where it would have turned blue if it could have! Ah, good times...

-Wes
 
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