What Key?

My Bass player John and I were hired many many years ago to play with an "established" group who needed bass and drums. The gig was in Morgan Hill for a Christmas party at a rather large restaurant. Now I was fairly new to the Bay Area and while I had heard of Morgan Hill, I really didn't know where it was. This, mind you was well before Google, Mapquest, and certainly GPS.
For instructions I was told "oh it is just past Los Gatos." Now I knew Los Gatos and had played there...but if you're not from the Bay Area, Morgan Hill is about 30 miles "just past" Los Gatos my friend.

I knew I was in trouble when I was on US 101 and saw signs listing the miles to Los Angeles. I had never ever been late for a performance. These were pre-cell phone days...no one to call. To make matters worse, this was a newly built restaurant in a new development so far off the beaten track at the time, that there were very few street lights, signs, or landmarks. I swear I thought I saw tumbleweeds roll in front of my car. It begins to rain. Not Good.

I finally roll up to the venue five minutes before downbeat and was greeted by John and the two dopes who hired me and gave me directions. They promptly grabbed my tubs and brought them in while I parked. John started setting up my drums (God bless him).

I ran inside. The trio was playing while I finished the set up. All told I managed to set a record for setup and was only about five or six minutes late as I didn't bother with my toms or cymbals and just went with snare, bass, and hi hat (until the next break).

OK....Cool. You have to realize that I was ticked with myself as well as the contractor and everyone attending the event. Once I am settled in, I start getting the "lay of the room" and noticed that the restaurant was not finished being built yet. Still needed paint, they were understaffed, the room was too small for the amount of people, and of course it goes without saying that the stage area for the band was way too small even for this quartet. There were unfinished windows and open to the outside. Oh yeah...did I mention it was Christmas time? Even in California it gets cold in December. The furnace was not operable yet and I swear you could see your breath.

So here we are in tuxedos I'm wearing a muffler, and John put on an overcoat. Besides our playing skills, John and I were also hired because we were vocalists. Cold air is not good for singers.

The "leader" and his piano playing partner didn't really have a book or a playlist. Before every tune the conversation went like this: " so...what tune do you want to do next?...I don't know...how about A Foggy Day?...naw...let's do that later...how 'bout On A Clear Day? ...yeah ok
C? ...no...Bb....Cary...John do you sing that one? ...yeah I do but in F...well Ok then ...let's play it in F....wait...Concert F? yep. how fast do you want to take it...oh I don't know...about here...1...2...1-2-3-4. From the head or an intro?...oh yeah let's do the last eight bars as an intro.
hey...why couldn't we do A Foggy Day?... it's the same tempo."

It went like that ALL NIGHT!

I got paid (not enough) and went home talking to myself and pounding the steering wheel the entire way. It was still raining. Sheesh!
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Things To Bring With You

Assuming that you have the right clothes, directions, and times for your performance, what else do you need to bring? I always bring an extra music stand, stand light, pencil, and extra sticks/mallets. In addition I have some tools such as a pliers and wrench, especially if I am playing congas and bongos, snare string ties, extra drum heads, drum key of course, and an extra strap for my bass pedal if I am on set. While I don't like to bring anything I don't need to a performance (we have enough to carry!), I want to make sure I am covered in an emergency.
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September Birthdays

Brad Wilk: Rage Against The Machine and Audio Slave. 9/5/68






Buddy Miles: Ink Spots and Jimi Hendrix Experience. 9/5/47







Elvin Jones with John Coltrane. 9/9/27

Rush's Neil Peart. 9/12/52

Do We Need Cases?

Trumpet players, clarinet players, and even piccolo players have cases for their instruments. Why is it then, that many drummers don't think they need cases? Trust me...as soon as you bring your tubs to a rehearsal or your first gig, it will sink in quickly (usually in-between the 6th and 7th trip from the car) why you need cases.

Cases can be expensive with prices as high (in some instances) as your drumset and cymbals. That's what makes the decision so tough when you get your first set. You've just spent a fortune on drums, cymbals and a throne, and now you have to buy cases? If you want to save the look and condition of your equipment AND your back, the answer is "yes".

Now I am old school and use a fiberboard rolling trap case on wheels. It has handles on the side and top for lifting into and out of the car. In it I store my snare stand, hi hat stand, three cymbal stands, throne, tambourine, cowbell, hi hat cymbals, a single bass drum pedal, extra sticks,brushes, & mallets, microphone cables and my microphone in a hard and padded case. I also have fiber cases for my snare, two toms, a bag for my cymbals, and a padded case for my double pedal. I mentioned "old school" earlier and have to say that my stands, while professional, are flat based, lighter in weight, and fold up small. That's important. Double braced stands are heavier and too big for a trap case of this sort.

Ready? I put the bass drum on top of the trap case and roll it into the venue. I go back to the van and use a Rock and Roller cart to load the toms, snare , cymbals, stick bag, double pedal, and microphone stand. That's it...two trips. Done. Finito. And my equipment looks shiny and not scratched. How are you moving your drums?

Auditions

Trying out for various groups and ensembles requires different skill sets. I can't really address all of them here, but will try in future posts. Whether you are auditioning for a pop band, jazz band in school, symphonic band, orchestra, musical theater, college music department, praise band at church, or just a jam group on the weekend, there are some common approaches among these diverse groups.

Arrive to the audition early. Be dressed appropriately but comfortably. If you are trying out for a punk group, body piercings are acceptable. If your are trying out for a conservative ensemble with a music professor looking over your shoulder, you might want to consider removing visible body jewelry. Make sure you understand what equipment you will need to bring and what will be provided. If you are trying out for a pop band be sure to ask ahead of time for any recordings that the group has made and study them carefully. If the group is a "cover" band make sure you know what groups they are covering. If the group is a wedding band make sure you know what styles they will be playing (assume all styles from swing to rock to rhumba to ethnic). If you are playing excerpts, or notated solos, make sure you have multiple clean copies for the people or jury. BREATHE!

When the judge says "go ahead"...pause (briefly), take a breath (to calm you down a bit), and then go (on your own terms). In all cases the folks auditioning you know that you are nervous. People are different though. Some (most) will try to make you comfortable, but some want to see how you react under pressure and may be cool to you. Stay calm and act like you have done this many times.
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Drumming On The Go!

Thanks to Fanny for sending this to me. Some Russians are very serious about their music and taking it with them on the go. (I guess they never heard of an ipod!) The front head looks like it could use some tuning. I don't know... but when I am on vacation, I usually just take a pair of sticks and a small pad. I may have to rethink this. These guys have nothing on the boys at Orange County Choppers. Whadia think... two or four stroke engine? I wonder if the port on the bass drum collects a lot of insects on the road? Well I guess they have to work those bugs out.
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What Do You Want To Talk About?

Well...what do you want to discuss? Snare drums? Cymbals? Recordings? Sticks? Musical Terms?
Maple vs Birch? Drumheads? Microphones? Thrones? Tuning? Mallets? Stickbags? Ensembles? Solos? Counting? Practicing?
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