Best Compliment Ever Received [Archive] - DRUMMERWORLD OFFICIAL DISCUSSION FORUM

cymbals~FEAR~me

11-06-2005, 12:21 AM

Hey all, I apologize in advance if there's already a thread on this.

I was just wondering what your best compliment was, ever. I'm sure everyone has gotten quite a few, "holy crap, your good!" or "how'd youd do that?" and the like, so I'm looking for the one that stood out.

I'll start it off.

After ending a show with a few other bands, the drummer from a speed metal came up to me and asked me what my bass pedal was. I told him it was DW 5000. He looked at me and said, "No, your double bass pedal." I told him I don't have one, and he looked at me in shock. He didn't believe me until I pulled it out of my hardware bag. *Disclaimer* I don't play heavy metal, so I don't have that crazy 16th notes going on, but apparently my bass drum fills are fast. I add triplets in to confuse people.

So that's my best compliment so far. Post Yours Now!

theduke86

11-06-2005, 01:13 AM

"Dude!!! Elvin is reborn in your body!!!"

Laney

11-06-2005, 01:21 AM

A 14 year old told me I inspired him to play drums. I told him he needs to get some better inspiration! ^_^

OceanDirt

11-06-2005, 01:49 AM

"Dude!!! Elvin is reborn in your body!!!"

wow... uhh... i'd take that.

best compliment i ever got was not from a drummer, it was from a piano player who ran this summer jazz program i attended. he told me "i can see you're the kind of drummer who, when you get your stuff together, i would really like to play with one day."

doesn't sound like much, but it was a pretty heavy inspiration for me.

yakbutter

11-06-2005, 01:50 AM

I played for my high school pep band, and after a girl's basketball game on the road a woman approached me as I was loading the kit out to the bus.

She said,"I was here for my daughter's game before your school played, but I stuck around to hear you play the drums."

I thought that was pretty cool. Since then I've had compliments from other drummers, musicians, sound guys, studio engineers, and a producer, but that's the one that really stands out.

Garvin

11-06-2005, 02:14 AM

This wasn't really a verbal compliment, but I've been getting a lot of calls for gigs that I have always wanted to play. The main drummer in town who use to monopolize all of the good paying gigs can't hang with the jazz stuff, so I'm the new go to guy. That feels pretty good because about a year ago it was hard for me to get any calls at all. I guess a year in a jazz-studies program paid off!

fourstringdrums

11-06-2005, 02:48 AM

The best compliment I've ever gotten, and still get from time to time, is one where someone tells me that I inspire them in their own playing.

Anchein Vouivra

11-06-2005, 04:03 AM

I've took it personnally: after a show a guy came near me and said "I'm very difficult at loving actual music but your music makes think a lot of Godspeed You Black Emperor". Didn't need to say anything about me, that was the best compliment I've ever heard!!!! And what's funny is that almost none of the band members are influenced by post-rock.

MECHT4NK

11-06-2005, 04:54 AM

my best compliment wasn't something very special someone said but it was more the guy that said it making it so special. it was a drummer I know who teaches at a well known drum school here coming to me after a show and just saying he liked my playing. but knowing he's such a good drummer himself and me being only self-taught it meant a lot to me.

glynes

11-06-2005, 05:55 AM

Wow ... I can think of several. After my public debut at a drummer's hang, I was declared "solid" and one other drummer said he was astounded at what I could do for no longer than I'd been playing. That was way more than I expected from my first time ever playing with a real live band!

Last week, at my first lesson with a new teacher, he told me he'd been recording in the studio the week before and wished he'd known then what I could do, because he would have had me in on a couple of the songs ... said my "style" would've been perfect. I didn't even know I have a style!! (getting this compliment was a real surprise, because my first teacher thought that the best praise was in not telling me that I sucked!) 8-)

And then Kenny Aronoff told me that he's proud of me for the progress I'm making!!!!! I'm not sure it gets much better than that!!

All of these make me want to work harder, to see what more I can accomplish, because, quite frankly, I still feel like I haven't done much of anything al all!

Dyaxe

11-06-2005, 06:35 AM

"Hey, look on the bright side, you might turn out better on guitar"...

lol, nah...to be honest, ive never really been complimented, since ive never played a show with my band yet, and not many people have seen me or heard me play drums..

franklinj

11-06-2005, 07:08 AM

Mine is just when people see me play for the first time. Ive only been playing for a little over a year, but everyone seems to think that I play great grooves and have great technique. Woo hoo.

rendezvous_drummer

11-06-2005, 07:16 AM

Dom Famularo was standing in front of me while i was testing out some drums. I played a few funk grooves and he was into it. Not really a verbal complement but he did give me a pat on the shoulder. Also after one of my bands gigs, a few people came up and asked for my autograph. That was hilarious.

somedrummer

11-06-2005, 08:18 AM

I was told that I groove by a local drummer who was working at a music camp in town. He is pretty groovy himself too, so I guess thats good. Don't believe me? Check my myspace.

Otherwise, I have a lot of hot chicks tell me they like my drums (and some say my drumming) when the Marching band plays at football games. woohoo.

Thinshells

11-06-2005, 08:23 AM

I was selling some of my old drum stuff, and the drummer from a well known local classic rock cover band bought some stuff for himself, and his 12 y/o boy.

I demonstrated both sides of my old double pedal to prove it works right. he said:

"You are as fast with one foot as I am two...how did you develop you left foot like that?"

That was my aw-shucks Bonzo moment.

aahznightsky

11-06-2005, 05:23 PM

I think I've had about two amazing ones

"he could be the next john blackwell!"

and the other was

"he's gonna be better than me in a year or two!"

that last one from my drum teacher and he's a master so it was an amazing compliment

actually, scratch that

my favorite times are when I'm playing the set and just soloing and people come round and watch and just stand there with their jaws dropped.

dragonfire

11-06-2005, 06:03 PM

After playing at church one time this really old (i mean really old) african american man came up to me while i was hanging out at the end and said something like "i was really blessed by your playing, the feel and tone of it". I was talking to him a bit after that, hes really cool. Glory to God

funked_up

11-06-2005, 07:45 PM

Best jazz drummer in western michigan, Tim Froncek said this about me,
"Tim has a deep interest in drumming and he comes up with cool grooves!!"
also when i asked my student who he looks up to in drumming for inspiration he said "I want to sound like you".
They were my best compliments :-)

dothecrunge

11-06-2005, 07:57 PM

I've been told by a few of my black friends, "damn, this white boy can groove!"

Of course, this was after I polished off "The Crunge" for no reason at a school assembly when I was bored, and my kit was sitting there on the stage from the day before.

Sticksman

11-06-2005, 09:07 PM

"hey man, you're pretty good!"

And that sums up just about all of them!

Alk3fan

11-07-2005, 01:12 AM

One time i will never forget is once in guitar center, i was jsut playing random things. there was a kind of old guy who started playing a set. and i alwasy like to play with people when i go in there, so i sat down and mimicked his playing. He realized what i was doing so we kinda went into a small 'battle' deal. And attracted a small crowd. in the end he said to me.. 'you showed me up.' It made my day.

Reflux own your mum

11-07-2005, 04:00 AM

When I joined a band, "Its nice having a drummer we don't have to tell what to do." (that was only cos the guy they had before really sucked though)

"That was cool, now play some Hip-Hop!"

From my housemates, "That was amazing, you made that wall shake!"

Wegadrummer

11-09-2005, 07:28 PM

Okai, the best compliment is found here http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=39282#post39282

drummer_boy has heard my band! :)

jamndrummer

11-09-2005, 07:48 PM

Best Compliment Ever Received

"Fun to work with, good personality"

jamsjr44

11-09-2005, 09:03 PM

"That I have great time keeping and always sound professional when I play"

"Great bandmate!"

onemat

11-09-2005, 09:26 PM

I was playing in a Western Swing and Country Band a few years ago. We played the same club every Saturday night, just outside of Nashville. One night this guy walks up and asked for "Wipe Out" . He said "Boy you sure play the hell outta those drums". How could I say no? So we played it with one time around having the lead guitar part played on lap steel. It was funny. ...Matt

Anduin

11-09-2005, 09:28 PM

One of my teachers gave me his regular gig. (I think he was overbooked.) I didn't realize it at the time, but I guess he was telling me I was his best student.

Other than that, the best funk bassist I've ever played with once said to me "I'll play in any band you're in." Pretty cool, I thought.

Those are the kind of compliments that really mean something. Of course, I also have no problem with the usual drunken "duuude, you freakin' rock!" (To which the correct answer is always "thanks, man!", even if you personally thought you sucked that night.)

mlehnertz

11-10-2005, 06:06 PM

"Man, you KILL the drums."

cjl71178

11-10-2005, 06:36 PM

I actually have two compliments that have always stuck with me.

The first one came from a soundman that I worked with for a few years. He was an unbelieveable guy, he could make ANYTHING sound great. But he was also a man
who would never, ever compliment anyone. At the time when the compliment came,
I was using a huge Tama Starclassic kit and one night, out of laziness, I just set up a
simple trap (4-piece kit...bass, snare, tom, floor tom) and he came up to me at the
end of the night and told me that I played 100 times better on that kit and I took that
as a compliment. It actually has stuck with me since, I pretty much use the John
Bonham setup nowadays and I love it.

The second one came from a well known local drummer/teacher who's been out to see me play in the last band I was in, but I never met him. He's made good comments about me to other local musicians, and it got back to me. I finally got to meet up with him one night we were playing a few months ago and he told me that he enjoys watching me play because it inspires him. Now this guy has toured all over the country and played with many big name musicians...so I think that's a huge compliment.

Drad-dog

11-10-2005, 07:33 PM

A buddy of mine got the best compliment I've ever heard. After sitting in with a new band, the sax player told the band leader to make sure he counts the next tune off at the exact tempo he wanted it, 'cause once they start playing, the new drummer won't budge tempo wise. That was pretty cool.

Thinshells

11-10-2005, 07:41 PM

I was at a friends house in July of this year. He had an-e-kit in his basement. This guy has been playing steadily for something like 32 years. And I was always aspiring to his level.

I had not played in front of him seince 1983. back then...I couldn't do a lot.

I played his left handed kit, with a POS pedal (backward) and did rapid-heel toe. Despite some technical difficulties (the kick was too low, the hat pad sucked) he seemed genuinely impressed. I threw in a medlody of riffs from Bun E Carlos, Neil Peart and Tim Alexander.

He was laughing and said "Holy Sh...you have been practicing!" He also commented on my speed and solidity playing.

Now I wonder how impressive I could have been if the set was right handed, with a decent pedal....

Either way, it was better than saying "Hey...you almost don't suck!"

DTKBigDawg

11-11-2005, 06:08 AM

Since I'm self-taught and just started 5 or so years ago and am now just getting my band going, my compliments came from my kids first.

Then when the band played for the third or fourth time together, our keyboardist who also plays drums said she was really impressed.

But the best and latest compliment I got was from my neighbor. An 18 year old, really good slapper, asked me if I could sit in for their drummer for a session they were doing with some original stuff. I listened to a recording of some of the songs the night before, went over the next day and played it my way instead of their drummer's way. They recorded it and told their drummer it's the best they've heard yet and wanted me to show him the next time they get together.

It's the little things that make us play more and strive for perfection, don't you think?

ak_

11-11-2005, 06:48 AM

Ummm...Jeff Hamilton told me that "I really have something"...and that when i'm soloing the guitar player that (was) standing in front of me should move out of the way so the audience could see me better...
That's about it.
Oh! and he said i had great technique and that it was appparent I play snare!!

Pete Stoltman

11-14-2005, 09:24 PM

I was on a trad jazz gig with an old timer clarinet player. He said that my drumming sounded just like Sid Catlett. He had played with Sid so I took that as a pretty nice compliment.

larkin42

11-14-2005, 09:30 PM

I was at guitarcenter in Nashville playing around on some drumsets. I was mainly just trying out pedals. And I went over and sat down by this boy that was probably about 14 or 15 and started thumping on the drums. I was pulling out some mad doubles and triplets on the bass. He looked at me and said I didn't know there were any double bass pedals over here. I said there isn't. I told him I was doing it with one foot. And he looked at me with a huge grin on his face and said o my gosh that is amazing. Needless to say I was happy, as I have only been playing the drums for about 18 months or so.

arjunchawda

11-14-2005, 10:18 PM

someone once told me i was on another level

NickB

11-14-2005, 10:44 PM

Best compliment ever recieved (AND WILL NEVER FORGET). I was watching Buddy (Rich) perform one evening in Upstate New York, 1972. It was nearing the end of a set when I noticed his daughter Cathy, standing alone in a corner. I went up to her introduced myself, and we had a cordial chat. Well, the band ended the set and I saw Buddy from a distance, approaching us. When he reached us, he looked at Cathy and winked, looked me straight in th eye and said "Hi" and walked straight past the both of us. Cathy, then smiled, and said she had to go now, then said, "By the way, I love your suit." - Nothing to do with my drumming, but it's a compliment I'll never forgert.

LongSnapper

11-22-2005, 09:20 AM

I am embarrassed to tell you this one...

Back in the old days, for a summer job I worked security. Here in Detroit we have this monstrosity called The Renaissance Center. It's a retail/office complex on the river front, and I swear it looks just like some bizarre space ship that crashed nose first.

I was working in the back of this place when it first opened, watching a couple parking lots. It was slow and uneventful work standing there in that little booth, so I started taking my sticks and practice pad with me.

On a Saturday night I was in my booth and practicing. I heard a voice from behind say, "Hey! Nice paradiddle you got there." I was shocked that someone could actually tell what I was doing from just watching my hands, and I turned around and replied, "Thank you."

Through the course of this brief conversation, it was explained to me that this group of people were inside, took a wrong turn, and now had no clue how to get back in. (Much of this place was still under construction.)

I was impressed with this individual because he saw right away that I was left-handed and he took some time to show me what I was doing wrong with my grip. He also told me that for how long I had been playing I was doing very good and that I'd be fast as hell! "Keep it up, you're gonna be a damn good drummer," I remember him saying.

Suddenly one of the guys said, "C'mon Buddy, we gotta git!"

I swear to you, I started to shake. "Buddy... Buddy Rich?" I stammered.

"In the flesh..." he replied.

I grabbed his hand with both my hands and said over and over "Oh my God! Oh my God... Thank you, thank you!" as I shook his hand good bye.

I had no clue I was receiving a lesson from Buddy Rich!

Thinshells

11-22-2005, 09:56 AM

mediocrefunkybeat

11-22-2005, 11:43 AM

TitanSound

11-22-2005, 04:12 PM

"Solid" Is the compliment I get the most (not very often though..heheh).

A couple of people have said that I can groove second to none. My fills need a lot of work as they are fairly basic but I can hold time and the groove very well according to others.

FishyMonkey

11-22-2005, 06:18 PM

Since I just started three weeks ago, from a guy who's been playing for five years on some of my technique, "That's pretty good!". Heh, not much. That Buddy Rich story is awesome.

insane drummer

11-22-2005, 06:39 PM

The fact that I have played drums in a suburban neighbourhood for 5 years (eveyday) and never once had a neighbour ask me to quiet down.

I take that as a compliment.

Garth_Rodgers

11-22-2005, 07:47 PM

I once got a "Can't believe you Gaz, you're so good!".

Meeting Buddy Rich without realising it sounds amazing and amazingly annoying at the same time! Rick Wakeman (Keyboardist in YES) once offered me a ham sandwich...no joke! Problem is I was only about 7 at the time so I knew he was famous but not that famous!

dothecrunge

11-22-2005, 08:18 PM

This has nothing to do with drumming, but I met Nolan Ryan at his last game at Fenway Park in 1993. I was 6 years old, and my grandfather had taken me to the ballpark that day. He hands me a baseball, and tells me to go ask the guy signing autographs to sign my ball. I did that, and thought nothing of it. I had no idea who the guy was, nor did I care. All I wanted was candy and a hot-dog. Ten years later, I'm a starting pitcher for my high school baseball team, and my room is one huge Nolan Ryan shrine. I was obsessed with this man. I visited my grandfather one weekend wearing Nolan's 1980 Astros away jersey. My papa exclaims, "You're a Nolan Ryan fan are you?", I reply, "Are you kidding me!?" He tells me to hold on, and he goes in the basement. A few minutes later he emerges from the the basement [which I called the depths of Hell, it was super creepy down there] with a baseball and a picture in his hands. He tosses me the picture and says, "you met Nolan Ryan in 1993", he tosses me the baseball [three of which I already had]. I almost passed out. I had the other autographed baseballs from him, but to have been there and handed him the ball is a whole 'nother story.

It's now sitting in my closet on a gold-plated baseball stand.

LongSnapper

11-24-2005, 10:34 AM

Sweet Jesus, I wish I would have been alive to see him play. That's a brilliant story, just glad you didn't end it with a '...And Then I Woke Up' ;). That's brilliant. How are your paradiddles coming along?

Well, strangely enough...

The Security company I worked for (summer job) primarily worked on something called the "Bob-Lo" boats. The two of them were the last steam powered ships on the Great Lakes. They ran from downtown Detroit to something called Bob-Lo island which was a kind of amusement part. Friday and Saturday nights, they cruised up and down the Detroit river, and occasionally corporate groups rented the ships for cruises. Both ships could hold upwards of 2400 people.

On one particular night that was absolutely lousy weather a local insurance company rented the boat out for a charter cruise. I don't know how many people were supposed to be on this cruise, but as I recall, there were only about 400 people on board. In effect, the ship was virtually empty.

Now on these two ships, they are both designed almost identically. The back half of the 2nd deck was a wood dance floor with a small band stand near mid-ship.

I went to the security office after the last trip to the island and the guards were there that were scheduled to work this cruise. Everyone was very quiet and smiling when I made my appearance. They all knew I played drums, but that was furthest from my thoughts as I looked at these guys with a questioning glance. My boss then said, "Hey Don, I think you will work the dance floor tonight."

He then handed me the flier for this particular cruise, and I heard all this laughter behind me.

The entertainment for the evening was provided by Buddy Rich and his band.

Unfortunately, I was working, and had a ton of stuff to do. I was only able to get on board minutes before the ship left the dock. I went up o the 2nd deck, stood behind the small bandstand where Buddy was playing. I don't recall exactly, but I think there were five other musicians with him (probably all local) and for three hours I stood less than five feet away from Buddy Rich. The bandstand really was only large enough for a DJ. Buddy's set was in the bandstand, and his accompanying musicians all played in front of him on the dance floor. I stood at the rear corner of the bandstand, and I literally was less than five feet from him.

Obviously he didn't recognize me, but I certainly knew who he was!

But the strange thing that I remember most was how depressed I felt watching him. Maybe it was because I was more of a typical self-centered 19 year old, but I was filled with this sense of gloom and doom.

All I really got from this experience was that I was never, ever, going to be that good! His snare technique was simply unbelievable. His hands never moved, and yet the sticks were a blur. I didn't have the proficiency to know what he was doing technically, but I just watched his hands and shook my head...

Because I was working, I had things to do. I never had a chance to talk to him , but out of the two hours and fifteen minutes he played, I probably saw two hours of the show.

Absolutely devistating!

I went home and wanted to burn my sticks...

Oh, and as far as the paradiddles? Well at one time they were pretty good! I came up with a combination between a single paradiddle and a single ratamacue which sounded cool, and I could break in with either hand or either hand and foot.

Unfortuantely I have no chops! I think I mentioned in that post, or somewhere else that I sold my kit when I moved to California, and that was in '84. I haven't had a set since then. I just turned 49 and I want to get back into it. I was actually researching my old Rogers set when I came across this site.

Give me a year-and-a-half and we'll talk again!

thanks buddy,

Don

James_E

11-24-2005, 05:18 PM

First off, I'm a complete novice... so I've not had any time to receive many compliments, nor do I feel I deserve any.

I'm primarly a guitar player, I only started doing drumming about 2 months ago, mostly on a practice pad for rudiments etc, and I bang on the pad, my mic stand and stomp my feet on the floor to practice basic beats on my imaginary kit. (I'm getting an electronic kit this Christmas.)

I've played about 4 hours total on a real kit, in the past 2 months, on my bands drummer's kit, just for fun.

Last friday night we had some practice space booked, and me and another guitar player showed up, expecting the drummer and singer to show (bass player was away.) A few minutes in neither had showed... I'm thinking.. hell, I'll play the drums.

Spent the next while playing basic beats on the drums while the other guitar player jammed, trying to somehow play something that fit with the guitar playing.

For the last 45 minutes, we worked on "Who'll Stop The Rain" by CCR, with me on drums. It's a simple song, basic beat and only a few snare fills, so it was a lot of fun. I ended up playing the drums and singing the song at the same time (guitar player couldn't sing and play at the same time.) I never had a clue I could play a beat, some silly little fills, and change things up a bit during the chorus.. all the while singing! It was very amateur of course, and certainly not tight or perfect playing, but it was FUN.

At the end, the guitar player says " You're amazing. You just sat down there and played drums and sang at the same time, even though you're not a drummer." So that was pretty cool.

Then as we leave.. the guy who works at the rental space says "you guys sounded good". I'm like huh? Us? You must have been thinking about the other guys in the other room, or your too drunk/stoned to notice how bad we sounded. Nope he says... he meant US!

Either way, these are basically my first comments EVER on my drum playing. Of course I thought I totally sucked, but it was nice to hear that there was at least something musical there that someone appreciated even a little bit.

I cannot wait until Christmas to open up my kit. Until then.. practice pads and "phantom kit" will have to do.

Mike Firth

11-24-2005, 05:45 PM

I was rocking out at Guitar Center on break, and a about 8-year-old kid comes up to me and asked if i was pro. Not a very big compliment, but made me feel happy :)

burnthehero

11-24-2005, 05:49 PM

A few years ago, the band I was in at the time got on a big show at a new club downtown. After we played, the sound guy said "Drummer! You got some pretty good chops." This was when I had only been playing for a couple years and didn't have much confidence in my playing. It made me feel really good.

jackothedrummer1

11-26-2005, 02:59 AM

I played at a Jazz Society Convention in Rome, Georgia in an honor band, not even the main gig. The guitarist from the Etowah Jazz Society came up to me and said, "I love drummers who know when to play soft and when to play loud. You heard the vibist taking the lead, and no one could hear so you backed down. I have so much respect for you."

The other one is from my father, a drummer as well. Just today I told him that I am getting the left footed clave combined with quarter note chicks on the hats. He said to me, "You are already untouchable".

I never know if my father says that because he's a father or if he really thinks so. No matter, it makes feel good. I love family support!

JT1

11-28-2005, 02:06 PM

Just small comments like "Your time keeping was fantastic" is the best i have had and that is really important in a band being able to keep time well.

burnthehero

11-28-2005, 02:58 PM

A few years ago, the band I was in at the time played a big show at a club downtown. After we played, the sound guy came up to me as I was taking my drums off the stage and said, "Drummer, you've got some pretty good chops!". Hearing something like that from somebody who deals with so many musicians was a real treat.

nate

11-28-2005, 03:31 PM

nice hair..............

Schtix

11-28-2005, 05:21 PM

A metalhead guitarist, a very very good guitarist, told me that I sounded "like 1965-era Mitch Mitchell". I don't why 1965 particularly, but I'll take Mitch Mitchell!

Plus I get loads of female attention after gigs! </dreaming>

Alk3fan

11-29-2005, 03:41 AM

Over the weekend i made a trip to Guitar Center with some friends. I walked in to find some old man jazzin' it up, boy he was good. So i watched for awile then when he finished up i sat down at an electric kit. I was jammin with my drummer friend and my other non-drummer friend asked us to play some double bass stuff, so we did. When i got up from the kit that man came up to me and asked.. 'Was that you playing the double bass?' 'Yes sir.' He patted us on the back and said.. 'Keep up the good work.'

RudimentalDrummer

11-29-2005, 05:24 AM

Boy I'm shy....I had never played the drums in public before (as I'm still learning & actually scared to also) but only play & practice at home...I guess I am pretty cool as no one came knocking at my home and tell me that I'm making noises...hahahaha ! My compliments received are not justified, as whenever drummers/musicians asked me.."Where & Who are you learning Drums from" I said "Tony Zee"...and they will just reply "So you must be a very good drummer"....I can only smile, nod my head, and say "I'm just an OK Drummer" ..that's about it.

But O/T just a little here .... I sang at a Club in Orchard Road downtown 3 weeks back...cause my friends the Band there in Zombie invited me to ....and so I sang...Woww.www so many girls go crazy (I didn't believed that I was actually quite thickskin after a couple of drinks...hehehe) The girls came up one after another while I'm singing on stage taking pictures with me, kissing me .....Everyone there says I have an amazing voice, including the band ....But too bad, I was singing and not drumming. I really hope I could make my Drumming sings just as well....cheers !

The Rev #2

11-30-2005, 04:38 AM

One time I had a solo at my skool Spring Concert and after I was done, i was sittin backstage and these two highskool guys (which r very good) come up to me and asked if some of my fills were from the Reverend and I said yes, they said I did them better than he did so that was very exciting for me.................

Billy The Mountain

11-30-2005, 04:59 AM

Tony MacAlpine (guitarist, Planet X, CAB) once had some great praise for me - but maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was handing him a beer backstage after a performance.

A few nights ago I was told my playing was 'tasteful', which amazed me considering I played really bad on a drum kit that was slightly better sounding than a set of cardboard boxes. This compliment was from a fellow musician who I've known for years and oddly enough it was the first time that he had heard me play.

I think my favorite so far was when a fellow drummer called me 'Mr. Smooth'. Though I'm fairly sure he had been drinking heavily.

NP : 'Retrovertigo' by Mr. Bungle

nate

11-30-2005, 01:41 PM

....nice shoes.......

Urahara Kisuke

12-01-2005, 08:28 AM

This is the funniest compliment I ever got. A chick came up to me after a gig and said, "I don't usually give out compliments but, dude you were awesome, your band sucked but you were totally awesome!" The faces of my band mates was priceless, ha ha.

Dill X

12-02-2005, 03:47 AM

I have a few adults after my band' shows tell me that if I kept playing I'd go professional for sure. I'm only 14 by the way....

It was also really funny one time when I had some like 40 year guy come up to me and shake my hand and compliment me after I had played.

**I usually wouldn't post something like this because I'm not one to brag about myself or make myself look go/ seek praise or whatnot; but everyone else was into it so why not.

moe.ron

03-25-2006, 05:07 AM

i had a real amazing experience at GC. they put one kit out in the hall by all the other departments and i started jamming and this mammoth man walked over plugged in and we started to jam and after he said "that was sick, if you ever need a bassist let me know." and once my teacher took my recordings to an old student of his who is now signed with his band and told him to listen to it i always thought that was pretty cool

Auger

04-19-2006, 05:58 PM

cool thread. Some great stories here that I've really enjoyed reading.

Two of my most favorite compliments were indirect ones:

I was in a band that had a monthly gig in PA and had started drawing a good crowd with a lot of regulars. I took that as a great compliment in iteslf. One time, some friends of mine came to see us play and spent part of the evening mingling in the audience anonomously. They later told me that some of the people they talked to weren't fans of the band, per se, but were fans of me! They had come specifically to see me play! I had no idea! That was a pretty intense feeling! I was walking on air!

The other best compliment was when We had this gig (I think it was NYC, but I can't remember) in a place that had two rooms: There was the 'music room' where the band set up, but you had to go through a doorway to get to the ajoining bar. Well, needless to say, it's often hard to pull people away from the bar! The room we were in was mostly empty during our set and, even though I knew people could listen at the bar, I was kind of down about it. So, I had this extended solo I used to take, usually in our closing song. When I took it, a little ways in people started coming in from the bar to watch and by the time I finished, the room was full and everyone really cheered and shouted! I actually started getting nervous as the room started to fill! haha.

ahhh ...good times

sir_willy

05-11-2006, 01:21 AM

A tschool we were goofing around on the set and a number of people complimented me on how coordinated I am. Our instructer would give us exercies to do and kept making them harder. I would get them down in about a quarter the time of everyone else

Class A Drummer

05-11-2006, 01:57 AM

hmm... best compliment.

"Dude its a white Royster!"

kinda made me laugh. i think i was like 12 or 11 at the time.

mellow

05-11-2006, 02:20 AM

the best compliments are from when I play at church I get at least 3 people thanking me for doing a good job. I remember the guitar player once told me he just loved the way I played the drums he didn't really know why he thought maybe it was the way I hit the drums that was so powerful. and then another was one day near the end of the summer and I had been practising my butt off all summer and aparently it paid off cause the bass player I play with told me she thought that I had gottan like SO much better in a short amount of time.

LinearDrummer

05-12-2006, 12:42 AM

I would have to say when I was young I was at Guitar Center on an electric kit playing one of the few and only Latham licks I was good at and I noticed this guy that looked familar from MTV walking over from the other side of the store to watch me play...

Turns out he was the dude from The Cars - Ric Ocasek (spelling?) and he made eye contact with me shaking his head in approval....

Its wasn't much but it sure made me feel good....

drumz4eva

05-12-2006, 04:04 AM

well only one i can think of ...( not that muscicians in my school ) sept for my band

but yeah one time i was at guitar center....and i was just soloing in a jazzy tune on an elctric drumset....and some old guy said...

"hey ur like the next buddy rich, mabye u teach my grandson how to play eh?"

i just smiled and said mabye ( he was kinda like....well it didnt look like he knew wut he was doin...)

otherwise just the usual comments...."nice playing, ur a good drummer"

Class A Drummer

05-12-2006, 04:38 AM

Thought of another.

My friend- "will you teach me how to play drums?"

brittc89

05-12-2006, 08:36 AM

My best compliment, "Youre a selfish drummer", by some jazz competition judge, I live for positive comments like that. ha ha ha.

Jeff Almeyda

05-12-2006, 12:11 PM

From a recording engineer: "You need to start doing session work."

Rohan

05-12-2006, 12:32 PM

Last year my music teacher (who by the way has been around and taught a lot of people) said to me that I was the best year 8 drummer he'd seen in over 25 years! At that time I had only been playing for about a year or so. I was pretty happy for the rest of that week.:)

**Peace**

relyc

05-12-2006, 07:32 PM

My favorite ever (and I'll never get tired of this one):

(guitarist/other band member turns around during set) "Dude, that last song felt great.

OR

After playing a show recently, the bass player from the other band we played with (a huge, burly, bearded man) grabbed me by my skinny, white boy shoulder and said, "There's an effortlessness in your playing that I simply loved" and then he jumped into his van.

I woke up the next morning with my shoulder a bit sore... :)

cheers.

Backwards Marathon

05-13-2006, 04:43 AM

my friend said that i was really good. lol

Snared91

05-13-2006, 09:04 AM

I'm a freshmen in HS. I was told by a senior that he was going to give up drums completely because he'd never be as good as me. Does he stlill drum? Yes. Was it a great compliment. Yes. But hey, it's the thought that counts.

Another time i was auditioning for a show, and the sound tech guy said, "finally, a drummer with restraint!" I kept a straight face and thanked him but I was about to laugh in his face. Anyone in my Jazz group knows he's dead wrong, but hey it's the thought that counts.

Stu_Strib

05-13-2006, 11:36 AM

I got a call on Christmas eve, 20 minutes before a gig as an emergency fill-in for a fairly well-known country band in Texas (ironically, the fairly well-known band's name escapes me). They got my name as a recommendation from the local music store.

I rushed down, set up a smallish kit, mic'd everything up and jammed.

The best comment after the first song:

"Stu.......you don't suck."

There is so much meaning in that little statement that says everything about being a good drummer. Be dependable, show up on time (or get there on no-notice), play solid and don't mess up the band!

The thing is, those guys have probably been gigging for 10 years, and have seen there share of awful drummers who claim to be good. They were probably holding their breath, having no idea who I was. Then I show up, all Yankee and all, and shred a 2 hour country set ;-)

MyNameIsRyan

05-14-2006, 06:55 AM

Well I found this pretty funny. A kid said this to me one time, "your band sucks except for you".

DogBreath

05-14-2006, 09:33 AM

Stu, I just gotta say that's awesome.

averypoordrummer

05-14-2006, 11:11 AM

being told i had good technique for a beginner by stu when he commented on my video i posted a while back.

and when i took a few lessons, my teacher thought i'd already been having lessons. funnily stu thought the same thing when he saw my video.

Stu_Strib

05-14-2006, 12:22 PM

Buddha

05-19-2006, 03:54 PM

I never play the drums in front of people. The only time people here me drum is at school when I drum with my fingers......The best compliment I got was "that's crazy" which isn't much :-(

jamsjr44

05-19-2006, 08:24 PM

averypoordrummer, you must be very attentive to the stuff online! There is so much good (well, and bad) advice online, that I could imagine a creative guy like yourself could go to your first drum lesson and already have taught yourself the things that I spend the first 4-8 weeks on with new students (a couple weeks alone, just on how to hold the sticks properly!)

if you have to spend 4 to 8 weeks with new students on just how to hold the sticks properly, either your not a very good teacher or they should never pick up drum sticks again!....lol

Bobhead

05-19-2006, 09:35 PM

I helped out a friend with his senior recital at a music school that I used to attend. The recital was in a small theater and many past drummers were know for being too overpowering in there, usually drowning out the rest of the group instead of complimenting them. After our performance, one teacher said the others with me standing there, "He comes back to show us that drums can be played quietly in this room!"

Another one for me was during a time that I did little practicing, my buddy left a note on my drums: "one day, just you know; two days, just we know,and three days, everyone knows." Well I was a bit mad, and spend a lot of time practicing. A while later during a rehearsal, after a song, he said "Ah, the prodigal son returns!"
I felt pretty good.

Oh, I thought of another. When your teacher recommended me for one of his usually gigs. The rest of the band was worried have the teacher's student at the gig, but after the set said, "he said you keep it together and do a good job...you sound great!"

VampiricNightMachine

05-20-2006, 12:12 AM

When my drum teacher told me about three months ago that I should seriously consider going pro (lol that rhyms)

Yes this was my favourite compliment ever, because I like my drum teacher so much and I think he knows what he is talking about (he is already giving me lessons for 7 years).
Hm, that last one sounded a bit pompous, but the sad thing again is that I am considering and considering but I come to the conclusion that being really good is not enough for a drummer today to make a good living with just playing drums and maybe some keyboard....you have to be one of the top guys. Well, and apart from that I have also recognized some insecurities in my playing when I play shows with my metalband, for example, that a pro drummer should never have

moe.ron

05-20-2006, 12:19 AM

this one happened 2 days ago...we went to GC to get a new head after i broke one and i was playing and this little kid walked with his dad(probably 9 or 10) and he heard me and he goes "dad do you think i can play like that?" and the dad came over and watched for a little, i didn't know cause most of the time my eyes are closed and after i was done he asked how long i had been playing and told his son "see what happens when you take your natural talent and work hard?"

hatebreed

05-20-2006, 02:54 PM

I finished playing with my band doing a gig, when a random stranger came up to me and said, "Your truly special, you're gonna get somewhere". I walked off with a smile on my face for the rest of the night.

Drums558

05-20-2006, 05:43 PM

After doing sound check a guy came uo to me and told me he had spent 2 weeks on the road with Pat Metheny and that my playing reminded him of Antonio Sanchez. He had pic's if him with the band and was a very down to earth gentlemen. Best compliment by a long shot, just wish it were true.
Mike

JIM_fear

05-28-2006, 08:42 AM

A bassist i play with at my church who has been playing bass and drums for a good 30 years told me my playing reminded him of Ginger Baker. That was probably the best compliment i've ever gotten.

bermuda

05-28-2006, 07:52 PM

A few years ago I subbed on an oldies gig with some players I'd never met. They were as persnickity about playing original parts as I am, so the evening started off with a bang and everything was feeling great. Then we got to the Animals' "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" and in the breakdown after the chorus, the singer/guitarist turned around and gave me an odd look, sort of like 'what are you doing?' I didn't think I was too loud or had changed the tempo, so after the set I asked what happened. He replied "You're the only drummer I've ever heard play that part just like the record!"

Bermuda

cymbals~FEAR~me

07-03-2006, 01:46 AM

I just recieved the best compliment ever, even better than the first. Well, its not really a compliment, but it was nice. Heres the story.

I was at a jazz festival for my school, and it was the last performance before break, so i played my ass off (on vibes). Soon after our set, there was a small crowd around my girlfriend. Turns out my playing attracted some other kids from other schools and adults as well. After all the normal "good jobs" and "great playing" a kid came up to me and said he was the second best mallet player he's seen. I ask, "who's the first?" (curiously, not angrily). And he ends up saying my name! I say, "dude, thats me." I think he dropped a load in his pants after i said that! He saw me a Jazz all-state and couldn't recognize me because I lost 45 pounds and grew out my hair. So after chatting for a while he tells me he wants to get better at vibes. Since he's going to my school i can him lessons (for free too) and hes totally stoked!

Thats what I love about my style. I can make people dance (waltzes, ska, etc) and inspire them too. I try to stay humble about it, buts a great feeling to get when your friends bro says, I want to play like you.

Thats my story guys. Peace out and I hope all of you have the opportunity to inspire.

drummerchick435

07-03-2006, 07:08 AM

I had to do a make up drum lesson with another guy at the local drum store. I just started drums and was too impatient to go at the slow pace of the rest of the class so I just took the drum lesson book and taught myself and got 10 lessons ahead of the class. I was then made student of the month and got a free pair of sticks!
And I get told all the time that I'm good for my experience (I've been playing for about 2 years).

zachg

07-03-2006, 07:26 AM

Everyone in my school being amazed after I played a solo. Everyone in that band told me that the band sucked except for me.

Another one that happened recently was a kid standing there amazed and saying to me "W-What else can you play" after I tried out a set at Sam Ash.

Vegard

07-18-2006, 03:39 AM

There is this girl i know. she's a good friend of mine. me and my band were playing in this competition, and we made it to "the next level". we could only play one song, and the place we should play were 4 hours away by car. and she traveled all the way by bus, train, boat and taxi to see us play that one song. it's a long and expensive journey. she doesn't even like the band!
she's the one who has been to almost every gig i've played, and i'm really getting used to see her there. it would almost be sad to play a gig without her being there.
it's not a straight compliment, but kind of a compliment because it is so nice of her, and she says she enjoys it every time!

Lee Mangano

08-27-2006, 06:29 PM

One of my favorite memorable compliment was when my band "NRG" was opening for Blue Oyster Cult right after they toured with Ozzy in like 1988-91..not sure what year !!!! "Ouch!!!,;;; After we finished our set the crowd started stamping their feet in time with chanting "N" "R" "G" etc...we came back on for another song & they did it again...we ended up doing 3 encores.

We were in our "Small" closet dressing room changing & someone knocked & asked if the bass player & drummer here..it was the Bass player for Blue Oyster Cult...he was already dressed ready to go on stage because of our long encores...and he watched us..

then took the time to walk through the crowd just to tell Pat & I we were one of the best rythm sections he ever heard, and Ozzy should have hired us, that we were better than Rudy Sarzo & Tommy Aldrige...hearing that from a veteran world reknown player was the best compliment we could get.

Lee

foursticks

09-01-2006, 09:20 PM

It might not sound like much, but it was when the guitarist of my band told me that I was his favourite drummer and no-one has ever told me that before, so I guess that's why it meant so much...

Drum Monkey

09-02-2006, 01:51 AM

I love getting compliments, especially from other drummers! We were at this music festival in February and one of the professional drummers (plays in a Blue Man Group type trio, they were hired to play as opposed to signed up) complimented me and said that he was impressed with my playing. That made the whole festival for me!

Another time was at our gig on the 20th of August. Our lead singer's sister's boyfriend is the drummer in a fairly successful local band. I met him once and then once again at the show, where his band was playing as well. After our set he complimented my playing. I said "thanks" figuring he was just being polite, but later found out he said so to my parents while we were playing. He was really impressed!

There are also times where my friends (drummers) will compliment my playing or tell me they wish they were in my position when we're playing a show. It's a great compliment and I tell them to keep practicing! As well as when I get the standard compliments from friends, listeners, parents, band members, etc.

-DM

toxegendrummer

09-02-2006, 05:34 AM

i remember being playing in front of my first crowd...i was like 12 years old...we played "We Will Rock You". it was fun...and after the drummer whos kit i used told me i sounded really good for my age...i havnt stopped yet :)

skippy

09-02-2006, 09:43 AM

i replaced a drummer in a band and after one of the bands regular shows i stopped at a gas station to grab a drink and some kids from the show were in there and were like holy sh*t your rad. and youre way better than thier old drummer. i thought that was the raddest thing tha had ever happened to me to be recognized by some kids after a show. but me and thier old drummer are best friends and he gives me compliments all the time like "i hate you, it pisses me off that you can pick up any instrument and make something up on the spot and it sound rad".

jangus

09-02-2006, 06:38 PM

"Play louder."

Yup.

justJon

09-10-2006, 01:01 AM

I was 15, playing in an all originals band with a keyboard player who thought he was Keith Emerson, A bass player who thought he was Klaus Voorman, (OK, and I thought I was Carl Palmer). We were just rehearsing, and some local musicians came to listen, including the "big" local drummer, who was gigging with the local top 40 monster band. Anyway... after rehearsal, almost as as aside,on the way out the door, he looked over his shoulder and said," You're the tightest drummer I've ever heard!"
I've carried that with me these 30+ years, and have always remembered to listen to what the other guys are playing!!!

Wile E. Coyote

09-30-2006, 04:45 PM

I think the best and most honest compliment is getting a new gig or a new project.
Everybody says nice words... "man you're great" "I want lessons..." "come up and play in my master class".
Give me a job and save the unnecessary compliments! (even though they're really flattering!)

DamoSyzygy

10-01-2006, 06:55 PM

Best compliment I ever recevied was when I was setting up for Dom Famularos clinic, and tapping on/tuning his spare snare.

Dom turned to me and said "Damo...You sound amazing"

Haha I was so humbled!

superkoolguy6669

10-02-2006, 04:23 AM

after playing a show at the whiskey a couple years ago i had a guy come up to me and bow down to me and tell me that he worshipped me haha...then he saw my dad, and did the same thing to him because he was my dad then just asked me a whole bunch of questions about stuff.

Class A Drummer

10-02-2006, 07:41 AM

our new drumline just played at our homecoming football game a couple days ago (we started playing together bout 3 weeks ago) and the hottest girl goes up to me after and said "wow you were the best one." But, that was of course bs because everysingle snare player played the exact same thing (since we only just started we dont do no solos), or because i was the only one playin trad (but i doubt that was the reason.)

thepeople'sjay

10-02-2006, 12:58 PM

i was playing with my band every week in a local dive. it became the place to come and dance. every week we packed the place, and every week every one there danced like crazy. that is the biggest compliment to me, that every one is dancing, and i am playing the drums.

KzSgDrummer

10-06-2006, 12:00 AM

The best I've ever gotten was:

"you don't sound like a Berklee drummer"

DamoSyzygy

10-06-2006, 02:24 AM

^ Haha thats absolute gold!

Jay.B.

10-06-2006, 05:52 PM

the guitarist and bass player in my band turned round to me one day and said that it was really great to finally play with a drummer who got the whole groove and dynamics thing and with good solid timing, they said it enabled them to relax more and play for the song.

DrumBuster

10-15-2006, 09:49 PM

Wow that's huge! Did you take something?

paul c

10-16-2006, 12:30 AM

Well it wasnt really a verbal comment as such but someone i dont even know started a poll on bebo (its like myspace but just not as big) with the question " whos the best drummer in the world". Included in the choice of answers were the likes of Chad Smith, Lars Ulrich, John Bonham etc, but i was included also. When the results of the poll came out, like 60% of the voters voted for me, that was pretty cool. Trivial i know, but it still felt good.

Muckster

11-07-2006, 06:12 PM

My first rehearsal in my first big band. The lead trombone player (a crusty 70 year old, road withered, foul mouthed, heavy smoking, scotch drinking, cadillac driving, S.O.B), comes up to me, no expression on his face, shakes my hand and says "nice job."

Turns out he played with Dave Tough back in the day. I got the "Old School" approval.

HardcoreLogo

11-07-2006, 08:08 PM

I played a few gigs with a bass player who toured with Ron Sexsmith for 8 years and he turned to me during one of the first time we played together and said.
"I like your playing, it's like your not even there....and I mean that in a good way!"
He explaind that I did my job and didn't step on any toes, it was real easy for him play off of me.
I also played some gigs with a guy who was a session player in Nashville for 15 years, and he called me back a few times, so thats good.......a sax player from one of the gigs asked how much studio work I had done.....lol.....that was cool!

Deathmetalconga

11-07-2006, 09:58 PM

"It sounds like there's two of you, a drummer and a percussionist."

www.terrasonus.com

badlydubbedsean

11-07-2006, 11:34 PM

This was left as a comment on my band's bebo homepage:

"hehe sean is gay ha but i lurve him 4 it he is also pants at drums now thats out of the way. . ."

I hate people who dislike you and just tell the world what they think because they know people will believe them. He has never heard me play.

My best compliment was from my drum teacher because he's the only person in the world who's ever heard me play the drums:

"I think you're getting the hang of this quite quickly."

I'll put a video on this forum soon and let you all decide :D

Chip

11-08-2006, 06:58 AM

Not really a direct compliment, but the other day I was warming up in a little jam session, and another drummer was watching. I was just running various stickings through the toms and ride bell, nothing fancy. After the jam, I walked out and the other drummer was trying the stuff I was doing. As imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

ledzeppelins666

11-09-2006, 01:29 AM

I never got this compliment, but
"I'm not sure if that's the best or worst thing I've ever heard!"

I think there was a thread on that quote. And compliments dont really affect me, because the only ones Ive gotten are,

"Dude, you sound almost as good as Tre Cool!"
or
"You are the best drummer I've ever heard" [This one rules out very quickly]

GRUNTERSDAD

11-09-2006, 04:08 PM

I was interupted one night about a month ago by the neighbors behind me, who came over to introduce themselves. I have lived in my house for twenty years and they are renting but have been there for 3 years. They told me they thought I was new to the neighborhood, since they hadnt heard the drumming before. I started again in March after a good while off. I told them I had just gotten new drums and hoped that I wasnt disturbing them. They said on the contrary they wanted to know what band I was in so they could come out and watch me play. When I told them I hadnt played in almost thrity years, they told me I was pulling their leg(s), that they thought I sounded great. We discussed my playing time, and even though he works third shift told me that my playing in the afternoon and early evening was not a bother and in fact they loved it. So I guess one cant do much better than that.

Mike Firth

11-10-2006, 04:02 AM

The best feeling I get is at football games we play some drum cadences and everyone is school says its the best part of the whole game.

Spence

11-10-2006, 01:46 PM

Like your story GRUNTERSDAD.

Once this guy came up to me and said "you are the greatest drummer in the world ever and I wish I could play just like you". This guy was...Vinnie Colaiuta.

Only joking of course! If I can get half as good as Vinnie I would be dreaming.

The best was a real old guy (who plays jazz) came up to me after an indie rock gig (god knows why he was there) and said I like your playing. I bet you don't play stuff like this that often. Normally, this would be bad as I aim to be a musical chameleon. However, he was referring to my improvised solo when we had a technical hitch and only I could play. Lovely stuff. Turns out he likes all the same guys I do and really got me in to Louis Bellson. I thank him a lot.

cnw60

01-30-2007, 10:47 PM

I was playing percussion in the pit orchestra for one of the musicals (My Fair Lady) at our university theater. I split the gig with another drummer (he took half of the practice and performance nights and I took the other half), the other drummer being a graduate assistant, percussion performance major, who good player even if he did think pretty highly of himself. As for me, I was an architecture major who was having a little fun and getting an extra credit hour for doing my share of the gig.

(2nd best) At intermission one night, one of the leads in the musical comes up to me and says, "I'm really glad on the nights you're playing, it's nice to have a drummer who knows how to play..." Being compared favorably to somebody else who I thought of as a good player felt good.

(best compliment) Same gig - the director, who was the bass player in a jazz combo comprised of faculty members from the school of music asked me to fill in for an upcoming gig when the regular drummer (my drum professor) couldn't play.

I think the best compliment is always when other good musicians ask you to play with them.

fourstringdrums

01-30-2007, 10:50 PM

Everytime someone tells me that I or the work I do on the website inspires them to not give up, or to even start playing, that is the best compliment I could receive.

gcarlet

01-30-2007, 10:54 PM

Since I haven't been playing that long, any compliment about my playing from anybody is a great encouragement to me and let's me know that I am getting better.

d.c.drummer

01-30-2007, 11:13 PM

From a kid- Woah!!!!! *runs over to mother* "Can I learn how to play drums?"

From an adult- You'll make a great husband some day.

From a peer- Being voted funniest friend.

From a girl- Why didn't you just ask me out, stupid?

Dr.Hook

01-31-2007, 12:35 AM

After trying to get me to jam with him and his band, I finally gave into my friend. I hadn't played since high school, say 20 years or so. I felt pretty nervous, but got on the kit "Petes kit'". I was rough, but it was still there, what little I had in the first place!!

Anyhow, about 2 weeks later my buddy is telling me that the guys were really impressed, but Pete was a little "upset" Guess the guys were ribbing him at the fact that I "sat down on his kit, after years off, and proceeded to make him lool like a baby, on his own kit nonetheless" I didn't think much of it to be honest. I'm not out to outdo or impress anyone. I just want to become a better player than I am today, and will be tommorrow.

However, one of the guys also said he was impressed at "how much volume I got out of the kit, for me being such a gentle player, and not a basher", and he liked the way I played "around the kit as opposed to through it". This I took to heart, and went and got my own kit. I am now the drummer for the band, and Pete plays guitars and sings. I'm having a hell of a time. 40 around the corner, and I'm playing in a band! Damn, life is sweet!!

British Boy

01-31-2007, 02:43 AM

Once upon a time I thought the best compliment I got was something along the lines of "Woah man, how the hell do you play so fast?!", but now i'm realising that the best compliment i'll probably ever get was a recent one: "Dude, that really, really, grooved!"

radiofriendlyunitshifter

02-12-2007, 02:14 AM

i posted this thread thread about a week and a half ago:
http://drummerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23266

to my delight, the rhythm guitarist in my band asked, "have you been practicing?" (to which i replied "yes". he said, "it shows"

: )

maddrummr

02-12-2007, 02:29 AM

My best compliment was about two weeks ago from my band instructor that played for The Cavaliers.

" You have a lot skill and potential on tenors man, take lessons and I will definitally look forward to seeing you on the line next season."

Made me smile : )

drummerchick435

02-12-2007, 02:37 AM

Well I've gotten many compliments like "You're awesome at drums!" but I try to remain humble and say "Aw Shucks! Thanks!" I hate egotism among musicians.

skippy

02-12-2007, 07:13 AM

i just got one i thought was nice a few days ago. i was at guitar center and i know all they guys there and they know me and i was messing around on one of the kits and the guy i used to take lessons from works there too(he wasnt there though) and they two guys who always give me a hard time there cam eup to me and were like dude your way better than gregory(my old teacher. i though that was a rad one. but it makes me feel as if i wasted a year of time taking lessons. that and one time at a gig i was playing on a set of pacific EZs i used to have and the sound guy was miking and equing my kit and he told me that i was the easiest hes ever had there cause my drums already sounded great. id like to go back so he could hear my gretsch kits but the place closed down.

drozzy

02-12-2007, 07:47 AM

I have a few, one was at a drum shop, i was playing round on a few double kicks, playing 32mds, doubles, etc, and a person came over, unexpectedly, and said 'wow, youve got osme spee dthere!'

Another one was with my old band, which wasnt expressed in words, but when a whole party got up and started dancing, makes you feel all fuzzy inside! Hah

MetalGrand

02-17-2007, 12:13 AM

I get a lot of comments (bad and good, but mostly good) when I upload my videos on YouTube. But the best was probably when I was playing in my house a guy knocked on my door and he told me that he lived down the street and he asked if I was playing and I said yes and he was like "Wow, you are great! Especially for your age!"

nickg

03-31-2007, 10:09 PM

best compliment i got was one not given DIRECTLY to me.

we played a show with the Monkees, Herman's Hermits, and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap.

after the concert we also played the after show dance. while we were playing, Gary Puckett was dancing with this hot babe. he looked at her, pointed at me and said to her "good drummer". that put a smile on my face for sure.

Mapex589

03-31-2007, 10:17 PM

I was just recently at my local shop and a guy asked if I would play some of the cymbals he was interested in buying. The shop has a kit that is used for trying out cymbals so I sat down and began to play for him. When I was done he said man you really have some great chops and your feel is great. I really enjoyed hearing this as I am my worst critic. It just really made me feel good about what I take from my lessons and practice time.

Wavelength

03-31-2007, 11:23 PM

I get all tingly every time someone says it feels good to play with me.

intooder

05-04-2007, 10:57 PM

Some time ago, a friend of our band's keyboard player said to me that apparently our keys player said this to him about me: "He's one of those drummers who knows what's coming up next. I think it's a very rare quality."

tubbyadam

05-05-2007, 12:52 AM

I started taking drum lessons after a few years to learn how to read and get my technique together a little more. When I came back for my third lesson, the kid who was taking lessons before me walked out with my band.s CD. The kid had been studying my drum parts with the instructor for several weeks. I was very flattered.

gusty

05-05-2007, 02:47 AM

tubbyadam- dude, thats awsome.

My school puts out a cd of original artists every year, im in grade 9 (second year at highschool) and the teacher who is organising it asked me to drum for between 2-5 other groups apart from mine. I'm pretty stoked because there are other drummers (one in grade 12, one in grade 11 that come to mind) and he asked me. recording starts next week, ive heard 1 and a half of the songs i'll definately be doing, i guess for the others i'll just make it up in the studio.

drummerchick435

05-05-2007, 08:18 AM

I've many "You're a good drummer/percussionist." I've also gotten "You have great rhythm." but one of the best one's was "You don't play the drums, you PLAY the drums!"

Tutin

05-05-2007, 02:51 PM

The last time I walked into a drum store all the guys were saying that I had great technique and I noticed they kept looking over at me and pretending they weren't watching. They also said to my Dad while I was playing that I was seriously good, which felt great. There was also a kid staring open mouthed at me while I was testing out a bass drum pedal, which was also quite a nice feeling.

Aside from that, some people have said that I am their favourite drummer after seeing me at a gig or whatever, which has made me feel pretty cool.

I don't get it, I'm nothing special!

brittc89

05-05-2007, 09:17 PM

I was playing the channel one suite at a jazz competition in march and a judge said, during the quick portion at the end that I had great time and my swing feel made him want to tap his feet.

Skacatz

05-07-2007, 07:41 PM

After a recent show an older guy came up to me from the audience. Said my style reminded him of Ed Shaughnessy. I'll take that any day.

chrisobrien54

05-23-2007, 11:48 AM

"Are you using a double pedal?"

"No he's not, he's just really quick!"

Made me feel like the king of everything!

Vinnysimmo

05-23-2007, 12:14 PM

"I never thought youd get so good" from my mate. Its a but of a rubbish compliment but it made me a bit happy for a while.

bonzo49

05-23-2007, 09:07 PM

"You sound like whats his name, the one from the rolling stones..."
"Charlie Watts?"
"Thats the one"
"Oh, Why thankyou, so kind"

Butch Axsmith

05-24-2007, 08:46 AM

You sound just like the recording ''''''''''''
Butch Axsmith

bballdrummer34

05-24-2007, 09:37 AM

I get all tingly every time someone says it feels good to play with me.

ditto ...............20

mofle

05-25-2007, 11:31 PM

One of the best compliments I ever got was this week, when I got the very top grade on my drum examn at musical high school\ college
(different school system)

Mr. Pasquini

05-26-2007, 06:55 PM

From my dad the other day while we were doing jazz standards:

"God Damn son!"

OH and I was sitting in a local Music Go Round playing a cheap Mapex set that had been beaten to death:
"Sir!"
"Yea man?"
"Do you give lessons?"
"No"
"I'll pay well..."

gringo998

05-28-2007, 02:33 AM

this guy _> http://www.myspace.com/anthonygomes

he said i sound like a young stewart copeland

brockalicious

05-28-2007, 02:14 PM

mine was yesterday at band prac:

we were warming up and i somehow pulled a great solo outta nowhere

the 3 guitarists looked at me and in unison went, 'You're a crazy SOB!'

Raymond Bloom

05-28-2007, 02:32 PM

A lot of times I get compliments about my bass drum technique, sometimes I like to throw in some 16th notes pretty while grooving and the reaction is allways: ''great double bass, man!'' and the they realise there's just one pedal haha

also, I receive a lot of compliments about my trad grip and hand technique in general, it allways ends with me teaching some stuff on a pad and talking for hours about technique lol

markl_91

06-16-2007, 11:03 AM

best compliment is probably that i play like an octapus

dizkneelande

06-18-2007, 07:43 PM

The best compliment I ever got was when this couple from florida came to our gig in memphis and the girl "I'll leave her unnamed", bragged on me all nite sayin how great I was and then at the end of the nite gave me a kiss on the cheek with her husband standing right there! He loved me to so I guess he didnt mind, he was super cool as well.

ValS

06-19-2007, 10:52 AM

i often hear or read on forums smth like "drummer and guitar player of this band were awesome at this concert" ,or than i go to the pub after a concert with my friends/bandmates, unknown people greets me like - " awesome drumming dude".
Thats a nice feeling.. :-)

franklinj

06-20-2007, 08:10 AM

My drum teacher would like to give me his job on Saturdays at very, very good pay and since im only 16, thats quite a compliment.

Big_Philly

06-20-2007, 04:13 PM

I get all tingly every time someone says it feels good to play with me.

I recognize that tingling sensation...

The other day I gave a drum solo at a talent show, I dropped a stick halfway through and played with one hand and two feet for a few seconds until I had my stick back, it was within arm's range. Some people talked to me and gave compliments afterward, and when I asked them if they noticed the stick dropping, they all said no. Nobody noticed me dropping a stick. That is a compliment from my point of view :)

kung_f00

06-20-2007, 07:20 PM

The best compliment I ever received was from my drum teacher. I had studied with him for a year through my school, and when I came back and resumed studying with him, I blew him away with how far I had come since the last time he had seen me play. He also made comments to all of the music faculty that I was one of the most promising drumset students he had ever had.

stasz

06-21-2007, 06:45 AM

I'm not in a band and I'm not in my school's jazz band or anything so really my playing isn't heard publicly a lot, especially on drumset, except for say my teacher or my peers in drumline. Anyways, so this would be one that stood out among family and friends congratulating me... It was this past year, my freshman year in HS.

So all the students in concert/marching band at my school are encouraged by the band instructor to play at the IMEA Music Contest every year, which is really a bunch of high school kids playing/singing music and getting a division rating. A half dozen drummers from our drum section in band were put in a multi-percussion ensemble to play this latin-type piece, myself as one of them. We didn't have any timbales to play the timbale part on, so we were using concert toms for the time being. At one practice I suggested getting two differently-tuned snare drums and flipping the snare wires off. Another practice when we were playing and had the snare drums set up the guy playing them, two years older than me, tells me that I'm "a smart cookie, suggesting the snare drums" and that I'll be playing the quads in marching band by my junior year, for sure. I was in the pit in the drumline the past marching season, and most of the other drummers were in the battery on snare, tenors, or bass. I said thanks, and was glad, because even though he was only another high school drummer and it was only a small compliment, plus I didn't think the snare drum thing was that inventive, he had played quads for a couple years with some skill and I saw him as a crazy talented drummer. I then went to go see his band play (and win) our local Battle of the Bands and feeling happy that I was noticed by this guy who is really passionate about his music and is pretty talented.

So now I'm a sophomore on the drumline and I'm playing snare, which is awesome. I don't know if I want to do quads but for some reason what this guy said sticks out in my mind as an inspiration to me.

(Sorry for the long story... I can only ever tell a story by giving ever last detail... by the way the guy's name was Scott)

drumr0

11-09-2007, 02:47 PM

One of the best compliments I ever got was from a travelling evangelists that was visiting our church. He was sitting about 3 feet in front of my drumkit during the song worship part of the service. When he got up in the pulpit he made the comment "I was sitting right in front of the drums and still heard every word the choir sung!" Then he pointed at me and said "Excellent job!" in front of the whole church. I was on cloud nine!!

aydee

11-09-2007, 02:51 PM

..that I was basically a nice guy.

thefeckcampaign

11-09-2007, 05:12 PM

i played this show with some fairly establish players in the hiphop scene playing rock. i would have to say i was on my "A game" that night.

i got off stage and this guy comes up to me and says, "hey, you rock.".

i say, "thanks you like Chris' (the artist) stuff?".

he says, "no man, YOU rock."

i say, "wow, thanks man. what's your name?".

he says "Lil' John". meaning "Lil John Roberts, drummer of Janet Jackson/Goodie Mob etc.

my jaw just dropped and needless to say i was in shock. i felt really good about myself. next thing you know i'm playing another night with the same artist and Lil' John was sitting at the bar.

i said to him, "you here hanging out?" as i knew this club to be a house gig he had.

he said, "no, i'm here to see you 'cause you rock."

well that did it. i was nervous all night and i played mediocre at best. i went over to talk to him to see if it was as bad as i thought.

i said, "sorry, i didn't play my best tonight."

he said, "yeah, yeah" brushing it off, "how do you get that kick sound?".

now just 8 years later i saw him at the 2007 NAMM show and he had no idea who i was. Ha!

druid

11-09-2007, 05:50 PM

I had a fellow drummer who went thru 4 years of music school tell me last Spinrg he had "never been inspired by anyone's playing in a small club setting" like he said he had the night he saw me debuting with a new band locally....another guy who was with him liked that I used hemiolas and cross rhythms throughout....I was happy they noticed what I was trying to weave in that night.

schist

11-10-2007, 12:06 PM

Most people who have heard me play have commented on my timekeeping ability and my old lecturer said I had killer chops.

I'm still not sure what either of them were smoking, as I'll be the first to tell you I suck. Hard.

NIMBY

11-10-2007, 01:37 PM

i was once told that i was the reincarnation of Keith Moon, im fairly sure the guy was drunk but it still made me feel pretty good haha

volume_3

11-10-2007, 02:30 PM

Well, ive only been playing a year, and like a few weeks after i started, most people i played infront of kinda said "There's no way you've been playing for a few weeks"

:/

slingerland755

11-10-2007, 03:10 PM

Way on back in 1993, my band was playing at a club in Atlanta (Charley Magruders) when in walks Gregg Allman. He wants to sit in with the band with his bass player. We play a standard blues 1,4 5, then some tune I've never heard, then he looks back at me and starts One Way Out. Thrill of my playing career. After we get though he looks back and winks and says..."Nice!"

aydee

11-10-2007, 03:16 PM

gusty

11-10-2007, 03:33 PM

I got top of grade 9 music and top of instrumental music (grades 8-12) this year at my highschool. Oh, and at an eistedford this year the auduticator (sp) wrote something like.."rhythm section kept time well. very good drummer, can leap out of the context at times then come back as nessesary", I was stoked with that.

Mr. Brownstone

11-10-2007, 03:54 PM

Best compliment? The band I'm in haven't kicked me out yet.

Wavelength

11-10-2007, 03:58 PM

A decently intoxicated and apparently sincere audience member between songs: "Man, that drummer is (expletive omitted)ing awesome!"

Deltadrummer

11-10-2007, 05:29 PM

A couple of years ago I went on this audition for a Zep tribute band. They were actually really good. I talked to the guitar player on the phone and I guess he didn't really like me because when I got there I was the only drummer not on the list.

I was the first one there so I went first. I played a few tunes and then Rock n Roll open handed. I played the solo verbatim at the end, stating I could do something different but since it was a Zep tribute band I though it would be fun to do the solo as people have heard it. The guitar player looked at me in bewilderment and said that was great, you played right in the pocket. I had told him on the phone if there was one thing I knew how to play, it was Bonham. The guy working the board said, you're an awesome drummer; but they never called me and I never heard of them again, which was a shame because they were quite good. I guess there is no need for another Zep Tribute band.

rhythmjunkie

11-10-2007, 11:28 PM

I sat in at one of my brother's gigs and this girl who's boyfriend is a drummer said to my brother; "Dude, your brother's a clock." Best compliment I've ever recieved.

Jon Cable

11-11-2007, 03:51 AM

"You're pretty good for a fat old guy!"....yeah, Thanx....

jjmason777

11-11-2007, 04:53 AM

King Of Drums

11-11-2007, 05:47 AM

A drummer I really respect said that I have potential. I've also been told by a few musicians that they like my sense of dynamics.

Dr Drums

11-11-2007, 04:27 PM

i did get tons of compliments cuz honestly... i'm amazing.

hhh j\k, that seems to be what everyone here wants to say ...

But seriously i think the most recent good one i can remember is from a local store salesman who's also a very popular and respectful man among drummers here was just blown by my playing and said i gotta start teaching and that if i keep playing like that i'll be one of the best drummer in this country... not bad :P

Diaz

11-11-2007, 05:10 PM

in high school they used to call me drum god :-P that was pretty good

other good ones are playing shows with other bands, and other drummers coming up and sayin "wow man you kicked my ass!"

aegir77

11-11-2007, 10:27 PM

I was playin at Berklee because i went for a summer and i was playin in my ensemble and a teacher who was staring from a window.. just opened the door after the song and said to me " hey, you've got the groove".and then left.... it was inspiring... I don't really know his name or anything but it felt great.

drum.lad

11-11-2007, 10:55 PM

the best i got was off my principal at my schools musical when it ended he called out everybodys name and he got to me and said "give it up for mr buddy rich on the skins oh sorry jason mc mahon i cant tell the diffference" he is a drummer so that meant a lot to me

Class A Drummer

11-11-2007, 11:21 PM

At my school bands performance, we played the song "The Inferno," from the Divine Comedy. I had the timpini part which was an absolutley amazing part. Huge Solo, incredibly loud most of the time, many solo pickups into the next measure. The one who created the peice was a percussionist.
At the end, i had about 10 or more people coming up to me telling me how great i was.

drummerchick435

11-12-2007, 12:37 AM

Well the drummer of the band that led worship at a church summer camp said I was a good drummer. Also the bassist (who is multi-instrumental) in my church's main band said he likes me on the set (I play aux. percussion mainly). I also get a lot of "you played good today".

TheGroceryman

11-12-2007, 02:51 AM

At a music camp i went to this summer i think i got the best compliment i ever received. I was the oldest drummer there (15, the age limit), and we were in clinic (basically the instructors and older players play a variety of different things in front of the kids to hopefully teach them something about music), and after the clinic, some of the instructors said to my mom, "yea he's good, he's really fun to play with."

LinearDrummer

11-15-2007, 08:05 PM

I played @ the Orange County fair over the summer and for me it was one of biggest crowds I've played in front of - a 1,000 people or so....anyways I was a little nervous and when the show ended I thought I played kinda stiff.....

Well the singers were talking and they had played this venue 4 or 5 times before and I remember one of them saying "This was the best most entertaining show we've put on sense I've been in the band" and the other singer said " yeah cause this time around we got a kiss-ass drummer"

Even though I know I coulda played better it really meade me feel good that all my friends that showed up really had a good time and my bandmates were so complimentary....

Just goes to show that sometimes we are our worst critics :)

danander11

11-15-2007, 10:22 PM

I guess that my favorite compliment would have to be one that I got right after my return to playing after an almost 14 year hiatus... I was asked to help out at our "parent" church because their drummer had gotten ill, so I took my favorite snare (at the time), and showed up not really knowing any of the music..

When I got there, there was a full band of their best players and I was pretty nervous. (These guys are really talented). We only had about 40 minutes to rehearse the music for that night so I made some really quick charts and just decided to to what I could..

At the end of the night, all of the band guys were coming over and asking me to play regularly there and commenting on how good my playing was.. then, one of the senior guys came over and shook my hand and said that my playing was "crisp".

I am used to getting complements on my playing because I've worked hard at it, but I have a hard time accepting them because I know I can do more and play better.. but that one compliment at that time really hit a nerve with me. Crisp is something I want to be associated with. To me, it connotates clean playing and good meter.. Since that time, I have become good friends with most of these guys and have been rostered on to play 3 or 4 times a month as well as my duties at my home church.

KeyserSoze

11-15-2007, 11:21 PM

I can't narrow it down to one so here's 3.

I think my fav was at the end of my senior recital in college. My teacher was always on my butt and never really gave me any compliments so I was under the assumption that he thought I sucked. Well, I did my recital which was pretty heavy (3 solo marimba pieces, 3 snare pieces, 2 timpani pieces and 2 pieces with me on the drum set with electronic compositions I made for accompaniment). Once I finished the last song he was the first person to stand up and clap. He took off the mean teacher mask after that and told me that he knew I could "blow them away". That meant more to me than the head of the dept saying that was the best recital he'd seen there.

After a show with my funk band (where I thought I was the worst player in the group) my high school band director came up to me and said "You need to get in a band that can keep up with you. Every time I see you play a gig you are running circles around the rest of the band." Some of my band mates went on to get masters degrees in music...

Then once I was just practicing in the drum room at college. Earlier I had seen a group of older gents playing in the big rehearsal room. They were GOOD. So I was starting to "get" Soul Vaccination at the time. When I say "get" I mean every single note. I was just jamming along on that tune in my own world when I looked up and noticed that whole group of guys crowded around the door to the drum room watching and bobbing their heads. Of course as soon as I notice them I stop playing. They looked all disappointed and gave me the universal sign for "keep going". I finished the tune and the drummer for the group popped in and said "I'm going to be pissed if I get fired tomorrow but great feel on that tune!" I thought it was great since it's hard to even play that groove much less make it feel right.

2ndguess

11-21-2007, 05:00 PM

Sorry for the indulgence, but here's a few:

Playing for a city orchestra my senior year in high school, our final concert of the season was at the Governor's Mansion. An elderly gentleman came up to compliment me after the performance. He said, "You sounded great! It's about time this orchestra got a good drummer." I had been their sole percussionist for about three years prior.

Playing a gig with Zoinks at a bar in Pleasanton, Calif. opening for The Queers and the bouncer came up to us afterwards and said, "You guys were f***king tits!"

Most recently, Alan Schecher said he dug my band's songs and dug my playing and I think Alan's an amazing drummer. Now that was tits!

Tim-AY!

11-21-2007, 09:50 PM

Best compliment I've ever recieved was -- "You don't suck as bad as you used too"

That was sweet :)

KarlCrafton

11-21-2007, 10:14 PM

This is a cool topic. Good stuff so far!

I've been lucky at shows I play. People always compliment my playing, my kit, the sound etc...
It always feels good, and lets you know you're doing something right.
I do my best to make sure everything sounds great, and it's enjoyable to listen to, AND entertaining to watch as well.
Did that sound pompus? Was NOT meant to at all...if it did.

Anyway....(sorry in advance if I say "cool" too much about this...)....

One SUPER COOL experience was when (this past July) my band opened for Toto.

Having Simon Phillips watch a song and a half (taking time from his warm up--as there was only about 15-20 minuites between us and Toto), was real cool.

I look over and he's smiling and giving me the thumbs up!
I was like, "Holy crap! Simon Phillips!"

After the show.....

When we got out of the show, Simon was already on the bus (and apparently not coming out), but, when he saw me, he smiled, pointed, and came right out.

He's shaking my hand saying that he was excited to hear some good drumming, and THEN he's saying my drums sounded "F*king great, just fantastic" and THEN, HE'S asking ME what I did to get my bass drum sound...it was pretty wild, and really cool!

He said he was warming up downstairs, and HAD to come up because the drums souned so good (!! ahhh!!!)

He told me he sent his tech out find me & bring me back to watch from behind the kit (!! ahhh!!!).
They couldn't find me as I was out front--his tech, and one other crew guy both said he sent them looking for me..dang it!!

I could have just gone back with my laminate, but I didn't want to 'presume' and just go back, since to get to his side of the stage, I'd have been seen by the crowd..no getting around it.
He said "No, no, you should have, that would have been cool", and he kept saying "next time, next time".

HOPEFULLY there'll be a next time and I can take him up on it!

That was pretty dang special, and besides all that, Simon was just a really nice guy, and easy to talk to...after the inital shock haha!
Most guy's of his calliber are nice people I've found.

The rest of the band was also very cool, & complimentary about our group. Class acts.
I saw the keyboard player inside, and he said liked our stuff, really dug my kit, and commented on how great he thought it sounded.

We also got real good response from the crow, which I though was (extra) great being as there were obviosly a lot of musicians in the house for Toto!

Those guys play so great...no need to elaborate on THAT fact!

So if YOUR band gets a chance to play with Toto, they are great guys, and you'll have a good time.

THEN, that weekend, I met David Northrup (Travis Tritt) who was doing a clinic at the drumshop while in town (Detroit area) for a concert.

I just walk around the corner, and after he was done talking to someone he turns and say's "What's about this bass drum these guy's are telling me about?" (they had been telling him about what happened with Simon)...that was pretty funny. He said he was jealous--and HE'S the one touring with Travis Tritt!

David gave a darn good clinic, & was a good guy. Check him out if you get a chance.

There have been some other cool experiences, but this was already an essay :)...
Thanks for reading this far!

premier-mapex drummer

12-04-2007, 09:50 AM

mine would have been when i was at one of our local music shops, called "music den".

i was previewing kits, and the head of the drum department told me i had alot of potential and that i would go far if i kept it up.

sounds like something that would happen in a movie.

Big_Philly

12-04-2007, 01:08 PM

The other day my teacher went silent for about a minute, and then asked: so, what else would you like to learn? He used to be pretty quick at telling me where the major flaws in my playing were and gave me a bunch of exercises to tighten things up in my playing. That's a nice compliment from my point of view.
And one of my pupils asked me to do a short drum solo after the first lesson, immediately called a friend (who inspired him to take drum lessons) to let him hear what I was playing and said "wow, you're not just beating things, you're making music!"

EDogg

12-06-2007, 01:01 AM

Mine would have to have been when one of my high school's stereotypical 'elitist' musicians called my playing "the best thing about this band". Not bad considering it had a great bassist and guitarist in it. And when my concert band conductor said my playing was "no longer a liability" after a year of yelling and screaming. The strange thing was that I hadn't changed how I played at all.

bojangleman

12-06-2007, 05:48 AM

i think mine would be in marching season ppl would tell me that they love to come to the games just to see me play quads..lol...totally awesome in my books!

Alex

Kenny_V

12-07-2007, 01:09 AM

During the last concert of each year at my high school The band instructor gives out awards.
I recieved the "Outstanding Sohomore" in The jazz program my sophmore year, And "Outstanding Junior" my Junior year.

For seniors The instructor gives out a handful of awards, 2 people are chosen for each award.
Name after name is called and im not in any of them. After what I THOUGHT was the last award, I hear, "And for the last award of the night. The semper Fidelis Award will go to Ken Vallejos" Its the highest award rewarded to ONE senior for "Consistantly showing superior musicianship, and dedication to music and for having been 'always faithful' "

I walk up to the front of the stage and "Doc" our music instructor hands me the award.
I thank him and go to shake his hand, and He hugs me and says, "Thank You for making this an easy decision"

Its not a compliment on my drumming but it sure made me feel good

Oh and afterwards everyone said they knew i would win it.
that made me feel great also

-Ken