Larry
"Uncle Larry"
At a rehearsal the other day, we were running through the Neville Brothers "Congo Square". (I'm not sure if they actually wrote this or not, but that's besides the point) I chose to base my part around a Bo Diddley beat, 3 against 2. So I played the rhythm mostly on the HH with an offbeat "backbeat" during the vocal part. During the non vocal parts, I maintained the same general rhythm, but orchestrated it using the drums more instead of mainly the HH. This is when the guitarist and bass player gave me the "look" as in WTF are you doing? So we stopped and I explained to them that the rhythm didn't change, I just orchestrated it differently. I was basically laughed at, they thought it was amusing that I used a term that sounded a little like I knew what I was talking about. I really don't think they had previously heard that term used before by a drummer. I can't help getting the feeling that most other musicians (who don't play the drums) think of us as 2nd class citizens, musically speaking. Sometimes this really galls me (being laughed at while I'm trying to seriously discuss something musical) and I wonder if I should basically act offended so then maybe they will realize that they are putting me down and not allowing me to be "on their level". I've never done that in the past (act offended) because it halts progress, but if I continue to not say anything, then they won't know that they are being offensive to me. Like when someone makes a drummers joke I used to just laugh it off but lately I feel the need to protest the stereotype, in hopes of changing attitudes. I would like to elevate the generally held perception of the drummer as a person who rides the coat tails of the other musicians. Has anyone else felt this "pecking order" mentality?