M
Matt Bo Eder
Guest
I had an interesting discussion yesterday with a photographer friend. Although we're both pretty much gear-heads with everything we do, he didn't like it when I said "the camera doesn't matter - it's that fat head behind the camera that's making everything happen". Although I said it half-heartedly, he argued the fact that you have to have the right tools for the right job. He asked if I would shoot a wedding with a disposable camera - I said no. Would I shoot wildlife if I didn't have long lenses? Of course not. He pulled out an old box camera from the 50s and told me to charge what I normally charge for a portrait shoot and see if the client would really like what he got for the money. Of course I agreed that he was right.
I tend to say the same things here. The drums don't matter, it's the person playing them that matters. Well, I don't really believe all of that. Your gear does matter. More than you know!
Of course, if you're just learning how to play, and you're not out working alot, then yeah, it might not matter what you're playing on. That gear has no more stress than to sit in your room so you can play on it daily. But as soon as you say, "OK - I'm joining a band and will start playing outside of my house", then you need good stuff that will not only survive what you dish out, but has to survive being handled and moved around. Drums bouncing around in a car need to be able to survive that too. They have to survive being set-up and tore-down over-and-over. They may be subject to the elements - and they have to sound good every time you sit down to play.
So yes, gear doesn't matter, sometimes.
I suggest this, if you're going to buy drum stuff, buy good drum stuff. Don't listen to you're close friends who say "the drums don't matter, it's the drummer". Well, if that's the case, then go get a Sonor Bop kit ($400) and get on the next Sting tour. Or, go join a Dixieland strolling group and use a $45 Pearl export snare. Or worse, use those student cymbals as far as you want - you'll know what happens when someone offers you a gig - you go out and get good cymbals.
In addition to this, I think people should start on on much better instruments than they can initially afford. Better drum gear means it'll be easier to play, and those ideas you have in your head will have a better chance of being heard if you aren't constantly grumbling about something not feeling right.
Thoughts?
I tend to say the same things here. The drums don't matter, it's the person playing them that matters. Well, I don't really believe all of that. Your gear does matter. More than you know!
Of course, if you're just learning how to play, and you're not out working alot, then yeah, it might not matter what you're playing on. That gear has no more stress than to sit in your room so you can play on it daily. But as soon as you say, "OK - I'm joining a band and will start playing outside of my house", then you need good stuff that will not only survive what you dish out, but has to survive being handled and moved around. Drums bouncing around in a car need to be able to survive that too. They have to survive being set-up and tore-down over-and-over. They may be subject to the elements - and they have to sound good every time you sit down to play.
So yes, gear doesn't matter, sometimes.
I suggest this, if you're going to buy drum stuff, buy good drum stuff. Don't listen to you're close friends who say "the drums don't matter, it's the drummer". Well, if that's the case, then go get a Sonor Bop kit ($400) and get on the next Sting tour. Or, go join a Dixieland strolling group and use a $45 Pearl export snare. Or worse, use those student cymbals as far as you want - you'll know what happens when someone offers you a gig - you go out and get good cymbals.
In addition to this, I think people should start on on much better instruments than they can initially afford. Better drum gear means it'll be easier to play, and those ideas you have in your head will have a better chance of being heard if you aren't constantly grumbling about something not feeling right.
Thoughts?