Do drummers lose points for disassembling the moment the show is done?

Shild

Member
Sorry if this question doesn't really make sense. I can't really put my finger on exactly why this would be. But when I go to a venue to see live bands, I might think a band I've never seen before is really rockin!.. Then once the final note of that final song has been played, the drummer will typically start to disassemble the kit within 5 seconds!.. Maybe I'm weird, but they lose a whole bunch of points with me if I see this!.. If the same drummer were to shake peoples hands for a minute or 2 afterwards, then disassemble the kit they wouldn't lose these points. Do any of you guys feel the same way?

Now at first, I thought maybe the reason I felt this way was because the drummer himself broke down the kit instead of a roady, therefore they couldn't be too big of a band (even though I already knew they weren't). But now I'm thinking it's because it shows they are too eager to go home and not appreciate the fans. How do you guys feel about this?
 
If we're the last band of the night, I generally won't feel the need to start dismantling right away. However, if there's another band coming up that use their own gear, I get my stuff the hell off the stage as soon as I can. Changeover windows are generally short, and I've been in far too many situations where a stressful changeover can mess up my comfort level for the first couple of songs. So in an effort to free up the stage as quickly as possible, I'll generally go to the front of the stage with the rest of the band to take a bow or whatever, and then move my crap off the stage right away.
 
Sometimes I've hung around after gigs, other times I've buggered off straight away. It all depends on how I feel or what commitments I have later on or the next day. I'll assume most every other drummer is in the same boat at one point or another.

But ultimately no, I don't think a guy "loses points" for packing up and going home. The gig's finished. The job is done as far as I'm concerned. I expect them to put on a good show. I've never expected dinner and a movie once that show is finished.
 
If we're the last band of the night, I generally won't feel the need to start dismantling right away. However, if there's another band coming up that use their own gear, I get my stuff the hell off the stage as soon as I can. Changeover windows are generally short, and I've been in far too many situations where a stressful changeover can mess up my comfort level for the first couple of songs. So in an effort to free up the stage as quickly as possible, I'll generally go to the front of the stage with the rest of the band to take a bow or whatever, and then move my crap off the stage right away.

Pretty much sums it up.Usually in situations where thereis a short changeover you will have like 10 people converge on the drum set right away to start hauling shit off the stage. The goal is to give the next guy as much time as possible to get comfortable.
 
So Pocket-full-of-gold and Naigewron, glad you guys brought up how in the real world they might rush you off the stage. But wouldn't it still be better to wait for at least half a minute when no one is paying attention anymore? I'm sure if you waited a minute until the crowds focus wasn't on the stage anymore, then made up for it by disassembling as if it were a nascar pitstop, you'd look better. Wouldn't you?
 
So Pocket-full-of-gold and Naigewron, glad you guys brought up how in the real world they might rush you off the stage. But wouldn't it still be better to wait for at least half a minute when no one is paying attention anymore? I'm sure if you waited a minute until the crowds focus wasn't on the stage anymore, then made up for it by disassembling as if it were a nascar pitstop, you'd look better. Wouldn't you?

For a five minute changeover (which isn't uncommon if each drummer only brings his sticks, cymbals and pedals), you really want to get off the stage as quickly as humanly possible. I've been in a number of situations where I've been standing by the side of the stage waiting for the drummer of the previous band to finish drinking his drink and stop chatting to his bandmates, and it can get really annoying.

So yeah, it depends on the situation, but for courtesy's sake I will try to get off the stage quickly to give the next guy as much time as possible no matter how long the changeover is. I will always acknowledge the audience and smile/wave/nod/bow/gih-five if the situation warrants it, but I won't linger.
 
So Pocket-full-of-gold and Naigewron, glad you guys brought up how in the real world they might rush you off the stage. But wouldn't it still be better to wait for at least half a minute when no one is paying attention anymore?

Over the years I've bailed out quickly for countless different reasons......ranging from just being tired and not up to hanging about, to having to clear the stage for the next act all the way through to actually having to race to another gig. I've never snubbed anyone that's wanted to speak to me after a gig. If people want to speak to me directly I've always made at least some time to engage them, no matter how much of a hurry I might be in....if even just to say thanks very much but I've gotta fly. But the reality is, that sometimes I've had matters more pressing than hanging around at the bar after a gig purely on the off chance someone may want to shake hands. Back in the day I used to do 3 or 4 gigs a week, I guarantee I didn't have the stamina to hang around making friends after every single one of them. I've never been rude about it and I've never known anyone to take offense.....and if I'm honest, until this thread I've never known anyone to think it looks bad. At least, I know no-one has ever docked me points for it. :)
 
I've always thought drummers kind of lost out in this area, prime time mingling and networking, is spent making sure no one steals their gear, while the front men sidle up to the bar and start looking for gigs or girls or whatever.
 
If the chick is waiting at home and it's 2 in the morning I'm out of there like a flash. Try to talk to the drummer during a break
 
one of my regular gigs, I am there from around 7:30 till past 2 in the morning so yes, after the last song, I tear down right away. I do it slowly, without a rush but look, ive been there for hours and I have a 40 min. ride facing me so im moving on. people will approach me during this time and im never one to brush them off and no one seems put off.
 
if another drummer is waiting to set up it is completely disrespectful to go to the bar and walk around shaking hands like you are some rockstar while your gear sits where he needs to be

be a pro and get your gear out of the way.... you don't need to break it down and case it up... but get it out of the way so the next drummer can do what he needs to do

huge pet peeve of mine.

and it is always players with not much gig experience who leave their gear sitting around while they mingle and the next drummer waits pissed off

I have absolutely moved someones gear while they sat at the bar to get my gear in place.... 100%......more than once
 
I've seen a lot of gear disappear at gigs. I don't blame anyone for securing it right away. Plus, if they just put on a good show, they should have the cool points to spare.
 
Yikes, wish I knew points were at stake! What are the other scoring criteria!!!!

Seriously though, the changeover scenarios have all been covered already. Its important to work together with the other bands to give each other as much set time as possible, hence short change overs.

We used to finish our set, get our gear off stage and then head straight to the merch stand, or head out collecting mailing list names, ie straightout interacting with people.

If I was in the last band of the night, I won't pack up the kit until later. I think you are right, there is a certain element of "show" to appearing to have the luxury of not being seen to packing the kit up yourself and relaxing and chilling out with a beer afterwards.
 
...and this whole "losing points" thing..... this is an attitude you should lose extremely quickly

many drummers that all of us listen to every day carry, set up, and break dow their own gear..... a guy you've seen on the cover of MD mag is probably loading his own gear tonight

for example.... a little over a year ago I went to see Peter Erskine play at the Baked Potato in LA.
guess who Peters "roady" was.... Peter Erskine
he pulled up in his Prius ... opened the hatch and pulled out drum cases and a cymbal bag .... I gave him a hand loading them in
he pulled them out of the cases and set them up.
... after the second set he broke them down and loaded them back in the Prius

so lets not be corny drifting rockstars and get your gear out of the way before you schmooze at the bar
 
I do a lot of weddings and corporate events. I often pack away my cymbals, sticks and pedal immediately after the set's done in order to deter some drunk from going up and "having a go" without asking. Previous experiences have taught me to do this...
 
Even if you are the last band of the night, a lot of venues don't stay open much later than after the final act plays. One of my bands plays last at most of our shows anymore, and I usually start tearing down a couple minutes after we finish, because I know they're gonna' start kicking people out and cleaning up quickly after. The way I see it is, the faster I tear down, the more time I can spend talking to people/selling merch. Thankfully, I can get my entire kit torn down and packed up in about ten minutes or less.
 
Even if you are the last band of the night, a lot of venues don't stay open much later than after the final act plays. One of my bands plays last at most of our shows anymore, and I usually start tearing down a couple minutes after we finish, because I know they're gonna' start kicking people out and cleaning up quickly after. The way I see it is, the faster I tear down, the more time I can spend talking to people/selling merch. Thankfully, I can get my entire kit torn down and packed up in about ten minutes or less.

This seems to be a regional thing. When I was in a band in Australia, we generally had to pack our gear out of the venue by closing time. However, here in Norway, venues are more than happy to let you leave your gear on stage and pack it up when they open the next day.

This applies more to clubs and specialised gig venues I suppose. If I played in the corner of a bar or coffee shop, they'd probably want my crap out of the way as soon as possible.
 
Even if you are the last band of the night, a lot of venues don't stay open much later than after the final act plays. One of my bands plays last at most of our shows anymore, and I usually start tearing down a couple minutes after we finish, because I know they're gonna' start kicking people out and cleaning up quickly after. The way I see it is, the faster I tear down, the more time I can spend talking to people/selling merch. Thankfully, I can get my entire kit torn down and packed up in about ten minutes or less.

Exactly, same thought pattern. Get it done, then go mingle.

My last gig, New Year's Eve, my socially-awkward uncle shows up with his equally awkward gf after we get done playing, then he wants to talk to me and try to get a drink for the next half hour to 45 minutes. The bar was closing, but the owner is really cool so luckily I was able to leave my kit there over night. I just grabbed the cymbals (just in case of an emergency) and went home.
 
Like others have expressed, when we are playing between bands I move everything off the stage in minutes as to help out the next drummer, and what saves me time is having strong stands that hold several things - i.e. my main yamaha double tom stand also holds two cymbal stands, one with a stack, and the cymbal stand I use for a china also holds an X-Hat (heavy clip-on stand) and another cymbal stand and crash. In fact the only 'solo' stands I have are the ride and hihat.

What bugs me is other drummers who also play in between bands who start unpacking their stuff ON the stage (i.e. taking cymbals off one by one and packing them in their cymbal bag and etc.). I just watch in disbelief when that happens - inconsiderate...
 
Back
Top