Bo Eder
Platinum Member
I wanted to bring this up in its own thread because it kinda' bugs me. This would be an extension of the poster asking what kit he should get as a second kit to his main kit.
I didn't jump on him intentionally, but I'm wondering where drummers got this idea of the second inferior gigging kit in the first place? It's like we're the only ones who covet our prized high-end gear so much that we must acquire a trashy set to do all the "regular" gigs with.
And no offense, but everyone with a YouTube video of themselves playing their cocktail kit in the street, or using some makeshift drumset at a nice club...you have to know your regular kit sounds much better right? You really think I'd pay to hear someone play a 5x10 snare all night coupled with that weird "I don't know if I'm a floor tom or bass drum" 15" bass drum? Come on! Yamaha's Hip Gig? Little drumsets that require microphones too? No wonder so many of us have turned into audio engineeers. I suppose drummers have been made to look not-as-serious as other musicians. Drums that look like Coca-Cola cans, see-through drums in different colors that look like jellybeans, drums with lights, etc.,....we've been made to look more goofy than some guitarists!
How did this come about and how can we stop it? I work with guitar players and horn players who have the attitude that the reason you have these wonderful instruments is to PLAY them in front of people!. I know a gentleman who brings his Martin HD-28 acoustic guitar to Disneyland everyday to actually play bluegrass music. Sometimes he leaves that $3500 guitar in his costume closet in their green room the entire week he's working. Another guy has a 1966 Selmer Mark VII tenor saxophone that he spent well over $7,000 for used, and he plays it everyday on the job. And these guys own lots of guitars and horns.
But here we are as drummers with the attitude "I must have an intermediate set to do gigs with because my high-end kit is so beautiful I'd hate for something to happen to it".
Why hoard it? What are you saving it for? If you're at the beginning of your drumming learning curve, and you want the high-end gear, but can't afford or justify it, that's fine. But those of us who've been doing this for a while, and have top gear, what's the point of having it if no one ever sees you playing it? Ever see a working band's guitar player whip out a $199 Squire Stratocaster to play at a wedding? Or a keyboardist working with a Casio keyboard he got from Sears for $99?
My point is not to say that the gear matters. My point is that if you have it, then definitely use it to put your best foot forward every time. You are a serious working musician. The impression you give to others is important. Do you want to tell everyone who hires you that you think their gig isn't important enough for you to bring your best stuff? Perhaps this is why drummers aren't taken seriously by people? Because we don't take them seriously by always using the best tools we and they know we have?
I like to think of this as an extension of playing for the music and owning the big picture, as Larry put forth in his thread on his thought for the day. He was talking about grooving for the music, that nobody ever seems to do (except for the guys who work all the time). That's the hard part. The easier part is looking good while you're grooving for the music. A guy in a suit or a tuxedo just looks better than a guy in shorts and a t-shirt. Likewise, your beautiful top-shelf drumset will further your image as well.
You bought that expensive kit. Now do the drums some justice and play them in front of people. Make your next investment a set of cases for them. Anything. Just get those things out of the house and play! It's not fair to the drums if you don't.
I didn't jump on him intentionally, but I'm wondering where drummers got this idea of the second inferior gigging kit in the first place? It's like we're the only ones who covet our prized high-end gear so much that we must acquire a trashy set to do all the "regular" gigs with.
And no offense, but everyone with a YouTube video of themselves playing their cocktail kit in the street, or using some makeshift drumset at a nice club...you have to know your regular kit sounds much better right? You really think I'd pay to hear someone play a 5x10 snare all night coupled with that weird "I don't know if I'm a floor tom or bass drum" 15" bass drum? Come on! Yamaha's Hip Gig? Little drumsets that require microphones too? No wonder so many of us have turned into audio engineeers. I suppose drummers have been made to look not-as-serious as other musicians. Drums that look like Coca-Cola cans, see-through drums in different colors that look like jellybeans, drums with lights, etc.,....we've been made to look more goofy than some guitarists!
How did this come about and how can we stop it? I work with guitar players and horn players who have the attitude that the reason you have these wonderful instruments is to PLAY them in front of people!. I know a gentleman who brings his Martin HD-28 acoustic guitar to Disneyland everyday to actually play bluegrass music. Sometimes he leaves that $3500 guitar in his costume closet in their green room the entire week he's working. Another guy has a 1966 Selmer Mark VII tenor saxophone that he spent well over $7,000 for used, and he plays it everyday on the job. And these guys own lots of guitars and horns.
But here we are as drummers with the attitude "I must have an intermediate set to do gigs with because my high-end kit is so beautiful I'd hate for something to happen to it".
Why hoard it? What are you saving it for? If you're at the beginning of your drumming learning curve, and you want the high-end gear, but can't afford or justify it, that's fine. But those of us who've been doing this for a while, and have top gear, what's the point of having it if no one ever sees you playing it? Ever see a working band's guitar player whip out a $199 Squire Stratocaster to play at a wedding? Or a keyboardist working with a Casio keyboard he got from Sears for $99?
My point is not to say that the gear matters. My point is that if you have it, then definitely use it to put your best foot forward every time. You are a serious working musician. The impression you give to others is important. Do you want to tell everyone who hires you that you think their gig isn't important enough for you to bring your best stuff? Perhaps this is why drummers aren't taken seriously by people? Because we don't take them seriously by always using the best tools we and they know we have?
I like to think of this as an extension of playing for the music and owning the big picture, as Larry put forth in his thread on his thought for the day. He was talking about grooving for the music, that nobody ever seems to do (except for the guys who work all the time). That's the hard part. The easier part is looking good while you're grooving for the music. A guy in a suit or a tuxedo just looks better than a guy in shorts and a t-shirt. Likewise, your beautiful top-shelf drumset will further your image as well.
You bought that expensive kit. Now do the drums some justice and play them in front of people. Make your next investment a set of cases for them. Anything. Just get those things out of the house and play! It's not fair to the drums if you don't.