How many other Drummers do you hang around

ZootELoops

ZootELoops

Senior Member
Outside of this forum, do you associate with any other drummers? Do you get together with other drummer buddies and talk shop and share ideas? Have you ever had a mentor?

The reason I ask this is because I have been playing almost a year (taking weekly lessons), but I still feel like such a newbie. I don't have any friends, let alone ones that play drums, and I'd love to be able to get around other drummers and talk shop. I'd love to have a mentor (that I didn't have to pay $30/half hour) to show me stuff and help me work on improving.

I have recently committed to a band, but I havent built up the self-confidence yet so I am very nervous about our first practice coming up next week. I wish I had more exposure to the kit (break-down, repair, fine tuning, etc) and advice from a local friend.

Thanks for your comments.
 
Funny story: I once moved into a 4 unit apartment building.
2 of the other 3 units were also rented by drummers.

For myself, my 1st real job was working part time in a drum shop when I was 17, so I was always around other drummers. These days, it's pretty rare to get into a conversation with another drummer other than online.
 
I know 5 other drummers that I talk to about gear and whatnot.
 
I have hung out with quite a few drummers. I have had them over to the house and those were some of the best sessions I've ever had. Actually had 3 drummers over once. That was a whole lot of fun.

I think that as you start getting involved with playing in bands you will inherently start meeting other musicians and drummers. You most likely will be playing gigs and drummers will approach you and talk drums, want to check out your kit, or may ask to sit in for a song or two. (Caution on that though. I've learned the hard way to only allow drummers I know play my kit.) You will also start meeting other bands when your band plays things like festivals, benefits, parties, or at venues that showcase 2 or 3 bands a night. This is a great time to get to know other drummers and musicians alike. I don;t know your age, but if your old enough to go to the clubs, go.

You've only been at it a year and look, your already looking to play in a band. It will happen in time. The more active you stay, the more networked you'll become.
 
drummydude said:
I don;t know your age, but if your old enough to go to the clubs, go.
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Yeah, I'm definitely old enough, but being the family man I don't exactly have the time, the money or the local venues to go out and do this. I'm not exactly located in a music mecca.

That's one of the reasons I'm here asking for advice & support. It;s been great but it doesnt replace human-interfacing.
 
ZootELoops said:
Yeah, I'm definitely old enough, but being the family man I don't exactly have the time, the money or the local venues to go out and do this. I'm not exactly located in a music mecca.

That's one of the reasons I'm here asking for advice & support. It;s been great but it doesnt replace human-interfacing.
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I did not grow up in a music mecca nor do I live in one now. I have a wife of 18 years and 3 children and am very much a family man. I was just telling you that if you want to meet other drummers this is how it happens. At least that's how it happened for me. Give it time. Good Luck.
 
I tend to avoid hanging around with too many drummers. I tend to hang around guitarists more and there aren't many drummers at Uni. I know two well - and they both play other instruments!
 
I'm at Uni too and everyone here are guitarists (which is why I've picked i up as a second instrument, also because I can't bring my drums to Uni though).

The only other drummer I've ever hung around with was my first teacher and although he was a really good drummer, he didn't know anything about drumming products really. He was kinda like 'I have an expensive Premier set therefore they are good'...

I tried speaking to a drummer once after a gig I went to see but all I got out of him was 'do you want any pills?' I made my excuses and left.

I've been drumming for nearly 5 years and I've learnt nearly everything I now from magazines and the internet. Just read as much as you can and research new products etc.

I'm not saying don't socialise with drummers, I'd love to do so as well, but don' let it limit you if you don't.
 
I'm still young and the only drummer I really hang out with is a friend of mine who I met through marching band
he is a great set player and a really cool guy

but other then that, I don't know any
 
I would venture to say most of my friends are musicians or in the business, and probably 1/2 are drummers. Then again, I've been gigging in L.A. for more than 35 years, so I've had plenty of opportunities to meet other players. There are a numbers of pros and weekend warriors that I hang with, visit drum shops, show-off gear, trade parts, have lunch, etc. Of course we talk shop, too, and one of us usually learns something.

It's a good idea to communicate with other musicians beyond just at the gig, as there's a lot to be learned and shared. It's also a very natural form of networking, and keeping your name and face in front of other players can lead to work. But perhaps more importantly, you can develope some very strong friendships.

Bermuda
 
bermuda said:
I would venture to say most of my friends are musicians or in the business, and probably 1/2 are drummers. Then again, I've been gigging in L.A. for more than 35 years, so I've had plenty of opportunities to meet other players. There are a numbers of pros and weekend warriors that I hang with, visit drum shops, show-off gear, trade parts, have lunch, etc. Of course we talk shop, too, and one of us usually learns something.

It's a good idea to communicate with other musicians beyond just at the gig, as there's a lot to be learned and shared. It's also a very natural form of networking, and keeping your name and face in front of other players can lead to work. But perhaps more importantly, you can develope some very strong friendships.

Bermuda
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Hey Jon,
Hope to see you this weekend at the drum clinic.
 
i geuss i'm lucky i got two drummers in my neighborhood, one who's been playing for about 7 or so years, my twin who plays piano, guitar, sax, harmonica, bass, and drums. so i get quite the musical exposure when it comes down to it in my point of view.

yea your environment influences you and helps you along, but confidence wise you just gotta feel comfortable with where you are playing wise, i'm not in a band and i've been playing for 5 years just because i want to improve a little bit more. if your not comfortable with your skill at the level it is then work on improving. I will put in this though; i was in a band after 3 years playing i was probably about as nervous as you might be and playing around a band of musicians got me feeling comfortable behind my set in front of others, they more than the experience itself helped me progress though...my twin used to criticize me alot to the point of annoyance but i took the good from the bad with it and i don't mean to blow my own whistle but i'm a good bit better than i used to be.

exposure helps alot i think will people's developement if they can take it the right way. just don't let it get you down if it doesn't go just how you expected it. and play how the music makes you feel when you jammin with your band.

hope this helped bro.
 
Must be weird not knowing any drummers. Of my 6 closest friends, 4 own drumsets, 2 are actually pretty damn solid and even the ones who dont claim to be can still throw down a groove or two.

It's great to share ideas and talk drums, though a few of them have a nasty habit of breaking my sticks everytime they play my kit.... I guess it's just the price I pay.
 
The vocalist in one of my bands is a drummer as well. We have a blast talking drums and trading ideas. If you have never sat down and jammed with another drummer you are missing some ting really fun.
 
ZootE,

I have a couple friends that play drums and then about 10 guys that show up everywhere every once in a while and all know each other as drumming nuts.

I noticed your from northern Virginia which means most likely the DC area. I grew up there. There's a GC over on Rte. 7 and you can meet drummers there and talk shop, etc..

Also, there are lots of great small clubs. If the Saloon is still running in Georgetown, drummers hang out there and play backgammon (go figure). Adams Morgan has a lot of small clubs that musicians hang out in and there's probably other gear shops around that drummers will be lurking in.

Go see a local band and then talk to the drummer between sets.
 
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