Mr Mantalini
Member
I'll be heading across the ditch in February next year. My wife and I are very excited about it. I wondered if I could pick your brains on a few things. I've got a lot of questions, but right now the main ones are:
1) Can anybody suggest a good teacher? I've done a few searches and there are hundreds to choose from. I wouldn't be looking for a specialist teacher at first (ie not a "jazz teacher" or "funk teacher") but someone with good all round knowledge in a lot of different styles. Location isn't too much of an issue as long as they are within the city, but if it helps we are looking at Brunswick and Richmond as likely places to live.
2) Also looking for a brief rundown on the drum shops. I'm familiar with Allens (not the Melbourne store, but I've spent a bit of time in the Sydney store), and a brief Google search shows a bunch of others. It's a bit hard to gauge them from their websites though. Looks like they all specialise in different brands. Any that have a particularly good reputation? (Any that have a particularly BAD reputation? haha) Of course I will familiarise myself with what's there after I arrive but it's a good idea to see what other people think.
3) Last thing (for now anyway!), and it's kind of a strange question, but what is the gig culture like? More for going to gigs than playing them, I mean. Here in Wellington gigs start really late, and I get a bit pissed off with it. What would a typical start time be for a bar gig? I saw Aloe Blacc earlier this year and the tickets said "Show starts at 8pm SHARP", but of course even the opening act didn't come on until 9:30 or so. Of course I will just deal with whatever it's like over there, but I don't want to apply my Wellington sensibilities to a Melbourne show and miss the first half of it!
Cheers guys. Appreciate any replies Might see some of you at a show.
Nigel
1) Can anybody suggest a good teacher? I've done a few searches and there are hundreds to choose from. I wouldn't be looking for a specialist teacher at first (ie not a "jazz teacher" or "funk teacher") but someone with good all round knowledge in a lot of different styles. Location isn't too much of an issue as long as they are within the city, but if it helps we are looking at Brunswick and Richmond as likely places to live.
2) Also looking for a brief rundown on the drum shops. I'm familiar with Allens (not the Melbourne store, but I've spent a bit of time in the Sydney store), and a brief Google search shows a bunch of others. It's a bit hard to gauge them from their websites though. Looks like they all specialise in different brands. Any that have a particularly good reputation? (Any that have a particularly BAD reputation? haha) Of course I will familiarise myself with what's there after I arrive but it's a good idea to see what other people think.
3) Last thing (for now anyway!), and it's kind of a strange question, but what is the gig culture like? More for going to gigs than playing them, I mean. Here in Wellington gigs start really late, and I get a bit pissed off with it. What would a typical start time be for a bar gig? I saw Aloe Blacc earlier this year and the tickets said "Show starts at 8pm SHARP", but of course even the opening act didn't come on until 9:30 or so. Of course I will just deal with whatever it's like over there, but I don't want to apply my Wellington sensibilities to a Melbourne show and miss the first half of it!
Cheers guys. Appreciate any replies Might see some of you at a show.
Nigel