I have I guess I can call them fans, 2 whole fans, because every time I see them they always comment on how I'm the most musical drummer they know. That feels nice.
But the ones that mean the most to me are the 2 compliments I got from my bandleader. Two times in 6 years lol. One I overheard, he was talking to someone who was complimenting the band just as we were walking offstage, and he said, "yea I love the way my band feels music". He was referring to me mainly because I constantly hear how he is not happy with the bass player...on many fronts. That meant a lot to me, overhearing that, like it was a confirmation to just keep doing what I feel.
The other he said to me in the course of a conversation after a gig. We were just talking about this and that and at one point he said that when I'm on, I don't play 2nd fiddle to anyone. Yikes. That meant a lot to me, considering his resume. I feel the same plus more about him. So I feel we have a really strong musical bond. I believe we deserve each other.
Here's something odd, about a year before Don asked me to play in his band, he called me and asked me if I knew where my son was. What? I don't even know that I ever mentioned to him that I had a son. We were not really friends at that point, I just saw him at the jams I attended.
LSS, we both have sons who are close to the same age, and they found each other all on their own and became friends without our knowledge. So my son was hanging out with Don's son at Don's house, and Don overheard my son talking about how his Dad plays the drums. So one thing led to another, and Don realized that he had my son Rory at his house. Which prompted that odd phone call. So we have a connection that goes even deeper than music.
But yea compliments. They sure do feel nice.