Best Compliment Ever Received

cymbals~FEAR~me · #1 11-05-2005, 11:21 PM

Hey all, I apologize in advance if there's already a thread on this.

I was just wondering what your best compliment was, ever. I'm sure everyone has gotten quite a few, "holy crap, your good!" or "how'd youd do that?" and the like, so I'm looking for the one that stood out.

I'll start it off.

After ending a show with a few other bands, the drummer from a speed metal came up to me and asked me what my bass pedal was. I told him it was DW 5000. He looked at me and said, "No, your double bass pedal." I told him I don't have one, and he looked at me in shock. He didn't believe me until I pulled it out of my hardware bag. *Disclaimer* I don't play heavy metal, so I don't have that crazy 16th notes going on, but apparently my bass drum fills are fast. I add triplets in to confuse people.

So that's my best compliment so far. Post Yours Now!

theduke86 · #2 11-06-2005, 12:13 AM

"Dude!!! Elvin is reborn in your body!!!"

Laney · #3 11-06-2005, 12:21 AM

A 14 year old told me I inspired him to play drums. I told him he needs to get some better inspiration! ^_^

OceanDirt · #4 11-06-2005, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theduke86

"Dude!!! Elvin is reborn in your body!!!"

wow... uhh... i'd take that.

best compliment i ever got was not from a drummer, it was from a piano player who ran this summer jazz program i attended. he told me "i can see you're the kind of drummer who, when you get your stuff together, i would really like to play with one day."

doesn't sound like much, but it was a pretty heavy inspiration for me.

yakbutter · #5 11-06-2005, 12:50 AM

I played for my high school pep band, and after a girl's basketball game on the road a woman approached me as I was loading the kit out to the bus.

She said,"I was here for my daughter's game before your school played, but I stuck around to hear you play the drums."

I thought that was pretty cool. Since then I've had compliments from other drummers, musicians, sound guys, studio engineers, and a producer, but that's the one that really stands out.

Garvin · #6 11-06-2005, 01:14 AM

This wasn't really a verbal compliment, but I've been getting a lot of calls for gigs that I have always wanted to play. The main drummer in town who use to monopolize all of the good paying gigs can't hang with the jazz stuff, so I'm the new go to guy. That feels pretty good because about a year ago it was hard for me to get any calls at all. I guess a year in a jazz-studies program paid off!

#7 11-06-2005, 01:48 AM

The best compliment I've ever gotten, and still get from time to time, is one where someone tells me that I inspire them in their own playing.

Anchein Vouivra · #8 11-06-2005, 03:03 AM

I've took it personnally: after a show a guy came near me and said "I'm very difficult at loving actual music but your music makes think a lot of Godspeed You Black Emperor". Didn't need to say anything about me, that was the best compliment I've ever heard!!!! And what's funny is that almost none of the band members are influenced by post-rock.

MECHT4NK · #9 11-06-2005, 03:54 AM

my best compliment wasn't something very special someone said but it was more the guy that said it making it so special. it was a drummer I know who teaches at a well known drum school here coming to me after a show and just saying he liked my playing. but knowing he's such a good drummer himself and me being only self-taught it meant a lot to me.

glynes · #10 11-06-2005, 04:55 AM

Wow ... I can think of several. After my public debut at a drummer's hang, I was declared "solid" and one other drummer said he was astounded at what I could do for no longer than I'd been playing. That was way more than I expected from my first time ever playing with a real live band!

Last week, at my first lesson with a new teacher, he told me he'd been recording in the studio the week before and wished he'd known then what I could do, because he would have had me in on a couple of the songs ... said my "style" would've been perfect. I didn't even know I have a style!! (getting this compliment was a real surprise, because my first teacher thought that the best praise was in not telling me that I sucked!) 8-)

And then Kenny Aronoff told me that he's proud of me for the progress I'm making!!!!! I'm not sure it gets much better than that!!

All of these make me want to work harder, to see what more I can accomplish, because, quite frankly, I still feel like I haven't done much of anything al all!

Dyaxe · #11 11-06-2005, 05:35 AM

"Hey, look on the bright side, you might turn out better on guitar"...

lol, nah...to be honest, ive never really been complimented, since ive never played a show with my band yet, and not many people have seen me or heard me play drums..

franklinj · #12 11-06-2005, 06:08 AM

Mine is just when people see me play for the first time. Ive only been playing for a little over a year, but everyone seems to think that I play great grooves and have great technique. Woo hoo.

rendezvous_drummer · #13 11-06-2005, 06:16 AM

Dom Famularo was standing in front of me while i was testing out some drums. I played a few funk grooves and he was into it. Not really a verbal complement but he did give me a pat on the shoulder. Also after one of my bands gigs, a few people came up and asked for my autograph. That was hilarious.

somedrummer · #14 11-06-2005, 07:18 AM

I was told that I groove by a local drummer who was working at a music camp in town. He is pretty groovy himself too, so I guess thats good. Don't believe me? Check my myspace.

Otherwise, I have a lot of hot chicks tell me they like my drums (and some say my drumming) when the Marching band plays at football games. woohoo.

#15 11-06-2005, 07:23 AM

I was selling some of my old drum stuff, and the drummer from a well known local classic rock cover band bought some stuff for himself, and his 12 y/o boy.

I demonstrated both sides of my old double pedal to prove it works right. he said:

"You are as fast with one foot as I am two...how did you develop you left foot like that?"

That was my aw-shucks Bonzo moment.

aahznightsky · #16 11-06-2005, 04:23 PM

I think I've had about two amazing ones

"he could be the next john blackwell!"

and the other was

"he's gonna be better than me in a year or two!"

that last one from my drum teacher and he's a master so it was an amazing compliment

actually, scratch that

my favorite times are when I'm playing the set and just soloing and people come round and watch and just stand there with their jaws dropped.

dragonfire · #17 11-06-2005, 05:03 PM

After playing at church one time this really old (i mean really old) african american man came up to me while i was hanging out at the end and said something like "i was really blessed by your playing, the feel and tone of it". I was talking to him a bit after that, hes really cool. Glory to God

funked_up · #18 11-06-2005, 06:45 PM

Best jazz drummer in western michigan, Tim Froncek said this about me,
"Tim has a deep interest in drumming and he comes up with cool grooves!!"
also when i asked my student who he looks up to in drumming for inspiration he said "I want to sound like you".
They were my best compliments :-)

dothecrunge · #19 11-06-2005, 06:57 PM

I've been told by a few of my black friends, "damn, this white boy can groove!"

Of course, this was after I polished off "The Crunge" for no reason at a school assembly when I was bored, and my kit was sitting there on the stage from the day before.

Sticksman · #20 11-06-2005, 08:07 PM

"hey man, you're pretty good!"

And that sums up just about all of them!

Alk3fan · #21 11-07-2005, 12:12 AM

One time i will never forget is once in guitar center, i was jsut playing random things. there was a kind of old guy who started playing a set. and i alwasy like to play with people when i go in there, so i sat down and mimicked his playing. He realized what i was doing so we kinda went into a small 'battle' deal. And attracted a small crowd. in the end he said to me.. 'you showed me up.' It made my day.

Reflux own your mum · #22 11-07-2005, 03:00 AM

When I joined a band, "Its nice having a drummer we don't have to tell what to do." (that was only cos the guy they had before really sucked though)

"That was cool, now play some Hip-Hop!"

From my housemates, "That was amazing, you made that wall shake!"

Wegadrummer · #23 11-09-2005, 06:28 PM

Okai, the best compliment is found here http://drummerworld.com/forums/showt...9282#post39282

drummer_boy has heard my band! :)

#24 11-09-2005, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Best Compliment Ever Received

"Fun to work with, good personality"

jamsjr44 · #25 11-09-2005, 08:03 PM

"That I have great time keeping and always sound professional when I play"

"Great bandmate!"

onemat · #26 11-09-2005, 08:26 PM

I was playing in a Western Swing and Country Band a few years ago. We played the same club every Saturday night, just outside of Nashville. One night this guy walks up and asked for "Wipe Out" . He said "Boy you sure play the hell outta those drums". How could I say no? So we played it with one time around having the lead guitar part played on lap steel. It was funny. ...Matt

Anduin · #27 11-09-2005, 08:28 PM

One of my teachers gave me his regular gig. (I think he was overbooked.) I didn't realize it at the time, but I guess he was telling me I was his best student.

Other than that, the best funk bassist I've ever played with once said to me "I'll play in any band you're in." Pretty cool, I thought.

Those are the kind of compliments that really mean something. Of course, I also have no problem with the usual drunken "duuude, you freakin' rock!" (To which the correct answer is always "thanks, man!", even if you personally thought you sucked that night.)

#28 11-10-2005, 05:06 PM

"Man, you KILL the drums."

cjl71178 · #29 11-10-2005, 05:36 PM

I actually have two compliments that have always stuck with me.

The first one came from a soundman that I worked with for a few years. He was an unbelieveable guy, he could make ANYTHING sound great. But he was also a man
who would never, ever compliment anyone. At the time when the compliment came,
I was using a huge Tama Starclassic kit and one night, out of laziness, I just set up a
simple trap (4-piece kit...bass, snare, tom, floor tom) and he came up to me at the
end of the night and told me that I played 100 times better on that kit and I took that
as a compliment. It actually has stuck with me since, I pretty much use the John
Bonham setup nowadays and I love it.

The second one came from a well known local drummer/teacher who's been out to see me play in the last band I was in, but I never met him. He's made good comments about me to other local musicians, and it got back to me. I finally got to meet up with him one night we were playing a few months ago and he told me that he enjoys watching me play because it inspires him. Now this guy has toured all over the country and played with many big name musicians...so I think that's a huge compliment.

#30 11-10-2005, 06:33 PM

A buddy of mine got the best compliment I've ever heard. After sitting in with a new band, the sax player told the band leader to make sure he counts the next tune off at the exact tempo he wanted it, 'cause once they start playing, the new drummer won't budge tempo wise. That was pretty cool.

#31 11-10-2005, 06:41 PM

I was at a friends house in July of this year. He had an-e-kit in his basement. This guy has been playing steadily for something like 32 years. And I was always aspiring to his level.

I had not played in front of him seince 1983. back then...I couldn't do a lot.

I played his left handed kit, with a POS pedal (backward) and did rapid-heel toe. Despite some technical difficulties (the kick was too low, the hat pad sucked) he seemed genuinely impressed. I threw in a medlody of riffs from Bun E Carlos, Neil Peart and Tim Alexander.

He was laughing and said "Holy Sh...you have been practicing!" He also commented on my speed and solidity playing.

Now I wonder how impressive I could have been if the set was right handed, with a decent pedal....

Either way, it was better than saying "Hey...you almost don't suck!"

DTKBigDawg · #32 11-11-2005, 05:08 AM

Since I'm self-taught and just started 5 or so years ago and am now just getting my band going, my compliments came from my kids first.

Then when the band played for the third or fourth time together, our keyboardist who also plays drums said she was really impressed.

But the best and latest compliment I got was from my neighbor. An 18 year old, really good slapper, asked me if I could sit in for their drummer for a session they were doing with some original stuff. I listened to a recording of some of the songs the night before, went over the next day and played it my way instead of their drummer's way. They recorded it and told their drummer it's the best they've heard yet and wanted me to show him the next time they get together.

It's the little things that make us play more and strive for perfection, don't you think?

ak_ · #33 11-11-2005, 05:48 AM

Ummm...Jeff Hamilton told me that "I really have something"...and that when i'm soloing the guitar player that (was) standing in front of me should move out of the way so the audience could see me better...
That's about it.
Oh! and he said i had great technique and that it was appparent I play snare!!

Pete Stoltman · #34 11-14-2005, 08:24 PM

I was on a trad jazz gig with an old timer clarinet player. He said that my drumming sounded just like Sid Catlett. He had played with Sid so I took that as a pretty nice compliment.

larkin42 · #35 11-14-2005, 08:30 PM

I was at guitarcenter in Nashville playing around on some drumsets. I was mainly just trying out pedals. And I went over and sat down by this boy that was probably about 14 or 15 and started thumping on the drums. I was pulling out some mad doubles and triplets on the bass. He looked at me and said I didn't know there were any double bass pedals over here. I said there isn't. I told him I was doing it with one foot. And he looked at me with a huge grin on his face and said o my gosh that is amazing. Needless to say I was happy, as I have only been playing the drums for about 18 months or so.

arjunchawda · #36 11-14-2005, 09:18 PM

someone once told me i was on another level

NickB · #37 11-14-2005, 09:44 PM

Best compliment ever recieved (AND WILL NEVER FORGET). I was watching Buddy (Rich) perform one evening in Upstate New York, 1972. It was nearing the end of a set when I noticed his daughter Cathy, standing alone in a corner. I went up to her introduced myself, and we had a cordial chat. Well, the band ended the set and I saw Buddy from a distance, approaching us. When he reached us, he looked at Cathy and winked, looked me straight in th eye and said "Hi" and walked straight past the both of us. Cathy, then smiled, and said she had to go now, then said, "By the way, I love your suit." - Nothing to do with my drumming, but it's a compliment I'll never forgert.

LongSnapper · #38 11-22-2005, 08:20 AM

I am embarrassed to tell you this one...

Back in the old days, for a summer job I worked security. Here in Detroit we have this monstrosity called The Renaissance Center. It's a retail/office complex on the river front, and I swear it looks just like some bizarre space ship that crashed nose first.

I was working in the back of this place when it first opened, watching a couple parking lots. It was slow and uneventful work standing there in that little booth, so I started taking my sticks and practice pad with me.

On a Saturday night I was in my booth and practicing. I heard a voice from behind say, "Hey! Nice paradiddle you got there." I was shocked that someone could actually tell what I was doing from just watching my hands, and I turned around and replied, "Thank you."

Through the course of this brief conversation, it was explained to me that this group of people were inside, took a wrong turn, and now had no clue how to get back in. (Much of this place was still under construction.)

I was impressed with this individual because he saw right away that I was left-handed and he took some time to show me what I was doing wrong with my grip. He also told me that for how long I had been playing I was doing very good and that I'd be fast as hell! "Keep it up, you're gonna be a damn good drummer," I remember him saying.

Suddenly one of the guys said, "C'mon Buddy, we gotta git!"

I swear to you, I started to shake. "Buddy... Buddy Rich?" I stammered.

"In the flesh..." he replied.

I grabbed his hand with both my hands and said over and over "Oh my God! Oh my God... Thank you, thank you!" as I shook his hand good bye.

I had no clue I was receiving a lesson from Buddy Rich!

#39 11-22-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongSnapper

I am embarrassed to tell you this one...

Back in the old days, for a summer job I worked security. Here in Detroit we have this monstrosity called The Renaissance Center. It's a retail/office complex on the river front, and I swear it looks just like some bizarre space ship that crashed nose first.

I was working in the back of this place when it first opened, watching a couple parking lots. It was slow and uneventful work standing there in that little booth, so I started taking my sticks and practice pad with me.

On a Saturday night I was in my booth and practicing. I heard a voice from behind say, "Hey! Nice paradiddle you got there." I was shocked that someone could actually tell what I was doing from just watching my hands, and I turned around and replied, "Thank you."

Through the course of this brief conversation, it was explained to me that this group of people were inside, took a wrong turn, and now had no clue how to get back in. (Much of this place was still under construction.)

I was impressed with this individual because he saw right away that I was left-handed and he took some time to show me what I was doing wrong with my grip. He also told me that for how long I had been playing I was doing very good and that I'd be fast as hell! "Keep it up, you're gonna be a damn good drummer," I remember him saying.

Suddenly one of the guys said, "C'mon Buddy, we gotta git!"

I swear to you, I started to shake. "Buddy... Buddy Rich?" I stammered.

"In the flesh..." he replied.

I grabbed his hand with both my hands and said over and over "Oh my God! Oh my God... Thank you, thank you!" as I shook his hand good bye.

I had no clue I was receiving a lesson from Buddy Rich!

That is amazing! Anyone who was "afraid" of meeting Buddy because of his rep, might just be off base. Incredible! That is the "Brush with greatness" of a lifetime.

My embarassing moment was when I played this sucessful gig. Neil Peart was in the club for the show and met me back stage, and said "Show me how you did that last part..." and then the damn alarm clock woke me up.

#40 11-22-2005, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongSnapper

I am embarrassed to tell you this one...

Back in the old days, for a summer job I worked security. Here in Detroit we have this monstrosity called The Renaissance Center. It's a retail/office complex on the river front, and I swear it looks just like some bizarre space ship that crashed nose first.

I was working in the back of this place when it first opened, watching a couple parking lots. It was slow and uneventful work standing there in that little booth, so I started taking my sticks and practice pad with me.

On a Saturday night I was in my booth and practicing. I heard a voice from behind say, "Hey! Nice paradiddle you got there." I was shocked that someone could actually tell what I was doing from just watching my hands, and I turned around and replied, "Thank you."

Through the course of this brief conversation, it was explained to me that this group of people were inside, took a wrong turn, and now had no clue how to get back in. (Much of this place was still under construction.)

I was impressed with this individual because he saw right away that I was left-handed and he took some time to show me what I was doing wrong with my grip. He also told me that for how long I had been playing I was doing very good and that I'd be fast as hell! "Keep it up, you're gonna be a damn good drummer," I remember him saying.

Suddenly one of the guys said, "C'mon Buddy, we gotta git!"

I swear to you, I started to shake. "Buddy... Buddy Rich?" I stammered.

"In the flesh..." he replied.

I grabbed his hand with both my hands and said over and over "Oh my God! Oh my God... Thank you, thank you!" as I shook his hand good bye.

I had no clue I was receiving a lesson from Buddy Rich!

Sweet Jesus, I wish I would have been alive to see him play. That's a brilliant story, just glad you didn't end it with a '...And Then I Woke Up' ;). That's brilliant. How are your paradiddles coming along?