jazzerooty
Junior Member
The schlep sucks. I play a minimal bop kit. But they're the Gretsch style Canopus, and tough on a guy in his 60s with a bum shoulder. I hate small stages, where you spend a lot of time setting up and adjusting the kit. Then the guys want you to move your set further back, or more to the side, etc. Makes a man feel somewhat defensive. Oh, yeah, move the drums for your fat ass, huh? The hang up is admittedly mine. I hate playing for some--this will come off sexist, so sorry--torch singer, who objects everytime you go to sticks. I've had gigs where I swear I was making swishing motions with brushes ABOVE my snare drum and just playing hats on two and four. There're a few singers I love to play with--ones who know when the chorus is coming around, and can play arrangers piano, or just have the gift. But they amount to two of them. Club owners are natural enemies, period. Getting shorted on bread. Being told what to play. Getting fired mid-week because they wanted "smooth jazz." The groans go on forever, folks. I've been at this shit since 1969.