Want a mild nightmare story?

Tambourines are a pretty damaging instrument.
I walked into an informal house jam one day. The first guy I spoke with inside offered me $20 to take the tambourine away from another guy, lol. The guy was intently watching the ongoing jam but was just banging it against his leg once every 4 count, but seriously behind the beat, like when people unknowingly tap their foot. And it just droned on. He didn't even try to be musical about it.
 
Oh man I hate tambourines. Someone handed 2 of them out at a gig I played and they threw me off terribly. I even tried to confiscate one in the break, eventually someone put them down and I hid them.

I would also hate playing the cajon so my condolences for your terrible night, sounds like a nightmare to me!
 
One band I was with would get girls on stage to bang cowbells and tambourines when we played Alright Now. I would have to override the cowbell with mine sometimes when they would get offbeat.
 
An interesting side note about tambourines is that the singer in our full band was present, as I mentioned before. And she has been prohibited from playing tambourine in our band, actually dating back to her previous band, by that bands drummer (a dear friend and our current sound man). He actually knocked it out of her hand, mid song, so I've been told.
So she got to witness the "why", lolol...
 
We have a guy that shows up to a certain gig and playes spoons from wherever he sits. SPOONS!!!! and we also have a wonderful supporter who brings shakers, tamborine etc and is not exactly on time with the band. We had a soundman at a venue that asked to sit in on ONE song on a pedal steel he had there. he got to talking and showing it off to the guitar guys and they let hin play. he played the whole second set and not only was he drunk and awful, none of our songs go with any type of pedal steel playing. from then on, he joined us on our second sets without even askeing, his thing would be set up on stage and he would just be there second set, much to the regret of the rest of the band.....that venue stopped music during COVID so we havent had to deal with that for a while.
 
Tambourines are a pretty damaging instrument.
I walked into an informal house jam one day. The first guy I spoke with inside offered me $20 to take the tambourine away from another guy, lol. The guy was intently watching the ongoing jam but was just banging it against his leg once every 4 count, but seriously behind the beat, like when people unknowingly tap their foot. And it just droned on. He didn't even try to be musical about it.
Did you take the 20 bucks?!😃
 
Please tell me he had rhythm like this guy


Tone deaf is one thing, but I can't comprehend the inability to clap at least somewhat in time. I have to assume it's alcohol. He's drifting back and forth between now and two seconds ago.
 
egad.. Did anyone try to tell him to stop? Happened to me once.. the singer left her tambourine by the front edge of the stage.. and some dancer grabbed it and disappeared into the dance floor for several tunes - playing really badly. I had to poke the singer to get it back.. she said she couldnt hear it.. but I could and it was totally annoying!
 
Tell the guy it's ok to play the tambourine if he stands next to you and you use his head for a closed high-hat.
 
This happens sometimes in the salsa bands I’ve played with but with the maracas. Usually some drunk gringo(a) will grab them off the band stand and make a total ass of themselves . Does it even occur to them that maracas can really cut through even a loud band? Furthermore, they are a musical instrument that requires practice, dedication, and those that really play them have a deep understanding and connection to the culture and tradition.
 
😅...is he a drinker?

Maybe he's like The Fonz... just trying to get girls 😁.

Oh yes, he is definitely a drinker.

But that's pretty much what we do there. :)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top