What parts of drumming are you "done" or "over it?"

[LarryJ]

I'm done playing rock and blues. Just tired of playing the same old songs with the same guys at the same bars.

My playing is now limited to church and jazz. At church we do different songs every week and one is usually new. Most of my jazz gigs are in a house band for jam sessions or subbing for other drummers. I get to play with lots of guys and most of the tunes are straight out of the Real Book, unrehearsed. Some I have never even heard before.

At 78 years of age I only play for fun, though dollars are still appreciated, and have rediscovered how much fun it is to learn new stuff. I am now into a deeper study of Latin jazz and have even started practicing chops again.

 

[PorkPieGuy]

Wow, so many great responses!

I am done with buying musical instruments, really. I have great drums and cymbals and a good PA system. I like my hardware too. Peace and goodwill.

I'm sort of there too. At this point, I'm just wanting "backup gear" in case of failure, but it's really not a big deal if I don't get any. I love my kits, hardware, and cymbals right now. I've never been happier or more blessed! Right now, I just need a lot of little odds and ends, but I hate buying them.

When I was younger, I used to dream of having an endorsement deal with a great drum company. I had these grandiose ideas of free drum sets, but these days, I dream of an endorsement deal with a head and/or a stick companies (are you listening Evans, Remo, and Vic Firth??). I'm a capitalist through and through, but I think once you've put in 30 years of playing, your preferred drum heads and sticks should be free.

People who are consistently late. (Did anyone read Bill Bruford's autobiography? Chris Squire was never on time and it contributed to Bruford's departure from Yes.)

Oh man, I've been playing for 30 years, and I have NEVER played with people where everyone is on time. EVER!!!! It still bugs me, but not nearly as bad as it used to. I once played at a guy's house who was late to practice.

It was his house.

And he was at home.

• Busy playing. More notes doesn't make better music.

Isn't that true! I used to love watching monster drum solos when I was in my 20's. Now that I'm pushing 50, I'd rather listen to a good groove and bass line. Someone posted a clip of @RVC playing a great groove the other day, and I'm STILL thinking about it.

I want to play again befor I dirt nap but clubs?..please God...no. I really don't think I can. The higher profile corporate gigs with better hours and changed me. Like Chris Whitten and Bermuda..could you guys do clubs again..please tell me how after what you've done. I mean the 9 to 1 dirt holes where the drunks are yelling Freebird after your scorching Humble Pie set.

Remember how your mom used to say that nothing good ever happens after midnight? I think this goes for gigs as well. I'm so over playing 4-hour shows. If a gig is over 2-2.5 hours long, I feel more like a chump than a musician.

I've got splashes, chinas that haven't been used in years and I really can't be bothered trying to incorporate them.

I sold off all of my chinas and splashes years ago. None of the music I play requires them, and I don't think I want to play music that requires them as well.

Selling gear online, brings out the beast in any man. Utter hive of scurvy knaves.

Someone (who's not on Facebook) asked me about FB Marketplace. I told him it was great as a buyer but terrible as a seller. When I show up to buy something, the sellers are so happy that I showed up and that I have cash.

 

[mikyok]

Someone (who's not on Facebook) asked me about FB Marketplace. I told him it was great as a buyer but terrible as a seller. When I show up to buy something, the sellers are so happy that I showed up and that I have cash.

Facebook market place is the reason I still own chinas, splashes and lots of 20" rides that are far too nice to be sitting in a cymbal bag not being used. Ebay is just as bad for timewasters

Rant hat on! I swear people don't understand what "collection only I will not post" means. Rant hat off. I'm the same as you on marketplace if postage is offered great but if it's collection only who doesn't like nice untraceable cash?

 

[Blisco]

I'll add that I'm done with double bass (pedals) and bringing it to gigs.

The music I play is mostly rock & RnB. There just isn't a need. I grew up on single pedal and honed my skills with my right foot. Never achieved adequate left foot timing and technique. Again, the music never called for it.

I think I kept the pedal on the kit for use with accents and endings but on our most recent gig, I realized I only touched it once.

I'm going to spend the summer show season using single and see how that goes.

 

[PorkPieGuy]

I swear people don't understand what "collection only I will not post" means.

I don't know what this means.

 

[tris66]

I don't know what this means.

I believe that fine member of the forum is a Brit. They have a strange language. Not sure I got the translation right on this but I will try.
"Collection only" means physically take possession in person.
"Will not post" means will not ship.
Chips means fries.
Crisps means chips.
And they drive on the wrong side of the road.

 

[BobC]

I'm done with:

Toxic, poisonous personalities, sarcastic assholes, liars, sneaks, drunks, drug addicts, egomaniacs and control freaks.

Players who talk the talk, but actually can't play sh**.

Club owners/managers/promoters who demand you bring a hundred people, and fire you if you don't

Guitar Center (I got tired of them years ago)

Thinking I can get away with paying cheap money for a drumset and discovering the drums actually feel, look and sound cheap.

Sellers who refuse to pack and ship drums. It's not that hard, people!

 

[PorkPieGuy]

I'm done with:

Toxic, poisonous personalities, sarcastic assholes, liars, sneaks, drunks, drug addicts, egomaniacs and control freaks.

So, when did you stop playing music Bob?

 

[vxla]

I'm over Youtube drummers and the "how are you not playing the best top 10 drum fills ever created that I will show you!?!?" videos.

 

[BobC]

So, when did you stop playing music Bob?

Now Martin, all musicians aren't like that! LOL!

Since I exorcized that awful douchebag guitarist I worked with for four years, I'm now blessed with not only good musicians in my life, but good human beings as well. Hopefully, it stays that way.

 

[BobC]

Also:

I'm over idiot You Tube drummers who play blast beats with one hand and think it's cool, and others who regard drumming as some kind of athletic competition. It's not, It's about playing music.

 

[tris66]

YouTube drummers? I'm over the cover tunes played by half naked bimbos flopping their boobs for clicks. Get an only friends account, hussy.

 

[PorkPieGuy]

Now Martin, all musicians aren't like that! LOL!

Since I exorcized that awful douchebag guitarist I worked with for four years, I'm now blessed with not only good musicians in my life, but good human beings as well. Hopefully, it stays that way.

I am too in a good spot right now with the folks I play with. It really is a blessing.

 

[Sausagetoad]

I'm done playing in clubs, Covid is a big issue for me, and I'm also done playing with folks who only wanna play the same old crap for money, who are in 4 bands and play with whoever offers them the highest dollar amount. I'm almost 69, my knees are shot from slinging PA gear & drums all over the area, I'm fully retired and getting Social Security and that's good enough.

 

[doggyd69b]

I was reading a drum rewrapping thread, and while @caddywumpus had rewrapped drums before, he basically said, "I'm done wrapping drums." And man, do I get it! I am too. I've done a kit and a couple of snares, and that's it for me.

This started me thinking...what else am I "done" with when it comes to drums, playing music, etc.? Here are a few that I've been thinking about for a long.

My "done" and "over it" list:

1. Wrapping or refinishing drums (already mentioned but worth repeating).
2. Home recording by myself. I've learned to dislike this process. If I'm going to record, I'm going to worry about drums and that's it, and they will be set up at someone else's place with someone else's mics. I'm happy using the house kit too if there is one.
3. Mixing demos and projects. (I know this is a part of #2, but it's worth emphasizing).
4. Putting up with band members with substance issues.
5. Owning crummy gear or gear that "works ok." I play what I want or I don't play (exceptions will sometimes happen due to backline obligations).

How about you? What are you "done" with?

I have not tried to wrap drums (I would like to but I have so many other projects pending that I don't see me doing any time soon).

Home recording... other than the occasional drum cover posting to YouTube, I don't do much of that either, maybe in the future when I add guitar and bass to those covers or play all the music myself and not use a backing track...
Never really mixed demos myself so no experience on that.

Putting up with ANYBODY with substance issues. Unless YOU are the cause of their issues, why would you have to suffer because other people's bad decisions/mental hang ups? I am getting too old to tolerate stupidity and attitude, if people don't bring anything good to your life, get away from them, this includes family for me, I don't need any of that in my life.

Your number 5 changes as your economic situation changes.
When I started drumming I got the crappiest gear because that was all that I could afford.
Now I can afford most anything drum related that I would want, so I buy the best quality on some things (within reason, I'm not going to spend $10k on a new acoustic kit just because I can). I found that when you spend more to buy quality you end up spending less in the end due to the longevity of the item. When you cheap out, you end up spending more in the long run due to having to replace things more often...

What am I done with?
I am done looking for other musicians, I replied to some adds (seemingly serious) looking for a drummer (no age requirement) and they don't ever reply even to tell me "Thanks but we found someone" If you don't have the courtesy of answering the phone or email then I can see why you are still looking for musicians.. I have way more fun doing my own thing in my drum room anyway. I think that the right opportunity will happen organically which is how every single band I have been in has happened, someone knew that I played and recommended me the bands requested me and that worked out better. Who knows maybe I end up playing for a church or a country band...

 

[mrfingers]

I've given up trad grip: beats up my finger bones no matter how I hold the sticks. Took 25 yrs to do that and 2 cortisone treatments. Sad.
Couple yrs ago a young drummer envied my trad grip (playing rock at the time.)
No more padded ace bandage finger wraps- I've gone matched.

 

[Tamboreter]

When you cheap out, you end up spending more in the long run due to having to replace things more often...

This would probably be my number 1 thing... buy quality equipment and maybe not be so quick to sell stuff. Almost everything I've sold, I ended up wishing I still had it later on.

 

[mikyok]

I don't know what this means.

Apologies, lost in translation. Thought you were joking!

Collection only means if you want it, you come and get it! Not falling for the it got damaged in shipping scam.

Chips means fries.
Crisps means chips.
And they drive on the wrong side of the road.

We do fries and chips to make it more confusing (chips are a bigger version of fries). We do battered chips in my neck of the woods which are out of this world.

You'd get scared driving on our roads. US roads are the easiest driving I've ever done!

 

[TexasChili]

I believe that fine member of the forum is a Brit. They have a strange language. Not sure I got the translation right on this but I will try.
"Collection only" means physically take possession in person.
"Will not post" means will not ship.
Chips means fries.
Crisps means chips.
And they drive on the wrong side of the road.

Cigarettes are funny

 

[tris66]

Cigarettes are funny

Strangely, they have a meatball dish that they eat with peas that shares that name. I need to try that recipe sometime, but I'd have to not tell people what I made.
"What's for dinner?"
"F..... meatballs. Yup, meatballs and peas."
@mikyok post some bottles of HP sauce for me.....