What were your worst gigs? Last Sunday I played at a walk on walk off two stage fundraiser doing a (thankfully) 45 minute set. The set went well and very enjoyable but was as awkward as anything, I got there.
We were told previous there would be a kit provided as you would expect, but to bring along breakables. So I rocked up there with cymbals, snare, bass pedal, and throne as usual.
The first band was an all girl rock outfit, they finished (it was that drummers kit) and walked off. As there was short speeches between band there was time to just set up breakables. I discover the previous drummer had walked off with stands, and cymbals, but had left the snare and bass drum pedal which I thought odd. I asked her if I could retain the hi hat stand and got something lame about worried I would break it. What the...So respecting her wish, removed her snare, pedal, set up mine and one crash as she had left one cymbal stand ( can't have thought that one as a breakable). Then I rushed to the other stage where a duo act were performing and begged the stage manager for the hi hat on that kit for a loan of promising to rush back so that stages next band would have it in time.
Back at our stage with no time to adjust anything I had the hats on, and we were into it.
There was no height adjustment in the snare stand so I had to tilt the snare near upright (I am short and usually play my snare just off flat) it was a good thing the snare was miked up. With one crash cymbal (usually have 3) was no biggy), but no ride cymbal as the stand wasn't there was awkward, our music calls for ride-bell work. The borrowed hihat was set up exceptionally high ( maybe the owner is 6ft7?), if you can imagine playing with your hihat hand at head height, thats how it was. I got cramp each song, man that was awkward. Its a good thing I can be versatile and adapt to others kits as I have in the past. One other kit I recall playing on in a similar situation the toms were so far away from the snare and at odd angles that you had to near stand up to play them. One consolation the following drummers were in the same boat. Can't have been set up by a drummer, can't have. Anyway its good to look back and laugh.
Moral of story, is be prepared for anything.
We were told previous there would be a kit provided as you would expect, but to bring along breakables. So I rocked up there with cymbals, snare, bass pedal, and throne as usual.
The first band was an all girl rock outfit, they finished (it was that drummers kit) and walked off. As there was short speeches between band there was time to just set up breakables. I discover the previous drummer had walked off with stands, and cymbals, but had left the snare and bass drum pedal which I thought odd. I asked her if I could retain the hi hat stand and got something lame about worried I would break it. What the...So respecting her wish, removed her snare, pedal, set up mine and one crash as she had left one cymbal stand ( can't have thought that one as a breakable). Then I rushed to the other stage where a duo act were performing and begged the stage manager for the hi hat on that kit for a loan of promising to rush back so that stages next band would have it in time.
Back at our stage with no time to adjust anything I had the hats on, and we were into it.
There was no height adjustment in the snare stand so I had to tilt the snare near upright (I am short and usually play my snare just off flat) it was a good thing the snare was miked up. With one crash cymbal (usually have 3) was no biggy), but no ride cymbal as the stand wasn't there was awkward, our music calls for ride-bell work. The borrowed hihat was set up exceptionally high ( maybe the owner is 6ft7?), if you can imagine playing with your hihat hand at head height, thats how it was. I got cramp each song, man that was awkward. Its a good thing I can be versatile and adapt to others kits as I have in the past. One other kit I recall playing on in a similar situation the toms were so far away from the snare and at odd angles that you had to near stand up to play them. One consolation the following drummers were in the same boat. Can't have been set up by a drummer, can't have. Anyway its good to look back and laugh.
Moral of story, is be prepared for anything.
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