Tired of drummers that aren't prepared for practice!

[obimark]

Never been a "hired" gun so I don't know the proper protocol, but if someone is messing something up consistently I professionally point out it needs work. If that isn't valued and I am kicked out (ever) no worries at all.

If a band is hiring you that has a sucky drummer, guess you got two choices 1. Play with them. 2. Don't.

[BassNeo]

Originally Posted by bumperbass

I think 'it ain't my train set' applies here.

I'm with you.

If it were me, I would mention at practice that 'It would really help me if you had this fill here or this cue there', but if you're getting regular bookings and making decent coin, don't upset the apple cart.

[bumperbass]

Originally Posted by BassNeo

I'm with you.

If it were me, I would mention at practice that 'It would really help me if you had this fill here or this cue there', but if you're getting regular bookings and making decent coin, don't upset the apple cart.

I'm with you. This band is making my car payment.

[mjac28]

Hey is this guy Pete Best? I read on the internet he can be trouble

[fourstringdrums]

I'm a drummer as well and from what I've seen, it is fairly common. I pride myself on being someone who at the very least is familiar with the songs as far as the structure, accents and bass part are concerned. Then when it comes time to actually play I'm constantly listening to everyone so at least if my part isn't 100% nailed down yet I'm still prepared to at least play something that compliments the music. I'd say that just listening to the music is more important to me than my actual sitting behind the drums and trying to come up with a "part".

If you have that big of a problem with him, you HAVE to say something, otherwise you have to stop complaining about it. If you don't you're only doing the whole band a disservice because now you have resentment against another member, and when you have resentment I really think you can't be in it 100%.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by obimark

Why is everyone so scared to talk to each other? If a cool drum fill is missing from a song we play, I simply say "It would be really cool if you do that fill there like the record." No big deal EITHER he takes the time to learn it or not. If something is completely off like the beat, I stop playing at practice until everyone notices and then say, "I don't think that beat is right"

No hard feelings, but people need some kind of feedback or they will never improve, myself included.

I'm the same; if someone is completely stuffing something up, I'll stop and say something for sure. On top of that, we always record rehearsals and will spend some time afterwards listening to a few of the songs and discussing how they could be better. Everyone throws out suggestions, and constructive criticism. I've done this in most bands I've played with.

It could be that this guy just doesn't have time to practise at home. He has a day job and 3 kids running around, so it might be a hassle for him to practise at home, even with drum pads (which a lot of drummers detest). Maybe your band, as a whole, needs more rehearsal time, but you really should start talking to each other.

[craig.p]

Many folks post here because of internal conflict cause by a set of circumstances, not because of the circumstances themselves. (We are, after all, thinking/reasoning machines who have the desire to become everything we believe we were created to be.) I think each person's internal-conflict mechanism is different from the next person's, and that's why we see such a variety of opinions on topics like this.

The lack of ability (or here, permission/authority) to affect one's surroundings through one's own efforts has been proven to have a negative effect on motivation, and can even lead to depression.

In my opinion, Step One is to determine what your scope of influence is, relative to the band's stated charter. What are you allowed to do, under the circumstances of this particular band, to improve its end product?

If your scope of influence does not extend out far enough to accomplish what you want, then you have to decide whether the sleep you lose at night, and the lack of satisfaction you get when you rehearse/play with this band, are enough to outweigh the income you get from it.

I'd say that any bass player with reasonable standards of performance -- one who expects the same reasonable level of execution from the other members -- who's locked into a band with a non-serious musician because he needs the money, is in a no-win situation in terms of internal conflict, at least for the short term.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be for anything but the short term, if you're willing to invest first in a change of strategy, and then some time and energy.

The strategy would change from I must make the best of this band to I'm in this band only to keep my chops up and to make contacts.

The tactic to accomplish this strategy: Look around for your next opportunity while you're doing penance with this band. Do something each and every day toward your strategic goal. Write down what you've done each day, every day, in a notebook. This will accomplish two things. First, it will eventually get you your next job with a better band. But second, it'll improve your outlook each time you have to rehearse or play out with this band, because in your mind it's no longer a place you're stuck at; it's only a short-term stepping stone toward the position you really want and that you know you're actively looking for.

[EddiePlaysBass]

Originally Posted by bumperbass

If we practice a song and there's too much of the drums that are missing, the BL will not put in on the setlist. It's considered dead.

I used to work with a singer like that. "No, I don't know the lyrics" so I would tell him. "No, I don't know the melody" so I'd sing it to him. "No, I don't know man, I can't get the hang of this song" so we'd drop it.

Sounds like your drummer is determining the set list by not "learning" to play songs he does not like.

[steelbed45]

I just went through a somewhat similar situation. I noticed the drummer wanted to change up a lot of the cover tunes. Nothing inherently wrong with that, putting your own stamp on things can be good, I suppose. The pattern I noticed, however, was one where he basically cut every song to come in on the chorus and minimize other parts. I asked if we could do one song close to the original just to see one through that way. I mean, McCartney and Lennon, what did they know, right? Long story somewhat shortened, after having a polite back and forth on one song, I stepped away from that project after the rehearsal. I'm not going to argue with someone who put little to no effort into being prepared, to the point of not even knowing how some songs were structured. "Faking" it may get over on the audience, but when I have no idea where the drummer is going, it's not much fun.
Ok, so maybe the guitarist being in way over his head had something to do with it as well, but still....

[Kmonk]

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

What if you're overly critical?

Does the paying audience know the difference?

Does he smile, sing and show up on time?

Originally Posted by MNAirHead

OR the band doesn't pay enough to gather his attention and time.

Nothing wrong with being critical. There is always room for improvement.

Why would anyone get into music and not care if the audiences notices the quality of the musicianship. Trust me, the audience will notice if the drummer's timing is off especially when coming out of fills.

There is more to being in a band than smiling, singing and showiing up on time.

If the band doesn't pay enough to gather his attention, he should quit rather than waste their time.

I would find a new drummer.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by steelbed45

I just went through a somewhat similar situation. I noticed the drummer wanted to change up a lot of the cover tunes. Nothing inherently wrong with that, putting your own stamp on things can be good, I suppose. The pattern I noticed, however, was one where he basically cut every song to come in on the chorus and minimize other parts.

Maybe your drummer was averse to verses?

[steelbed45]

Originally Posted by MarkMgibson

Maybe your drummer was averse to verses?

Hey, entirely possible. Guess I should have stuck around to figure that out.

On to the next Craigslist adventure!

[millsbass5]

Ugh!!! A drummer not knowing all the little accents & intricacies of a song friggin' kills me to no end. I'm lucky though, considering that I've been playing with my musical soul mate (our drummer), for the better part of 20 years. I swear, me & that dude can finish each others runs, fills, AND sentences. A true pleasure, playin' music with that guy, I tell ya.

[bumperbass]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Ugh!!! A drummer not knowing all the little accents & intricacies of a song friggin' kills me to no end. I'm lucky though, considering that I've been playing with my musical soul mate (our drummer), for the better part of 20 years. I swear, me & that dude can finish each others runs, fills, AND sentences. A true pleasure, playin' music with that guy, I tell ya.

You're a lucky guy. I've played with a drummer like that, Maybe that's why I'm so frustrated; because I know what it can be like to have a drummer that does the little details.

[MarkMgibson]

Originally Posted by millsbass5

Ugh!!! A drummer not knowing all the little accents & intricacies of a song friggin' kills me to no end. I'm lucky though, considering that I've been playing with my musical soul mate (our drummer), for the better part of 20 years. I swear, me & that dude can finish each others runs, fills, AND sentences. A true pleasure, playin' music with that guy, I tell ya.

I know where you're coming from. My younger brother is a drummer, so my first experience jamming was with him. We've played in a couple of bands together, and have an intrinsic understanding of what the other is doing. That sort of thing can spoil you when you have to play with another drummer who doesn't pay attention to the rest of the band.