Diplomatic way to make the drummer stop drumming?

[bassicmike]

is there one?

At rehearsal, How can one say to the drummer 'Will you blanking stop pounding while we're talking?"

As soon as we stop, he's doing runs, rolls and fills, endlessly and usually at volume. I suspect it's his only kit time of the week.

(We're a hobby band, so we rehearse. I adhere to the 'practice at home, rehearse with band' ethos. Not sure the other band members do. And this band scratches 2 of the 3 itches [$, music, hang] so I stay with it)

My choices seem to be passive-aggressively just stop talking and wait for him to realize it and stop. Or go nuts and blow up.

 

[RustyAxe]

Or, you know, fire the drummer.

Have a talk BEFORE rehearsal, and tell the dip wad WHY you want him quiet when you're working with the other members. Passive aggression is never a productive way to change anyone's behavior, IMO.

 

[guitarflinger]

You have the answer in your first line (will you blanking stop pounding while we're talking)

 

[friskinator]

Drummer should show up a couple hours before everyone else to get it out of his system. If that doesn't work, have a civil conversation about it before it happens again. Being passive aggressive or blowing up at him aren't the right choices.

If he can't control it at rehearsals, he'll eventually do it at shows.

 

[bearfoot]

Yes, there are diplomatic ways. You absolutely do have to get the drummer's attention when it is happening, and address it in a not-angry way. You're probably right, this is a guy who has a lot of enthusiasm, and has been cooped up.
Smiling and making light of it, is the way I would go, this will often prompt the situation to self-correct. Stopping and staring.

You might also want to consider opening or closing a song with a drum solo, a very cool effect, ex. starting up "Who do You Love" with a few minutes of drums while the rest of the band meanders back to the stage after a break.

 

[Nashrakh]

You gotta hit him in the wallet. That's where it hurts the most.

Set a band rule: no noodling between songs. Offenders will be fined $5.

See how fast he either stops doing it... Or you're the richest band in the neighborhood.

 

[delta7fred]

Our drummer is fine at rehearsals but at gigs when he is setting up he has to continually check that adding a drum or cymbal hasn't stopped those already there from working. He also seems to finish exactly as the guitarist and I finish setting up our gear, and the lights and the PA, and tidy all the cases away. As soon as he starts setting up I put my earplugs in.

If we have a problem and need some quiet to figure it out we have to yell at him to "please be quiet" (or any other 3 word phrase that conveys the same meaning). Even his wife, who thinks he is wonderful, says that he makes far too much noise while setting up.

 

[turf3]

Someone needs to do this (I'm sure Don Asher wouldn't mind this small extract):

"Later that night an old and battered Mafioso approached the piano while I was playing a medley from "Oklahoma". His face was deeply seamed, and coarse tufts of gray hair sprouted from the backs of his thick hands. They lowered onto mine, at first merely covering them, then gently pressing them into the dead keys as if he were reluctantly squashing a pair of harmless but repulsive insects; "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top" went flatter than a doormat.

'Play "Ciao, Ciao, Bambina." It's for my wife.' His voice was a hoarse whisper. 'Play it every ten minutes until I tell you to stop.' ...

Guido wandered in from the bar, grimacing painfully and banging the heel of his palm against his ear like a long-distance swimmer emerging from a heavy surf. 'What's with the same song, you're sounding like a broken record.' I told him of the unusual request and pointed out the party who had made it. Guido took a look and said, 'Keep playing it.' "

 

[LBS-bass]

I have very little patience for this and am inclined to put up with it for as long as I can and eventually just yell, "will you just shut TF UP while we're trying to talk here???" That usually helps and if they take it personally they're free to go.

Edited to add: Oh, you said diplomatic. Never mind

 

[Londo Molari]

Ask to examine the stick he has in his right hand.

 

[Fuzzfarmer]

What is it you are "talking" about? Talking about the song, and random chit chat, is two different things.

 

[Wasnex]

Drummer should show up a couple hours before everyone else to get it out of his system. If that doesn't work, have a civil conversation about it before it happens again. Being passive aggressive or blowing up at him aren't the right choices.

If he can't control it at rehearsals, he'll eventually do it at shows.

I totally agree. If the group has a formal group leader, this should handled privately. If there is no group leader, but everyone agrees, have a group meeting. No need to be nasty, but it is necessary to set clear guide lines.

Consideration should also be given to what will be done if the behavior is not corrected. Think it through all the way to the end..."firing the drummer" may be the ultimate solution, but your not there yet.

 

[pbassnut]

is there one?

At rehearsal, How can one say to the drummer 'Will you blanking stop pounding while we're talking?"

As soon as we stop, he's doing runs, rolls and fills, endlessly and usually at volume. I suspect it's his only kit time of the week.

(We're a hobby band, so we rehearse. I adhere to the 'practice at home, rehearse with band' ethos. Not sure the other band members do. And this band scratches 2 of the 3 itches [$, music, hang] so I stay with it)

My choices seem to be passive-aggressively just stop talking and wait for him to realize it and stop. Or go nuts and blow up.

I know it's always a dicey proposition to hassle a fellow band member over just about anything. However, you'd be doing the guy a tremendous favor over the long term by setting him straight. If he ever has aspirations to play in a good and/or full time professional band with experienced players, his playing between songs at rehearsal will be an immediate show stopper ... it's counter productive to having a meaningful rehearsal and is totally "bush league". As long as we're on the subject, doing it at a gig is even worse and is an easy way to demonstrate to the crowd that you're an amateur.

 

[BassplayinBob]

is there one?

At rehearsal, How can one say to the drummer 'Will you blanking stop pounding while we're talking?"

As soon as we stop, he's doing runs, rolls and fills, endlessly and usually at volume. I suspect it's his only kit time of the week.

(We're a hobby band, so we rehearse. I adhere to the 'practice at home, rehearse with band' ethos. Not sure the other band members do. And this band scratches 2 of the 3 itches [$, music, hang] so I stay with it)

My choices seem to be passive-aggressively just stop talking and wait for him to realize it and stop. Or go nuts and blow up.

Leave the room and go talk. Non confrontational.

 

[bikeplate]

Simple. Different drummer

 

[gln1955]

Find out his favorite candy...say M&Ms. Whenever he sits there quietly for ten seconds, throw him an M&M.

Slowly increase the time needed for his reward.

Problem solved.

 

[Liam Wald]

Open a Pizza box.

 

[bassicmike]

What is it you are "talking" about? Talking about the song, and random chit chat, is two different things.

Talking about parts and arrangements of the songs we're working on.

 

[bassicmike]

Leave the room and go talk. Non confrontational.

See above.

 

[Spent]

He’s a drummer, it’s what most of them do. Our drummer does this when we get into a discussion involving nuanced changes in chords/progressions. I know he’s just hearing “blah, blah, blah.” He also complains that he can’t hear himself in his headphones when he’s pounding a way, but that’s another thread...