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Drum kit too big?

#61
I wouldn't make it an issue unless it becomes an issue. Just because he has all the bells and whistles doesn't mean he's going to use them at every gig. Lord knows I have tons of gear, and I surely won't be bringing all of it to every gig, nor should anyone expect me to.

If it's something that's a big worry, you can just mention that at your next gig, the stage isn't that big and that it would be better to bring a smaller kit. But, if the guy is experenced, he'll probably ask you about the gig and what kind of kit he needs to bring.
 
#62
Speaking as a drummer, I think that this large kit may be temporary. Nobody wants to carry around more stuff than they need, and as your drummer plays more with you guys, he'll realize what he needs to bring and doesn't need to bring. He may end up still feeling like he needs everything, but he'll probably downsize. If you have to tell him to bring a smaller kit, let him keep bringing all the cymbals he wants. I find that having lots of cymbals is much more useful and often more necessary than having lots of drums.
 
#63
jive1 said:
I wouldn't make it an issue unless it becomes an issue. Just because he has all the bells and whistles doesn't mean he's going to use them at every gig. Lord knows I have tons of gear, and I surely won't be bringing all of it to every gig, nor should anyone expect me to.

If it's something that's a big worry, you can just mention that at your next gig, the stage isn't that big and that it would be better to bring a smaller kit. But, if the guy is experenced, he'll probably ask you about the gig and what kind of kit he needs to bring.
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Discuss your concerns after the audition/rehearsal.
 
#65
Here's another way to look at it.

Does he comment on how many strings your bass has, or what amp and effects you use?

If so then you can tell him how to run his business, otherwise it's his choice of instruments. Yeah I know a lot of folks don't consider drums instruments, but they are.

And I do agree on some of the comments already here, after a gig or 2 lugging around a huge kit he may be smart enough to scale down, unless he has a roadie or likes dragging all the hardware around himself.

Good luck,
Dirk
 
#66
Tell him to buy some of these to cut down on setup and tear down, and don't worry about it! As has been said already - if he can haul it and move it, let him play what he wants. These guys just speed up the process. We put them on my drummers kit (about the size your talking about) and he can have all his toms setup or packed in about 5 minutes.

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#67
I'm just a weekend player at the bars but I don't get the guys that say it is none of your business as a bass player to tell the drummer what gear to bring. I say as a member of the band what the drummer does affects everyone in the band. Communication is key. I guess the other options are get rid of him, live with it in silence or leave yourself. I'm not sure how any of those options are great.

The drummer taking up 2/3rd of the floor space on a small bar stage is dumb and inconsiderate to everyone else.

Asking everyone to spend an extra hour to help load in and out his junk is inconsiderate. He should definately insist on loading and unloading himself if he wants to bring a lot of extraneous stuff. My thinking is that everyone should be able to bring their own equipment in and set up in a 1/2 hour tops. It leaves time to work out the PA and quick sound check if everyone is there and ready to go 1hr before the gig. Asking people to spend more than an hour to get setup or more than 30min to get out doesn't make sense to me.

I've played with these jokers before and I try not to do it anymore. If they have all that stuff there they will likely spend a lot of effort hitting every do-hicky on the kit instead of focusing on giving the band and the audience a groove.
 
#68
gigslut said:
I've found, at least on the local scene, that talent and size of drum kit are often inversely proportional.
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+1 This is similar to that bumper sticker " Big Truck = small penis"

In reality there is no right and wrong here.....I started out in the era where every drummer had a monster double bass set.
My current drummer kicks ass on a small Gretch 4 piece with a 20" bass drum. Sounds killer and easy set up on any stage. Times have changed however and every thing has gotten smaller.
 
#69
geddeeee said:
5 piece kit should be the minimum. I absolutely hate the 'fusion' kit set up (Snare, bass, rack tom, floor tom). Should be 2 rack toms.
There seems to be a proliferation of 'fusion' kits around at the moment. Our drummer has tried it on a few occasions, but that big space from rack to floor, just makes the drumming even harder.
I would scale the kit for the venue. If it's big, then go for the 'world tour' kit. Smaller venues - 5 piece.

Never, ever use a fusion kit..... EVER!!!!! Lol....
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I actually used 2 floor toms whenever possible, it was a lot more natural to me. Whatever works, I guess.
 
#71
A band that went on after us had a drummer with a monster kit. He was an amazing drummer, too bad after a 30 minute setup no one else was there to witness it.;). My opinion, he could have played just as well with a smaller kit. His opinion, next time they need to get an earlier spot in the lineup.
 
#75
Floyd Eye said:
Does the drummer tell you what kind of bass/rig to use?


My drummer has a big kit. 2 floor toms, 2 snares, 2 kicks, etc. He plays them very well. He also sets them up himself and runs his own mics to the board.
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The day an extra string on a bass takes up half the stage floor is the day that this argument is relevant.

My current drummer is one of those "I play a rack" kind of guys. After a gig where his rack took up virtually the entire stage, he decided to simplify things a bit. The rest of us constantly razzing him helped.
 
#78
stiles72 said:
Does the drummer tell you what kind of bass and amp/rig to bring? Probably not. As long as you don't have to haul it and set it up - I wouldn't worry about it.
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I would.

The reality is that most stages a working band will play on have no room for massive drum kits.

I would tell him it's fine in the rehearsal space (if there's room) but pair it down for gigs.

Besides, doesn't he realize that kits like that are the brunt of jokes? Seriously, you'd be doing him a favor.
 
#80
Dirk Diggler said:
Here's another way to look at it.

Does he comment on how many strings your bass has, or what amp and effects you use?

If so then you can tell him how to run his business, otherwise it's his choice of instruments. Yeah I know a lot of folks don't consider drums instruments, but they are.

And I do agree on some of the comments already here, after a gig or 2 lugging around a huge kit he may be smart enough to scale down, unless he has a roadie or likes dragging all the hardware around himself.

Good luck,
Dirk
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Six strings do not take up 36 sqft of floor space. Six bass rigs might,. Bring that to a gig where no room is left on stage and see if it doesn't get a comment.
I gigged on drums for years. It's bad form and rude to the other musicians to bring "coliseum" size kits to small stages and take up all the floor space, especially if the music doesn't require it, not to mention that it just reeks of being an amateur. It's not about the music at that point, it's about logistics and courtesy. These guys are a hardcore band, a 4 or 5 piece is more then enough for the job at hand. 99% of the drumming is Kick and Snare, at no point in this band with the drummer be asked to play marimba etudes on the toms.



This pretty well sums up my experience with big drum kits, both when I played drums and now as a bass player. Your mileage may vary but I seriously doubt it.

Mike
 

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