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Drummer audition nightmares

Joel S.

Joel S.

Reserved for future witty use...
Jul 9, 2008
374
3
www.joelandrew.com
#1
One of my bands is trying out new drummers, and it's been the most annoying pita project I've ever been a part of. We've had 8 drummers in so far, and only 2 have been worth a damn, but they have problems that are making us say "no" as well.

So far the majority of the drummers had a terrible feel, and/or an inability to listen to the rest of the band. One guy beat the crap out of the snare completely against the groove of what the rest of the band was playing. Another guy wailed away during a really relaxed quiet section, and didn't look up to see the lead and myself glaring at him to chill the ef out. One guy sped every song up a SUBSTANTIAL amount from the starting tempo (we're talking 30-40bpm).

Aside from their playing deficiencies, we only had ONE guy show up with actual knowledge of the material. Every other guy flat out didn't listen to the tunes or had some excuse as to why they didn't. "I feel I can get a better feel for a band by just playing along 'blind.'" :rollno:

This I don't get, I would NEVER show up to an audition without knowledge of what the band plays, ever. I don't even like going outside without being prepared (i.e., knowing the forecast), so I'm especially baffled at the lack of professionalism. You wouldn't show up to a job interview dressed like a hobo would you?

Please tell me I'm not alone in dealing with people like this... most of 'em were decent enough people, but as drummers I'd rather play to a pre-programmed loop from a mid 80s Casio keyboard.
 
#3
Sign of the times. Every decade that goes by means that music gear gets better and cheaper and musician support gets more plentiful.

One by-product is that anyone who has a whim to order the "starter pack" from the MF website in between pron downloads can be an instant musician when the UPS truck arrives 2 days later.

The day after that they check Craigslist to find bands looking for musicians and they head on down for the audition, thinking they're going to be touring the world within 6 months, surrounded by an endless supply of drugs and groupies.
 
#4
hbarcat said:
Sign of the times. Every decade that goes by means that music gear gets better and cheaper and musician support gets more plentiful.

One by-product is that anyone who has a whim to order the "starter pack" from the MF website in between pron downloads can be an instant musician when the UPS truck arrives 2 days later.

The day after that they check Craigslist to find bands looking for musicians and they head on down for the audition, thinking they're going to be touring the world within 6 months, surrounded by an endless supply of drugs and groupies.
Click to expand...
+1. Back when I started out 30 years ago you had to really want it to play in a band. Gear was expensive and heavy. A cheap PA was still about $1000 and weighed a ton compared to today. Posers were weeded out pretty fast when they realized the financial investment needed not to mention the workout you got moving 75 pound power-amps.
 
#5
What should be the best musician in the band is often it's weak link. I've been teaching elementary school for over 25 years. There's the type of kid who wants "to play" drums. General music classes often use percussion instruments to teach ( try passing out violins instead...HA!). That kids grows up as a banger, not a drummer. Think of the really GREAT bands; think of the drummer! Did Ringo have great chops? No, he has something better: great ears.

In you particular case: Did you guys screen your responses before you invited them in? I had a similar experience last winter where a band I was invited 5 auditionees in one night. I could tell who I wanted to show the door to as soon as they took two hits on the bass drum, but I wan't the leader, and I'm not in the band.
 
#6
I have seen drummer auditions, as well as other positions, do what you mentioned. In my region, we are blessed with many very good to excellent drummers who are dedicated, prepared, and great time keepers. I have gotten to work in bands, fill in, or jam with some of the best around. Many times, I have been in a position of putting my own bands together and the drummer is extremely important to me. One guy I worked with showed up to audition with all of the tunes written out into drum sheet music. Not only did we hire him for that band, I hired him for two bands later on and we worked together very well.

Another avenue you might check out is with some local drum teachers. They may know some up and coming drummers with good basic chops and no pre-exisiting bad habits that you can mold into the band and how you want them to play.
 
#8
hbarcat said:
... anyone who has a whim to order the "starter pack" from the MF website in between porn downloads can be an instant musician when the UPS truck arrives 2 days later.

The day after that they check Craigslist to find bands looking for musicians and they head on down for the audition, thinking they're going to be touring the world within 6 months, surrounded by an endless supply of drugs and groupies.
Click to expand...
Win.
 
#9
Joel S. said:
One of my bands is trying out new drummers, and it's been the most annoying pita project I've ever been a part of. We've had 8 drummers in so far, and only 2 have been worth a damn, but they have problems that are making us say "no" as well.

So far the majority of the drummers had a terrible feel, and/or an inability to listen to the rest of the band. One guy beat the crap out of the snare completely against the groove of what the rest of the band was playing. Another guy wailed away during a really relaxed quiet section, and didn't look up to see the lead and myself glaring at him to chill the ef out. One guy sped every song up a SUBSTANTIAL amount from the starting tempo (we're talking 30-40bpm).

Aside from their playing deficiencies, we only had ONE guy show up with actual knowledge of the material. Every other guy flat out didn't listen to the tunes or had some excuse as to why they didn't. "I feel I can get a better feel for a band by just playing along 'blind.'" :rollno:

This I don't get, I would NEVER show up to an audition without knowledge of what the band plays, ever. I don't even like going outside without being prepared (i.e., knowing the forecast), so I'm especially baffled at the lack of professionalism. You wouldn't show up to a job interview dressed like a hobo would you?

Please tell me I'm not alone in dealing with people like this... most of 'em were decent enough people, but as drummers I'd rather play to a pre-programmed loop from a mid 80s Casio keyboard.
Click to expand...
How old were these guys?
 
#10
I am a drummer, so I can tell you guys, THESE GUYS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING. If they can't just back off and lay in a groove (and be tasteful about it), they're not worth wasting your time on. I always get worked up over these threads because it makes me feel awful that half of the drumming community is incompetent. :scowl:
 
#12
Half the drumming community is incompetent, half the guitar community is incompetent, half the bass community is incompetent.
I work for a pizza place as a manager. We hire people to take a pizza, put it in a bag, and drive it to someone's house. A figure much greater than half would equal the amount of people we hire to do that job that completely fail.
Maybe the above communities are lucky to have only half of them be idiots =P We're sure not at work.

Scott
 
#14
Joel S. said:
Please tell me I'm not alone in dealing with people like this... most of 'em were decent enough people, but as drummers I'd rather play to a pre-programmed loop from a mid 80s Casio keyboard.
Click to expand...

You're not alone. Read on, gentle reader...

After the exact same experience as you had, my guitard and singer and I drew the line. We had gigs lined up, good, well-paying gigs. And we couldn't take the noise anymore. I took a week or so and programmed all the drum parts. Not just loops, I did some nice studio-quality full-blown faithful versions. We played to backing tapes of faithful drum tracks. Here's the weird part: We packed bars, clubs, and dance floors sans drummer. Nobody cared! Not the owners nor the patrons. And, it was one less person to divide the money with. That band lasted a couple of years. I wouldn't do it that way again, nor am I promoting that strategy, but it worked, and I do remember your pain as we auditioned drummers.
 
#17
How and where are you advertising for a drummer? If you're putting up flyers at Guitar Center and posting in Craigslist, you're your own worst enemy. You will find the dregs and cast-offs who can't find or stay in a band on their own.

The only luck I've EVER had when looking for a drummer is going to colleges or universities and raiding their music programs. I've found two drummers this way. Educated, relatively stable, musically driven, and have been pounded into submission by band leaders or music teachers to listen to the rest of the band.

The risk, however, is that they are too driven and always see your band as a side project while they pursue their musical education.

Just a thought.
 
#18
I drummed for about two years, had all top quality equipment, and took lessons. I did it for myself as exercise to lower my blood pressure. I love the guitar too much, and just didn't like the space the drums were taking up. I am not a drummer, nor did I want to be a drummer. I just wanted to try something fun as a workout instead of exercising. It was fun, great fun, and I learned a bit. I now know what it's like to be a drummer, and I know that it takes dedication and practice to be a good one. The guy in the band I play with races and beats the hell out of the drums. Can't get him to slow down. He's got some good rolls and when we're winging it for fun as a three man band, but the other guys seem to like racing through songs. I don't get that. For covers, he just beats the crap out of the drums till they fall apart or till he punches through the snare.
Never played with a good drummer, so what do I know.
 
#19
Mo'Phat said:
The only luck I've EVER had when looking for a drummer is going to colleges or universities and raiding their music programs. I've found two drummers this way. Educated, relatively stable, musically driven, and have been pounded into submission by band leaders or music teachers to listen to the rest of the band.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice. In another band, we found a 17-year-old who had been taking lessons since he was about 10. He was a band geek and completely at home on a full trap kit. He was bada$$. We had to lie about his age to get him into clubs, and once we got him to control his adreniline, he was awesome. And good at taking cues and directions from the "seasoned pros" as well.
 
#20
Drummer auditions are the absolute worst for a bass player.
I can rule a guy out in about 30 seconds and I know if I can work with him in about a minute.

The rest of the audition is just wasted time and political correctness.
 

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