• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Drummer Issues

John The Floyd

John The Floyd

Guest
Mar 31, 2016
23
2
#1
After many months of searching for a drummer, my guitarist stumbled across a guy he knew from school who plays drums. We've had a few great rehearsal sessions together, but...

...The guy is really unresponsive, for one thing. Poorly communicates, cancels at the last minute, and comes up with some really lame excuses for doing all of these things. Just recently, we shot a video of a jam session, and he looked like he didn't want to be there. There was a part where we played an original; during a musique concrete section of this Stooges-style rock song, we were all supposed to go crazy. My guitarist starts whammy dive-bombing, and I take a slide to my bass strings and fall to my knees, taking the microphone with me. What is he doing? After a few rolls, he whips out his phone and starts texting. Takes the Stooges/My Generation-style song and makes it visually tacky.

I would have fired him already, however we have a deadline that could result in a great recording opportunity, he's the only drummer we know of in town, he's connected to some cool venues, and he actually plays really well. As pitiful as it sounds, firing him and searching for a replacement would be, at this point in time, seemingly counterproductive. I don't know what to do, and the guitarist and I are pulling our respective hairs out.
 
#3
Try talking to the guy first. Share your concerns. You'll be amazed at problems you can solve by making some honest statements in a positive atmosphere. If that doesn't work out, and you can't stand the guy, I'd start looking for a different drummer, or grooming someone who has the right attitude and desire.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tbone76 and BassCliff
#4
First of all, I'll forgive you for the "musique concrete" term. Whatever floats your boat.Getting on your knees is not visually tacky? It almost seems like he did something appropriate if you 2 were doing some kind of wacky poopie! Look, I always hear about the guy in the band who has the "connections" and just screws it up for the rest of the group. It is far better to have a cohesive unit, it makes for better music I think.You guys should look for someone else while you are doing this. I would talk to him first to see where his head's at. As far as the deadline goes, why bother if you are gonna end up with something less than what you want.Good luck!
 
#5
Hi,

He may be a good player but he is not acting like a professional. Being a professional means doing a good job whether you feel like it or not. I've played some music I didn't like with some people I didn't like but I always tried to play my best and put on the show. This guy sounds like he is either not that into you or not that into your music. Do you have paying gigs? Or are you rehearsing toward the recording? Then what? Does he feel like he's wasting his time? Are you wasting his time? I agree with @PauFerro, sit down and have an honest chat with him. Let him know your goals, aspirations, plans, dreams, etc. Then just see if he's on board with you. You can tell by his actions whether or not his words are true.

What deadline? A "battle of the bands"? Is the prize free time in a recording studio? What do you have to offer your drummer, other than rehearsing acrobatics in your basement for free?

Maybe he's got something else going on that he hasn't told you about. Perhaps he's worried about something else and can't concentrate on your show. Just talk to him.

How old are you guys?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
#6
Be honest with him, and tell him exactly what you told us; " Hey *drummer*, you have really poor communication skills, you're unresponsive, and you cancel at the last minute. You started texting during a song. If you want to be a part of this band, then you need to stop dragging your feet. If you're upset or you want to quit, let us know and stop dragging this out so we can move on and find someone who wants to do this".

Done.

If you're using this guy just so you can get this recording thing going, then i don't see how you're any different than he is.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: brbadg
#10
Whenever I encounter a good solid player who is band-less my radar pings ... why isn't he already working? He might just be between gigs (good!), or looking for another project (good!), or there may be other reasons (temperament, ego, work ethic, substance abuse, psych issues, etc). Not a chance I'd risk doing a recording session with the drummer in the OP. Imagine committing $2K on a recording session only to have the drummer be a no-show. No thanks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brbadg, jaywa and Renaissance
#11
But it seems that is common among drummers to behave like that. Always the problem to start up a band is to find a drummer who at least shows for rehearsal (even if I pay the reh. room's rent), and taking into account that we don't put much emphasis on virtuosity or quirky stuff, it shouldn't be so demanding to keep certain consistency. I also have noticed this trend in other bands, and my drummer friends complain that they get invited too much to join bands (well if your peers had a little discipline it wouldn't be so bad). Heck, we even played with a drum machine for 6 years straight to avoid that poopie.


Thanks for letting me vent
 
  • Like
Reactions: brbadg
#14
If he was texting, on stage, during a live set, he is not your guy. Regardless how good of a player he is, or what instrument. That's as tacky as it gets and would be grounds for termination in any band I have ever been part of.

It sounds to me like he knows you have no other options. That's called leverage, he has it all and you have none, except to not keep playing with him. I would suggest using that leverage sooner than later.
 
  • Like
Reactions: KromaatiKlauun
#15
JMacBass65 said:
What does that even mean? Sounds pretentious.
Click to expand...

Musique Concrète? It's a genre of experimental music. See here for a fuller description.

I don't think the OP is actually doing it since it doesn't mean to just go whacky or devolve into chaos in a performance. Quite the opposite in fact.

image.jpg


;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: AltGrendel and brbadg
#16
@OP - I think texting while the others go nutty is a pretty clever move by the drummer since its not as obvious and "on the nose" a performance as what you wanted to see him do.

Perhaps it's also an editorial comment on your antics in the video?

Suggestion. Best not hope to get signed mainly for your visual appeal unless you're female. I'd concentrate on your sound, being super tight, and coming across as professionals - and leave the hollywood crap (which kinda went out of style with David Lee Roth) for when (and if) you do get a deal. The labels are more interested in people who can keep it musically fresh and interesting- but are still professional and all about business underneath.

As far as the drummer's inconsiderate behavior goes, he's pretty obviously not too engaged with what you guys are doing. If you want to keep him, best sit down and have a heart to heart. If he can really play (as you said) I'm sure he heard something in what you were doing at first to get involved. Possibly, as he's gotten further into it, he's starting to change his mind about you guys. So it's time to either talk it out - or go find another drummer before the situation makes the decision for you.

Luck!
 
#17
40Hz said:
Musique Concrète? It's a genre of experimental music. See here for a fuller description.

I don't think the OP is actually doing it since it doesn't mean to just go whacky or devolve into chaos in a performance. Quite the opposite in fact.
Click to expand...

Agreed, playing random (or not) MIDI samples would be closer.

On Topic:

For whatever reason, he doesn't sound like he's in to the band. Probably doing it as a favor to the guitarist. I agree that trying to find out what the deal is is best, but be ready to cut him loose. Is hiring a sub an option if it comes down to that?
 
Last edited:
#18
brbadg said:
First of all, I'll forgive you for the "musique concrete" term. Whatever floats your boat.Getting on your knees is not visually tacky? It almost seems like he did something appropriate if you 2 were doing some kind of wacky poopie! Look, I always hear about the guy in the band who has the "connections" and just screws it up for the rest of the group. It is far better to have a cohesive unit, it makes for better music I think.You guys should look for someone else while you are doing this. I would talk to him first to see where his head's at. As far as the deadline goes, why bother if you are gonna end up with something less than what you want.Good luck!
Click to expand...
I confess that is kinda what I was wondering. He was doing a sort of counterpoint to what they were doing.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back