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Drummers Complaint

#25
I'll carry whatever needs to be carried together with the others. Then I'll set up the PA and connect everything. The drummer will put up his kit while I do the rest. These days I play DI and don't use an amp, so my bass stuff is done in no time. Since I do most of the lead singing too, I'm kind of eager to get the PA done right...
 
#26
Gosh, I feel like such a jerk for not helping the drummer. While he's setting up his super heavy and elaborate drum kit, I'm sloughing by carrying in and setting up speakers, amps, monitors, and all that light, and easy to carry PA gear.*







*Now with 15% more SARCASM
 
#27
Wait... did she say "drummers' forum?"

They can read?

Just kidding.

Our drummer also owns the PA, so he's got lots to haul; everyone in the band pitches in on bringing all the gear in. I help lug the kit in but let him set it up the way he likes it. I guess my priorities for a gig are 1) get everyone's gear in the venue; 2) set up my own rig; 3) set up the PA/lights/whatever else needs setting up.
 
#28
We all schlep drums in/out. My drummer has a massive kit. Once we get it all in though he doesn't want anyone helping him. He sets it up and runs his own mics and cords to the snake while I get the rest of the gear situated. My rig is basically plug and play so it works out well.
 
#32
Its myslef and the drummer that do it all , actually had a little chat with the rest of the guys on the importance of loading out of the studio , into the venue and out at the end of the night. Basically told them if you want your crap at the gig , you help load out till the jobs done at the end of the night. Just about every show we have played the last while , it has been the drummer and I doing all the haul, setting up the PA, arranging a transport vehicle, loadings etc and we are tired of it
 
#33
I worked in a band years ago where the BL would dock our pay if we arrived too late. He didn't keep the money himself; he'd put it towards new gear. Funny thing is, nobody ever complained - they knew he was right.

My brother's a drummer, and he goes ballistic if anyone touches his kit. The drummer in my band, however, is always whining about having to carry and set up his drums - so why didn't he take up the harmonica?
 
#34
Drummer gets his kit set up first, that's done by the entire band. Next, the amps for the guitars and bass are placed. After that, we grab our guitars and bass, tune it, plug in, take a look at our preamp settings, check the sound a couple of times and we're done :D
 
#35
everyone helps with everything in my bands. no drama like.

...that said, one of my pet hates is "gear qeen" drummers with needlessly large kits. i'm a drummer too, and i know you don't need 5 crashes, 2 chinas and a whole swarm of splashes - each with their own multi-jointed stand - to get the job done ;)
 
#36
knumbskull said:
everyone helps with everything in my bands. no drama like.

...that said, one of my pet hates is "gear qeen" drummers with needlessly large kits. i'm a drummer too, and i know you don't need 5 crashes, 2 chinas and a whole swarm of splashes - each with their own multi-jointed stand - to get the job done ;)
Click to expand...

But what if she really needs all those things?
 
#38
/\/\/\ indeed.

i don't mind if they *acknowledge* they've brought extra stuff, and work hard to set up fast and tidy away all the cases etc.

generally though, the stage/most of the venue becomes an obstacle course of drumkit debris, preventing anyone else from having a nice clean set up.

;)
 
#39
WokenDeer said:
In my band we all load and unload together. Just quicker and easier that way. I never understood bands not helping each other. Everyone has the same primary goal, right?
Click to expand...

That's exactly how we look at it as well. Drummer always starts prepping offstage so we quick toss him in to position and he's usually ready before me.

Nearly NOTHING ticks me off more than watching a slow drummer tear down while the next band is waiting...wiping cymbals, putting cymbals in bags, collapsing each stand onstage, waxing his sticks, having a drink, whatever...boils my blood. We get our guy offstage and then he tears down out of respect for the next band and their drummer.

In the 90's the Roxy in Hollywood would literally throw your stuff out the back door if you walked offstage and didn't tear down immediately.
 
#40
Wow...all this talk about hauling PA's. Honestly never played at a place that didn't have their own PA. Guess we always just got lucky. Well, now that I think about it we never played small venues except for a bar in Myrtle Beach SC. Hated that place. Didn't help that I was sober the entire time either. Anywho, we always just helped get the stuff on stage. Once it was there then you were on your own. Didn't matter if it was drums, guitars, anything. Breaking down, same way. Get your stuff to the edge and we all haul it away.
 

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