Fill in drummer - would rather not play than use this guy again....

[flatfender]

Was he running the sound? Ya know every board I have touched has a mute button.

I'd leave him in his monitor and mute him out of the mains and everyone else's monitors. He can talk and sing to himself.

 

[electracoyote]

Also I will add that it sounds like this guy was a live wire (as was the harp player in my anecdote). I distinctly remember in our situation we just decided to live with it for the night and eventually he wandered off and started hitting on girls. I wouldn't find fault if OP and his bandmates were concerned that they could make it worse and preferred to deal with it post-show.

Well, since we're making a lot of assumptions here, you may be right. Based on my experience, I'm going to assume the band didn't have the guts to deal with it and let this guy tarnish two shows now.

 

[lermgalieu]

Well, since we're making a lot of assumptions here, you may be right. Based on my experience, I'm going to assume the band didn't have the guts to deal with it and let this guy tarnish two shows now.

Yeah, we are. Bad drummers really are the worst. Then again I would have cancelled the gig unless I knew the drummer to be a great guy/gal and player.

 

[Slinger]

Did you ever wonder why this guy was available every time you called him?

 

[DavC]

tell your regular drummer ... " the show must go on " ... !! be there .. !!

get a decent drum machine ... ! it is easier to deal with .. !

 

[Mugre]

I've spent a fair share of time on: recorder (the flute kind) forums, Guitar forums, piano and keyboard forums and this bass forum. I've gotta say, as infantile as the guitar forums can be, you bass players do spend the most time putting down other players. It's unbecoming and I think I'm about out of here because of it. Simply too much negativity.

 

[Fat Steve]

I've spent a fair share of time on: recorder (the flute kind) forums, Guitar forums, piano and keyboard forums and this bass forum. I've gotta say, as infantile as the guitar forums can be, you bass players do spend the most time putting down other players. It's unbecoming and I think I'm about out of here because of it. Simply too much negativity.

So we should coddle and pussyfoot around bad drummers? I'm uncertain about the intent of your post. Should we not take to internet message boards to vent about the very real issues that us gigging musicians face on a regular basis?

 

[One Drop]

I've spent a fair share of time on: recorder (the flute kind) forums, Guitar forums, piano and keyboard forums and this bass forum. I've gotta say, as infantile as the guitar forums can be, you bass players do spend the most time putting down other players. It's unbecoming and I think I'm about out of here because of it. Simply too much negativity.

At, c'mon, stick around. We've barely had time to insult a flautard yet.

 

[Bass Master General]

As a drummer first and bassist second, anytime I'm feeling down on my skills as the former I should remember this thread and the fact that there are some actually truly horrible drummers out there. I mean this is astonishing.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

Although I didn't read through this thread, I did read the OP in its entirety.

I feel like I have been spoiled now. Our band has a stable of professional, gigging drummers we choose from on the rare occasion our drummer can't make a gig. One of those drummers is every bit as good as our regular drummer and brings a new vibe albeit we don't have it on lock like my bandmate and I do. The other four guys we might use vary from really good to totally acceptable.

We would NEVER book someone like you described, OP. In the event that we somehow ended up sharing the stage with this guy, he would have been delt with firmly but discretely on stage immediately and then as harshly as necessary on break.

 

[Justice]

I appreciate the comments and advice. Let me clear a few things up.

1) Yes he was annoying on the first gig, on a "he is not ruining anything" level, He did step on a few toes, but overall it was survivable. This gig he was much worse.
2) I told the guitarist that brought him in after the first set, that I would prefer we cancel before using this guy again. He asked if it was really that bad (he's pretty easy going and has known the guy for a while) I explained my views. By the end of the night he agreed with me.
3)This really was a last minute thing, I had no control over it. I shot him "the looks" several times to try to get him back on track. nothing worked.
4) I'm not the band leader. I expressed my concerns. By the end of the night they were all validated. we will not be having him back again.

Also, I kinda feel that if I would have said anything to the drummer (under the guise of constructive criticism) he would have taken it as a personal attack and things would have been worse. That's the vibe I was getting from him.

 

[morgansterne]

I played with a drummer for about a year who had some of the most inappropriate stage banter. Lots of gay jokes -- pretty much his whole schtick (plus announcing the name of the band).
He's an excellent drummer, lots of energy and a really good singer too, but on a personal level he's hard to take.
He was apologizing to me one time for texting me a gay sexual innuendo (about my son, for god's sake) and he said, "well, hang on, this is why I'm so screwed up right now . . . "
"Wait," I interrupted him, "how long is this story??"

 

[RustyAxe]

I've spent a fair share of time on: recorder (the flute kind) forums, Guitar forums, piano and keyboard forums and this bass forum. I've gotta say, as infantile as the guitar forums can be, you bass players do spend the most time putting down other players. It's unbecoming and I think I'm about out of here because of it. Simply too much negativity.

I agree, there's a lot of dissin' of other musicians (drummers, guitar players, girl singers ... etc, etc). Don't run away ... I've been here for a few years now, and recognize there are all sorts of bass players here. Many aren't out of their teens and their immaturity shows. Others are internet tough guys. Some are new to music and the bass, others have been playing for several decades. Pick and choose which posts you read/respond to, and try to act as you wish others would.

 

[s0c9]

We would NEVER book someone like you described, OP. In the event that we somehow ended up sharing the stage with this guy, he would have been delt with firmly but discretely on stage immediately and then as harshly as necessary on break.

I'd agree in principle.. but the problem with the personality type identified by the OP, is they're not mature enough to handle it, would get in a tizzy and pack up their sh*t and leave the entire band hanging...
As a BL, that's a tough situation to deal with..

 

[wmhill]

I used to be in a band with that guy................................

 

[wmhill]

LOL, this/\ or he's on drugs!!

or should be on drugs...... heavily prescribed doses!

 

[Mystic Michael]

I used to be in a band with that guy................................

I think anyone who's been playing for any length of time probably used to be in a band with that guy. "That guy" sure does get around!

MM

 

[hintz]

or should be on drugs...... heavily prescribed doses!

LOL!!

The OP's story reminds me of a drummer I played with in a country band(who was on drugs, all the time)...

The female lead singer/BL wanted lots of harmony vocals and wanted everyone to do it, she also ran sound too...

Anyways at rehearsals someone was noticeably off pitch, it was the drummer, we all thought he'd improve or practice..

At the gig it was worse, it didn't help that he was stoned and drunk either!! This lasted maybe 4-5 gigs until a VFW gig where drummer started talking in between songs(and saying very inappropriate things) the singer started muting his channel...

At first it was kinda humorous, but it got old quick!! I learned not to give a drug fueled, ADHD, tone deaf musician a microphone, truly the recipe for disaster!!

The sad thing was he was badass (on drums only) when he was sober, not surprising though either!!

 

[hintz]

Another drummer I played with was a closet coke addict, he'd start out the songs too fast(after a trip to the bathroom) and gradually slow down, EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Long story short, he sold off his kit and doesn't play anymore...

 

[Mystic Michael]

Hmm. I think you are being a bit harsh here. I have been in a similar situation - not with a drummer (although I've played with terrible ones), but with a dude who played harmonica. We had a four-piece punk/funk-jazz band and were playing 3+ hour slots. At a NYE gig this dude dressed as baby new year asks if he can sit in on harp. He did, he was good. So we asked him to play an out of town gig with us. Well, we get up there and all of the sudden he whips out a notebook and starts reading his bad poetry, playing in inappropriate places and keys, etc. Here's the problem - there is a fine line between showmanship and being able to correct this crap on the spot. The more dirty looks you shoot or muttered conversations you have between songs, the less likely you are to keep the audience. Let's face it, the gig is going to suck. Sure, there are things the OP and his mates could have done, but it sounds like this was very last minute, no rehearsal, no time to really get ahead of the problem. So I think his current attitude is correct - don't play with the guy anymore. Institute a policy that all members get weigh in on proposed subs. But I don't think he could have done as much during the set as you imply.

While I freely acknowledge that once the actual gig begins almost anything is possible, I also think that the key to establishing control is what happens before the start of the gig. Or perhaps more accurately in this case, what didn't happen before the start of the gig.

Too often this kind of situation develops because of a vacuum between what is actually expected of the sub...and what the sub thinks is expected of him, or what the sub thinks he can get away with on the gig - once the actual playing has begun, and the band is dependent upon him. If any douchebag behavior is apt to erupt, the douchebag will generally wait until that moment of maximum band vulnerability to bring out the worst of it.

When this happens, more often than not it is due to a bandleader who is afraid to lead, or doesn't know how to lead. Ideally, every sub should be well-vetted well in advance of the gig. But when that isn't possible, the bandleader should sit the guy down beforehand, and essentially lay it out for him: 1) We don't know you well, but we're giving you a chance, so please don't abuse our trust; 2) Here are the requirements for the gig, please execute them like a pro, and don't go off-script; and 3) If all else fails, you go rogue, and my efforts to rein you in should fail, I reserve the right to take a brief break, dismiss you from the gig, immediately and on the spot, order you off the bandstand with your gear, and send you home without pay.

Clearly that's not such a good option in the case of a drummer - but it's not out of the realm of possibility either, depending on the musical scenario. If it comes to firing the sub right there on the spot, then sure your band's reputation will take a hit. But if you continue to struggle through a gig that has turned into a complete disaster, won't that damage your band's reputation too? Won't it?

MM