I guess I just want an opportunity to share this story:
Last Saturday night, our band played what had promised to be our biggest show yet -- very nice venue, opening for two acts with huge draws, great sound system, new merchandise to sell, etc. We were stoked and saw it as a big step forward.
Our drummer decided to rent another kit because the kit he owns looks absolutely hideous and sounds only slightly better. We thought it was a sound plan, as the drums really are a visually dominant aspect of a live band. So he rents a really nice Gretsch kit, with the established and respectable Gretsch logo emblazoned on the bass drum.
So we run through our set on Friday night with him using the new kit, and everyone in the band is complimenting his decision to rent it. He's happy with the way it sounds and looks, but says, "I like it, but I think I might cover up the Gretsch logo with black tape."
The rest of the band is a bit dumbfounded, so I say, "Really? I think you should keep it... it'll look better than a dull strip of black tape added to a glossy bass drum head will. And the Gretsch name has some mojo and credibility."
And incredibly, he goes, "Yeah, but you never know when sponsors from another manufacturer might be at the show. I'd hate to lose out on a sponsorship because I'm playing a competitor's kit."
Now, this is nuts, for the following reasons:
1) unless I'm mistaken, sponsors just don't routinely attend shows with local bands seeking musicians to endorse their gear
2) if one *did* attend our show, they wouldn't be likely to think to themselves, "You know, this drummer's really great, and even though this band's hardly drum-centric, I think people in the audience might be moved to buy whatever drum set he's playing so they can sound like him. I think I'm gonna offer him a... wait a minute, he's got a Gretsch kit! Pshaw! Deal's off."
3) of all the things to think about prior our show, this is what he comes up with?
Anyway, we did manage to talk him out of it. Still, it was fun to joke around with the rest of my bandmates about this: "Hey, you're not really going to play your Telecaster are you? But what if a Gibson sponsor is there? I'd play under a blanket if I were you."
Last Saturday night, our band played what had promised to be our biggest show yet -- very nice venue, opening for two acts with huge draws, great sound system, new merchandise to sell, etc. We were stoked and saw it as a big step forward.
Our drummer decided to rent another kit because the kit he owns looks absolutely hideous and sounds only slightly better. We thought it was a sound plan, as the drums really are a visually dominant aspect of a live band. So he rents a really nice Gretsch kit, with the established and respectable Gretsch logo emblazoned on the bass drum.
So we run through our set on Friday night with him using the new kit, and everyone in the band is complimenting his decision to rent it. He's happy with the way it sounds and looks, but says, "I like it, but I think I might cover up the Gretsch logo with black tape."
The rest of the band is a bit dumbfounded, so I say, "Really? I think you should keep it... it'll look better than a dull strip of black tape added to a glossy bass drum head will. And the Gretsch name has some mojo and credibility."
And incredibly, he goes, "Yeah, but you never know when sponsors from another manufacturer might be at the show. I'd hate to lose out on a sponsorship because I'm playing a competitor's kit."
Now, this is nuts, for the following reasons:
1) unless I'm mistaken, sponsors just don't routinely attend shows with local bands seeking musicians to endorse their gear
2) if one *did* attend our show, they wouldn't be likely to think to themselves, "You know, this drummer's really great, and even though this band's hardly drum-centric, I think people in the audience might be moved to buy whatever drum set he's playing so they can sound like him. I think I'm gonna offer him a... wait a minute, he's got a Gretsch kit! Pshaw! Deal's off."
3) of all the things to think about prior our show, this is what he comes up with?
Anyway, we did manage to talk him out of it. Still, it was fun to joke around with the rest of my bandmates about this: "Hey, you're not really going to play your Telecaster are you? But what if a Gibson sponsor is there? I'd play under a blanket if I were you."
I'm actually a drummer of 18 years and a beginning bass player of 3 years and it sounds like your drummer is just flat out weird. Maybe a bit of megalomania mixed in with delusions of granduer...I don't know, but it's still pretty damn funny. On a side note, my bass player in my band is about 54 years old and can play like a champion, although I swear to God the man wakes up every morning and has to ask his wife what his name is. Too funny.
I can count on my one hand how many times at practice we've actually grooved. I know, it gets better. His personality is a bit anxious, uptight and he has absolutely no concept of creating music. He can play guitar very well but only what he knows. He doesn't know what a scale is though. If we get to practice and start jamming to warm up, he'll sit there for 20-30 minutes with a perturbed look on his face and say, "So are we gonna play something today or just soundcheck for the rest of our lives?!" Passive aggressive bastard...
