Bad Night

[drumbum91]

You ever had a bad night where you feel like you’re just dragging and the feel is off? Was not at all happy with my performance tonight and had a few brain farts I never have… Bandmates all enjoyed the gig but it’s one of those nights where I want to lock myself in the woodshed for a few days…

Tomorrow night I play some guitar and sing a little though, give the ole drum set a break for a change!

Happy gigging folks!!

 

[flatwins]

We played last Sunday night for a benefit show at a local bar. The audience was comprised mainly of the other bands playing. We had added some stuff to the set list but hadn’t practiced it nearly enough. Completely train wrecked the end of one of the tunes. We won’t let that happen again!

 

[GiveMeYourSmallestSticks!]

It happens, which is why I have so much respect for the gigging drummer. Even when playing for my own practice and enjoyment, there are some days everything just seems to click and I can do no wrong. Then there are the others where I actually stop myself from playing because nothing I try to do is actually translating in my playing, and everything feels forced and awkward.

To be able to deal with this and manage to perform with a modicum of consistency is an impressive feat, but not one most mortals can achieve. Bet you'll come back with a vengeance at the next gig and nail it!

 

[CC Cirillo]

This has never happened to me, as I always play perfectly with no errors and an unstoppable tsunami of groove. How do I do it? Practice and perfectionism.

Said me, never.

I feel you. We all have off nights, or even longer troughs. I sure do. All that matters is we pick up the sticks again. That’s an act that I consider close to heroic after some of my nights of pushing my whole kit down the stairs.

 

[drumbum91]

It happens, which is why I have so much respect for the gigging drummer. Even when playing for my own practice and enjoyment, there are some days everything just seems to click and I can do no wrong. Then there are the others where I actually stop myself from playing because nothing I try to do is actually translating in my playing, and everything feels forced and awkward.

To be able to deal with this and manage to perform with a modicum of consistency is an impressive feat, but not one most mortals can achieve. Bet you'll come back with a vengeance at the next gig and nail it!

Absolutely. I’ve had a few nights like this through the years. I try to get as much rest as possible but I work a full time sales job and usually play 2-3 times most weeks. I gave it up for a while but it’s in my blood and I’m fortunate to be with a great group. I attributed last night to lack of sleep and a poor diet. I’m really trying to get back on track with eating clean, I’m also diabetic which doesn’t help.

It’s also worth noting this particular room just always sounds so different to me. I wear in-ears and the engineer is fantastic but the ear mix is always blah and uninspiring. It’s like the stage sucks the life out of the drums. I always have trouble really getting into it when we play there but I’m usually able to push through and most times make it through. As stated my band mates felt good about it but I know when I’m not on the a game.

 

[RIDDIM]

Yes.

I think we all have.

I find that when I am well rested, do the homework, arrive early and warm up well, that these things tend to be rare.

 

[cruddola]

Yes.

I think we all have.

I find that when I am well rested, do the homework, arrive early and warm up well, that these things tend to be rare.

I found myself having less of those times as I got more experience in front of a paying audience and as I got older.

 

[RIDDIM]

Those too.

 

[HoorayGuy]

You ever had a bad night where you feel like you’re just dragging and the feel is off? Was not at all happy with my performance tonight and had a few brain farts I never have… Bandmates all enjoyed the gig but it’s one of those nights where I want to lock myself in the woodshed for a few days…

Tomorrow night I play some guitar and sing a little though, give the ole drum set a break for a change!

Happy gigging folks!!

Happens to our heroes as well. Flip the world off and move on.

 

[Hop]

You ever had a bad night where you feel like you’re just dragging and the feel is off? Was not at all happy with my performance tonight...

That's what all the cocaine and booze is for aint it???

I'll echo the advise of the others not to dwell on those 'odd night' mistakes. Think about what went well, you'd be surprised how that shift can adjust the atitude, even if it's just a count in/song ending; load out where you didn't scratch a drum, drop a cymbal or lose a wing nut; didn't get into an accident on the way home and die... you know, the little things that can add up to something big!

 

[jptrickster]

The older I get the less I know.

 

[cruddola]

That's what all the cocaine and booze is for aint it???

I'll echo the advise of the others not to dwell on those 'odd night' mistakes. Think about what went well, you'd be surprised how that shift can adjust the atitude, even if it's just a count in/song ending; load out where you didn't scratch a drum, drop a cymbal or lose a wing nut; didn't get into an accident on the way home and die... you know, the little things that can add up to something big!

I may suck as a drummer, but I've been 100% sterile from booze, groupies and drugs all my life. 66 years stupid. I grew up with that crap in the house. My mom (a neo-natal ICU nurse) had her final overdose from narcotics and booze. Yup, medical folks are the biggest junkies I know. They have access to the best pharmaceutical-grade dope money could buy. I was dancing with the bad guys on the Thai-Cambodian border. Glad I missed that. And I'm gonna do the same? No. I wasn't made for that. Couldn't tell anybody anything about those three extra-curricular activities because I've never done and will never do them. I don't know what it's like to get stoned, drunk or share a sexual experience with a groupie. I've even walked off the stage on a few bands where one or more members showed up stoned. That crap has taken the best of them and I've never been as good as those taken by said activities. I'm no better than anybody else. If I partake in those activities, I will be taken like anybody else. But, having bum, dragging-my-butt days on the stage I've had many times. Bottom line, you're only as good as your last performance. And that, gave me reason to get back on the saddle for a better performance next time..

 

[flatwins]

I may suck as a drummer, but I've been 100% sterile from booze, groupies and drugs all my life. 66 years stupid. I grew up with that crap in the house. My mom (a neo-natal ICU nurse) had her final overdose from narcotics and booze. Yup, medical folks are the biggest junkies I know. They have access to the best pharmaceutical-grade dope money could buy. I was dancing with the bad guys on the Thai-Cambodian border. Glad I missed that. And I'm gonna do the same? No. I wasn't made for that. Couldn't tell anybody anything about those three extra-curricular activities because I've never done and will never do them. I don't know what it's like to get stoned, drunk or share a sexual experience with a groupie. I've even walked off the stage on a few bands where one or more members showed up stoned. That crap has taken the best of them and I've never been as good as those taken by said activities. I'm no better than anybody else. If I partake in those activities, I will be taken like anybody else. But, having bum, dragging-my-butt days on the stage I've had many times. Bottom line, you're only as good as your last performance. And that, gave me reason to get back on the saddle for a better performance next time..

I’m somewhat like that myself. Never touched any drugs (even the “miracle” plant so many are obsessed over). If I drink it’s on the average of 2 beers a month. When playing out I drink water. I’m quite the partier.

 

[cruddola]

I’m somewhat like that myself. Never touched any drugs (even the “miracle” plant so many are obsessed over). If I drink it’s on the average of 2 beers a month. When playing out I drink water. I’m quite the partier.

I knew there was at least another one out there!

 

[Russian Dragon]

My buddies and I have a bit of a theory on this topic. We've noticed that our opinions of our own performances rarely match the perceptions of others. There seems to be an inverse relationship.
More often than not, if I come off stage disappointed with my performance, the other musicians will comment on how I nailed it, and that I've never sounded better.
Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. If I ever come off stage thinking I played well, I'll get a raised eyebrow, a joking comment about how they 'liked what I tried to do up there', or just silence from the kind people whose mothers told them 'If you can't find something nice to say....''.

So if you walk off stage depressed about how badly you just stunk up the stage, wondering whether you should sell your drums or just toss them out of the truck on the way home, you probably just had the best night of your life.

 

[drumbum91]

My buddies and I have a bit of a theory on this topic. We've noticed that our opinions of our own performances rarely match the perceptions of others. There seems to be an inverse relationship.
More often than not, if I come off stage disappointed with my performance, the other musicians will comment on how I nailed it, and that I've never sounded better.
Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. If I ever come off stage thinking I played well, I'll get a raised eyebrow, a joking comment about how they 'liked what I tried to do up there', or just silence from the kind people whose mothers told them 'If you can't find something nice to say....''.

So if you walk off stage depressed about how badly you just stunk up the stage, wondering whether you should sell your drums or just toss them out of the truck on the way home, you probably just had the best night of your life.

I’ve had this happen too. It’s weird for sure! I’ve had some moments where
I felt like I pulled off a cool fill or something and the bass player (were very close friends) is like dude what was that . Just happy to be playing!!

 

[drumbum91]

I knew there was at least another one out there!

I try not to drink during shows. There are times when it happens and my time suffers really bad. Alcohol makes me feel extremely sluggish. I try to stick to water as best or a little Diet Coke or something.

 

[petereather]

Full blown leg cramp and right hand 1/2 way in Wipe Out ! Blew the first fill in China Grove ! Back in the day when I was a Drunk ! More Water

 

[jptrickster]

Have had a few bloopers here and there last gig, came in 2 bars early Hotel Cal intro ,no biggie they had my back. Missed the Keith Moon monster fill Becks Bolero , nobody knew ‘cept the band and maybe one drummer in the audience. There was a couple other minor misses here and there and not only me.
The more you drink the better we sound!

 

[RJC-DRUMS]

It happens! Usually as soon as the record button is pressed things start to go wrong for me...