Got my first proper gig - any tips?!

[Matched Gripper]

Check to make sure you have everything you need before you leave. There’s nothing worse than getting to the gig and realizing you forgot your bass drum pedal, throne, or tom holder.

Or, stick bag!

 

[Tubwompus]

Lots of good advice that was learned in the heat of battle.

Most crucial to me are spare snare (PLUS extra snare cord or strips in the stick bag), spare BD pedal…

I didn’t notice any mention of it, but I also always carry my own rug coz not all stages have carpet or big enough rug to my preference. So I always take my own.

Onlyest other things I could come up with at the moment are stay as relaxed as you can during the sets and minimize the dead air between songs.

Oh…and never trust a fart onstage.

 

[Jay-Dee]

That’s a good point about changing heads. In the country band we had malfunction songs built into the set. Lead guitar breaks a string? Drummer breaks a head? Bass rig has a problem? Then we would play certain songs that would allow that person to fix their problem.

How do you break a head in a country band?

 

[MustangMick]

Set up early before the rest of the band (Guitarists will always leave stuff in your way)
Setlist (Bring Paper and a Sharpie)
If you can't remember the tempo of a song, sing the chorus to yourself before count in and you'll be fine.
Water - No alcohol (You're at work)
No guest musicians/drummers, or wannabes on stage at the interval

Have fun and smile

Best of luck
Mick

 

[bigbonzo]

Play your best and keep the drunks away from your set.

I forgot...as others have said...HAVE FUN!

 

[vintagedrummersweden]

Take spares - a snare (or at least a head), maybe kick pedal, earbuds, adapters, drumkey, etc. Whatever you would be screwed without, if it broke.

Zip up the stickbag on breaks, if you think somebody could decide to go full Animal on the kit.

And always, look cool while you play. Best drum advice ever.

This!

 

[varatrodder]

How do you break a head in a country band?

Ha! I never have, but stranger things have happened.

 

[mfk252]

I try to focus on groups of people in the audience that are really into the music (dancing or giving undivided attenuation if the music is more mellow) and let that feed my energy. I've gone into gigs unavoidably tired at times and even if a small portion of the audience is into it I know I will enjoy myself.

Take the time to make sure your monitor situation is comfortable, including hearing yourself. For my current gig I need to hear the rhythm guitar and the attack of my kick clearly and then I'm good. I try to keep vocals out of my monitors (usually will get enough vocal bleed from the house system) so I can hear the rhythm section better.

Make sure you put out a positive vibe onstage and try not to broadcast any onstage issues or negative energy to the audience. Sharing a subtle grin with bandmates after a mistake can also ease tension onstage and remind all that this should be fun and a that performance doesn't have to be absolutely perfect.

 

[Matched Gripper]

How do you break a head in a country band?

With your spurs?

 

[notINtheband]

+1 on the spare snare AND bd pedal.
The video is dark, but I had the camera rolling a while back when my own bass drum pedal broke on the very last note of the third song in our set:

Always have my spare within reach of the throne.

 

[Russian Dragon]

+1 on the spare snare AND bd pedal.
The video is dark, but I had the camera rolling a while back when my own bass drum pedal broke on the very last note of the third song in our set:

Always have my spare within reach of the throne.

Kudos for keeping your cool and being prepared with a spare, to the person who knew where the spare was, and to the singer for keeping the patter going long enough for you to get rolling again. That was seamless! The crowd never knew there was a problem.

 

[Pat A Flafla]

+1 on the spare snare AND bd pedal.
The video is dark, but I had the camera rolling a while back when my own bass drum pedal broke on the very last note of the third song in our set:

Always have my spare within reach of the throne.

I set up a double pedal even if I don't plan to use the left half on blues and polka gigs, mainly because every time you gently torque a set screw into soft aluminum it's one step closer to stripping out, so I've found lifespan drastically increases if I never disassemble or adjust them.

BUT the slave side can also be a quick parts donor or if you have certain pedals like my favored old Pearls, the slave side can be converted into a separate pedal rather quickly.

Master spring breaks near the beginning of song #2 on the setlist: Hendrix's Fire (with a hard rock tempo bump). Finished it with left foot (what a workout). Cued a guitar solo (they'll ALWAYS take a solo anytime, anywhere) while I swapped the spring out. BTW--if you own a Speed Cobra, just go ahead and replace the springs with Gibraltars before they fail you at a show. They're junk.

But none of that helps if I forget to load one, so I keep a Swiv-O-Matic in the truck. Good thing:

I must really miss playing

Gig five since March. Tomorrow's venue: the top of an exposed, open, tower-like structure in the middle of a river. The forecasted 20mph wind should be coming from the West, so right into our faces. At night. Below freezing. At least I'll have a valid excuse for my hands being wooden. It's...

www.drumforum.org

 

[notINtheband]

BTW--if you own a Speed Cobra, just go ahead and replace the springs with Gibraltars before they fail you at a show. They're junk.

Does this go for the newest ones? I just picked up a brand new one a few weeks ago. True 2022 model. Curious as it’s now my main pedal.

 

[mjohnson12]

As mentioned drink water every time you can and hydrate before the gig.
I’ve found a small fan blowing on me can help with endurance.
If I don’t know the venue I bring a rug so I can be sure the kick isn’t moving away from me as I play.

 

[bob e michael]

just smile at the girlies when they're watching you
that's my advise , oh yeah , and play hard and have fun ...

 

[Stickclick]

Take pictures and post them here.

Bring spares, duct tape, sticks and drum key.

 

[DrumPhil]

The whole band is likely to have nervous energy, which causes everyone to rush and start songs at seriously fast tempos -- especially the first couple of songs. Try to fight that. Years ago in a Modern Drummer interview, Steve Gadd said that when he is waiting in the wings before going on stage, he has the first song going through his head and really focuses on getting the tempo right. If it's too fast, some of the players might have difficulty playing their parts right, which can lead to a rough start to the whole night. I try to hum the part of the song that has the fastest licks (bass, guitar, etc.) to make sure the tempo is not going to kill them.

Take a water bottle or glass on stage with you. If you don't have one, the bar will. There's plenty of room to hide it behind your kit, and grab a sip between every couple of songs. You don't want to dry out and have your foot cramp up.

Relax and have fun with it! This is just the first of many.

 

[Houndog]

How do you break a head in a country band?

I broke my only cymbal playing Country .

 

[Houndog]

Does this go for the newest ones? I just picked up a brand new one a few weeks ago. True 2022 model. Curious as it’s now my main pedal.

I loctited all the screws on my Speed Cobra , got tired of them backing out ….
I’ll have to change out spring now …

 

[John DeChristopher]

How do you break a head in a country band?

With your spurs?

I was going to say "with determination" but I like your answer better!