Drummingdog
Active Member
I hope not
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Drum volume: Online vs. Real life
- Thread starter DrumDoug
- Start date
Suburbankidz
Well-known Member
There's a bar that we regularly play that requires an ekit. The main stress for me is that it's cumbersome to transport and then I'm terrified the damn thing won't turn on. So far it's been fine.
mikyok
Platinum Member
It's a combination of things. The live music scene in bigger venues has all but died especially in my neck of the woods so folk forget that a band is going to be louder than a singer with backing tracks. Also smaller venues want bands but don't want the noise which for me defeats the object and I get there's bands who are just too loud which can be a serious problem if there's noise complaints.
You're not alone. I hit this wall a couple of years back and the best advice I can give is to go with it and get an e-kit. If you don't someone will and take all the gigs and money. From a playing perspective look at it as a tool to do a job that's it and you don't spend the whole night tickling away staring at a noise limiter (yeah that's a real ballache). It gives you a more consistent sound, your stage volume gets quieter and gives your band more versatility in what you can provide so you get more work.
The downside is the cost, however mine has paid itself back many times over since I got it. That's the only caveat, if you're not on well paid gigs it's a big hit to take and I've always been annoyed that bands are expected to take the financial hit to cater to venues.
If I get the chance to use the real thing I jump at it and it makes you appreciate the gigs where you can let loose.
I wonder how much the mix and current equipment has to do with it. I've played a ton of gigs (on bass) in the 90's at venues with questionable sound guys and two guitarists playing Marshall half stacks. Now, we have in ear monitors with individual mixes, amp sims, better FOH, etc.
But, I really do think that the mix has a lot to do with it. I've been to stadium shows and the sound is much louder, but it's mixed and EQed correctly.
But, I really do think that the mix has a lot to do with it. I've been to stadium shows and the sound is much louder, but it's mixed and EQed correctly.
Troy McClure
Member
If I start having to hit my drums harder to hear them that's when I tell the string men they're too loud. I refuse to hit harder...turn down.
Houndog1964
Active Member
Dang , nice voice and nice deep pocket !!Reduced volume level is a thing in my neck of the woods as well. The expectation at most venues is to keep it where patrons can still converse with regular speaking voices. We are often asked to turn down and try to accommodate those requests as best we can. Sometimes it doesn’t work out and we don’t play those venues again.
My duo guy and I have accepted and embraced the challenge, and it always feels like a “win plus” when we’re able to successfully navigate the lowest volume gigs. The pandemic changed our musical landscape profoundly. Most bars and large venues have given way to wine tasting rooms, country clubs, uppity restaurants, and well-heeled private events.
We didn’t ask for the change, but it’s here and we’ve adapted to it because we love playing music, each do it for our living, and take it as a point of professional pride that we’re able to thrive in places where many bands can’t. It’s also quite lucrative.
For shiggles, I’m including a quick vid from a venue where we were asked to turn down. I’m playing brushes and am unmic’d. You can hear the patrons flappin’ their gums all through it. Wild!
RVC
Well-known Member
Thanks, @Houndog1964!! You seriously just helped make a great day even better! I’m expecting my 602 20” Medium Flat Ride anytime this afternoon, and now your compliment is a cherry on top!! Thank you again.
doggyd69b
Platinum Member
If it's not like a TD50 module I suggest you get a spare module, it will take the fear of total failure away. Like I said before, I have never had anything fail me (when using an Ekit that I own) the keyword is I own it so I treat it right, I would of course be concerned if it was a shared kit provided by a venue, that would be even worse than an acoustic kit because for some reason people feel that they need to hit an ekit with the same force you hit an acoustic kit to generate volume the truth is that is what the volume button is for. Now about transporting, if you fold the rack and just remove the pads, it will be 2 trips to take everything in or out. Unless you have a kit like mine then maybe 3 trips or even 4 (Which is still less trips than I would do with any of my acoustic kits).
PorkPieGuy
Platinum Member
The thing that drives me crazy is when people hire us and then want us to play quietly. I'm always like, "Have you NOT heard us before?" I mean, when a place hires a 7-piece band, what do they think they are getting? It's not gonna be the same as a jazz trio. I don't mind playing with smaller stick or brushes or whatever as long as I know what I'm walking into before I get there. We aren't a really loud band, but we are pretty darn full.
Drumolator
Platinum Member
The key to playing softly is not to muffle the drums. I play in a very small church on a Pearl Export kit. I use thin cymbals, single ply heads, and much smaller sticks (7A). My kit has double ply heads, thin cymbals, and I usually use 5A sticks or 55A sticks. Peace and goodwill.
atlantadrumguy
Member
No one (audiences everywhere) really wants to hear loud drummers. Unless you’re at a Metallica stadium show. In short, 99% of places that any of us would play at the local level (churches, small venues, restaurants, clubs) don’t want to hear loud drummers.
It’s something I’ve considered. As much as I love Led Zeppelin, and had plans to build a “Zep like” drum kit…chances are I’ll never be able to play that type of kit out anywhere. I’m MUCH more likely to use my vintage Ludwig Downbeat configuration out and about. For me, it’s just easier to control volume with a somewhat smaller foortprint.
It’s something I’ve considered. As much as I love Led Zeppelin, and had plans to build a “Zep like” drum kit…chances are I’ll never be able to play that type of kit out anywhere. I’m MUCH more likely to use my vintage Ludwig Downbeat configuration out and about. For me, it’s just easier to control volume with a somewhat smaller foortprint.
Syncopated_1
Well-known Member
Last concert I went to was Creed. My ears rang for a week. WAY too loud. Most concerts I take my Vic Firth over ear muffs, forgot it for that one but never will again.
Sebenza
Member
Something I'll never forget...and this must be like 40 years ago, when I was still going to school... Around the school, there were multiple bars (café's as we'd call them), and we'd sometimes hang out in them during midday break or sometimes after classes.
One of these times a guy that was an opera singer, got a bit tipsy and decided to launch himself into some aria to entertain the other barstoolers... I'll never forget it...the volume that guy produced with his voice was just insane. I remember it to this day.
Good opera singers are seriously loud!
I've been playing an ekit for the last 3 years and while it's helped keep the volume manageable it is a pain to set up and there's always that fear it'll just not switch on.
So recently I bought a bop size kit... 18"BD non ported, single ply heads, a Bosphorus Painite ride which is low volume, and a pair of aj5 sticks. Now I reckon we play quieter than with the ekit.
Interestingly we did a gig with a rented kit that had a 22" BD. Instantly way too loud. We also had a guest drummer for some numbers who really laid into the kit with the result it was unbearably loud.
I reckon with the bop kit, judicial use of aj5s and some thoughtful playing I could play quiet enough for any situation.
So recently I bought a bop size kit... 18"BD non ported, single ply heads, a Bosphorus Painite ride which is low volume, and a pair of aj5 sticks. Now I reckon we play quieter than with the ekit.
Interestingly we did a gig with a rented kit that had a 22" BD. Instantly way too loud. We also had a guest drummer for some numbers who really laid into the kit with the result it was unbearably loud.
I reckon with the bop kit, judicial use of aj5s and some thoughtful playing I could play quiet enough for any situation.
doggyd69b
Platinum Member
To me the whole quiet gig is kind of like an oxymoron. You hire a band because you want LIVE music not just playing from a stereo. Yes I will admit that a lot of bands chain react into deafening levels because the drummer (Yes, IT IS THE DRUMMER'S FAULT) starts playing at a normal level (drums are loud but not too loud where you could not have a conversation) then, the guitar player and bass player can't hear their instruments clearly so they turn their amps up, which results in the drummer not being able to hear himself clearly so he starts to hit harder, which results in the guitarists not being able to hear themselves clearly so they turn up their amps, which results in the drummer.......... you get the idea.
Simple Simple solution, have EVERYONE in the band go to in ears but not the shitty kind where you can't get more than 2 tracks (maybe those could work if every band member gets their feed from the mixer with the appropriate channels turned up or down per personal taste) That way, everyone can hear themselves the way they want and you can still play with a reasonably decent level.
The problem is that some venues want a rock band at a jazz duo sound level... sorry not going to happen. The other thing is you shouldn't have to adapt your playing to the point where you don't enjoy playing anymore.
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River19
Senior Member
This resonates with me (no pun intended). Doing a slew of wedding gigs over the years before disbanding a number of years ago I had plenty of situations where we were the jazz cocktail act setup in one reception area, then in a couple hours we were the rock/dance band and being able to do both effectively made gear choice, stick choice and restraint my constant companions. On some gigs we were certainly able to open up and play at college gig volume levels which was awesome, but in plenty of cases it was a balancing act of "how do I convey the right level of energy for this rocking song while not offending grandma and grandpa at the tables?".......
Based on the volume trend, the no-amp stages and "e-kit only" venues, I am really really happy to not be interested in actively gigging at this point. I prefer to only record as my schedule permits.......I think one major contributor is the fact I would certainly have to adapt my playing to the point where it wouldn't be "fun" for me. When I was younger and getting paid very well for those wedding gigs, it wasn't about me, I was there to do a job at a milestone day for a family, it was about them so I played at the volume that made sense.......with today's low pay rates and volume expectations becoming the large gorilla on the drummer's back at a gig, it very much would not be worth it to me. Just my $0.02.....
I agree, there are limits to what soft playing on an acoustic will suit. Turned up to a venue once where we'd played before with no issues, only to be told that tonight we'd been hired as the background music for a BBQ, under strict instructions not to be louder than conversation level.... I pointed out that they'd knowingly hired a punk covers band and wtf! Tickling the kit with aj5s doesn't really cut it when you're playing the clash or sex pistols!
doggyd69b
Platinum Member
I wouldn't worry about "offending" the elderly, you know you are at a venue with LIVE music, deal with it. Why should everyone cater to YOU?
The ONLY exception is if they are the ones paying you....
