I always schlep my gear...which is why i no longer play out...its really not worth what I was making to be a roadie/drummer...let alone work a full time non-music job.
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Ideas/solutions for bad house kits?
- Thread starter Tosheus
- Start date
Drummingdog
Active Member
Gorilla duct tape! The hard part is getting it back off!
eric_B
Senior Member
Same here, it has always been a hobby for me so: costs >>> earnings.
Bringing my own gear wasn't always an option.
Some places / stages were so small the drums barely fit and there was no storage space to move them to.
In hindside: maybe my car - which I used for bringing my gear - but that would be kind of weird...
Syncopated_1
Well-known Member
I always took a kit when I was young and gigging. I also made it very clear to the club management and any other musicians that no one will touch or play my kit, and was certain there was enough time between acts to break it down and get it off stage.
Skitch
Pioneer Member
And there were times when I did this and it would have been far quicker to simply set my own kit up.
Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence
This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...
1stdrumlessonsonline.com
A J
Silver Member
I don't quite understand your post. Can you simplify it for simple minds (mine). Thanks.And there were times when I did this and it would have been far quicker to simply set my own kit up.
Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence
This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...1stdrumlessonsonline.com
Drummingdog
Active Member
When i subbed a lot, some of the kits were pretty bad. I found that if i bought a snare, ride, 1 crash, and bd pedal, i felt more at home. The good thing was that some of the kits caused me to approach music in different ways. I didnt like it at first, but i learned how you can do so much with so little
eric_B
Senior Member
Right, a snare, kick pedal, cymbals and stick bag (plus a utility bag with all kind of stuff) is my standard equipment I bring to every gig and rehearsal, even though I might not need everything everytime.
Tosheus
Active Member
Hello again, just had a gig last weekend, thank you all for the tips.. Sound check, moved all the mics out of the way, took my time to set everything the way I wanted it, secured hi hat stand with gaffer tape.. Band ended up waiting for me, which is a first, but I prioritised myself over the band. Played a bit softer, dropped a few of my bigger fills.. At last! I actually enjoyed it more than I ever have.. Thank you all for the help and the encouragement to make a bit of a stand! Thanks everyone..
Cmdr. Ross
Platinum Member
Been on a few shows where I showed up & thanks to me getting there early, I was able to fix the blatant issues that would've caused a major failure during a song had I not.
Often times, I'd run into wobbly floor toms because the lug screws were about to fall out. So off comes the head, tighten all the hardware, retune the drum (which was standard practice anyway) and all was well.
Stands were usually ok for the most part, but on occasion I'd have issues with stability because the rivets on the legs were loose. So out comes the gaffer tape to keep them steady.
I bring my own pedal & snare to any backline situation, so they're not an issue. But those I've looked at clearly need adjustment or a serious overhaul to get them up to my standard.
Guitar & bass players who have to plug into some mystery box are few & far between. Most times, venues will have basic cabinet/head set ups & 99% of the guys I've played with know what to do to dial in a sound they like.
No matter what, every drummer should have to show up to a disaster at least once in their playing life. It's a right of passage.
Often times, I'd run into wobbly floor toms because the lug screws were about to fall out. So off comes the head, tighten all the hardware, retune the drum (which was standard practice anyway) and all was well.
Stands were usually ok for the most part, but on occasion I'd have issues with stability because the rivets on the legs were loose. So out comes the gaffer tape to keep them steady.
I bring my own pedal & snare to any backline situation, so they're not an issue. But those I've looked at clearly need adjustment or a serious overhaul to get them up to my standard.
Guitar & bass players who have to plug into some mystery box are few & far between. Most times, venues will have basic cabinet/head set ups & 99% of the guys I've played with know what to do to dial in a sound they like.
No matter what, every drummer should have to show up to a disaster at least once in their playing life. It's a right of passage.
lionheaRTD
Member
Bring extra clamps or zip ties to secure toms and stop drifting. Use rubber pads or gaffer tape on bass drum hoops and mounts to prevent slipping. Adjust snare stand tension so it stays put.
brady
Platinum Member
I've stored my stuff in my car several times during a gig. It is kinda weird, but at least it was out of the way.
brady
Platinum Member
And there were times when I did this and it would have been far quicker to simply set my own kit up.
Triplet Cookbook for Drumset Independence
This must have book breaks down the triplet rhythm, making playing them much easier and culminates with a basic understanding of four way independence. “Mi...1stdrumlessonsonline.com
I think what they were getting at is by the time you adjust a house kit and/or make all the necessary repairs; duct tape a floor tom in place, locate a wrench to loosen a cymbal stand wingnut, bring in your own cymbal stand or two because they only provided one, tune up the floppy and dented heads so they at least produce some sound, prop up the rack tom somehow so it doesn't keep moving, etc....it would have taken less time to just clear the space and set up your own kit.
Skeet6
Member
Yep, we played all the village and east village clubs throughout the 90's. We probably played the same (awful) kits. Kenny's was awful, LOL. I usually brought my small wheeled trap case and snare and pedals - sometimes I had to seriously curtail any ambitious tom fills. I did learn a LOT about what's important to my music and my sound, though. I listen to recordings from those days, and I still sound like me. Go figure!
Mike B
jaykaydrums
Silver Member
check out pics from the venues, or from what bands have played there. if they say theres a house kit, 9/10 it'll be some cheap thing thats falling apart.
for example, this house kit that i was re-assured "had all stands and drums present and correct". thank heck i took my own gear just in case!
whereas i played another venue, and that a fully functioning tama starclassic as a house kit, just had to provide my own hardware and breakables
for example, this house kit that i was re-assured "had all stands and drums present and correct". thank heck i took my own gear just in case!
whereas i played another venue, and that a fully functioning tama starclassic as a house kit, just had to provide my own hardware and breakables
Houndog1964
Active Member
That’s not always feasible , what about when you have to play another drummers kit ?
Will you refuse and not play your set ?
I will (if by "set" you mean your list of songs and not Drum Set)
..though i am not hitched to drumming for income...just for the love.
Different world and quality standard when you are needing to make rent...and like most things, industry does not make for quality.
I think the issue is that we must review the gig needs BEFORE the gig...which makes the pay even slimmer...
Its farcical that making a living at drumming means higher quality...what makes higher quality is the freedom afforded by proper finance(be that in pay or in backing of some sort...family, inheritance, day job, luck...)...my day job allows me to be as precious about my art as I care to be...and I cant imaging accepting 'good enough' in lieu of 'i like it'.
i think this is fundamental to integrity.
When you have good pay/backing(not working the 'low ball' circuit)...different story...you can afford standards that allow quality.
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Rattlin' Bones
Gold Member
Mixed luck with house kits here.
One venue in town that has music 7 nites a week they have a fully functioning tuned DW kit with great hardware. Just bring my own snare/cymbals/ kick pedal. I can't play anything well other than my own kick pedal.
At 2 different festivals the HH stands were crap and failed during performances. I had to resort to using my hands to close the hats a lot of the time. I did get a compliment about that technique lol.
One venue years ago they had a fairly nice Gretsch Cat but heads were old and dead. Since we were playing there a few times, I brought new batter heads and replaced. Got us some extra gigs and free drinks!
One venue in town that has music 7 nites a week they have a fully functioning tuned DW kit with great hardware. Just bring my own snare/cymbals/ kick pedal. I can't play anything well other than my own kick pedal.
At 2 different festivals the HH stands were crap and failed during performances. I had to resort to using my hands to close the hats a lot of the time. I did get a compliment about that technique lol.
One venue years ago they had a fairly nice Gretsch Cat but heads were old and dead. Since we were playing there a few times, I brought new batter heads and replaced. Got us some extra gigs and free drinks!
toddbishop
Platinum Member
Bring anything with you that would wreck your night when the house one sucks, which it will, or when the thing is missing, which it will be. Otherwise just deal with it, play the sounds that are there.