9 tips I wish I knew before my first gig
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
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01:50 - The story of my first gig
03:25 - Tip #1 (Future gigs)
05:52 - Tip #2 (Moon gel)
08:23 - Tip #3 (Number of notes you play)
10:53 - Tip #4 (Relaxing)
11:51 - Tip #5 (Learning the song)
14:37 - Tip #6 (Kit mix)
17:11 - Tip #7 (Listening)
19:08 - Tip #8 (The audience…)
21:42 - Tip #9 (Identity)
24:42 - Something to leave you with…
If you have yet to play your first gig, you really need to hear these 9 things. And if you HAVE been gigging, I’m going to guess that you want to get even better at that. These 9 tips or strategies are for YOU too!
Today I’m sharing with you the story of my very first gig and how I failed in so many ways (but learned a TON!), and I’ll share with you the 9 biggest things I wished I knew beforehand so that YOU can become a pro-sounding gigging drummer. YOU CAN DO THIS!
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Steven Im Fifty years old I got my first Gig at my church next Sunday.I found this video extremely helpful. I watch alot of your stuff . Your great at teaching and explaining things. Thanks
Lots of great wisdom here. Some of this I can really identify with, now that I've done a lot of gigging and playing in bands.
You mentioned relaxing. I used to be so nervous and tense during every gig! I can hardly stand to listen to old recordings of me and my bands at the time because I actually "sound" nervous. I was hitting all the notes, but my playing sounded tense. I would also be constantly speeding up throughout the song so that by the end of the song I (and the rest of the band) would be playing 30% faster! Now that I focus on relaxing, I sound a lot better and I don't tend to speed up the song nearly as much.
You mentioned focusing on the vocals. That is so important and is something I was completely oblivious to in the past. I would be playing super loud, hitting cymbals and playing complicated fills while the poor singer was trying to sing. That's a big mistake. Now I lay back and focus on grooving during vocal parts and try to avoid fancy fills and cymbal bashing while the singer is singing.
You mentioned that the crowd is not paying attention to you specifically. That is also something I didn't fully appreciate until much later. Usually, the crowd is focusing on the singer, if they're focusing on anything at all. For example, once my band was playing an important show at a big downtown music venue. Right in the middle of a song I dropped a drumstick and had to reach down and fish for it on the floor. I got it, but I was mortified! It was a huge screw up! After the show I talked to some of my friends in the crowd about my big mistake, but no one even noticed! I was thinking how could they not notice, but just like you said they were in their own world and not really paying attention to me. Also, like you said, most people in the crowd are there to support you and don't really care if you make a mistake.
I was sooo guilty of the moon gel. hahaha. I remember when I first discovered it I felt like I discovered the key! but really I just needed to use my drum key and work on tuning lol.
I bought a tune bot and can achieve near perfect tuning. I still use moon gels to take care of ringing and cut overhead volume for gigs. What does tuning have to do with dampening ?
@@ferrousdogma how you tune your drumheads will determine how much they resonate. More resonance, more ring. Tunebot gives recommendations for low medium and high resonance. Ideally you don’t need moon gel but I keep some for gigs because some rooms are very loud.
If you don't have a good ear, there's no point of tuning. I beat a tuning Bot. Same as when I tune a guitar.
Rdavidr has busted that “if you need to use Moongel you just suck at tuning”-attitude
The one thing I still need to work on is not caring what other people think about me. I've gotten a lot better though. I used to over play so much but now I find the simple 4/4 rock beat so powerful. Leaving space is very important.
the whole thing with the cymbal volume is that it can be very genre depending like jazz for instance is supposed to be "top heavy"
Stephen ... Love this Channel and your Videos and instruction & drumming Tips. As a resurrected 70 yo, recreational drummer, who after 50 years came back to Drumming. I last played in a garage band (that never Gigged unfortunately 1967-1969) with HS buddies - we were all learning our instruments [2 guitars and me on drums}. I took maybe 8-10 lessons back in 1966 and then proceeded to Play by Ear. Drums natural to me, particulalry after watching Ringo, Watts, Baker, Moon, and even Danelli {The Rascals}, and Bonham (can't touch him or Moon either). we played cover tunes of: Gloria, In The Midnight Hour, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, some Motown tunes, and eventually some Cream Tunes - I'm So Glad, Badge. Then the summer of 1969 arrived, one of the band members and I feel in Love with Ten Years After (RIP Alvin Lee) after seeing Woodstock , The Movie in 1970. We graduated HS and ended up going separate ways - College for 2 of us, the other went to work. Over the course of the 50 years, drumming was in my Blood, but life did get in the way and i had no where to keep a drum set (we called drums Sets not Kits in those days). Always played Air drums in the car etc. After 50 years, with retirement approaching, i mentioned to my wife circa late 2018 that i would like to goto a local Music Studio to play their drums "do get it out of my system". That Xmas, she got me a cheapo kit - Gammon for Xmas. There was plenty of RUST , but after awhile, I was able to play to certain basic Rock Tunes in my Finished basment. Once COVID hit , forcing workimng form Home in March 2020, after work i would "play" the drums for about an hour - progressing slowly. i did not practice but played for prsonal achievement and pleasure. Then during 2021, I gave my Gammon kit to my 4 year old grandson who would ask me as soon as he stepped in our door : Poppi, L:et's play the Drums !!". I then purchased a Used PDP Concept Maple Kit , upgraded all the cymbals (Paiste PST 7s and 8s), a few more snares (what a difference acquiring a DW Design series Brass over nickel 14 X 6.5 Snare ) , and 3 more Snares : 2 - 13 X 3.5 piccolo snares and a 10 X 6.5 popcorn snare, and more hardware. Began to watch many videos like Stephen' s and others for tips - espcially with Tuning Drums which I knew nothing about. Now i can play to My Music : CCR, Stones, Beatles, Eagles, Mellencamp, Clapton, Winwood, Petty, Talking heads, Cars, even Linda Ronstadt (she was the original DIVA) and Bonnie Rait & more.
Who knows, maybe a geriatric band or jamming local musicians may create a possibility for Gigging or at least being able to play with other musicians ,Live. But it better happen soon.....lost of arthritic conditions are taking a firm hold on my joints SOB !!. Happy Drumming All. Enjoy The Ride.
THANK YOU!! Playing my First gig today
Hello again Stephen C.
As a survivor of ptsd/anxiety/depression/self harm, I love your heart for mental health awareness. The last few days for me have been tough emotionally. I have 97% completely isolated myself since Thursday just to survive until this wave of unbalance moves past me. My ESA dog was happy to see the first smile in a while come back to my face during this video you posted yesterday. Ironically, I am scheduled to play drums for the worship band at the church I voluteer with in the morning, & I really needed the encouragement I received from this video. My mutt and I both would like to say thank you, all the way from north Texas, USA, for sharing your own story with so much courage in what can be a dark and unkind world. Keep doing what ya do, it helps in ways you don’t even know.
Sincerely, Stephen and Tyson.
It is mainly other drummers who are really paying attention to you, ...and we are cheering you on, ...and trying to pick-up
on what you are interesting you are doing.
Great video!! I really love the 8th tip, and it’s something I never thought about much but ya it’s really true. Everyone is so focused on themselves and they’re own insecurities, that they are mostly not going to recognize how you are playing. This is great advice and something I’ll continue to think about, thanks a lot man!
This is priceless advice! Thanks, Stephen!
Such wise words. Since landing the job in January, I've got gigs starting in 4 weeks. Thank you for this wisdom
Thank you. I really do appreciate the encouragement.
Love your content and your teaching. GO DAWGS!
Thank you for such useful tips! My first gig was 3 years ago actually but I don’t have a permanent band yet and not gigging so often especially due to the war in my country. So this info will definitely improve my drumming🙂
@@orionsshoe2424 sorry for staying silent for a long time. I’m from Ukraine and currently here (in Lviv)🇺🇦
My first gig is the next week, thanks you!
Me too friend, good luck to you!
Same here! :-) Good luck, fellows!
have FUN!
Fantastic video thanks!
Thank you for sharing.
Man! So good!
Great points here
Thank you, Stephen. Some great points. I appreciated your honesty about your youthful experiences.
Even though I'm an older person, I found your advice very encouraging.
Thanks bro - as a new drummer I found this useful.
Stephen, you are by far the best and I appreciate you for dropping that knowledge! I find you more helpful than DBO, Drumeo, my in person lessons at an academy. It’s sad, but true. Wish I could take lessons in person w you, but don’t know your location or availability. Thank you again, time to take my moon gel off of my drums
This was very interesting, honest and nice video 🙂 . Reminded me of myself in many ways (even though I play just smaller percussions).
One thing I would say is the importance of listening and locking in with the bass player. Forming a solid ground work from the rhythm section for the melodic parts to follow/play over.
Thanks for all the useful tips! ❤
Great topic
so far your #3 tip is really a great one ..
Steve, your No. 9 point is crucial for life in general, not just applicable to Drumming. Great Psychological advice !! Paul McCartney said it best: " And in The End, The Love You Take .....Is Equal To The Love You Make".
Thanks bro I found your video so helpful and conducive, our first gig will be Next-Month I've prepared well but still need more progress and improvement just to bring out the best.
It's all in the heads and knowing how you tune drums. I know how to tune drums by ear and also with guitar. My friend's drums which was my student. I always told him his rack toms sounded the same. I tuned the rest of the kit and he was surprised.
thank you! greetings from Argentina
thanks for this! I'm a guitar player but want to play drums as well. I've had a drumset for about 5 years now and haven't done much with it.
I love how real and heartfelt this lesson was - especially point 9. Know that you are loved and accepted NOW - just as you are.
For me the breakthrough came one day after playing badly for about three years when I started was praying through and playing through Psalm 150 - making a joyful noise to the Lord. That's when it first clicked, and God blessed me with a big chunk of fluency that day.
Keep on doing what you're doing and may your Lord Jesus bless you and cheer you on for it - you KNOW He's your BIGGEST fan and subscribed to your channel before you were even born
Psychologically Sound.. The relevant inside Skills. I wish I had this video 50 years ago. Well Done.
Thank you for this video. I know this helped many musicians and not just drummers. I've been drumming for a good while and done fairly well as a drummer but to this day, for whatever reason, still find myself struggling with some of these issues. I put such a high standard on myself, as I'm sure we all do. This, I feel is the main culprit. As a Catholic, I agree and appreciate your view and your faith on God. Thanks for spreading the word. Keep up the good work and God bless.
Well, my story is different from yours and yet similar. My first gig was in the worship team at church, just maybe six weeks ago. Just I was not 16 but 58 and had not played drums since my 20s. I only ever played in my bedroom. My wife got drafted into the band first and when they asked if I play an instrument I said I played drums many years ago. I played in the next band practice and then next Sunday in the service.
I think your tips are really helpful, especially for young drummers. I totally agree with being solid and listening to the song and supporting the song. If you can play the 4/4 groove, you can do that. The fancy stuff will come with time. It's a thing with our band, we have professional level musicians down to newbies like me, but when we play *together* it sounds great and you can feel the anointing.
One thing I learned is to keep in contact with the worship leader, which is not so easy because I'm behind him. I am learning to read his body language, for example, a particular foot stomping means I'm to adjust my tempo.
Learning the songs is very important. For me it was often learning 5 or 6 new songs between Tuesday when I got the email and Sunday. Not much time for the individual song. Now we sometimes play songs I played before and that really helps.
Thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it.
Thanks for the video!! I haven't giged I'm 12 but want to when i'm older. This helps a lot thank you
Thanks heaps for the video Stephen. I guess one big tip I took out of it is less is more. Serve the song and your band.
always keen to hear ya Stephen but any chance you could produce bullet point summary sheets as well (helps those with limited time) !?
I became so disillusioned with church that I stopped going to play. We used an electronic kit and I played with headphones to hear the mix. I worked really hard on dynamics, building mood and being musical. Usually sounded great in my head and then I would listen to videos from the crowd perspective and all you could hear was the slap of the sticks on the pads even though a person would be sitting at the sound board.
I'm prolly your worst student...but you're my fave teacher at this game. (I always start playin' on my kit before you finish or barely start 😆).
I've been a bassist for over 40yrs, bought a kit 10mos ago so I'd have one in case I found a drummer. Got bored & decided I'd try'n learn more about the other percussive instrument & started watchin' ya, got the bug, Bought a nicer kit. 😆🤣
Anyhoo, as a bassist/vocalist/window cleaner/anything I've ever done, I used to have that feeling of importance to others through what I Did, not WHO I was. Struggled with that for years, (even being Told I was talented!). Everything you said (when I stopped jammin' / got back to this video) was SPOT-ON!
I Appreciate THAT (because I exactly understand) More than any of these fabulous and fabulously humble lessons, Man.
Thanks for the reminder, thanks for the lessons!
🙏🏻 ❤️ 🥁 ✌🏻
I am new to my Church Worship team and am basically an apprentice drummer. DW drum wore just tuned and sound great, do i took fundamental tone readings using aTuneBot. This gave me confidence in touching up the tuning after i play, as well as keeping them in tune myself. Would hate to play well on a badly tuned kit
I wish I watched this twice before my first gig 😂
"It's not about you unless it's about you"...... Andy Weis
Love that last point. We are all so much than just drummers, try to be the best "you" you can be, not simply the best drummer you can be. It's impossible to be the best drummer in the world (unless you're Jojo Mayer 😂) but everybody can be the best version of themselves.
Hahaha Jojo is your high bar...🤣🤣🤣
bro!! thank you for sharing the final message of Christ, you're sharing the light of Christ
Thank you VERY much, Stephen! I would add: Interact with your band mates... look at each other, smile, laugh... :-)
Agreed - SHARE the love, cos they wanna be loved too. And we love because God first loved us, amen?
Not my first, but I have a gig today. Perfect timing!
Relax! Its only the Garden! 😅
I came to realise these the hard way. And funny enough, I also found the answers playing in church. The best thing that ever happened was that I messed up. So I carried on. And what happened…? Nothing. That’s right. Some might have noticed. Most people didn’t. And I practiced more so I made sure it will not happen, at least not the way it did. The outcome is that my fear and insecurity is gone. My stage fright is cured. Amazing, isn’t it? Failure heals, at least in this case it surely did.
In Heart Don't Stand a Chance by Anderson .Paak there's this groove on the drums coming in after the intro verse that I've dubbed the "lazy beat," it's used in a lot of modern pop songs and R&B. I can't tell if it's a triplet beat on a swung song or vice versa. Does anyone know more info on this beat?
quintuplet groove maybe? i've head it called a drunk beat or a dilla beat before
dilla beat
Dilla beat/drunk feel/half swung! Really fun to play or dance to. Perrin Moss (maybe my favorite drummer) plays a lot of it in the awesome band Hiatus Kaiyote.
I suspect drummers in the audience always stare at the drummer onstage.
Meme those pics “ladies”
Agree with all but one. When playing certain styles like prog or metal, overplaying with flashy fills is a requirement. You can't just lay down 2 and 4.
Which is fine, but if you can't cleanly lay down 2 and 4, then all your flashy fills mean nothing.
Overplaying with flashy fills is not a requirement in prog… more important to provide an anchor point with your playing for the band to lock in with, especially with changing time signatures.
First