General ramble, reflections...

[Cyberjam]

Is it just me or are there others out there are reluctant to drag their $10,000 investment out to rehearsals?

Are people willing to break down their kit and take it elsewhere for a few hours just for fun?

I guess I am getting practical (lazy) in my old age.

For instance, this power metal band is interested in having me in for a session in their downtown practice room. Questionable part of tow at the best of times.

Metal bands seem to be the only people interested in having me play these days. I never call them, they always seem to call me. Don't get me wrong, I spent part of my younger years playing the most agressive music on earth and kind of enjoy it sometimes. I prefer jazz and classical and always have but the outlet (at one time) was this crazy fast music.

Now I am content to play along to RUSH (who isn't?) and various other titles through that mix in on my module (I love that feature!).

But I would like to jam now and again but cannot bring myself to ripping my kit apart for what seems to be pretty much a dead end.

I sometimes answer the drummer needed ads here in Halifax and NEVER get called back! Rather unprofessional if you ask me. It is almost like they see my kit (on my website) and then don't bother to respond. Is there a curse on this stuff?

The metal bands on the other hand seem to find ways to get my website or email and want me to come out. Trouble is I am so reluctant to move my investment around the city for "fun". I can have fun right here at home! The main bother is the rack, it just barely fits into my car!

On the other hand, I guess I am much more mercenary these days in some ways. If I were to move this gear I guess it must be to cultivate some monetary ends (play=pay).

I still love this gear because of all the time it has given me to refine my skills a little. Er, did I say a little? I mean ALOT!

So there it is, part of me now wants to jam with others but I am reluctant to move this monster kit when I have a home studio. Living 20 minutes outside of the city can be both a boon and a blessing!

I think I will build a smaller rack to take fewer pads for those times I really must rehearse elsewhere!

Sorry about the long post...

[Ranman]

Man, I bet that kit would fit in a medium sized duffle bag!

[Manticore999]

I hear you. I have acoustic drums and v-sessions and they're really just an incredibly enjoyable (and expensive) hobby. I have a 'day' job and like a lot of people I dreamed of being a rock-n-roll drummer when I was younger. Ahh youth ...

Now I think about breaking down my kit (either one) packing it up, loading my truck, driving to gig, setting it all up again, doing a sound check, playing for a few hours, breaking it down, lugging it back home, re-setting it up again ----- all for $50-$100 (and I know a lot of people that don't even get that).

That's why it's a hobby. I LOVE music of all kinds, though I gravitate more to progressive stuff (Marillion, Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Porcuping Tree, etc.). And I kind of understand how someone who really loves music and loves to play would do all this for so little $. I just can't quite justify such a huge hassle, for so little payback.

Maybe in my 'old age' I've become jaded ......

[Ranman]

Originally posted by feefer
I guess I'd just have to buy more pads and stands...

Ah... the problem there is (if you are like me) you'd end up working the new stuff into your standard kit... and then your back at square one.

[Cyberjam]

Hobbyist indeed...

That is exactly it.

I have become a hobbyist musician.

At one time I would have packed my ten piece drum kit with a zillion cymbals in the back of the wagon and drove to hell and back for gas money.

Now that I have a day job (God I hated shift work!) and a family. I still would love to play but it just has to be under a certain set of terms that no one else (at least near me) seems to understand. It is really hard to find people in the same demograph as myself (in this area).

Music is one of the best ways for human beings to express themselves and the gift of music is meant to be shared but the imp of practicality has siezed me!

The idea of dragging nearly 10K in gear out to either a free session with wanna-bees or a $50 a night outfit trying to pay for "their" PA system (would they like to pay for my drums?).

I setup my FTP site, radio station and website to make the creation of music with others by proxy a reality. Still very little interest.

I guess my whole approach to music has indeed changed. I am way more selective on whom I wish to spend my time with these days!

Hmmm, I wonder why Van Halen never returns my calls?

LOL, Keep Smiling!

[TomLandin]

It's not the drums, it's the exercise!!

Ahhh, been there, done it, got the t-shirt.

The hassle of lugging my gear around was one reason I stopped playing acoustics a few years back, and then got into VDrums!!! Slowly my simply VPro expanded and became a hybrid - with a lot more outgear.

So I'm back in the same spot, kinda, with more expensive gear., but a whole lot more options and sounds.

However, I look at it like this - At 44 years young - I'm in two great Christain bands (one contemporary and one hard rock/metal - the best of both worlds!), have 2 CDs under my belt, get to stay in great shape with my lugging and playing, and my sanity is intact.

While searching for the right band(s) to play with, I had to shop and lug my 'expensive' gear around. But it was fun, I got some great experiance, and finally ended up with some excellant band fellows.

I live for the rush of a gig!! Watching people react positivily to the music. Knowing that my groove is getting people up on thier feet. I don't ever want to give that up.

Sure it's a hassle sometimes, but I've implemented time-saving techniques with my set-up/tear down that helps. I've evened out the weight distribution of my gear I need to carry (my back thanks me). I bought a TD-6 Club set for the church so I eliminated 33% of my gear transfer hassles, and I have slowly duplicated some minor stuff so I don't have to haul everything between the different band gigs.

$1000, $5000 or $15000 - it's only money, and it's depreciating rapidly. So I take care of my gear - and use it every chance I can.

Looking ahead I am evaluating getting a Handsonic of a Zendrum as an alternative drum option, so I won't need the full VPro for every occasion. But then who am I fooling? I'll still bring it all - well as much as will fit in my Saturn Wagon!! Thanks for listening.

[rentadrummer]

I'm sitting here reading these posts with a big smile on my face.

A little over a year ago I bought the vdrums and some recording equipment so I could set up a home studio and work on a long distance recording project with a songwriter friend of mine. When I first bought the drums I also thought I might use them in a live situation although I haven't played out in a few years. After reading several posts on this message board I started going nuts researching speakers, mixers, sonic maximizers and looking for some cases or bags to hold everything. I finally decided there's no way I was really that interested in playing live if it meant hauling all that equipment around. Of course there was also the problem that I didn't want to work with guys half my age in a smoke filled bar and get home at 4 am. With that kind of an attitude problem I realized that no one will want to work with me anyway. But that's another story.

What I was able to do, through a little creative networking, is work on several virtual recording projects in the comfort of my own home. I've been getting basic tracks, either by mp3 or a back-up cd that my recorder can read, adding my drum parts and sending the tracks back for completion. No, it's not the same as playing live, but it's still creative and I love the sound, which I don't think would be as good in a live situation. And I'm the only one that has to show up for rehearsal and I haven't been late once.

Ron

[Jaay]

A lot of interesting points all.

I too debate a lot of times whether to bring my E's or my A's. Usually it's a stripped-down version of the A's. But that's because I can do things on the A's that I can't do on the E's. I don't mind hauling my E-quipment(hey, I think I just coined a term!) around, because all of it combined still saves me two trips to the car as opposed to the multiple ones for my A's. I can take my whole E-kit, hardware, etc., and still go from the car to the venue in one trip.

It seems to me that if the E's give you the sound you want, then by all means, take 'em. Assuming you can translate that sound to the audience, why not? As for the monster-kit/multi-thousand dollar deal point--which I fully acknowledge as legitimate--, just because you have it all, doesn't mean you need to take it all. What's wrong with taking the electronic equivalent of a four-piece? Seems like if you swap out for a few dual-trigger pads, you could sub the ones you're taking for your outboard gear(just in terms of number of items) and still give a fine performance. Albator, I love that R-Japan pic. You're right, Ranman, that looks like one of the most compact E-kit setups I've ever seen. But wouldn't that give you a devil's time dealing with x-talk and false-triggering?

Cyberjam, I know just what you mean. I think everyone here's suffered from the "they don't look like drums, so they must not be decent musical tools either." It sucks. Five bucks says these are the same people who have processors and stomp-boxes from here to kingdom come.

[Rythmstik]

Up until the beginning of this year, I was lugging my tons of A-gear around to all the gigs, rehearsals, jam sessions, etc. I knew I wasn't tired of playing, but I was getting tired of lugging all the heavy metal around. Then I discovered the V-Clubs sitting in the local music store. I had a set of PTXs, and a KB-60 amp, but didn't consider them anywhere near adequate for anything more than augmenting my As. The V-Clubs however, sounded great, played great and folded up into a little compact kit. I found my answer. Now I'm still jamming, rehearsing, and gigging every weekend, but I'm not beat from set-up and tear-down. I haven't lugged my As anywhere, since I got the Vs. I'm no longer the first to arrive, last to leave. The band sounds better than ever, with a lot more control over the sound quality and volume levels and a good part of that is the V-Clubs. I still love my As, I just don't want to lug them around, but now I don't have to.

[gingerbaker]

I love my Vpro set, but find myself gazing longingly at the Vstage . I could just pick it up and put it standing up in my van. Sigh.

[Marc.]

Anyone who's seen my V's will understand that there's no way I'm moving them. I'll get that TD-6 kit for the gigs.

[Cyberjam]

Yikees!

You and Rob both would need to rent a cube van!

[Cyberjam]

What I was able to do, through a little creative networking, is work on several virtual recording projects in the comfort of my own home. I've been getting basic tracks, either by mp3 or a back-up cd that my recorder can read, adding my drum parts and sending the tracks back for completion. No, it's not the same as playing live, but it's still creative and I love the sound, which I don't think would be as good in a live situation. And I'm the only one that has to show up for rehearsal and I haven't been late once.

Ron [/B]

That is kind of what I want to try, hence the website and such!

Lucky you!

[Cyberjam]

All better now!

I found a fellow with a studio that has an ekit setup and ready to go (D4 and some DIY pads)! I answered an ad in the local paper and sent him to my website. He hired me immediately.

This is the sort of atmosphere I am/was looking for and would not mind moving my investment into such a place for a few hours at a time. NO smoking, no drinking, no drugs...

My initial dilemma was my rack was too big, so I built a smaller one. The offers I had for rehearsal were in dusty smoke filled holes in the wall playing metal. Hmmm, not much future there I figure! Sure I can play it but I am looking for a less intense musical experience these days.

I went to have a look at the jam/rehearsal space one night and it was crazy party central! I watched this totally smashed punker kid/girl stumble into a half stack not once but three times with a drink in her hand! YIKEES! Say goodbye oh fairest TD-10! And for what?

So, this Saturday evening I spent the time rehearsing new material with the original artist in studio headphone heaven! No blaring amps that seem to creep up with every other tune! It was beautiful and totally positive. The music can be heard on my internet radio station (and is available for download).

The second guitar and bass player were unaccustomed to this approach but it just feels so natural to me due to my experience with electronic drums. They were blown away with the rehearsal and so was I...everything sounded incredible! It is like playing along to a CD but you are making the music is how one fellow put it.

I am buying a headphone amp for my home studio real soon. I have been wanting to try one out for quite sometime and now having heard what it can do I am ordering one this week.

Sorry about the LongWindedPost...

Better now...