So where did I go wrong? First of all, I should have known better than to not understand the gig logistics prior to actually showing up with my gear. Come to find out, this particular club didn’t even have a stage area. I helped the bar manager move tables and chairs to open up room. If I had taken just a little more time before the gig to analyze how many tables would actually have to be moved in order to comfortably accommodate a 5-piece band, many challenges that particular evening would have been erased. My bad.

Moreover, the band I was filling-in for on drums did no sound check prior to the first set. We just started playing. If one were held, I would have requested a monitor and more room to maneuver. As drummers, we have just as much right to ask for certain amenities at gigs as our fellow musicians do. My bad.

Getting muscle cramps like I did during the gig is never cool, either. Dehydration and lack of food to power your muscles are the primary causes of cramps. Given bottled water is usually hard to come by in bars, I should have brought five bottles and placed them behind my drum kit. I also should have arrived much earlier at the gig and ordered dinner there. If not, a couple of high-energy bars stuck in your stick bag will do the trick. My bad.

As for floor monitoring and getting proper levels, all I heard that evening was mush from other bandmates (and they actually played well). And with the lead guitarist’s amp placed directly in front of my kick drum, I am sure the audience had trouble hearing me, too. The band ended playing tight against two walls in an L-shape. It was one of the most maniacal stage set-ups I have ever experienced. I should have asked that question well before the gig and also allowed time for readjustment after the sound check that was never conducted. Again, my bad.

This all takes me back to bagging out on the pre-gig band practice (I was teaching drum lessons at the time and should have just rescheduled those students). That dress rehearsal would have been an ideal time to talk about the gig dynamic, my needs, stage set-up, sound levels, and overall expectations. You should have that group discussion well before the gig.

All of this combined into the perfect storm of a third set meltdown for me personally with near exhaustion and frustration. In the end, lack of advance preparation killed my drumming technique at that gig and I have no one else to blame but myself.

- Tim Kane is a freelance drummer, instructor and writer living in Massachusetts. He writes a regular blog for Gibraltar Hardware.

Possibly related posts:

• November 17, 2011 -- Getting The Biggest Bang Out Of Your Bass Drum Pedal
• January 27, 2012 -- Size and equality matter when it comes to band stage set-ups
• January 3, 2012 -- Drummers Should Listen To Sight-Reading Wisdom

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drum hardware, drummer, drummers, drums, education, gigs, sound check, technique, tips

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The biggest perk of being a fill-in drummer is pure exposure to the larger music marketplace, assuming you do a good job at the practice or gig. Showing up early, not getting drunk, and keeping your drum parts basic but musically interesting will inevitably lead to more freelance work. The single biggest marketing plan for any musician is getting your name out there on the local scene, and developing a reputation for being able to play multiple styles of music. Being professional at all times builds upon those prerequisites. And being low key and cool with a fun attitude takes you a long way, especially since most other musicians expect drummers to act that way.

THE DOWNSIDES

The downsides of being labeled a fill-in drummer are as varied as the upsides. Being a regular freelancing drummer comes with the “tag” or “label” of serving in that capacity. If you expect to play in a permanent band of your own while moonlighting on the side, like I do, then you must be clear and up front with your bandmates from the start about your performance ambitions. If they are true friends, they will cut you the slack needed to achieve your dreams, but you also must reserve quality time for them as well. Don’t drop your upcoming band gig for an impromptu fill-in opportunity.

Filling in on drums also requires you to often play someone else’s drum kit, which you need to treat with kid gloves. Bring your own snare, throne, foot pedals, sticks and even select cymbals to fill-in practices and gigs. Otherwise, the money you earn filling in may be poured right back into the other drummer’s equipment repairs. If you break a drum head, offer to pay for it. And ask beforehand if you can adjust tom-tom and cymbal positions, as some drummers are very finicky about that.

Bands often seek fill-in drummers because they are not happy with their current regular skinner – a back door audition, if you will. Be wary of bands looking to throw their own drummer under the bus because you could be the easy replacement, and that could put you in a very awkward position. My best advice is to ask to have a conversation with that band’s regular drummer before accepting the freelance gig. If the band leader says no to your request or buffers it with criticism of him or her, then Houston we have a problem. Advance research is key to getting good fill-in jobs. Drummers don’t stab other drummers in the back. It’s a cardinal sin in our clan – or at least it should be.

HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF

The best way to market yourself as a fill-in drummer is by watching for ads in the trade magazines and online forums, checking the band postings at local music stores, perusing Craigslist, and also attending rock and blues jams, which are a prime time to get you chops ready for a more permanent fill-in gig and meet other freelancing musicians.

The other thing drummers can do is some good old-fashioned homework, including:
• Master as many rock and blues standards as you can
• Learn to read sheet music and know how to chart out your own drum parts
• If you possess vocal ability, nurture that talent by singing aloud while practicing
• Clean your drums and ensure everything is properly working
• Answer your phone or text messages on the first call

The real trick to being a fill-in drummer is your ability to adapt to adversity, and having a willingness to say thanks but no thanks. Choose your gigs and fellow musicians wisely.

- Tim Kane is an independent drummer, instructor and writer living in Massachusetts. He writes a regular blog for Gibraltar Hardware.

Possibly related posts:

• November 17, 2011 -- Getting The Biggest Bang Out Of Your Bass Drum Pedal
• November 4, 2011 -- Fuel your drumming technique instead of failing it
• January 27, 2012 -- Size and equality matter when it comes to band stage set-ups

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drummer, drummers, drums, gibraltar artist

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Gibraltar Hardware’s hardest working man in show business, Gibralto-man, tours the Ontario CA warehouse checking things out for Gibraltar. If you’ve seen the NAMM 2011 photo’s of him on our Facebook page you know Gibralto-man likes to party… and perhaps he’s a bit of the ladies man as well. He’s also a tough, but fair, supervisor and just likes to keep the beat going!

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• December 20, 2011 -- Rack it up with NO LEG hi-hat and cymbal boom stands

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drum racks, gibraltar artists, gibraltoman, parts, video

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Hey guys,
Hope you are well, just thought I’d share some photos from the recent recording session at Bay7. It went extremely well! This was the first time I’ve used the rack in a recording session and it was an ease to work with!

We were swapping out drums and cymbals, going from a 22””kick to a 24”, 15” hats to 13”, swapping out various snares….
All it took was a few turns of the screw on a clamp and the hardware adjusted in a second allowing total comfort and playability to any combination of changes. It was effortless and fast. As a result we were able to track 5 songs in just 1 and a half day! I totally think that was possible because we didn’t have to fuss with any hardware during studio time.

So, the rack performed exceedingly well yet again! Will keep you posted on the release date. We are looking at tracking drums for the 2nd half of the new material in July…
Just wanted to say thanx again!
~Jagger

Check out Jagger’s set up in these photos from the recording studio.

Most Commented Posts

• June 1, 2009 -- GRS-850DBL Double Bass Rack Kit: Custom Rack for Double Kick Setup
• February 1, 2010 -- Gibraltar’s Extreme Hardware Makeover Video
• May 1, 2009 -- How to Set Up a Clean Looking Custom Drum Rack

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Caitlin’s father, Chris, had the following comment: “Thousands entered and only one came out on top. We are happy that Caitlin’s exposure is continuing to grow along with the band’s popularity. Thanks for all the support as we continue on this journey.”

The band recently released a 10 track EP titled “KD: The EP.” They will be in Los Angeles to join Radio Disney DJ Ernie D in-studio for a Take Over airing Friday, December 10th (6:00 p.m., ET/3:00 p.m., PT).

We are also excited about Caitlin’s win and look forward to her future with Gibraltar.

Possibly related posts:

• September 16, 2009 -- Kicking Daisies, Featuring Drummer Caitlin Kalafus, Release a New Video
• September 20, 2011 -- Being a fill-in drummer requires patience, practice and persistence
• January 3, 2012 -- Drummers Should Listen To Sight-Reading Wisdom

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Caitlin Kalafus, drummer, gibraltar artist, kicking Daisies, Next Big Thing, Radio Disney

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Most Commented Posts

• June 1, 2009 -- GRS-850DBL Double Bass Rack Kit: Custom Rack for Double Kick Setup
• February 1, 2010 -- Gibraltar’s Extreme Hardware Makeover Video
• May 1, 2009 -- How to Set Up a Clean Looking Custom Drum Rack

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
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Possibly related posts:

• January 27, 2012 -- Size and equality matter when it comes to band stage set-ups
• December 20, 2011 -- Rack it up with NO LEG hi-hat and cymbal boom stands
• November 17, 2011 -- Getting The Biggest Bang Out Of Your Bass Drum Pedal

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drum rack, dusty saxton, embers

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Join the discussion on Tuesday, October 19th, 2010, 1pm Pacific Time (4pm Eastern). To see the updates, keep hitting the refresh button at the time of the Q&A session.

Possibly related posts:

• January 27, 2012 -- Size and equality matter when it comes to band stage set-ups
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• November 28, 2011 -- How to Store Your Drums

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drum hardware, drumsmith, Ronn Dunnett

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Possibly related posts:

• November 17, 2011 -- Getting The Biggest Bang Out Of Your Bass Drum Pedal
• November 14, 2011 -- Cool Things from Gibraltar
• September 15, 2011 -- Custom DJ Rack: Gibraltar Hardware

Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: drum rack, drummer, hardware, Interview, video

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The first video goes into detail about the design process with Gibraltar’s Brent Barnett taking you through the construstion and how he came up with his Low Rider design. In this interview Samantha talks about being inspired by the Gibraltar Stealth rack.

Part One

Part Two

Possibly related posts:

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Custom Drum Hardware Blog, 2010. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: gibraltar artists, racks, Samantha Maloney

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