what the hell is wrong with the guy who played that gig, kicked a hole in the house bass drum head (read: not his bass drum), then got up and said, "okay cool, i guess i'll just head home no need to let anyone know about this?"
Here's what I think happened: the previous drummer most likely broke the head with a song or two remaining on the closing set, which finishes around 230am. I was at the club the next day around 9am. It was during CMA Fest week, which sees a massive spike in tourists, gigs, and just overall chaos. Many venues open up additional floors and host additional bands to accommodate for the surge in crowds. Everyone and everything gets stretched thin, including drumheads. I'm sure the message passed onto production staff, who are likely working 16-20 hour days. Some stuff slips between the cracks. The guy who helps maintain kits for several venues arranged to have a head there for me and even gave me some $ for putting it on. It's really easy to cast our ire upon individuals. It can be a drummer that broke a head, an inexperienced sound engineer, overworked/underpaid staff, or tourists that don't tip $20 for you to play their song after they just had to pay $75 to park and $13.50 for a single Miller Light. There are lots of smaller things to get frustrated about, but I ultimately think we are all trying to do our best in a situation that pits us against each other and distracts us from those that have created these conditions at our expense for their gain. Rants aside, let's just say for conversation's sake some cave man put a boot through the kick drum after the last song of the night. I still gotta find a way to get a head replaced so I can play. And calling someone out for it, even if warranted, doesn't win me friends. At this stage of the game, I just try to keep it moving and keep playing.
Pretty wild to show up to a wrecked kick head! Hats off to John for being a boss. Best thing a musician can do for themselves is to learn as many aspects of the trade as possible. I got paid to shoot some video for a band here in St Louis, showed up before the band, set up, ready to roll. Sound guy never showed. 15 minutes before go time I sound checked the band on a board I've never used before and got them going with (judging by the sound guys work ethic) what was probably the best sound that room has had in a while. (Again, mostly because if you no call/no show a band, you probably aren't any good)
I agree. When I was younger, I was very much about my boundaries…. ie if you don’t pay me to do it, I’m not doing it. It’s above my pay grade. Many successful and unsuccessful musicians I know hold this same attitude and make it a point to not get taken advantage of. There’s a time a place for everything and every strategy. At this point in my career, I want to be as helpful and as positive to people as possible. Yes, changing a head last minute or running sound last minute can be an unexpected responsibility, but that’s the business sometimes. I do myself and the artists more favors if I’m more into helping the immediate situation. If I do a little extra work and don’t get paid… it’s just one day and I haven’t burned any bridges. Maybe even built a few. But if I draw my boundaries and set an expectation of professionalism it’s also understandable. I just have learned to give lots more patience and grace. If things become a pattern, I can at least give a thoughtful measured reply. And with drumheads being played literally 16 hours a day, they wear out quicker! It’s common here. There are a few businesses that service drums downtown (like Thomas Finch at FDS and John Root at Get Rhythm) and they are legit WORLD CLASS at their craft and just world class people as well. They go above and beyond. Not everyone in management of these venues sees/understands the day to day wear and tear on the drums, nor the need to have a tech on call. Literally, one broken kick head grind a set to a half, loses the energy in the crowd, loses sales, etc. These services have tremendous value and I wish more places would invest in them. Even so, the services always go above and beyond to help out drummers… we seriously are like family down here. Is this long-winded? Yup! Just like with going back and re-editing that video to give props to John, it’s important that I go the extra mile for those that go the extra mile for the musicians and drummers. Sure, Nashville is known for the music industry and labels and Honky tonks, but an unbelievable group of individuals work in various roles in town here, which is where the real magic is at!
Monitors? Sound checks? Load in time? Don't come to Seattle if you expect to have any of these things. You load in, play and get off the stage as fast as possible.
That’s typically the M.O in Nashville. We usually have 15 minutes max from the previous band playing their last note to the next band playing their first. As you climb up the ranks, sometimes conditions improve, but there always are some challenges. I usually prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
@@aaronapter Darn right. I've received my share of lumps and bruises (and I'm really just a weekend warrior). One of the reasons I appreciate you sharing the experience on YT - it is an object lesson for those who are getting in the game. I try to help out up and comers when the chance presents. Lord knows that the creative life is hard but dang, if it isn't rewarding!
what the hell is wrong with the guy who played that gig, kicked a hole in the house bass drum head (read: not his bass drum), then got up and said, "okay cool, i guess i'll just head home no need to let anyone know about this?"
Here's what I think happened: the previous drummer most likely broke the head with a song or two remaining on the closing set, which finishes around 230am. I was at the club the next day around 9am. It was during CMA Fest week, which sees a massive spike in tourists, gigs, and just overall chaos. Many venues open up additional floors and host additional bands to accommodate for the surge in crowds. Everyone and everything gets stretched thin, including drumheads. I'm sure the message passed onto production staff, who are likely working 16-20 hour days. Some stuff slips between the cracks. The guy who helps maintain kits for several venues arranged to have a head there for me and even gave me some $ for putting it on. It's really easy to cast our ire upon individuals. It can be a drummer that broke a head, an inexperienced sound engineer, overworked/underpaid staff, or tourists that don't tip $20 for you to play their song after they just had to pay $75 to park and $13.50 for a single Miller Light. There are lots of smaller things to get frustrated about, but I ultimately think we are all trying to do our best in a situation that pits us against each other and distracts us from those that have created these conditions at our expense for their gain.
Rants aside, let's just say for conversation's sake some cave man put a boot through the kick drum after the last song of the night. I still gotta find a way to get a head replaced so I can play. And calling someone out for it, even if warranted, doesn't win me friends. At this stage of the game, I just try to keep it moving and keep playing.
Good video Aaron, enjoyed it!
Glad you enjoyed it! Feel free to chime in if you have thoughts or comments or even see it differently! I always enjoy hearing your perspective!
Pretty wild to show up to a wrecked kick head! Hats off to John for being a boss. Best thing a musician can do for themselves is to learn as many aspects of the trade as possible. I got paid to shoot some video for a band here in St Louis, showed up before the band, set up, ready to roll. Sound guy never showed. 15 minutes before go time I sound checked the band on a board I've never used before and got them going with (judging by the sound guys work ethic) what was probably the best sound that room has had in a while. (Again, mostly because if you no call/no show a band, you probably aren't any good)
I agree. When I was younger, I was very much about my boundaries…. ie if you don’t pay me to do it, I’m not doing it. It’s above my pay grade. Many successful and unsuccessful musicians I know hold this same attitude and make it a point to not get taken advantage of.
There’s a time a place for everything and every strategy. At this point in my career, I want to be as helpful and as positive to people as possible. Yes, changing a head last minute or running sound last minute can be an unexpected responsibility, but that’s the business sometimes. I do myself and the artists more favors if I’m more into helping the immediate situation. If I do a little extra work and don’t get paid… it’s just one day and I haven’t burned any bridges. Maybe even built a few. But if I draw my boundaries and set an expectation of professionalism it’s also understandable. I just have learned to give lots more patience and grace. If things become a pattern, I can at least give a thoughtful measured reply.
And with drumheads being played literally 16 hours a day, they wear out quicker! It’s common here. There are a few businesses that service drums downtown (like Thomas Finch at FDS and John Root at Get Rhythm) and they are legit WORLD CLASS at their craft and just world class people as well. They go above and beyond. Not everyone in management of these venues sees/understands the day to day wear and tear on the drums, nor the need to have a tech on call. Literally, one broken kick head grind a set to a half, loses the energy in the crowd, loses sales, etc.
These services have tremendous value and I wish more places would invest in them. Even so, the services always go above and beyond to help out drummers… we seriously are like family down here.
Is this long-winded? Yup! Just like with going back and re-editing that video to give props to John, it’s important that I go the extra mile for those that go the extra mile for the musicians and drummers.
Sure, Nashville is known for the music industry and labels and Honky tonks, but an unbelievable group of individuals work in various roles in town here, which is where the real magic is at!
Love it!!!
Thanks for watching!
Monitors? Sound checks? Load in time? Don't come to Seattle if you expect to have any of these things. You load in, play and get off the stage as fast as possible.
That’s typically the M.O in Nashville. We usually have 15 minutes max from the previous band playing their last note to the next band playing their first. As you climb up the ranks, sometimes conditions improve, but there always are some challenges.
I usually prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Rolling with the punches. It’s all part of the gig
Well said my friend! Sometimes you can only develop that skill by getting out there and getting punched!
@@aaronapter Darn right. I've received my share of lumps and bruises (and I'm really just a weekend warrior). One of the reasons I appreciate you sharing the experience on YT - it is an object lesson for those who are getting in the game. I try to help out up and comers when the chance presents.
Lord knows that the creative life is hard but dang, if it isn't rewarding!