Our normal open jam is Thursday but we had quite a few bands start to show so the mgmt decided to do a band jam/showcase on Wed. All the drummers on the Thursday jam know each other really well and just sit behind the kit and get going. I told my kid early on that "You sit behind the kit and just play, don't move a thing, you're a drummer....there are some drums...go drum." :)

Lucky is dead on the money. If you have enough time to tune a drum set at an open mic, you've got too much time in between songs. And, at any of the jam sessions I've been to, I don't see why you'd need to really. Get up there and either play the drums or don't. Save your sound for your gig.

No offense towards anyone intended. Just my two cents. :D

Hmmm...If I was I was in that situation, I would probably not volunteer MY drums, unless they were "expendable". There are a couple of clubs in town that actually have a house piano, a house PA and a house set of drums. They are nothing special, but they are okay. One set is a Sonor 3000 -? and the other set is a Gretsch Catalina. They are always tuned wacky by someone, but most of the situations where they are used is usually when they have three bands on the bill and need to get on and off the stage quickly between performances. But that's the house's equipment. They are there for expressly the purpose of allowing each drummer to adjust stuff to suit their individual needs. It eases the "traffic jams" that sometimes occur when equipment is being switched between bands and makes the transitions much more efficient for the club. So, it has been to the club's ultimate benefit that they invested a little money up front for the musicians. I understand this isn't possible for every venue, but it does save a lot of heartache at the end of the night.

When I was 14 years old, I was doing gigs n a C&W band and we backed up a "famous" country "star" one time, named "Single Jim". He was basically an alcoholic bum. He called the tune "Spanish Eyes". I didn't know how to play ANY Latin beat at the time. He insisted that we play it. I couldn't. I embarrassed him...so, on the break, I got the axe. Somehow, because of my youthful, naive attitude, they conned me into letting the rhythm guitarist (who knew enough about drumming to play "Spanish Eyes") use my drums to finish out the gig. When I went to pack up the drums at the end of the night, there was a cigarette hole burned right through my floor tom head. How's that for a rude awakening to the world of paying dues?Burger Kin

I've told this story many times over the years in interviews. 35 years later, I received an email from someone who knew Single Jim and had read an article where I had told that story. He said that Single Jim was still alive (which was a BIG surprise to me) and that, if I wanted, he would pass along any salutation that I might have. I told him to tell Single Jim, "Thank you!" for firing me. Because if he hadn't, I might still be doing gigs with him.flowers2 Moral to the story is that we all pay our dues at different times and in different ways, but if you're going to play, then you WILL pay dues. It's a matter of seeing the potential problems waaaay ahead of time and avoiding them before they ever get to you!Burger KinMister T

I agree with you O-lugs, but to a point....there's paying dues....and there's trashing someones equipment.....one does not correlate to another in my book. You would think that if they weren't your drums and cymbals that you would take BETTER care of them when you were done playing them. Some peoples kids......:rolleyes: Just my :2Cents:

Paying dues comes in all kinds of ways. Burger Kin

For me, I coveted my new drums. I worked mowing lawns and running paper routes to earn the money and when that guy burned the drum head, I was more than upset about it. But I was 14 years old and I was running with the bigger dogs and they snapped their teeth a lot. I got the gig not because I was good. I got the gig because I had a set of drums. I had believed that I was good. But I got fired because I wasn't versatile. That experience taught me to become versatile. Everything is tied together when it comes to paying dues. That's just one way that my experience taught me. Believe me, there were many other ways I paid my dues over the years, too. It costs a lot to live the life of a musician, but there is no richer life.

In a few years, that young man will remember his experience on the gig and hopefully use the knowledge to recognize trouble ahead.

We have a jam at our jam hole twice a week, thursday night is acoustic night with out a drum kit. Some bring bongos or drum buckets. We have a plugged in jam either fri or sat night. My Tama 7 Piece rockstars with a pearl rack is our house drums. They havent been moved in 4-5 yrs. The only thing they can move is the snare and floor tom. One guy busted my 8" tom head and I didnt even realize it untill he came in my shop bringin me a new head. That was very sweet. I have 3 sabian HHX evolution crash cymbals that got broke in there. that really ****ed me off. No one knows excatly who broke them, but I have my suspicions. Life goes on and I learned. Almost everyone there are pretty close friends. its like a family or a fellowship. I dont let things getting tore up bother me much anymore. Most of our musicians are ole ****s like me and know dynamics and how to play. check out our myspace.

http://www.myspace.com/lubbockundergroundlive

I don't chime in much .

EVERYONE SHOULD USE MY RULES.

1 Ask before moving anything .

2 If you break it replace it . at any cost !

3 When you are finished put it back the way you found it .

THESE RULES APPLY BOTH WAYS OF COURSE .

I remember a short while ago , a jam session I attended . It was assumed I broke a WFL jam block . I didn't remember it happening , so I replaced it any way . Cost me $50 , but I am always welcome to jam . Earning your dues , earns you respect .

Ernie

Simple rules to follow in my book. Others don't always feel the same, which is a shame. I agree with the if you break it, you pay for it rule. Funny thing though....I've been playing for years and have NEVER broken a cymbal or even a drumhead! If you are breaking these on a regular basis, YOU ARE PLAYING TOO HARD! LOL!

Coffee Break2