Thankfully I can't say I have been that guy. I was a percussionist for years, and teching is my biz, but I know what happens when drunks insist on sitting in. We had a very simple solution for those types, simply walk off when they started sucking to high heaven. I have played under the influence, but not smashed, as the music we played was loose blues, not drunken stupidity...

I,ve had the drunk guy get mouthier and more obnoxious when i did,nt let him sit in,so now if it happens i have a two tune limit and he,s gone.He usually wants to show off for a buddy or a date,and really,the audience does,nt care if its wham bam and off you go...Drunks are part of our business,but you always need to be in charge of the situation.

I think whats worse is if the person that sits in is better than the band member!

I suppose that can happen...but not in my experience. In my experience, people who come into someone else's gig (not counting "jam session" gigs) and expect to play -and especially those who approach someone in the band to ask them about sitting in, are ALWAYS out of line. And, also in my experience, it's ALWAYS alcohol that seems to fuel that kind of boldness.

I don't like the impression it makes. I don't like the vibe it brings. The problem is, so many gigs ARE jam sessions where the bands are being paid from a percentage of the door or liquor sales, etc., that many musicians have just come to expect that every gig is an open jam session. I've seen jam session gigs where everyone in the "audience" was a musician waiting to play. One tune lasts 15 minutes because there are so many people taking solos. No audience that I know of can endure that kind of scene. So, when a gig that is NOT a jam session comes along, I think it's bad form to show up with a horn or a guitar and try to get someone's attention to ask them to let you sit in. Just sit down and shut up and keep it a secret that you're a musician, too. jeez.

I've had some really obnoxious people ask to sit in. My wife said that I shouldask them if it's okay if I have sex with their girlfriend. LOL. She knows how personal my kit is. She has my back so I appreciated her humor. We had a guy sit in once that thought it was a good idea to bash up my cymbals on Voodoo Chile. i was ready to take him outside. I did that as a favor to the talentless guitarist in the band. Never again.

I guess this is sort of along the same lines. Has anyone ever had another drummer who didnt ask to sit in during a set, but who wanted to check out your kit between sets so he could tell you how much cooler and better sounding his drums are? I just sit back and laugh...

Yep. I had a guy tell me his Tama Rockstar drums were better than my Yamaha Stage Customs. I told him that my drums were Recording Customs and he said, "Yeah I don't like them either." I just smiled and asked where was his band playing next so I could come and see him play. He said he wasn't in a band and I smiled. This same guy went on to say that the drummer for Hatebreed was the best rock drummer ever and said Jason Bonham was better than his Dad. I said, "Well alrighty then. You certainly know your stuff about drums. I need to go get some water so you have a nice night." What a tool. I think the drunk guys who want to sit in are serial killers. LOL.

I think if any drummer came in and asked me if they could sit in, then my questions would be: "What kind of car do you drive?" and (if it's a nice car), "Sure, Go ahead and sit in. But, first, let me have your car keys. I'm going to take your car for a little spin...be right back!" The problem is, the wit of saying something like that is completely lost on most drunks.

I think the reason people do these comparatives (my drums are this and yours are that) is because everyone like that feels they have to reinforce their own choices compared to yours. "You chose those, but I chose these..." -as if they have done a lot of research on the subject...when, in fact, it was the kid at GC who told them that Tama was "better" than Yamaha...the end. In reality, it never makes any difference what kind of drums they play, anyway, because they usually can't play. But, even if they can play, it's still out of line to come into someone's gig twirling sticks and letting everyone around know you're a drummer with the typical, drunken "look at me! I'M A MUSICIAN!" kind of attitude. And the same thing goes for bass players, too....frickin' douchebags.

It's just a drunk thing... they want to wheelie your dirtbike... they want to show you how to drive your ski boat... they want to demonstrate the porpoise on your jet ski...

Drunk dude... I'm not going to let you kill yourself and I'm not going to let you make a fool of yourself... and I hope you would do the same for me.

The people that talk the most, play the least. Keep an eye on the quiet ones, they are the true players. You don't have to tell someone you are good, your playing should demonstrate that. Drunk insecure musicians are a nightmare at jams. Bummer