DRUMMER CAFE - Community Forum

The other day, I was talking with someone and they said that the other guys in my band have their own sorta "image" onstage.  They also said that I don't!  And I realized they are right.  On stage, I don't have an image of any kind.  

So I was wondering what kind of image everyone here likes to portray to the audience on stage.  Glasses? Special Contacts,etc.

Use Q-tips in your ears and floss before each gig.

Let you solid chops do the talking. Spin your sticks between songs a few times and smile...otherwise, tell them you are not a performing trained seal. :)

Try videotaping yourself drumming. It really helped me. I was amazed at how awful I looked, but I was able to immediately correct my flaws.

In my case, I saw that I looked down too much and I made some pretty alarming faces. Also chewing gum made me look like a goat eating a tire. I was the opposite of cool.

The good part is, as soon as I saw that tape I stopped doing all that stuff. Quick fix.

I agree that you need to have some kind of presence and not be a "trained seal".  But for me, I drum mostly in Church so I'm more concerned with not being distracting.  (However, I need to be engaged with the music/worship).  "Image" or "Character" no longer mean anything to me.

I was never into the hats, glasses, flashy clothing to make myself different from every body else in the band. Attitude is something else. Everyone has their own attitude and I think you should show just that. Your every own attitude. Don't put up a false front to impress people, that usually does just the opposite of what you are trying to do. People often get turned off by that false front. Be your self, that's the person they're going to be dealing with after the gig.

My only "image" thing is that I set up my toms offset from the normal 5-piece setup, and then set the whole kit up as if I had another kick drum. Now, that's mainly because it's much more comfortable for me to play that way, but I also realise that to a non-drummer (or even many drummers), that will seem unusual if they're only used to the "standard" setup, and will possibly make me and the band stick a bit better in their heads.

My now former band (on good terms) would get on me about this all the time.  I could care less about image.  I wear whatever feels good and I do my thing.  That's my image.  Being me.  Anything else is just fake and has no point.  But that's just me.  

For me, almost since day-1, it's been black tank-top, black pants and sterling-silver (chains, medallions, etc. ...no more, no less). Yeah, I guess Lily Munster and I were into that Goth look decades before it was called that. However, I agree that a worship band would drop the image-thing and be most concerned about lyrics first, music second, done.

p.s. oh, almost forgot - black finger-nail polish on the All Hallows Eve/Dia De Los Muertos gigs

With my original bands, I merely use my amazing personality (hehe).

When I'm filling in for the 80s tribute band, everybody dresses like Duran Duran with wigs and leopard print scarves. But we're getting paid to do that.

Depends on the situation.

DW I just cannot even imagine your smiling face in a wig and a leopard print scarf. ???

I might even have to fly to the left coast to see that one!

 ;)

-R

Well, we are pretty strict about image.  You can either wear a black shirt or a Tshirt with our logo.  What I did was trim up my sleeves and neckline and then I sport some "bling bling" *not really* to set me apart.

I wear contacts or sometimes I wear my fruity austin powers glasses.  I have been taking to an ash blonde wig that looks pretty kick ass but it's hot on stage.  I like wigs and would like to get some in different colors and styles.

I wish I had my own makeup artist and hair dresser so I could get freshened up every set *seriously* but usually I just put corn starch powder *organic, better for you than talc based powder* to cut the shine down from my face.  It also keeps your skin from getting sticky/oily- I hate that.

I don't wear eye liner or lipstick- don't worry.  I don't have earings but I like to wear a watch when I play.  I chuck and spin sticks when I play, hopefully it's not cheesy and I try to do it smoothly and quickly.  I like to look like I'm really killing my drums but in reality I'm not hitting them that hard!  I sometimes *well a few times a set* use the "captain caveman" third joint fulcrum grip- that's my trade mark he he he.  I prefer very thin stands so the cymbals move when I crash them- looks awesome.

Let's see, what else?  I guess you will have to see me some time.

I should and have been thinking about a couple more tattoos.  Maybe in 06.

spin them DURING the songs too!

but..  I don't know.  my longer hair helps, I know..  that, and my signature spin in the right hand while moving to hit my 16" up high on my right (moving all the way across the set from my hi hat)..   then there's my left hand WAY up in air when winding up for a snare shot (while laying back, playing a basic beat).

as for clothing...  I..  don't really put enough effort in that department, so.. perhaps this next show I'll need to start.  =D

At 57, it's getting hard to have much of a rock and roll image.  Gray hair just doesn't do it for the most part.

I like to wear bright shirts for the most part, and generally make it a rule to dress a step or two better than the audience whenever possible.  I spin my sticks occasionally, and try to act like I'm having fun, which usually isn't difficult.

Whatever you do, if it's not natural people will sense it.

Well, besides my *ravishing* good looks, the "style" is usually taken care of by my band leader.  We either wear 1.) tuxes or 2.)black pants, black undershirt and an awful green shirt (see my pic to the left) that the bandleader provides.  Each band member has a different color.  Yes, it's cheesy but you do what you have to do to get more clients/gigs.

As far as how I look while I play, I'm working on this.  I'd like to think I play with a lot of energy but for some reason I look like Charlie Watts when I play.  I don't know, I'm mostly a 'groove' player anyway so maybe it's not that bad, but I'm making a conscious effort to look like I'm actually having fun while I play.

The funny thing is...I AM having fun, I just don't look like it.

Usually, just me.  Sometimes sunglasses.  Sometimes a baseball cap.  Because I'm old, I wear my baseball cap frontwards, not backwards.  Apparently this changed as I grew older, now they are worn backwards (imho), and even sideways.  Jeez.

My narcissistic link (http://pdrums.com/photos_paul.html)

Steve, that's my problem as well. In recent gigs I've made and effort tp smile more and be a little more animated. But historically, just call me "stoneface" even though I'm having a great time.

BigBill

i tend to go for hats...either caps, novelty hats etc

something to be remembered by cos otherwise the punters only remember the lead guitarist and the singer

It depends on the gig....One band I play with is real class oriented. That's the kind of jobs they book. Another band thinks it's cool to look like trash. That again is the kind of gigs they book. I have a huge wardrobe from 1950's tuxedos, cowboy hats, a derby, you name it.... I also pick which drumset I use by the same criteria. But I try to dress "one step up" from the expected crowd. I always throw an extra change of clothes in the truck so I look "in" with the rest of the group. It pays to investigate the gig before the actual job. Then you won't get stuck looking and feeling like an idiot. Plus you'll feel better about your playing and that shows musically. I've actually got a certain look I try to adhire to that's right for me. It doesn't take much to make me smile, just good tunes. If you smile it's like an infection to the audience also. I hate playing with guys that look like they don't want to be there. That will lose a good crowd and return gigs....   ;)

Way back during the peak years of the disco era (very late '70's) my band, at that time, was 2 guitars, bass, myself and female lead singer. We called ourselves Whiskers & Lace. We all wore either moustaches, beards or both. I wore beard w/o the 'stache. Miss Sandi wore the lace, naturally, lots of lace. Though most of us did not care for much of the music during this phase we were very tight because we believed in our musicianship and enjoyed ourselves onstage. I do recall a few numbers we performed that I did like - Disco Inferno was my favorite.

oooh -- burn, baby, burn!

i love that tune, man. great for a little shakin' 'n shimmyin' when you're washing dishes.

i really like going for the image thing, but it's more fun if you're a really good player. nonetheless, i do my part to look rock 'n roll. depends on the venue. if it's a real dive, i go with ripped jeans and a tee coz no one really pays attention.

perhaps they will now...

seeing as we got ourselves a new bassist.


nyuk, nyuk... 8)

I'm surprised you don't have a disco gig now.  It's amazing the longevity of that genre as well as the lucrative aspect of playing in a disco band STILL!!!

Pretty cool though.  My ash blonde wig really drives the teenie boppers crazy btw- pretty fun. I definitely have to post a pic of that- it will crack you guys up.  I look like Kurt Cobain.

Hey, there's a fine line between disco and funk.  People considered the band Chic disco but that was straight up funk if you ask me.

But I digress...

I'll give him a month.

 ;)

you and me both, moosie. as i often say, 'since i gave up hope, i feel much better.' i have greatly tempered my expectations.

nonetheless, it was a smashing audition. i knew something special went down when the guitarist told him to 'take it out' during his gtr solo -- and he not only knew what it meant, he actually did it! it really opened my eyes. and made me think more about what i was playing. i thought 2 of our other guys were really good, but i think they were just playing off the roots. this guy had a nice way with tensions and what-not.

if it works out, though, i gotta find a nice way to tell him to overhaul his look. he's quite young, with long hair, but it doesn't work for him at all.

image? idk....i guess these? just rock and have fun!
(http://www.picdump.org/albums/album803/P1010505.jpg)
(http://www.picdump.org/albums/album803/P1010506.jpg)

The only thing that I sport during every gig is a freshly shaved head. Its kind of my ritual before every show.

Same here. I shave the brain bucket daily, and especially right before a show.