DRUMMER CAFE

After being spoiled the last four years being in a band with a cool basement rehearsal space, I am about to embark on a situation that involves rehearsing at an hourly facility.  This means setting up and breaking down for each rehearsal – at least until we locate a more “permanent” rehearsal space.

Anyone else in a similar situation?  Any tips on alleviating the burden.

PS: I’m not trying to sound like a whiner.  Playing drums is a great gift, but I don’t relish the thought of all the pre- and post-rehearsal time and effort setting up and breaking down my kit – especially on work nights.

Either get a second practice set that is small and light or only bring the basic pieces, snare, bass, single tom, hi-hat, and crash/ride cymbal. You'll be amazed how creative you become when your choices are limited. I attended a clinic a long time ago with this guy who had just a similar small set up. He sounded great with all of the off center hits, light touch, heavy touch, and playing all around the cymbal. Now that I remember he didn't use a hi-hat. He was trying to drive home a point about creativity. Ever see one of those street musicians pounding on an upside down 5 gallon dry wall bucket? Bring that to the studio, LOL.  Have fun!

Now that's extreme! 

Thanks for all the good tips so far!

It depends if you are the type of drummer who needs to practice what they play on each song, as opposed to just practicing the song. Obviously, some guys are thrown when they play on different set ups.
The flipside of that is, some songs require tom parts anyway.
So I think its better to take a full kit than make a compromise.
Setiing up and packing down is the price we have to pay to play drums.

 

I just wanted to add I'm personally OK rehearsing with a smaller kit in some circumstances (kick, sn, hat).
Sometimes the other band members need to hear what you are going to play on the gig however.

Always!  Except for gigs, then you bring spares.


If you can't do that, use memory locks and some sort of color-code or number system for stand parts.  I use colored cable ties to ID stand parts.  Nice & clean - not noticable to the audience.  No sticky tape residue.  I snug them up just above the memory locks so they don't slip off.

I remember when I was 16, and I found this great deal on an old Tama Rockstar, 11 pieces, 2 bass drums, 3 roto-toms, 4 mounted toms, 2 floor toms, and my cymbals...good times...and since I was young and dumb, I felt I had to haul the entire thing (minus 1 bd) everytime I was going to jam.
(I laugh now, but can you imagine seeing this monster set as part of morning worship team at church?)
Anyways, not sure what my point is but after about 3 years of hauling my "dreamset" around, I sold it and got myself a 6 pc premier with a girbralter rack, making set up and tear down easy and I could fit the entire kit in my 89 Mustang...lesson learned though...

Ohh man. About 5 years ago I was looking for a new, closer to home church. I went to a nearby church that had a contemporary worship style band. The drummer had a 5 piece kit, with extra bongos, mini timbales, and - I'm not kidding - about 12 cymbals not including hi hat. I thoughtPaul Wertico was up there. Until he started playing. Then I was sure it wasn't Wertico.

I'm still mulling over whether to get a small, inexpensive kit with 18" BD,10" and 14" toms - preferably nesting (Whee!). I just can't rationalize the money until more gigs come around that need them. Like many older players, my perspective has changed, and not just because I don't have the energy. It just seems like a smaller set does the job for me most of the time.

I may, though,  retire my sturdy,steel, transformable cart for one of the much lighter, albeit pricier RocK n' Roll carts(sic?). There about $180 but much lighter.

If only cartage were a given for the Joe/Jane drummer.

Jim