Auditioning 6 drummers in the next 3 week....

Norrin Radd · Post by **Norrin Radd** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:18 am

Got any advice/insight/experiences that might help? As background, we're an all original works band, the rest of the band has been together for about 18 months and we're ready to gig NOW.

Any thing we should be on the lookout for, either good or bad?

Thanks!

Ohara · Post by **Ohara** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:40 am

One thing I can give you from personal experience, make sure they can stay in time when they start to drink as most venues in my area give the band free booze (within limits of course

) but nothing worse than a drummer that gets out of the box when they start to drink and ruin the end of the nights set. Had it happen before

Taronja · Post by **Taronja** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:01 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Norrin Radd
 Got any advice/insight/experiences that might help? As background, we're an all original works band, the rest of the band has been together for about 18 months and we're ready to gig NOW.

Any thing we should be on the lookout for, either good or bad?

Thanks!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

get a whole bunch of nude mags, like HIGH SOCIETY, Club and Hustler,
hang the pages up the entire room, cover a whole wall and see how
they re-act, this the best way to find the right drummer, trust me on this.

Jon

rrrajo · Post by **rrrajo** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:13 am

For an Audition, they should not be using the Toms much, if at all.
Straight ahead high-hat with ride during solos. Some occasional cuts with crashes. If they can't do that , they will be nothing but a head-ache later.

blackcloud45 · Post by **blackcloud45** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:15 am

Tempo, tempo, tempo. Does he have a tuning key? Did he bother to learn the material? Does he look at the bassist? Can you feel the kick drum?

chinese fork tie · Post by **chinese fork tie** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:21 am

i prefer mission of burma's method for auditioning drummers. sit in yr practice room with a record player. blast some sun ra, ornette coleman, stooges, beefheart. maybe some butthole surfers. don't talk much. wait for said drummer to get creeped out. if he doesn't, he's a keeper. even better if said drummer can dance to beefheart.

jon's method sounds pretty good too. maybe combine the two.

Norrin Radd · Post by **Norrin Radd** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:56 am

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Taronja
 <blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Norrin Radd
 Got any advice/insight/experiences that might help? As background, we're an all original works band, the rest of the band has been together for about 18 months and we're ready to gig NOW.

Any thing we should be on the lookout for, either good or bad?

Thanks!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

get a whole bunch of nude mags, like HIGH SOCIETY, Club and Hustler,
hang the pages up the entire room, cover a whole wall and see how
they re-act, this the best way to find the right drummer, trust me on this.

Jon
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Jon -

I didn't realize you were one of the 6!

Bluz57 · Post by **Bluz57** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:01 am

Yep, Beware of their attitude.I think this has been the big problem we have had with several drummers.Also the obvious. Keeping time. Drummers that speed up or slow down a song are a big problem.How heavy handed are they? can they play in 3/4 time?Can they even play a quiet passage?(Do they know what brushes are?)Are they an ego manic?Most of all can you get along with them, because that is important. A band is a lot like a marriage, but much harder to keep together.Last of all do they use speed. Don't laugh, the last drummer we had was a speed freak.
We have a pretty good drummer now. He has his faults,mostly Anal Retensive.I know it is easy to piss him off,so I have to work around that fact.At least he doesn't speed a song up.That drives me up the wall.

chinese fork tie · Post by **chinese fork tie** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:23 am

oh man i feel so weird now cuz our songs usually speed up and slow down quite a bit, but it's all intentional. stupid prog nerds. i actually need to find a drummer who can handle abrupt time changes better. apparently, we are looking for a new drummer now, so...

linoleum · Post by **linoleum** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:27 am

Metronome + Bassist + Drummer.
Guitarist.. Just Watch, Listen, Feel.

Bluz57 · Post by **Bluz57** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:30 am

When we get in the studio in a couple of weeks is where the rubber meets the road.The producer is merciless on drummers.I can smell trouble already.In our band no one individual is the star of the show . We all are of equal importance.Getting a song tight will depend on alot of practice, and a good drummer.

Neiloler · Post by **Neiloler** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:36 am

We're in the same boat with needing a bass player.

BrianGT · Post by **BrianGT** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 3:53 am

First question...Do you drive? .....Yes! sheet.....

Second question...Are you cabable of carrying you own gear to the gig? ......Yes! Sheet..........your hired.

Third question........Do you want paying? No? Sheet.......your hired.....

Fourth question.....Can you play vaguely in time? Yes? Sheet..........your'e hired!

Fifth question.....do you Fart when you do a drum roll? No? Sheet...........your hired!

Sixth queation.......you ever played for Phil Colins? No? you ARE hired!

:D

Bluz57 · Post by **Bluz57** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 4:05 am

Can they play with a click track.....Hell no.

Ronnie Robinson · Post by **Ronnie Robinson** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:21 am

Its not just their Skill at drumming , You ve got to choose some one whos personality fits in with the rest of the band . Being in a band is a bit like a family and u dont want a great drummer who everybody hates he wont last that long and u ll be back to square one.If I had to choose between a great drummer with an awful personality and a good drummer who gelled with the rest of the band I would go for the good drummer every day of the week.

Auditioning 6 drummers in the next 3 week....

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