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I have a feeling that some HOD memebers could give me some advice on this topic...
I'm about to embark on a month long gig, where I am to play 4 nights a week in a row, and 5 sets a night (almost 4 hours a night). The music is mostly pop/rock, so nothing too lite!
For someone who is used to playing ONE set, once or twice a month, this is a drastic and intense change! I find that I am getting pretty sweaty and tired after a few hours of rehersal, I can only imagine how this will effect me night after night.
Do you guys have any advice at all as to what I can do to prevent getting fatigued on and/or offstage?
I have not had the time to prepare as I wanted and leave on the 20th of this month.
I'd appreciate any advice from my fellow drummers out there! Thanks! [img]smile.gif[/img]
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I hear ya brother!
I play in a covers band & our dates are typically 3-4 hours of hard playing most nights.
Drink heaps of water, ensure you warmup/down properly and that your flexibility is up to scratch. I am not a fit guy but I am reasonably flexibile and suppleness is a big plus. This can avoid nasty cramps, hand soreness and fatigue.
I am also a coffee addict (!) but will avoid it before a gig.
Also, I find that my technique has improved through making sure I am accurately hitting the drums in the CENTRE of each head, maximising the tone and minimising the effort. Letting the stick do the work in other words.
This avoids the 'bashing' habit that is easy to fall into but is actually detrimental to the song.
Good luck with your adventures!
phil
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Hey Chris, glad to hear to are getting a steady gig! 4 nights a week and 4 hours is certainly alot, ( I hope they hook you up good )
I would say get to know your limit and conserve energy. By that I mean hold back when you know that you can be just as musical, but with less physical energy.
I'm no expert, but I think the gladstone technique will help you save a TON of energy! Alot of times when I play a show I tense up and waste energy by not letting the stick do rebound. But eventually I loosen up and come to my sense. It kind of gives me a "second wind". If only I could relax all the time.
And maybe eat your veggies too? Humbly, Nat
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Just do it. 4 nights a week isn't that bad, and if you play with a relaxed style, you can still hit hard and not kill your hands.
Some tips:
If you're hitting hard, take some aspirin or tylenol BEFORE playing. Many athletes know this trick: take the painkiller BEFORE it hurts.
If you don't have one, invest in a heavy-duty, COMFORTABLE drum throne.
Make sure your gig clothes are comfortable. Have plenty of towels handy, and even changes of clothes if you're the sort to sweat through your clothes in one set.
If you play your pedals hard (I do), wear comfortable, well-padded shoes. I bruised the balls of both my feet during one Travers concert where I wore knee-high lace-up moccasins with thin leather soles. I could barely walk for days afterwards, all from one night of trying to look like a rock star!
I'm a recent convert to chiropractic - I'm finding I don't get nearly as fatigued as I used to since I started getting adjusted regularly.
Drumming is physical. But it won't kill you. Just use common sense, don't be afraid to bust a sweat, and have a good time. I bet you'll be astonished at how much stronger a player you are when this stint is over!
Mr. A.
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As was said, 4 nights is not bad.
I used to do 6-nighters and that
was hard.
My advice is:
1. No alcohol.
2. No drugs.
3. Drink lots of water.
4. Enough sleep.
5. Work the mix (like Andy said).
This is really important. The act-
ion is at the board. He'll make or
break you.
6. Play lighter and if performance
is a factor, heavier, ONLY at the
key times, coming back, afterwards.
7. Enjoy yourself. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[img]cool.gif[/img]
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For endurance before the gig takes place:
Cycle--preferably on the road, not at a gym. Go for distance and endurance, not sprints. Cycling rules!
I agree totally, if you?re mic?d, the need to pound isn?t necessary. Learn to play with a light touch on your hats, allowing the stick to do the work during the verse before chorus.
Don?t beat yourself up when things flop. Learn and grow! Take notes, keep a journal?use a tape recorder if you are not a writer and review later. Having closure to your gigs seals the musical experience, sort of like a visualization exercise. Yeah?do that too!
Lastly, think Virgil! The guy?s an Olympic Athlete drummer of endurance.
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Already lots of good advice.
Four nights a week, you can handle it no problem.
Peter nailed it. If you eat and rest appropriatly and don't party, you will build up strength and endurance quickly.
If you are prepared and know the material well then you can really focus on relaxing and sounding good while you play. Try to warm up before you play. Don't worry, you will learn to relax and pace yourself automaticaly... The road will force you to relax or else you will trash your hands or your back and be miserable for a month. [img]graemlins/cry_smile.gif[/img]
You will find that once you have been out there working consistantly in differnet enviroments, it will change your playing forever. Your ears will open up and your chops will take off. IMO, You will gain more in one month on the road then a whole year sitting at home on a practice kit.
I've done my share of touring in the past (got kids now) and playing 4 nights would have been a slow week. Try 3 months with 10-15 days straight, with doubles and even triples some days, traveling hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles between jobs.
The most important thing is to relax and enjoy...
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Like the others said...rebound is really important. Get some good hearing protection and get a great monitor mix each night. You don't want to overplay just because of a poor mix and run the risk of an injury. If you find yourself tensing up try breathing deeply while playing and concentrate on staying loose. Make the drum kit your ally, (as Dave says) and make sure you're real comfortable and never over reaching for anything on the kit.
Oh yeah, and have fun!
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Thanks to everyone so far for the great replies to my post! It's really nice to have this kind of insight from people who have "been there & done that"! I am going to have to print this out and take it for some inspiration and review. Hopefully I will have internet access there once in a while so I can keep in touch with HOD & give you some updates! I'm also going to try to record (audio and video) some of the gigs once we get rolling, in hopes to add them to my website. Thanks again! You guys rock!
