So, you’ve got a few gigs coming up and are trying to get some musicians to commit to playing with you. Here’s a great tip…
Get the best drummer that you possibly can. If you have $100 to pay your musicians, pay the drummer $85 and buy your guitar player and bass player a chicken sandwich. (and this is coming from a guitar player!!) Here’s why…
A solid drummer who plays appropriate to the style of music can go a long way in making you sound like a superstar. We have all had gigs where things just didn’t feel right, and even as a band you are looking around the stage trying to figure out why it doesn’t sound good. Well, it doesn’t, and the audience might not be able to put a finger on it, but they will sense it as well. You don’t want them leaving the gig with that feeling.
A Solid drummer will:
1) Make everything feel better: Guitar players are known to rush and play out of the pocket, but they can cover it up with delays, or rock moves or just plain looking cool, and the audience will forgive it or not notice it. Bass players can do it too, but to a lesser extent, which means if you get more than $100 to pay your band, maybe give the bass player some gas money. (hint, they will be the next most important one in making things feel good). A steady, consistent pulse from the drums that has a good feel is the most important step to getting your audience to relax and move.
2) Make you more confident as a leader on stage: You don’t have to worry about keeping the band together, because you know that the drummer will “have your back”, and make it easy for the other musicians to lock in. It will allow you to focus on delivering your songs and stories with the passion they deserve.
3) Make the other musicians “lock in” harder and play better: They don’t have to worry about keeping time, and they will be able to concentrate on making the music flow and play with dynamics, and ultimately be more focused on complementing the leader, rather than trying to figure out why things don’t feel good.
You don’t have to make the discrepancy in pay known to the other musicians and may need to make the drummer keep it quiet, but you only get one chance to make an impression on an audience. A solid, overall feel of the music can cover up a lot of musical sins on the stage and it will help the people focus on the songs itself.
