I am getting complaints from my band that my drums take up too much room. we play pubs and sometimes the playing area is quite small, I strip it down as far as i can for gigging, but they like the toms and dont want me to loose another-What floor space does other peoples drum kits cover(including the stool)?

also they pile the guitar amps up in front of the drums rather than to the sides, it almost takes a fight for me to at least have the bass drum free, where do other bands have their amps and am I wrong that it muffles the sound of toms and snare being behind a wall of equipment??( we are a first time band and so are learning stagecraft as we go)

I play a 5pc. Standard size kit. Nothing major, two crashes and a ride + hats. I never get complaints.

I've actually been asked to bring a bigger kit.

Next time they ask you to bring a smaller kit, tell them to play two less strings on their guitars. Your stuff is your stuff, and they ought to be damn ECSTATIC about the fact they even have a drummer.








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I play a 4 peice. snare, rack, floor, bass. hi hats, 2 crashes and a ride. I never have issues with space.

My bands puts there amps to the side of me. The only time I've had amps in front of me was when I had a horrible bass drums shifting problem.

Your kits, your kit. It's up to you. If you can stand do play with less than strip it a bit but if you feel you need everything you got set up than the bands outta luck on that one








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I play a 4pc. Snare, rack and floor toms and alot of brass. Never had any complaints. Peace on ya!








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I also play with a small kit so no complaints.

As far as the amp thing goes, you're right. It would be better if they didn't stack a whole bunch of amps in front of you (even if it's just because you don't want to hide behind a bunch of their crap! You're part of the band too!) That said, I have played with a guitar amp in front of my kit a few times, but it's always to the side of my bass drum. I don't think that changed the sound much, but in front of the bass drum probably would! (Unless you're miced!)

BillRayDrums wrote:

Next time they ask you to bring a smaller kit, tell them to play two less strings on their guitars. Your stuff is your stuff, and they ought to be damn ECSTATIC about the fact they even have a drummer.

+100

My old band said the same thing to me. They didn't ask, they TOLD me to cut down my set. It was a 5 piece, on a Pearl DR-80 rack, which took up NO MORE ROOM than a 5 piece without a rack. Racks actually keep them nice and neat and in one area only. I told them; "hey, bring a practice amp to a show and I'll come with a practice pad and sticks." They thought I was joking, until I played a joke on them showing up to a "big" show with only sticks and a practice pad with no drums in my car. They were freaking out. It was a fun joke because I kept telling them they wanted me to scale down so I scaled down. I actually showed her how to set my drums up quickly, which she did during all this arguing. So when it was time to play they were LOSING IT! I couldn't stop laughing. Little did they know, my gf at the time had the drums in her Explorer behind the venue and had them set up right outside the door for me.

They never messed with me again.








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BillRayDrums wrote:

I play a 5pc. Standard size kit. Nothing major, two crashes and a ride + hats. I never get complaints.

I've actually been asked to bring a bigger kit.

Next time they ask you to bring a smaller kit, tell them to play two less strings on their guitars. Your stuff is your stuff, and they ought to be damn ECSTATIC about the fact they even have a drummer.

i actually play a 6 peice,(snare, rack, two floor, and a bass) and i dont take up hardly any space!
seriously if these guys tell you to size down your kit, tell em ta screw off! that kit is your baby! nobody! i mean NOBODY tells a drummer ta size down his kit! k so maybe im flyin off the handel a little lol. but its easy to keep it small and keep your whole set. and they're being complete retards if they're puttin the amps infront of your kit!
what style do you play?

I quite like the idea of a small kit for certain situations.

You should be playing with what's comfortable for you, and if you're perfectly comfortable playing a five piece kit, that's nothing to do with them. Hell, they should be thankful you're not one of those drummers who thinks he can just burst onto the music scene ripping up 10 drums and 15 cymbals before you're ready for them.

Seriously, next time they tell you that, tell them to shove it. I've had problems like this with one of the guys in my band before, trying to tell me how I should be doing things like that. It's especially bad because chances are they don't know sod all about drumming (I know my guy doesn't but pretends he does), and don't realize how much it messes with your routine if you eliminate part of your usual gear. I think it was mentioned before, but yeah, tell them that for every drum or cymbal you take out, they remove one of their strings or keys each, it's only fair.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the drummer's gear is his own business.








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Join a metal band!

Lately, I've been getting yelled at for going with a one rack/two floors, haha.

Depending on the show, my kit goes from a 5 pcs kit, snare, 1 rack tom, 1 bass, 2 floors, to just a snare and bass set-up. Cymbals also change with show. When the whole kit is set up it's has 1 set of hats, 1 ride, 2 crashes, 2 splashes, and 1 china. On the smaller set up, I usually use the hats and the larger crash as a crash/ride.

The whole point is it's your kit and your the musician that has to sit behind it. If you think they a 7 pcs set up for you, than that's your choice. I would find it disrespectful if someone put their gear in front of mine. I understand space is limited, but you guys are a group and should act like one.








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DrumsPlus wrote:

Depending on the show, my kit goes from a 5 pcs kit, snare, 1 rack tom, 1 bass, 2 floors, to just a snare and bass set-up. Cymbals also change with show. When the whole kit is set up it's has 1 set of hats, 1 ride, 2 crashes, 2 splashes, and 1 china. On the smaller set up, I usually use the hats and the larger crash as a crash/ride.

The whole point is it's your kit and your the musician that has to sit behind it. If you think they a 7 pcs set up for you, than that's your choice. I would find it disrespectful if someone put their gear in front of mine. I understand space is limited, but you guys are a group and should act like one.

+1. Forgot about the amps in front of your kit thing. That to me is total disrespect, in keeping with the whole 'no one cares about the drummer' school of thought.

Add that to them trying to control your setup, it seems like they consider a drummer just a tool, not a bandmate. Drummer's the most important member of the band! Don't take that bollocks from any band you're in.








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This could only be more awesome if it had tits and was on fire.

i play a 6 peice 1 rack 2 floor, 2 basses, and a snare and hats a ride and 2 crashes. and i have no problem with room and ya amps are supposed to be cleared enough out the way for people standing in front of the stage can see your whole kit.








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I play a 6 piece with 10 cymbals. and a gibraltar rack. 3 rack toms 1 floor.
2 splashes
3 crashes
2 chinas
2 hihats
ride

If the stage is small my bandmates rights put theyre shit on the far corners of the stage or on the floor, or they'll take the stage, and i'll set up right in front of the stage on the floor.








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I play a 4 or 5 pc (kick, 1 rack, snare, 1 or 2 floors).

I take up whatever room I need to in order to not be cramped up against the wall too much (I've got pretty long legs).

Never been asked to pare back my kit or "make it take up less space".

Guitar and bass amps are set up to the side. If they're not mic'd, how else would one hear what they're playing?

I could understand them making noise if you brought 8 toms, 2 floors, 2 bass drums and 15 cymbals for a small gig with limited stage space, but a 5 pc? c'mon! they're being unrealistic.








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