Re: Drummer Needed for Working Oldies Band

Philadelphia PA

Description

Hi guys. If you’re having trouble finding the drummer you think you deserve, here are a few questions to ask yourselves: 1) If, as you say, you’ve been together “for years”, have a “good following”, and play twice a month, why would you not want to give the name of your band, and supply at least a link to your website or YouTube videos so that prospective drummers could check you out? You are trying to attract a drummer who is at least as good as you, so why not “crow” a little about yourselves? What’s the point of the secrecy and mystery about who you are? Frankly, that almost immediately turns off the better musicians and tends to leave you with the more amateur seekers. 2) Similarly to #1 - Why not also tell folks where you play. It gives you “cred” and again, will help prospective drummers to get a feel for who you are. You need to understand that this is a two way process (especially if you are trying to attract experienced, “professional” type players) - you are also “auditioning” and if you don’t realize that, you are doomed to only attract “desperate” musicians who, I can almost guarantee you will not be happy with. 3) Again, if you’ve been together for years, play twice a month, and are playing mostly songs that any experienced drummer has either played a thousand times, or at least knows by heart, then why in God’s name are you practicing at all, let alone every week!? Seriously, think about that! Any band who does what you do, as often as you do, should really never need to practice (unless you are maybe working out a unique new arrangement of a song or songs). If you are, like most cover bands, simply “reproducing” songs that everyone knows, exactly the way they were recorded, then what is your reason for rehearsing? Again, this statement in your ad will likely turn off about 95% of all the decent drummers out there who might have considered answering it. Okay - hopefully you won’t get all bent out of shape and defensive about this and may actually consider these questions in the spirit they were offered. I wish you the best of luck with your search. Peace, Erich - a professionally drummer.