How do you feel about pursuing a filled drum spot?

I'm not in the habit of trying to take another drummers gig. If anything, I will speak with the band and just let them know I enjoy the music and if they find themselves in need of a sub at some point to give me a call, and I leave it at that. The best way to land a gig is to make sure the people within the group, and/or surrounding them know who you are, and that you're fresh enough on their mind to call you first. It's not who you know, it's who knows you. The vast majority of work I do is 100% based of recommendations, and not auditioning.
 
I joined my first (pathetic garage) band after the drummer, a local kid I was friendly with, seemed to sack himself and replace himself with me. It was weird. He then remained a fan of the band. I had no idea why at the time but he probably wanted to free up some time for other things or his parents were on his case.
 
I'm just a garage band drummer that knows the diff in good and bad playing.

If you have agent, this is what they do, (I believe); they try to put players with groups even if the group doesn't know they're in need. They do that kinda work.
At this lower level we don't have agents. We just position ourselves in a beneficial spot and make ourselves known.

Someone locally went after my spot but he failed, which is funny to think about. I won.
It is to laugh, lol! So, in your face, lol. I'm glad to know a little more about that person, but really, I don't hold a grudge toward him. And if you can take it, it really wasn't mine. Maybe I need to work harder.
 
This is a very touchy situation. Some people are really ballsy and will openly try to take someone else's gig. I've come to believe that's really not cool, although I probably would have done it in my youth. You grow up and mature, and alter the way you approach situations like this.

What I would do is to get to know the guys in the band, perhaps the leader, hang out socially, and then casually mention that you are available in case they ever need someone as a fill-in. That may be all you'll need to put the thought in their heads. Maybe they'll let you sit in. Then, you'll have to wait until they decide to make a change.

The worst thing you can do is approach them and openly go after the gig, the way Keith Moon did. He got away with it, because the guys in The Who were unhappy with Doug Sandon anyway, and it was a typical brash move that Moon would have done at the time. Openly stealing someone else's gig, regardless of their level of talent, is bad karma, as someone else mentioned.
 
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2 hit wonder said:
The one I'm interested in is a worthwhile band to be working with.
The band I just left was pretty good but they keep losing the drummers. There's a reason.



From memory, they played ZZTop and he wasn't playing the simple pattern correctly and the timing was bad. He played like a 1st time fill in, but he isn't one. He did incorrect pattern changes several times throughout the show and had to be dramatically flagged to make the change. Seemed he didn't have the ability. A guy in the band said they've talked about his meter and rushing fills.

I don't want to get too specific because the forum has active people in my area.
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That is definitely a reason to get replaced, but like most here said, tell the band that you are available and looking for a new project, that way they don't see you as someone trying to replace their bad drummer, just as someone asking around. If they call you after that, then no awkwardness takes place and for all intents and purposes, you had nothing to do with them replacing their drummer, so your reputation remains intact. And based on your replies, you do care about how the local musicians perceive you. My 2 cents.
 
Rock Salad said:
What's so great about this other band? The jobs?
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I like the guitar player's knowledge base, the singer has a good ability. I want to play every venue available in town and they play places that I haven't.

I'm not working exclusively with a band right now. Just pickup stuff, fill ins occasionally.
 
For a different perspective:

"Isn't it a pity, isn't it a shame
No one ever warned the boy
Rock n' roll is a vicious game"

 
I think if there's a band you want to play with even though there's another drummer, just tell whoever is in charge that if they ever need a fill-in, to let you know. If you don't hear from them in about 2-3 months, send them a note saying the same thing.

Then let it go.
 
2 hit wonder said:
I'm just a garage band drummer that knows the diff in good and bad playing.

If you have agent, this is what they do, (I believe); they try to put players with groups even if the group doesn't know they're in need. They do that kinda work.
At this lower level we don't have agents. We just position ourselves in a beneficial spot and make ourselves known.

Someone locally went after my spot but he failed, which is funny to think about. I won.
It is to laugh, lol! So, in your face, lol. I'm glad to know a little more about that person, but really, I don't hold a grudge toward him. And if you can take it, it really wasn't mine. Maybe I need to work harder.
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Here's a crazy idea. You could propose making it a 2-drummer band. I'm leaving a 2-drummer band after about a 3-year stint. The dual drummer thing has been such an integral part of this band's sound that they've decided to stick with this format. They already have another guy picked out.

It takes "special" drummers to make this happen: team players. Sometimes you gotta swallow your pride and let the other guy play "lead" while you concentrate on laying down the groove or switching over to hand percussion. If that's something you'd be OK with trying, it might be an opportunity.
 
Jeremy Bender said:
If you decide to intentionally attempt replacing someone from their gig, send each member of the band a link to this thread to allow them to read the various responses first.
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They wouldn't care, but more likely would just be confused why I'm wasting their time, wondering if I'm mental. This isn't the unknown that you might think. You must not have read my previous posts about me saying people in my music scene read my posts here. Do you think this thread is a secret, lol? Obviously I ain't hiding if I know they read me. One Hit Wonder is what I call myself at jams and parties. You can only know a peep-hole version as a reader, because that's all I'm giving.

Those local people in my music scene who've read my posts aren't just drummers. I spoke with 1 of them within the week. More than 1 of them.
I'm not describing too much because someone tried to score some of my gigs once and maybe, I mean maybe not that they would, but maybe they wouldn't hesitate to go after this position learning which band it is that maybe isn't satisfied. I still like that guy and there were other people who wanted me out of that band for a caring reason. They felt I was better than who I was with. He was prob encouraged.
 
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2 hit wonder said:
If you're seeking a change and know of a weakness in a band that you could better fill than the current person in the spot, how do you feel about pursuing the spot?

The band I just left tells a story of having weaker drummers and bass players that 1 guy refused to agree to replace while others in the band wanted to ditch them, deciding instead to stick with the weaker player.

I know of a few bands with weaker drummers that I haven't pursued. But there is 1 that I'm more interested in currently which I've already decided to approach. It's a similar quality band as my last project, but has other attractive qualities that are better suited for my wants.
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I was actually in talks with a guy who was drumming with a band, about taking over his duties.
In this case though, he was primarily a guitar player and took over the drums because they couldn't seem to keep any.
He really wanted to get back to guitar, so I was helping him out in this case.
At the time, I just couldn't get away (would've meant a move across the country), so the opportunity was left hanging.
That was a few years ago. I was just over at the bands website and it appears there's been quite a few personnel changes since the last time I checked in. The guitar player/drummer and his ex-wife are now gone from the line-up and it appears they've found a drummer.
I wish them all the luck in the world.
 
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"Pathetic Garage" sounds an intruiging genre. 😁
Anon La Ply said:
I joined my first (pathetic garage) band after the drummer, a local kid I was friendly with, seemed to sack himself and replace himself with me. It was weird. He then remained a fan of the band. I had no idea why at the time but he probably wanted to free up some time for other things or his parents were on his case.
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BobC said:
The worst thing you can do is approach them and openly go after the gig, the way Keith Moon did. He got away with it, because the guys in The Who were unhappy with Doug Sandon anyway, and it was a typical brash move that Moon would have done at the time. Openly stealing someone else's gig, regardless of their level of talent, is bad karma, as someone else mentioned.
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Agreed. Announcing your availability during a gig isn't what I'd call "discreet". This is the sort of conversation that should take place elsewhere.
 
2 hit wonder said:
If you have agent, this is what they do, (I believe); they try to put players with groups even if the group doesn't know they're in need. They do that kinda work.
At this lower level we don't have agents. We just position ourselves in a beneficial spot and make ourselves known.
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Most working professionals do not have an agent. Bands will have agents for booking. And much like a band manager, if the agent catches wind that so-and-so needs a new drummer/guitarist/bassist/whatever they may recommend someone whom they already have a working relationship with. But typically that job has to either become available first, or there are whispers that it will be available at some point soon. This is how you always see the headlines on rock publications "Band xxxxx parts ways with guitarist, names replacement." They already hired someones before it was even made public they needed anyone. It's all done though who they already know.

I have only known one or two players who had personal agents, and to the best of my knowledge it didn't really do much for them. I myself have worked with a couple personal managers over the years. While they were always good at getting me press, landing a vacant job, or even a chance to audition was far and few between. Especially if the job was not already vacant, or about to be vacated.
 
I haven't discussed the drum position with the initial band, but there's a bass position supposedly opening soon that I was asked to study a song list for in order to prep to fill in. I think I'll take it if offered. That usually means a drum position will open right after, lol.

I've heard a couple of proficient local musicians say that they contacted X touring band from out of town to fill a vacancy with no results. Yeah, that spot is being filled from known people, known to the band or management. Someone they toured with, subbed for them some time, someone they grew up with.

I didn't realize most pros don't have managing agents. Terry Bozzio talked about having one when I saw him at a clinic. Seems Sebastian Bach said he had one. A local company represents players individually for rolls that come in from corps seeking.
 
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A J said:
I guess I'm the odd man out.

I see nothing wrong with approaching another band and letting them know you're interested and available, even if the drummer spot is occupied.
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I'm going to agree. If the other drummer is that bad, likely the others know it and would like a change.

You're not stealing a gig, it's up to the band to decide if they want to make a change. All you're doing is letting them know they have options.
 
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2 hit wonder said:
I didn't realize most pros don't have managing agents. Terry Bozzio talked about having one when I saw him at a clinic. Seems Sebastian Bach said he had one. A local company represents players individually for rolls that come in from corps seeking.
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Bozzio doesn't do a lot of sidesman work anymore. He's mostly all about his clinics, solo drum performances, and such. Sebastian Bach isn't a sidesman either. So them having agents is a pretty different situation than a musician for hire.
 
I don't remember the exact situation but J.R.Robinson was asked to play in Rufus?oh crap..i better not say anything until I go back and read the interview again but it was kinda heartless. He stated that he went and jammed with full intentions of taking that gig. I remember thinking whoa.
 
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