Three Gigs In One Day // Day In The Life Of A Working Drummer 

Yeah, the shows are the easy part, but the hauling and setting up is where I get worn out. I bet you made a killing though.

now that may be a record! three is my most in one day. and that was back in my freelance days in San Diego. No PA break down for me, just pack up drums and go. Got a speeding ticket between last two shows. made the entire day pointless. ugg. don't get me started on NYE gigs! I've played some real funny one's, mostly all were a bust , no crowd no party... well paid rehearsals. One time we showed up to the Peak's in Telluride, CO (where all the celebrities stay up there in Mountain Village) and management didn't even know they had hired a NYE band. They scrambled to figure out where to put us... ended up downstairs in a alcove between the bar and restaurant right outside the elevator. problem was both bar and restaurant closed by the time we started at 9pm. so it was playing to ourselves. People would randomly be in the in elevator and the doors would open and WALLA, a band playing ten feet outside the elevator in a space not big enough for more than a few people. One couple was on their honey moon and decided to bring their drinks down from the the upper level bar and they sat in the chairs on either side of the elevator doors, and got a free concert. that gig Paid $700 each and rooms! This dang hotel changed managers every 6 months and therefore had no consistency. no wonder they had no idea they had hired a band.

It is a blessing! And I love what I do, which makes it easier to deal with the parts that are not so fun.

@@malonedrum I know exactly what you mean!

That's extremely kind of you to say. I enjoy both playing music and documenting it through video, so putting in good effort is natural

L

*content

Thanks.

Thanks for sharing! And watching

A friend of mine play for church. When he ask for money the priest said he play for god 😂

You know my struggle!

@@malonedrum 🤣 oh man. do I. I felt every bit of this video down to my bones. lol. Every time somebody asks "what do you do?", i'm sending a link to this video. Or if a student wants to know what its like being a working muisician....here ya go. I love what I do. This video is a great example of taking what you love to do (and have studied to do) and going out and making a living doing it. I love this video. Thank you for putting it together and posting.

That’s dope! I love that tune.

Appreciate it

Thanks for checking it out Brandon, I've loved your content for a plenty of years now.

Your a drummer why do you bring a PA, lights? I’m a guitarist I’m in a few different bands and I just worry about my guitars,and amp, I’ve got a bag full of accessories, the bands I play with usually have everything setup by the time I get there usually about 20 minutes before start time, I’m not interested in hanging around, I want to get there do the gig and split!

@@joemasse4568 I’m a band leader, that happens to play drums. So there’s a lot more that goes into my job than just showing up with my instrument 20 min before, doing the gig and splitting. Nothing wrong with that, and I have people in groups I play who also live in that role, but it’s just not the situation I’ve chosen to put myself in.

As much as a day like this is a challenge, and doesn't leave a ton of time for fun, I do have a blasts on these days.

Thanks!

Appreciate it

You win! I'm tired just reading about what you did.

Thanks Shane!

Thanks for watching!

I think I had 5 or 6 and @ 12 for the weekend once. That was when I was doing pipe band though, so only my marching drum. This dude is also traveling light, so it's highly doable. Profitable is another story that depends on other factors. Anyone want to express on that?

Thanks for watching!

Come to EAA AirVenture!

This is exactly how I feel about it.

I'm a nut about organization.

Thanks!

Personally, I think I enjoy the variety. It’s realistic in my area for you to join a working cover band, and just play with that one group, and maintain a busy schedule while making a decent living. I’ve had a couple opportunities to audition or take a role in a full time band like that, and I think I’d suffer from getting bored or disheartened after 6-8 months of doing that. I really thrive off the variety. With that said, I absolutely love playing with the final band in this video, The Pocket Kings, and also the second band, Stuck On Blue.

Good luck on your drumming journey.

@@malonedrum thank you so much 😊

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to do more VLOG style videos in the future.

Thanks man!

Your welcome…

Appreciate it, I work hard at creating the voice overs to go along

Welcome to the channel!

Thanks!

Glad you said that, trying to incorporate more of this style into the channel.

Of course!

Of course!

Thanks for watching!

I try not to be too obvious with directing the reddit crowd over to RU-vid, but this is my real place!

Great city!

Appreciate the support!

Exactly!

Respect the drummers!

It's a nice place to live!

Glad to hear it!

You know it! It certainly makes it 10x harder

Appreciate it!

After touring around full time, I was always impressed at the music scene in Northeast WI

Watch away, get my views up!

I’m sorry to hear your scene doesn’t compensate in a fair way, I know the feeling (although not currently). Hope to hear of improvements in your situation soon!

Yes!

Thanks so much!

One thing I learned very early on running a band and writing set lists, and planning gigs was how important it can be to keep your singer in decent shape. Singing 4 hour gigs in the heat takes its toll really fast on vocalists.

They fit perfectly!

Thanks for watching!

Exactly! Thanks for jumping in the channel

It’s usually one trip for me, but if I’m hauling Pa and lights, it’s two, which I also think is extremely efficient. I honestly don’t typically accept or need help packing up, because I know the order and exactly how to break things down and to what degree to make my life easiest. Same for loading it in the car, and unloading, etc. Appreciate sax players wanting to help though.

@@malonedrum Yeah, what I meant is that you did take 1-trip for your instrument. 1-trip for lights/Pa is really good, too. With drummers, I've discovered that the most helpful thing is helping to haul cases if there are stairs or something because, like you mentioned (and I kinda did, also), most experienced musicians have a 1-trip setup already. Also, I shouldn't touch the cymbals. I don't understand it, but I respect it. o_O

@@jazzanarchy You're gonna make a lot of drummer friends on future gigs with that knowledge.

Always!

Welcome to my favorite social channel :)

I’m glad to hear it. That was a blast to record and chat with Zack. I have a cool video I shot with him coming out in about a month.

Appreciate it!

Thanks!

Appreciate the support!

Thanks!

Thanks Mike

I’m a little too remote to get to a new state in 100 miles, maybe the UP of michigan

You should check out my studio tour video!

All the time! Summer 2023 is here now.

@@malonedrum Have fun, whoooo!!

The life!

Thanks for watching

Happy to be of service!

Thanks!

Thanks for watching.

50 gigs in a month is a wild schedule, unless your down in Nashville playing up and down broadway where you can easily play 2-3x a day 7 days a week.

That’s very kind of you to say!

Thanks!

Agreed, the challenge element of it can be fun, and certainly the money the next day feels pretty great.

Thanks for watching

Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching.

Diet of champions

Appreciate it!

Thanks for checking it out!

Thanks!

Exactly, and I agree, reliability is a given as well!

@@malonedrum Definitely. It's very tempting to buy the cheapest option (especially these days when times are hard) but sometimes that can come back to haunt you.

Thanks chiming in!

Thanks!

I can’t remember if I’ve done double header 4 hour gigs, but I dread when I have to do a single 4 hour so I can only imagine. I think this day was a 1 hr, 3 hr then 2.5 hour

*our dogs

I bummed to hear that you couldn't see it as a realistic career path for you, but as I've heard before "If you can see yourself doing anything else for a living, do that"

Nice, hope it was worth the time you put into it!

Do what you love, with people you like.

Exactly

You get me.

Appreciate it!

I'm lucky my situation doesn't require me to get that creative with 14" bass drums, but a fellow lover of the 6000 Ultra Light hardware here.

I couldn’t imagine doing 6, and moving/hauling a full drum set every time. That sure seems to make it easier. And I’m guessing sort shows , under and hour each

Thanks!

Sounds fun.

I’ve never played a cocktail kit, but it certainly had a vibe to it.

Yeah, having a house drum kit at just one gig can make a world of difference!

I wouldn't describe it as a "fluffy suburb" but I am by no means in a big city where this sort of stuff is commonplace, and I live on a street where there would never be traffic just passing through, so it's a nice neighborhood to get away with this sort of thing.

I can't even imagine.

@@malonedrum You know that mid 20's energy/madness of being in demand, in your area for the first time in your life. Not to mention , i had no allergy to money. Could never do it again.

@@malonedrum In the 80's, i had this residency that was 2 shows a day and one on saturday. That lasted 18 months, with no bumping gear in or out . What a contrast. I was also doing a late jazz gig during the week as well. That wasn't quite as strenuous haha. Today, i'd struggle with 2 nights a week .

@@RodneyMcMinge sounds like a dream in terms of hauling and setting up

As a somebody who grew up in Atlanta, and then moved to Wisconsin, I prefer four seasons as opposed to the extreme heat in the summer's in the south.

Thanks for watching.

Your welcome

Cool story!

It's fun with friends but recording or touring with whoever you need at the time just because their good can be a real drag after a few years. Production company's and booking agents get what the gas stations don't and you are still wearing the same shoes 20,000+ miles later in my experience. I am familiar with you're neck of the woods being back home in Madison. You are alright man, best of luck. Keep up the good work!@@malonedrum