Drummer Talk

If you’re ready to jump into the next level as a music director, be sure to check out today’s episode!   Opening Detritus What happened to September’s show? Gigs, gigs, and more gigs! Rock of Ages Wigs, Fake Cigs, and Drummer Gloves Mailbag From Lance Hey Dave, been listening off and on for awhile now and wanted to get your opinion on something. I’ve been wanting to get back into playing drums and hopefully start doing some side gigs down the road. However, I need to practice as I am sure I will be extremely rusty and I would of course want to improve my skills. My house will not accommodate an acoustic drumset in regards to either space or volume for practicing. I’ve been starting to look at electronic sets. All I would need is something to practice on, so I’m trying to keep it as inexpensive as possible. I saw a Simmons sd100 for $200 but didn’t like how you can’t really adjust the spacing of the pads. I also saw the sd300 which would be just about perfect at $300. Do you have any suggestions on an inexpensive electric kit (really hoping to keep it under $300) for purely practice? I may actually use it for some midi work but that’s not my primary purpose. Just want to get something that feels as close as possible to an acoustic kit. Thanks! Lance From Maximillam: Hey, Dave & Troy! Been listening to the podcast for the past year – but thanks to the Archives I’ve probably heard close to 200 episodes. Thanks to both of you for the incredibly valuable information as well as the entertainment. I have a legal question and can’t think of anyone better to ask than the two of you, and would super-appreciate any kind of clarification on the matter! When transcribing drum parts, are we dealing with any copyrights/licensing fees/etc? Am I allowed to completely transcribe the drum parts for a whole tune and share it with the world? How about if I were to sell the transcriptions? Again, thanks to the two of you for going strong with this podcast. I’m an absolute fan. /Maximiliam Andersson From Lynn Hey guys, been a while since I wrote you, but still been listening. Question, so I was asked to sit in and sub for a drummer for a cover band. They do 80s and 90s rock. I am familiar with most of the songs, but many of them I’ve never actually played on drums. No practice and I have a week to learn 60 songs. I may be able to meet with the guitar player for a little bit. So my question is do I chart out the songs? Or is that bad? If I do chart them do you have a way you would use for 5 hours worth of music with is about 60 songs? You can use this question for podcast, but if you have time could you try to respond ASAP, I’m nervous about this, but excited too. I normally just play at church lately so I’m looking forward to playing out again. They are paying me $150. Thanks guys keep up the great work! Lynn Topic – So You’re Ready to MD. Now What? Why be the Music Director? Power trip? Attention to detail and genuine joy from keeping all the plates spinning You must have patience! Running the show Situational Awareness Multithreading Knowing what all the other musicians are doing and should be doing Cues and count-offs Booking the band Networking Knowing players you can trust Know all the details before you reach out to other players Money Gig Time(s) Including rehearsals Venue and Rehearsal Location Gear the players will need to bring Music Stands Stand lights Odd instruments Dealing with W9’s Contracts Venue Details Sound Needs Stage Needs and Stage Plotting Power Needs Make a diagram in Keynote or Powerpoint! Indoor/Outdoor Directions Load-In/Load-Out Green Room Rehearsals Scheduling Running the rehearsals Timekeeping Call times vs. start time Breaks Charts Gathering the charts PDF/iPad iReal Pro Knowing the arrangements, yes even the chord changes Are you needing custom arrangements?[...]

Dave and Troy pop in for a show to bring you up to speed with what’s been up this Summer. Opening Detritus The state of the union – what have Dave and Troy been up to? What’s next for Drummer Talk? We want to hear from you! News Remembering Johnny C. Death of Remo Belli Nick Menza (Megadeth) Autopsy Results Revealed John Blackwell Health issues GoFundMe Steven Adler Joins Guns N’ Roses for first time in 26 Years Music from this week’s Show What Have You Done for Me Lately – Janet Jackson In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

Prof. Troy covers band managers on today’s episode. Mailbag From James: I love Drummer Talk and have been listening for years. I want to go back to the very first episode you have available and download and listen to them—one by one, and in order— but I can’t figure out how to get to the very first episode in the archives and begin the process of downloading. Is there a link that will get me to this first episode? Thanks very much! From Craig: Hey, guys! Loving all the information from Troy on the different management sources for bands and artist. The inspiration that your show gives is priceless. Since listening to your shows I have started playing Tama drums (starclassic). Started building custom drums, started making custom drum wraps, and becoming more involved with the local music scene. I can’t wait to see where your inspiration leads me next! Great jobs guys, Craig. Check out my Facebook pages for the drums. News Dennis Davis (David Bowie’s Drummer) Dies Topic Notes When To Hire A Manager Just before or just after signing a record deal or a major contract. The Role of the Personal manager Advise and counsel the band/artist in all aspects. Think COO of a corporation The areas that a manager should have experience in are. Touring, Project Management, Income, Contracts/Licensing, legal issues, strategy and visioning. Artist Development ( think producer meets manager ) Objective eye on the band/artist sound, image, performance etc. Objectively identify choke points in the artist development. IE weak musicianship or song writing skills and providing solutions Provide objective improvements to live performances and strategies to create a smooth product. Business development / Procurement General meetings: getting meetings with . Labels, talent agencies, publishing, graphic/web development, legal, and other entities Researching and validating suitability of the previous said individuals and professionals Working in collaboration with other professional in your team. Ie legal council, talent agencies, graphic/digital media etc. All Aspects from start to finish project management Creating the task to-do list for project Managing tasks to completion Making the work/work-in-progress and making it visible Managing the Calendar IE Radio promotion, new media (Internet), sales and marketing Organizing transportation to and from said events Touring Helping you find other team members: Business manager, Tour Manager, Talent Agent, etc. Working with other members of your team: Business manager, Tour Manager, Talent Agent, etc. Monitoring Physical / Mental Health Being the ring of defense between the artist and the rest of the world Types of management firms Small start ups A friend, a business person, club owner, etc. The intern: because drummers cannot afford business managers they get free interns usually music students. Mid level management firms ( Cam ) People with a large amount of experience/power or influence but have not been able to break a major artist like lady gaga Usually have a well developed network in the industry and can get general meetings easily Big Leagues ( Q Prime management ) A least a decade of experience and with a few phone calls can make things happen These management companies are very well established but are able to take a bigger chunk of the pie Management Contracts Exclusivity: They will want to be the only company worldwide Key Persons : The person who signed you to the company is your direct representative Terms of the agreement: Year’s / Cycles / Tours / Paying The Manager ( Commissions ) 10-30 % of gross earnings Have a well defined contract that clearly spells out what constitutes gross income Ie recording advances. Types of Payment Structures Deferred: working for free until money flows Escalation : starts at 10 or 15% then escalates to 20% as more income comes De Escalation: starts at 20% then falls to “X” when more i[...]

We continue on our series on representation with a focus on business managers. Mailbag From Scott Hey guys hope all is well in drummer talk land. First off I got to say I love the podcast! I just recently started listening maybe two weeks ago. I’m listening in semi reverse order which is fun because to hear Troy’s excitement to bring stickers to Pasic or Namm (which ever it was), comes after hearing about him forgetting to bring them. It’s like reading a suspense novel backwards lol. Secondly, Troy please please please please do a segment on cutting snare beds. I have a few snares that I received from a now defunct custom company, on which I never thought the snare beds were correct and have had nothing but trouble with my snare wires seating properly. I loved the bearing edge segments due to how well you clearly described the tools and the process and I think hearing from you on what to do with snare beds would be enlightening. Thanks very much guys for reading this and taking it into consideration. Keep up the great work and thanks for providing the drumming community with such a great resource. ~Scott “skipper” Gentry News 6 Tips for a Manageable Drum Set Topic Notes The role of a Business Manager in your career A business manager is like a chief financial officer of your company. The key scope of the business manager handles all financial issues such as investments, financial planning, bookkeeping and accounting, asset management and administration, tax services, insurance, and royalty examinations. Bookkeeping and Accounting Some of the services of business manager does paying monthly bills, collecting royalty earnings, depositing money and monitoring your bank and credit accounts for discrepancies. Some of the bills a BM my pay from your accounts Rent or mortgage payments Vehicle payments Credit card bills Personal services such as housecleaners, personal trainers, gardeners etc. Insurance Bills, utilities such as water, power, sewer, and Internet Touring Services and Financial Controls Transportation cost such as airfare, tour bus etc. Lodging such as hotels Salaries and Per diem for band and crew members Insurance for liabilities, missed shows breach of contracts etc. Logistics such as trucking and transport of gear, sound equipment and stage needs Fees and commissions for Agents, other managers, promoters, etc. Fees for productions costs and rehearsals Asset administration Shopping for big ticket items such as Homes, cars, expensive gear etc. Your BM will let you know what you can afford or if certain items qualify for tax breaks, incentives and other tangible ways to be a wise steward of your financial resources. Tax planning This is broken into 3 main categories Indemnify the appropriate business entity: Ie inc. LLC, S corp etc. Planning and handling of Payroll and income taxes: IE w-2, 1099 etc. Also IRS audits etc. Meet with IRS and give over all records. Estate planning: Wills and living wills, Trust funds, Life insurance, Gifting strategies etc. Generally BM’s work with estate attorneys Auditing Rights When, How, Time frames, records requests etc. You must discuss how you can request an audit. It’s not personal everyone in Hollywood audits everyone else. It’s a way to gain an understanding of what is really going on. Power of attorney and limited Power of attorney Never Grant Full Power of Attorney: with full power your BM can purchase houses and large items without your knowledge Limited power of Attorneys grant your BM to represent you in IRS audits and prepare checks for you to sign In some cases set up a petty cash system and make sure you look at it. In some cases add Lower limit credit cards. Amex is a favorite for this one. Payments to your BM Retainer: Generally from 500-5000 per month. depending on the success and monitory flow of the client. Hourly Fees: $20-$1250 per hour depending on the service. Bookkeeping vs Forensic accounti[...]

We start part 1 of a 3-parts series on professional representation. News How to Fake It (with Fred Armisen) Ginger Baker to Make Comeback after Surgery Woman, 99, Celebrates Birthday by Rocking Out on Drums Rolling Stone: 100 Greatest Drummers All-Time Neil Peart to Publish 3rd Book Rumors Spread of Meg White Replacing Peart Topic Notes A Talent Agent is a person or company that role is to find you the client work and jobs. Ie gigs, writing jobs, teaching jobs etc.  A Business Manager handles your personal and company financial affairs. From income, expenses, retirement, asset purchases, taxes, financial planning etc. A Manager handles the day to day operations of the band or artist. The role of a Talent Agent in your career: Procure work for you or your band that is mutually agreeable Help you in constructing tours Strategize aspects of touring that move your goals forward How to package and sell the artist or band Pricing for tickets and negotiating fees for live performances ( this includes radio and television Collecting deposits and handling of venue fees Agents and Territories Agents in California are regulated by the state labour commission. Agents can be regulated by the AFM Sag and AFTRA these are known as franchised agents. Territories usually by continent  Qualities to look for in an agent and agency and what questions to ask What kind of agency is it? Boutique or specialized IE A specialized Internet talent agency – www.bigfra.me Full stack agency like CAA or William Morris – music, film, television, product endorsements and literary speaking engagements. or expert role jobs Major role agency IE the same agency that represents major artists that you could get packaged up with. IE Taylor Swift, Metallica, U2 or acts of that size etc. They have great relationships with promoters and can generally elevate you to the next level if you perform well. Things to look for in a specific agent How long has your agent been with their agency? What kind of agencies have they worked with in the past? How many clients does your agent manage / firm manage Will the agent you are talking too be the real agent who books you Red Flags Beware those who want income from writing, endorsements, and other works that are not directly procured from the agent. Beware agents that charge fees for mail, calls, copy, presentation preparation etc. Agents that will book you everywhere or for anyone who asks for a fee Agents that say this is the standard in the business and you should sign Agent wants you to change drastically to become more commercial, many times to fit into a category that they control. Many times certain agents have developed networks that they will try and fit “warm bodies” into to generate income. Agents that will charge a fee for housing to be with other artists Approaching the Prospective Agent As a rule agencies will generally reach out to management companies or record labels but that is not always the case. You need to have a polished product with a provable and measurable amount of success.  Ie successful youtube channel, record contract, contracts with promoters, opening for a major act etc. Should have at least 100,000 subscribers with at least a few hundred videos with an average of 350,000 views after 30 days Have daily weekly metrics of how your videos perform The fees and structures The fees and structures gent fee’s are 10% of the gross money the agent generates. The scope of the agreement: Exclusive, Duration of the contract 3-5 years not more than 5 years for a jr band Rights to terminate (setting up goals and incentives for the agent)  Music from this week’s Show White Stripes – Seven Nation Army White Stripes – Icky Thump In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to co[...]

We wrap up our NAMM gear recap with part 3: cymbals, sticks, electronics, and some accessories. Opening Detritus Join Dave on PSN: DoktorTakt! Topic Notes Paiste Zildjian Sabian Meinl TRX Dream Cymbals Turkish Soultone Vic Firth Promark Vater Regal Tip Roland NFUZD Evans   Sound Synergies Music From This Week’s Show Bodhran – Young Dubliners I’m Shipping Up To Boston – Dropkick Murphys Linger – The Cranberries In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

We continue our series on new gear from NAMM 2016! Opening Detritus Chatting it up with Ben the news guy! http://benandrewsmusic.com He needs a nickname! Mailbag From Dan: Hey guys! So happy you’re back on the air after your winter break! I have to admit that I was starting to get concerned and on the verge of sending you one of those “Are you OK?” emails. I’m glad that it was all just a case of being super busy. I’m writing because I want to share a practice tip with my fellow listeners, one that I’ve found invaluable and doesn’t get mentioned as often as I would think. Namely, practicing in front of a mirror. If you step into a gym or dance studio, one of the first things you’ll notice is mirrors everywhere, in recognition that form has a direct impact on athletic and artistic performance. The same is certainly true for drumming. So about a year ago I dug out an old mirror, spent about 10 bucks for materials at my local home center, and built myself an easel to hang the mirror from. That simple solution lets me monitor the quality and symmetry of my movements in a way I couldn’t otherwise do, every time I practice. As a bonus, it also lets me keep tabs on the funny faces I might be apt to make while playing, faces that I wouldn’t want to share with an audience! In short: 10 bucks well spent. I hope others will find this helpful. As always, thanks so much for what you do for the drumming community. Your friend, Dan http://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Count-Washable-Window-Markers/dp/B001FQKPSU   Tom D Regarding top 50 drummer list, I was surprised Stewart Copeland was not on the list. I was delighted to Mitch Mitchell on the list. I don’t think he gets mentioned enough when speaking of great drummers. Love the podcast! Topic Notes DW/PDP Sakae Gretsch Yamaha Sonor Canopus Ludwig Dixon Natal Mapex Gon Pops Remo Latin Percussion  Music from this week’s show The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic The Police – Roxanne In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

We’re back from our winter hibernation! We take a look at some of the most interesting gear out of NAMM 2016 on today’s show. Mailbag From Mark Any tips for struggling learning double bass drum? Not getting it at all! Thanks Stick Control: For the Snare Drummer   From Bobby Hey I recently discovered your podcast. I am a percussion instructor in western Ky. I just wanted to say thanks for all the information. You guys talk about things I wasn’t aware I wanted to know. Can’t wait for more. Thanks!   From Bryan Thanks for the show guys! I know the time and effort of putting on this show doesn’t equal the financial return (if any) but the service you two contribute to the drumming community is invaluable, in my opinion. I really enjoyed the episodes on drum programming as it confirmed my desire to become re-united with midi technology. Back in the mid 90’s after graduating with degree in percussion I formed a what I called a midi-band where I programmed band parts using Performer and Band in a Box, and gigged solo playing a lead pan over top of the programmed parts. It provided a steady source of income and I never had to fire the bass player. I never admitted to my peers, my favorite part was the programming. Now with family and work responsibilities I don’t feel I play enough to knock out a couple passes on drumset in a recording session even though I know what I want to play in my head. Drum programming allows me to feel like I can still contribute some solid ideas to a project when the opportunity arises. Another favorite episode is What not to wear. I was a little hesitant about pushing the play button on that one but glad I did – Great show! Even though I’ve moved on from playing and teaching full-time I still have a small bebop kit and all black attire ready to go. Being ready for the a last minute call for a gig is a hard habit to break. I drive a lot for work and between your podcast and I’d Hit That the miles go by quickly. Thanks again, congratulations, and I look forward to the next season! News Percussion Market to reach $2B by 2020? Tommy Lee Stuck on Drum Rollercoaster Poison’s Drummer Reveals Oral Cancer Battle Chris Adler confirms Megadeth Tour The Drummer’s Watch Opinion: Top 50 Rock Drummers All-Time Frank Ferrer (Guns N’ Roses) 101 David Bowie – Lazarus David Bowie – Let’s Dance Topic Notes Tama Pearl Pearl’s NAMM Facebook Page Music from this week’s Show Hands on a Hardbody: Stronger | Born in Lardeo David Bowie – Lazarus David Bowie – Let’s Dance In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

We wrap up season 10 with an episode covering the tools you’ll need if you want to publish your own book! Opening Detritus Christmas Classics https://open.spotify.com/user/126594212/playlist/3Z010Mpd9XHr8knL7mgha6 Christmas Cocktails https://open.spotify.com/user/126594212/playlist/2ur9dMTc5420l5OdlFHEeP davyk’s Christmas Remix Playlist https://open.spotify.com/user/126594212/playlist/45tEQkwVuvrLfEM2kTG3rW News Ringo’s Kit Sells for 2.25 Million Neil Peart Retiring? Topic Notes Publishing Avenues Lulu.com Amazon http://www.amazonkdp.com iBooks Writing Programs Scrivener http://nanowrimo.org iBooks Author Design Tools MS Publisher InDesign by Adobe Adobe Creative Cloud Pages by Apple Notation Software Finale Sibelius Software Help Lynda.com Mac Pro Video www.Youtube.com    Outsourcing http://99designs.com www.Upwork.com (formerly Elance) www.guru.com Envato Studios Music from this week’s Show Rush – Closer to the Heart Rush – YYZ In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact

Dave and Troy discuss the world of publishing on today’s episode by exploring a typical publishing contract. Drummer Talk Mailbag From Tammy Hey guys! In episode 2 there was discussion about what effect, if any, Katrina would have on music migration. As you saw displaced drummers looking for gigs in Memphis you said you wondered if ten years later music in Memphis would have more of a New Orleans influence. Well it’s 10 years later…any thoughts? News Beatles Kit Expected to Sell for Millions Deantoni Parks (Mars Volta) Creates Solo Album Ex-Slayer Dave Lombardo Forms New Band Opinion: Most Influential Rock Drummers Phil Taylor (Motörhead) dies at 61 Topic Notes Download the contract here: Publishing Agreement Standard Music from this week’s Show Motörhead – Ace of Spade Motörhead – Overkill In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact Next Week:  Publishing 201

Prof Troy is back from PASIC15 and has the lowdown on this year’s convention. Opening Detritus We have a news guy! Welcome, Ben Andrews! Drummer Talk Mailbag From Dan Hey Troy & Dave, I want to thank you and Mrs. What Is Up for taking on the subject of depression, and for doing so in such a vulnerable and loving way. It was such a powerful episode that it prompted me to do something I’ve been meaning to do for a while now: to go to Patreon and become a contributor. In the show, you talked about how musicians’ brains may be wired differently, and of the transformative power of playing music. This reminded me of a NOVA documentary called Musical Minds. One of the people profiled in the documentary is Matt Giordano (time mark 20:35), who has been coping with Tourette syndrome his entire life, and has found that the only thing that can help him quiet his tics is drumming. At the end of the episode (time mark 50:00) we also see how Matt is using drumming to help others with Tourette’s. The whole documentary is fascinating, inspirational, and well worth a watch. Fair warning though: if you’ve ever had someone with special needs close to you in your life, you may just find it impossible to make it through this thing with dry eyes. As always, God bless you for bringing this show so selflessly to the drumming community. Your friend, Dan   From “Debbie” Wow – I was completely humbled to see the topic this week. Thank you for addressing this! When Shannon talked about the dread of practice and that sometimes it’s so hard to simply get started I wanted to laugh, cry, and shout all at the same time. Literally the story of my life. I am sure that there are folks who listened to this podcast who struggle with depression or know someone who does. I believe hearing it talked about as a part of your daily lives (Troy dealing with it in his community, Dave and Shannon dealing with it as a family) WILL help people realize they are not alone and I know that will spread hope. Thank You! P.S. More of Mrs. What is Up! She’s great!! News “Love Me Do” Drummer Dies at 85 In Memoriam: Jacques Delécluse Bass Drum Head sold for $2.1 million Amen Break Owner Finally Gets Paid Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook skeptical of Reunion Music from this week’s Show: Douze Études for Snare Drum: Étude 1 – Rob Knopper It’s Not Unusual – Tom Jones Amen, Brother – The Winstons In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact Next Week:  Thanksgiving holiday.  12/3 – Self-Publishing 101

Dave and Troy discuss the realities of depression and its impact on musicians. Includes special guest, Mrs. What Is Up. Drummer Talk Mailbag From Dov: Great episodes on bearing edges! One note, that might be helpful for someone who’s never operated a router before, is to make sure you’re feeding in the correct direction. I love these how-to episodes, as someone who’s into woodworking but hasn’t ever taken apart a drum. It’s great knowing the future options available to me! (Again, my first name is pronounced like “he dove straight into the bearing project before learning what he was doing”) From Kevin: Hey guys, love your podcast. Was wondering if you sell t-shirts? Answer: You can get one by becoming a Drummer Talk Patron! News Phil Collins to Come Out of Retirement Topic Notes From Debbie: In podcast #261 you brought up the story of Travis Barker. I appreciated what you had to say about depression being real and not easy to deal with. I’m a 44 year old woman and I have loved the drums since I was three years old. My older cousin was in a band and I used to sneak down and play around on his kit when he was in school. I joined 5th grade band but was disappointed to learn only kids who’d taken piano lessons were allowed to sign up for the drums. I ended up playing the trumpet for a semester and that was the end of my music career. I wanted to play drums but there always seemed to be some barrier and at some point in my life I decided it was too late to try. I went through a lot of trauma when I was younger and struggled for years with depression and an inability to concentrate. Well meaning people around me told me to look at the bright side, or that others had it worse than me so I should cheer up, or that I just needed to work harder or be more organized. For 43 years I did the best I could but a year ago (October 25, 2014 to be exact) I found myself standing in my brother’s house with his pistol in my hand. Thank God a couple of my friends tracked me down and helped me get to a hospital even though I resisted them for quite a few hours. I didn’t have insurance, I didn’t think it would help, and I was scared. It turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I got help.  I spent ten days in the hospital and was then discharged to an outpatient program. My treatment plan was the following: Go through specialized post-trauma therapy Take a couple different medications Learn to play the drums Yep. Drums were part of my therapy, right there on my discharge sheet. Learning a new skill can counteract depression and music has all kinds of therapeutic elements. The drums are a physical instrument that requires my whole body to work in harmony. It was also helpful to tackle an activity I had convinced myself I didn’t deserve. I had thought that I wasn’t the right kind of person to be a drummer. By learning drums I was saying to myself and anyone else “I’m going to own my life. I’m going to do what I want to do.” Walking into the drum shop for my first lesson was really hard. A seven year old boy walked out the door and hopped into his mom’s mini van with his sticks and music folder. I felt really out of place but I gutted it out and entered the store. A young, skinny, “musician type” guy behind the counter looked up. I cringed. When I mumbled something about being there for a lesson he was super encouraging. He told me all about my teacher, how much fun I was going to have, how drums take a lot of work and practice but that it’s worth it, etc. I relaxed. I was accepted even though I had felt like an intruder. I give a lot of credit to Donn Bennett Drums in Bellevue, WA for being so wonderfully encouraging to this unlikely drummer. A year ago nothing was fun. Nothing held my interest. I wanted to die. Today all I want is a Tama Starclassic Birch/Bubinga kit (in Molten Brown Burst!) My drum [...]

Dave and Troy bring part 2 of our series on bearing edges by focusing on how to cut your own! Drummer Talk Mailbag From Chris Dave & Troy, I loved the episode on bearing edges. Between that and the refinishing podcasts, it’s making me want to dust off my old basswood Sonor Force 2001’s and refinish them. The toms are 12×10, 13×11 and 16×16. That seems really deep compared to the kits I’ve been playing on recently. Can you touch on how tom depth and bearing edge variations work together to produce certain sounds? Also, the drums have a flat black lacquer finish I’m not crazy about. Would I be able to varnish over that or do anything to bring some life to the physical appearance? Thanks! Chris News Tendonitis sidelines Tommy Lee for 4th Motley Crue show Travis Barker opens up about post-crash depression and thoughts of suicide Topic Notes Tools Router Table Router – Buy what you like but rent or hire a good router if you don’t own one I Metal Tool Stand Chamfer Router bits Freud 45 Bit Freud 30 Bit Amana 60 Bit Freud Roundover Bit Johnsons Paste Wax True Table 3/4″ Melamine Board Or Glass Table Top Sandpaper 120 Grit Paper (20 Pack) 320 Grit Paper (20 Pack) 3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive J-Roller Acetone and scraper for taking of 3M glue spray when finished 3M Blue Painters Tape Flat Hand File (if needed to smooth out wrap finished drums) Lumber Crayon Digital Caliper Eye and Ear protection 6 Part process Rough cut the shells Using a caliper measure the thickness of your drum shell ( Use a digital caliper ) Set your router in the routing table and raise the bit height to ? of that measurement from below Flush the shell against the bit so that it’s touching the blade and measure the distance between the blade and the bearing repeat steps until you have the gap between the shell and the blade that you want Lock your router and plug it in. Cut outside edge first: slowly ease on and off the bit using a clockwise motion. Cut inside edge next: slowly ease on and off the bit using counter clockwise motion. True the shells Take a lumber crayon, and color the flat part of your edge, all the way around the shell. Start sanding that edge of the shell until you see no more markings from your crayon. Do this to both edges of the shell check the evenness of the shell you may have to sand more or you may have to go back to the router and recut the edges again, then use the truing table to get that consistent flatness. Cut the inside Set the height of the router bit to fit the inner edge profile you are trying to attain Route inside of one drum shell, and determine if you need a bigger cut. to cut more material you must raise your router bit height.) Once you have a desirable inside edge on your first shell, cut all the inside edges on all your drums Adjust router bit slightly higher for thicker shells ( bass drums ) and cut the inside edge. Cut the outside If your shells are finished or have a wrap – use ¾ inch blue painters tape around the outside of the shells ( clean your router bit with tweezers after each shell – make sure your router is turned off when you do it ) Set the height of the router bit for the outside edge profile you are trying to attain. In most cases, this will either be a very small cut (since we rough cut the outside edge already), or just slightly bigger than the rough cut edge. Route outside of one drum shell, and determine if you need a bigger cut Once you have a desirable outside edge on your first shell, cut all the outside edges on all of your drums including thick shells. Adjust router bit slightly higher for thicker shells, and cut comparable outside edge to complete the bearing edge profile you desire. Match bass drum hoops Cut inner edge of one side of both of your bass drum hoops. Determine whether your bass drum claws have a rounded hook, or a flat style hook on them. If flat is needed, leav[...]

Professor Troy drops the knowledge in part 1 of our two-part series on bearing edges. Opening Detritus Shout out to our newest DT Patrons, Craig Parton, Samuel di Prete, Jonathan Winfrey, Brady Ponton, and Eric Ahern We’re getting caught up on Patreon rewards! Drummer Talk Mailbag From Eric: Hi Dave- I’ve been an on and off listener to the podcast for the last two years or so, and I have to tell you that the last episode, featuring Mrs. What Is Up speaking about music theory, was probably my all-time favorite so far. It spurred me to finally donate to support the podcast. I’m a 38 year old teacher of French and Spanish, and have been a (sometimes frustrated) life-long music learner. I could completely relate to that feeling of giving up on music when hitting a wall in learning music theory (and in my case notation). Growing up taking music classes in school, I was a failed saxophone player, then a failed guitarist, and finally a mediocre snare drummer. Later in life I finally got my hands on a drum kit and felt like I had found my instrument. I progressed and starting playing in bands, loving every minute of it. But the music theory cloud loomed over me like a fowl reminder of my inadequacy. As you so rightly said, it was like the other members of the band were speaking in a foreign tongue that I longed to understand. That spurred me to pick up a ukulele and learn some easy three-chord pop songs. Ukulele got me back into guitar, and the more I learned the more I wanted to learn. Now I still play drums, but I am also learning more and more music theory just by virtue of playing guitar, learning scales, song structure, keys, chord formation, etc. This knowledge has greatly benefited my drumming. Plus now I can shred on guitar in a Strokes cover band. As a language teacher, the entire podcast I kept waiting for someone to make the analogy to language learning. In fact, I only ever made any progress in music once I started thinking about the steps I took in learning languages, which for some reason was always easier for me. When you made the comparison to learning German, I actually yelled out “Hell yes!”. Sorry for the long-winded email; I just wanted to say thank you so much for this inspirational conversation, and for the resources that you, Shannon and Troy shared. It would be so great to hear another episode getting more into the details of theory with your lovely wife. Best, Eric News Phil Rudd loses appeal because judge figured AC/DC don’t want him Topic Notes Drummertalk Bearing Edges PDF Music from this week’s Show: AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC – Back in Black In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact Next Week:  All About Bearing Edges (Part 2)

Mrs. What Is Up, Shannon Kropf, joins us to help demystify music theory and why we drummers should care about it! Drummer Talk Mailbag From Dan, Hey guys, Just finished watching the companion video for episode 257 (drum programming) — great stuff! Would you consider doing an episode where you would break down the sonic elements of some classic drum sounds, and show how you would model those in your DAW? A possible format could be to play a snippet of an iconic tune from a genre, and then show how you would set up your DAW to achieve that sound. While I don’t have a DAW myself, I do have a Roland V kit, with its own dizzying array of settings. If I could see how you do this in your DAW, I think I could transfer that knowledge to my Roland module. Similarly, I’m guessing that an acoustic kit player could transfer that knowledge to figure out how to tune, mic, mix and apply effects to their kit. As always, thanks so much for what you do! News Transcription – “Who Are You” by The Who RATT ownership battle goes round and round as drummer “hijacks” band name Avenged Sevenfold has a new drummer, but they’re not telling who it is Topic Notes Resources MusicTheory.net Coursera Idiot’s Guide to Music Theory/Music Theory for Dummies Rising Software Four stages of competence Unconsciously unknowing Consciously unknowing Consciously knowing Unconsciously knowing Music from this week’s Show: Who Are You – The Who Welcome to the Family – Avenged Sevenfold In closing… Find out when new articles and next episodes hit by following us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/drummertalk) and Facebook (http://facebook.com/drummertalk) Want to support Drummer Talk and help us to continue to bring news, reviews, articles, transcriptions, and videos to free to you? Please consider becoming a Drummer Talk patron. You can find out more information including patron rewards (like shout-outs, stickers, T-shirts, and more)  at drummertalk.org/support.  Patron levels start at just $1. Remember, every donation helps keep us on the air and ad free! Have a topic suggestion or question for the show?  Let us know at www.drummertalk.org/contact Next Week:  All About Bearing Edges (Part 1)