drumoff

alright, so i just competed in the 2006 drumoff...

heres the thing. Im not great...i know im not. i entered knowing that. But im good. And i figured that if i entered, itd be a great way to show what i can to, and to see what other people are working on. Just an overall fun night.

well basically, one of the judges got up at the end and all but ripped me a new one. now, he didn't have the balls 2 say it to my face, so he made it nice and "general" - but it was clear. Basically he said someone here wasted our time, they never should've left their basement. Do you guys...think thats a legitimate attitude - should i never play out again because there is someone out there whos better then me?? Cause if i wait until im better then every other person ever...ill never get there. I was gonna kill the guy...but i just left.

maybe im missing something....but does anybody else think thats a jerk move?? Insulting the one 19 year old kid in the compition and saying he sucks?? arg.

No, get out there and play! Don't ever let the fact that there are others out there who are better than you be a roadblock to your own enjoyment and fulfilment. There's ALWAYS gonna be someone better than you, and there will ALWAYS be someone who's not as good. "Best" is a subjective term in just about any field of endeavour, and what may be best to one person is so-so to somebody else.

With regards to the cruel judge, well, it was a competition after all. By definition, you're gonna have the so-called 'best' players in the area competing. If you went into this knowing that perhaps your skills are not in the same league as the other participants, then don't let his comments bother you. Did he need to make you feel small? No, that was uncalled for, and demonstrates his own "smallness", if you catch my drift! Just take this experience for what it was - a chance to see where you stand in the general drum community in your area. Now you know what to work on to strengthen your own drum vocabulary. Very valuable knowledge, in my opinion.

Don't worry....your day will come. Believe it!

Is it still to late to go back and deck him?

Seriously, it's an utterly retarded thing to say. And this whole treating the drums like a sport instead of an art is ripping the heart and soul out of the instrument.

Listen: they have these machines now that are faster and more accurate than you at drumming. They seem to be used in a bunch of electronic and industrial music, mostly. What these machines don't have is feeling or soul. And that doesn't win you drum competitions from what I've seen...

It's a big world. Go explore. You'll be better off for it.

That is not a quality judge there. I didn't know distructive criticism was part of the job description.

Time to go tire-slashing. Safety tip, deflate tire prior to the slashing.

The judge that tore into you showed a real lack of professionalism by his comments. Don't let it bother you. Cudos to you for going for it, though. Now, having said that-screw a bunch of drum competitions. Music is an art, not a sport. Drum-Offs and things like that are nothing but an ego-fest IMHO. I couldn't care less what a drummer can do in one of those wank-offs. It's what you can do within the context of song as a member of a band that matters. Don't worry about it. Winning some drum competition has never been a prerequisite to being a good drummer, or even making a living as a drummer.

Just an observation. The biz itself is considerably harsher than a brow beating. Right now for you it's about competence and that's nobody's busness but yours.

And all the above.

Took the words right out of my mouth!

I just got back from drumoff 06 in roseville MN. I recived 4th place. I think that kicks ass because I'm 18 and this as my first year. I was the only Wisconsin guy there. I just went and had fun. and I got a standing ovation from a few people including some drummers competing. Even though I didn't win, I couldn't be prouder of myself, and the two that did win deserved to win 110%

Its not about if you win or lose, its about having fun, showing your skills, and making some new friends/fans.

Danny,

Here's something to think about.

When I was your age, a lot of my contemporaries used to give me {censored} about not having a lot of hand chops. My forte was bass drum work and grooving.

Now that I'm almost 50, and am playing music professionally, these same dudes (who gave up the dream and are now wage slaves) are giving me the "green eyes of envy" because I'm the one flying around the world gigging, and having a great time.

Don't let the babbling of the "useless" make you give up the dream!

two more cents

thanks guys. As long as i know it isnt just me being a woman about it; that this guy really was out of line...i feel better. My basic feeling now is, if he needed to attack a 19 year old to make him feel like a better player...then he probably really isnt much of a player. I like the comment "drumming is an art, not a sport." Maybe when im dead...my drumming will be legandary

MPF, congrats man, thats awesome. Glad some of these are going better then others. Thinking back, it was cool to see, and i had a good time (till the end). Next year is your year man...time for the superbow....i mean....

thanks again guys

Originally posted by danny0816 thanks guys. As long as i know it isnt just me being a woman about it; that this guy really was out of line...i feel better. My basic feeling now is, if he needed to attack a 19 year old to make him feel like a better player...then he probably really isnt much of a player. I like the comment "drumming is an art, not a sport." Maybe when im dead...my drumming will be legandary MPF, congrats man, thats awesome. Glad some of these are going better then others. Thinking back, it was cool to see, and i had a good time (till the end). Next year is your year man...time for the superbow....i mean.... thanks again guys

You have a great attitude:thu: I sympathize, and know that hearing that kind of stuff would have killed me.

So keep it up, enjoy the instrument. Believe that 99.9% of us here have been in similar spots, where we get out heads handed to us by someone with superior chops. Its tough, but as the saying goes, "that which does not kill us makes us stronger"

Not having been there and not knowing who the judge was...

I get the picture in my head of some 35-year-old just about to give it up music store salesman who has a stiffy because he gets to pretend he's simon cowell (or whatever that Idol guy's name is) for the day.

My imaginary guy also couldn't ever figure out why John Couger Melloncamp's comebacks never really took off. Or some other fairly lame band... we'll let the executive producer decide that later and overdub the refence in post.

Anyhow...

Scarecrowbob reads Old Steve's mind.

It should have been obvious to everyone that you were closer to a "beginner" than the other drummers. I would have applauded the fact that you had the huevos to get up there and go for it. Obviously the guy has insecurity issues, or else he wouldn't need to attempt to elevate his status by shooting somebody else down. I could see a guy like that shooting down 5 year olds taking their first drum lesson because they can't do paradiddles at 200bpm.

The funny thing is, I bet if you asked the other people in the audience about his comments, they'd probably all agree with YOUR point of view, and if anything the guy probably doesn't realize that he made himself look stupid in front of the crowd.

As for drum competitions, I've never been a fan of them. I see their value somewhat....inspire people to make themselves better by providing a competition.....but on the other hand, waaaaay too many people get too much of their self-worth wrapped around these kinds of competitions. Is the winner a better person than the runners up? Is he a better musician? Is he a better bandmate? Will he have a more successful and/or fulfilling musical career? The answer to all of these questions is "not necessarily", yet way too many people think that the answer to these questions is "absolutely yes".

Compete with yourself. Are you better today than you were yesterday? Do you have a plan to get even better in the future? If you can answer "yes" to those questions, you're on the right track. Getting up there took guts, and doing things like that will pay off big time in the future when you're called on to perform in a pressure-packed situation. Congrats, man.

Ditto on the judge getting to feel like Simon from American Idol for the day--What a prick!

Ditto also on what has been said about the futility of music competitions. It's art for Christ's sake. You may as well be saying that Monet was better than Matisse. It's just ridiculous.

Anyway... I have never entered a drum-off, or attended one and was wondering about how it's run. Do you all play the same kit or do you bring your own? I can see it going either way actually.

+1 to everything so far. Sounds like that dude missed the point.

/w

Hello...new guy here. I just wanted to comment on the answers you all gave to Danny reference the drum off. I've been a gigging musician for over twenty years and would be proud to share the stage with any one of you because of your outlooks, attitudes, and professionalism...pretty impressive group. Not that you needed my opinion, just had to drop my 2 cents... Kerry.

Danny, congrats on having the chestnuts to put yourself on the block like that when you knew you weren't in it to win it -- even with the emotional/verbal abuse from Commander Numbnuts the Judge, you've gained your weight in experience right there.

Outside of that... yeah, this is one of those posts that represents this forum to me-- everyone recommending the right thing with the spirit of drumming in them. Rock on, brothers.

Gotta remember:

There will always be people who will criticize what you do. Some will be jealous, some will be drunk, some will be assholes, and some may have valid points but not know how to express themselves properly.

Kudos for being willing to share your talent with others in a live setting. Take constructive criticism (when it is constructive, not destructive), work to improve yourself, but never retreat back to the basement.

take your lumps from the asshole, go back and win it next year.

show him who's a waste of time.

Play what you love, the way you want to play it. Took me

too many years to realize that. Competitions in music denigrate the form. If its fun and games, thats one thing, but I would hate to see some guy hang it all up because he didnt come in first place at some lame GC drum off.

drum offs are like having a pot-luck and then bitching to a guy about his casserole.

Musical events, to my knowledge, are about bring people together and putting them all on this shared state of mind. That way everyone wins. I never want music to be something that I can "lose" at, y'know?

I think it's fabulous that you had the opportunity to show a drum-minded audience what you've been working on. It sucks that a guy has to be a complete prick about it. I say have a Drum-Off and just let everybody play and celebrate the ART of drumming, forget about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places.

If I wanted blatant competition, I'd watch football on TV y'know?

I agree with everyone so far. The guy was really a jerk when he just as easily could have given you some constructive tips on how to improve and leave it at that.

Saying that, It's not only the judges that take these competitions seriously. It's the drummers too. Winning a GC drum off can lead to endorsements, gigs, tours and who knows what else.

Lastly. No one twisted your arm to enter the drum off. If you're gonna put yourself on the line knowing that you're not at the same level as the rest of these guys; then you can hardly blame a judge for calling a spade a spade.

Do I think the judge was a major turd? Yes.

Do I think you should ignore him and keep doing what you love? Yes.

Does it surprise me that people can be mean, rude, thoughtless and needlessly cruel? Just check out the posts from Aqualung

Hello all out there in drumland,

I was at the same competition, and I would like to clear up what the judge REALLY said.

He told all of the drummers, that when you compete to win in the Drum Off, there are certain things that Judges are looking for. The drummers are instructed to diversify their styles as well as add showmanship, originality, and technique.

If you are not following the rules, then you are judged accordingly.

He also said, that even if you win, you will have to go and compete against some of the best amateur drummers in the US and those guys are HUNGRY for the prize.

He never ripped anyone a new one, and I am quite sure that if you came back to the store, he would indeed show you your results and why you did not win.

In time I am sure your drum skills will be at a point where you can compete and win, but you really should understand that the judges for these competitions are doing this because they are:

1. In the industry

2. Have experience doing what they do

3. Have been in competitions before

Make no mistake, this is a Competition, and if you are not that great, you should listen to what he REALLY said, and practice.

D

So you somehow tracked this thread down and made an account just to say that? Fishy.

+1