So you have your drum kit. It’s everything you’ve dreamed about and now you want to do gigs – lots of gigs. You’re prepared to do everything and anything to get your experience up – rock covers, weddings, Jazz, Latin. Don’t care – just want gigs. Then you rock up to your first gig with out your drum throne…
For me, my drum kit is only part of what I need in my set up. I play a variety of gigs and lead bands and therefore my set up changes. The real kit is they arsenal of stuff I have at home ready to be taken out for a show. Let’s look at some essentials for the gigging drummer that will make your life easier and impress the people who hire you – playing is only half the job and most of the smaller stuff will fit in your cases/stick bag.

ACCESSORIES – BE PREPARED…

Drum Throne – This may seem silly but it’s amazing the times I’ve seen drummers sitting on a chair…

Carpet – Having a carpet the width from the outer bass drum leg to your hi-hat stand is key for every time you arrive a venue with either no stage or worse – floorboards. There’s no time for a sliding drum kit. You’ll have a terrible gig. Keep it small so it’s not as hard to lug around.

Gaffa Tape – an absolute must! Not only can it get you out of a bad tuning situation but can also hold together any piece of hardware, stick down leads etc. Your band members will love you! Don’t leave home without it.

Metronome – my metronome comes out if in sound check or rehearsal, the singer sets tempos and you need to remember them to count in the band. I actually have one on my iPhone to save carrying it separately and it saves me every time, particularly if I’m filling in and don’t know the band’s material too well.

Drum Key – keep one on your key ring. Trust me.

Practice Pad – never hurts to warm up.

Pocket Knife – a little blade, scissors or screwdriver always comes in handy.

Felts/Washers – for the gigs where there’s a house kit or back line and you arrive only to find no possible way that your expensive cymbals can sit on the stands.

Music Stand – have one handy for those chart reading gigs and a Reading Light in case they turn the stage lights down.

Manuscript Paper – handy for writing down hits, grooves, set lists and notes. Don’t forget the Pen.

Real Book – handy for Jazz gigs if you don’t know the tunes. You can even get this as an app too.

Trolley – actually don’t know how I ever lived with out it. Save your back and time.

iPod/iPad – I have mine handy for background music if I’m the MD at a wedding or just if it’s needed.

MICROPHONES – BE HEARD…

Bass Drum Mic – with the exception of jazz gigs, I mic up my bass drum for every gig. I use an Audix D6 and it’s my best friend. Works great through small vocal PAs too. Don’t forget the Stand!

Overhead Mic – not always essential but handy at bigger venues if no one is doing sound – even a cheap one will be ok.

Vocal/Instrument Mic – it’s handy if the drummer can do backing vocals or have a mic spare when one dies. I keep a Shure Beta58 for vocals and a Shure SM57 for my snare on occasion. Stands essential.

Leads – one lead for every mic!

DRUMS/CYMBALS/ SNARES – THE RIGHT GEAR FOR THE JOB…

Cymbals – Don’t bring your heavy rock ride to a Jazz gig or a wedding that you have to play jazz in the dinner set. Make sure you have the right sound for the gig you’re doing. I often bring two rides to a wedding. One for jazz stuff and one for the dance sets. Same goes for crashes and Hi-Hats. Also, think, do you really need that China?

Snare Drums – it’s amazing what the right snare will do for the gig. Smaller gigs I might use a 12×7 inch and for louder gigs it’ll be a 14×7 or perhaps a steel snare.

Bass drum – I generally use a smaller bass drum for punch, tight spaces, jazz gigs etc but because I mic it up, I’m still heard. I still have the big ones on hand for the big gigs.

GOOD LUCK!