L.V., hit me up lata!
LGM, what's good with you guys? Hope all is well with you and your families. I'm doing well, staying busy. Ready to enjoy some warm weather, ya know!!
So anyway, I come through here every so often, mainly to see what clips yall are posting. I read the threads sometimes, but a lot of times I don't. Mainly because you have to understand that it can be kind of hard to see what your so called "brothers" think and say about you. I'm a very nonchalant kind of dude, so I don't really let MUCH get to me. But when you are as passionate as I am about music, and work so hard to portray it, only to have people tear it down at times....that can be a little frustrating, to say the least. I've read some pretty interesting things about myself on here. All ranging from my skill as a musician, to my walk with Christ, to my sexuality. And it aint all been positive. And just think....this is a Christian forum. Not only that, but a drum forum at that. If nowehre else, I should want to come and fellowship via internet with my brothers. Now, I'm not coming on here to whine about who does or doesn't like me. And I am gonna give my opinion on the topic at hand. But I also want to address a couple things said on here, as well.
The studio thing, as Juse/Sabe/D.O.D./so many others said, is all about making the producer happy. Plain and simple, it's politics. You make the producers happy, you get more calls. The trick is finding a way to make the producer happy, and feel good about your track all at the same time. I've been in the ever so familiar place that all of you have, in the studio. The place where you have a part you want to play, or an idea of what the drum part should be. And it's completely different from what the producer has in mind. What do you do? First of all, you become open! Open to what that person may be hearing. Open to putting your idea aside. Open, to being a musician for hire...LOL. My first position, is to find out EXACTLY what the other guy is hearing. Once I have that down, I start trying to incorporate some of my ideas. But NOT forcefully. If you have a part that the producer isn't feeling, don't turn it into a debate. Ask if there's anything in particular about the part, that's not working. If he says it's the whole thing, then let it be that. Move on!! Remember, in the studio, less is always more. There will always be more parts added, when you leave. Two people that never lie in the studio....Mics and Clicks!!! They will tell the truth on you, brother. So make sure you're tight. For me, I always let the producer tell me to play more. That's just me though. Not a rule, just MY preference. The studio is a great way to make a living, as a musician. I know guys who do that, and nothing else. But they know how to work it. So, get in the studio as much as you can. Learn how to be quick, too. Mics pickup everything, from rattling lugs, to loose cymbals screws, to squeaky kick drum pedals. So make sure your gear is tight and your playing is even tighter. Be prepared to do everything, and come well equipped. Have plenty of sticks, moongel, brushes, mallets, hot rods and cymbals felts. And always, ALWAYS have at least two snare drums. My studio tips, for the day. LOL
BBD, you said a couple things I wanna address. First off, you spoke about kids having the wrong impression about studio drumming. Are you doing anything to help alter this perception, within your community of musicians? Knowledge is power, and I've come to realize that we as musicians of influence have to use that influence for more than getting self accolades. You gotta use that influence to educate cats on what it takes to be a successful musician. I pride myself on sharing this knowledge with everyone who approaches me, and is willing to listen. No matter how young or old! Juse made a great point....the cats that work are the ones that make the right decisions, across the board. Your chops are useless, if they're in the wrong place. BBD, you said I need to step out into the real world. I guess you don't consider Gospel to be the real world, huh? Why is that? Gospel has been, by far, one of the most innovative genres in musical history. You can hardly look at any well known black band/artist and not pick out a church guy. And it's crossing over to the mainstream/pop/country genre too. But even if you don't consider Gospel to be "the real world", have you checked out my resume of CD's, producers and work projects? I live and work in a very real world, bro. One where gas is $4.39/gallon. I fill my tank up twice a week, in this real world. It don't get no realer than that, my dude!!! I've worked in Nashville, NY, and Cali. Not to mention, Chicago. People don't hire Gospel musicians, they hire good ones. Feel me? Bro, you talk about the brotherhood of drummers being broken down. Man, read some of the things you've said on this website about cats like Spanky, or myself. Where's the brotherhood in that? Don't talk about it, be about it!! And I mean that in the most sincere way. You want more studio gigs, stop talking about who getting all the gigs, and do something. Get your self over here to the U.S. and take some of them. I aint trying to play for everybody, I'm only trying to do/have what's for me. Flat 5th said it best, start showing some progress. You mentioned timeless recordings. What makes a recording timeless. The song or the drum part? I think this is a matter of opinion. Sabe talked about the Two Against Nature session, where Vinnie left the note for Mike White. He said "let's make history". I'm a part of history bro. Does that mean my work is timeless? Does it mean it isn't? Sabe, I haven't recorded my timeless track yet, bro. LOL
Audio, I don't think there's anything wrong with pursuing your goals aggressively. If I wanted a new house, but only talked about it.....never checked out my credit score, never made sure all my bills were current, never went into a bank....how would I get that crib? Aggressive isn't a problem, I don't think. Maybe as long as it's done in the right spirit. I was aggressive in pursuing the drum chair with JPK, when Ladell quit, feel me?
As always, please don't take anything I say as being offensive or disrespectful. It is only my opinion, and I'm entitled to it. I only state how I feel, and want to help whoever I can. Holla atcha boy!!!
C-Rod