Being a drummer can be hard work, and yes there’s definitely a few perks. After all, we know how to have fun, there are times when things go well and you wish you could just marry your kit and have done with it. And drummers usually top most polls on which musician is considered sexiest (which we all know is a plus).

But, there’s equally as many reasons which will occasionally make you wonder why you chose drums of all instruments. How many of these do you recognize?

Gigging is like Moving House

Drums are big, drums are cumbersome. Your kit is your baby, but setting up your kit, and dismantling your…. Well you get the idea. As such moving the thing, carrying it to and from cars or vans and up and down stairs is a pain. And let’s be honest, how many of us can say our bandmates really helped with this properly…… if you have a dedicated singer you will resent him/her more than anyone in the planet during this part of the gig.

Sound Checks Blow!

Guitarists get to play for a few minutes and they’re done. Same for the singer.

You on the other hand…well, prepare to sit down for the next 30 minutes and tap the drums one by one repeatedly over and over and over and over…….

Then you get to play for 2 minutes and back to waiting to start…. Oh, the fun…. Oh and heaven forbid you have an unorthodox kit set up and the sound tech’s in a bad mood. Apparently, you’re now the devil…..

The Expense is Never Over

There’s always something to replace on the kit, whether it’s skins, sticks, a cymbal that’s cracked (yes it makes us want to cry when this happens too) the drums keep on eating your money like a broken vending machine. Oh yer, did we mention none of these things are cheap… well sticks aren’t too bad, but everything else…..

If the guitarist ever moans about the price of strings again you’ll hit him with his amp….

Drummer Jokes Aren’t Funny…..

Drums take just as long to master as any instrument, just because most of the band can manage a basic 4/4 doesn’t make them all as good as The Rev, hell it doesn’t even make them Ringo. We don’t assume because we can play Wonderwall that we’re Hendrix.

The point is that things like “What do you call a guy who hangs around with musicians? A drummer…” isn’t that funny. And secondly when your failed guitarist type bassists tell them without a leg to stand on it’s just puzzling.

Everyone Wants to Paw at Your Gear

Did we mention drums are expensive? Did we mention that playing them incorrectly means you’re very likely to damage stuff? Ok well, know but you are. People will always want a go. You will spend this time wincing as they’re completely out of time and chipping your sticks to pieces whilst you pray they’re not quite incompetent enough to knock anything over or punch straight through a skin (this has actually happened).

Your Place is Always Trashed

We don’t say this because drums are big, although finding a place for them is a pain sometimes, we say this because they’re a pain to move so we do it as little as possible.

That often means practice is at your place. And the day your bandmates don’t descend on your place like a swarm of beer drinking locusts and simply plow through everything you’ve got stocked up you’ll be amazed.

And before anyone says to leave it at someone else’s house. No….. Just NO.

You’ll Judge Every Drummer You See By How Bored He Looks

So you’re watching a local band, the drumbeat is simple, but sounds ok with the song. How do you know if the guy’s capable or just playing the best he can. Well usually if he looks like he’s bored out of his skull it’s a good indicator. Yes, that’s technically a bad performance, but at some point even if he’s trying his best it will show through. You will notice this and instantly feel his pain. It will happen to you at some point. You will be in a band that outvote you into some very boring beats. That’s life.

But Hey, It Could Be Worse, At Least You’re Not The Bassist!