Big Opportunity

[Troy9915]

Hello Everyone,

In five days (saturday) I'm going to be playing a drum solo in front of 3,000 people. I'm extremely excited but nervous also, considering it will be my first live showing. My band hasnt gigged at all or anything like that, so this is a first. Anyway, to the point, I dont want to sound like Joey Jordison up there, just smashing double bass and not showing off any real skill. I've heard his solos and I'm not real impressed. I'm planning on having a 'funky' beats section, kinda swing it a little, a melee double bass section (which I think will be ok because that's not gonna be my whole solo, only a short part of it), a rudimental snare type thing integrating in toms and stuff while keeping the bass constant (not keeping time constant), and maybe a jazz type thing.

To anyone experienced in soloing live, what makes the crowd get into it? I dont want to completely bomb it up there, or come down from that stage and have no one clapping. Is my format ok? Any suggestions are welcome. And please, please dont say something like 'I'm sorry I cant help much but do what you think is cool and they'll love it:thumb: ' because that is just pointless. I want to leave an impression out there. It's an open mic style show for 3 hours, so I will be one of the many people (not all drummers) out there. I'm signing up for a later time during the last hour so I can set myself up for success.

Thanks

[isp_of_doom]

I see no question mark....

Have fun, keep a vague plan, but keep improv in the mix. thats what i've heard the big bearded (cough jim) forum goers say in other such threads, and so as not to sound like a dagnabbiting doofus, ill quote them....see above.

[Caleb3221]

Solo melodicly. The greatest drumset solos tend to be very melodicly interesting, as well as rhythymcly and techincly. You don't necessarily need to go through a bunch of different styles, but you can if you want. Often it's good to set up a theme for the solo, and keep coming back to that. It gives the audience something to hook onto.

[Troy9915]

I see.... I was thinking of doing this little melodic cymbal thing which actually sounds pretty cool after the melee double bass part. I think it could be a good transition. I'll definitely add that in.

[Bone]

Remember to use space.. that's a big big difference between the great solos, and the rest.

The notes you don't play are just important as the notes you do play.


Crowd interaction is often a big hit. Esspeccially if you can get a bass player up there to help on that - also a ncie touch to solos is having the bass there. Keeps a ncie reference point for the average listener.
Try clapping an easy rhythm many people would know.. something from a baseball game. Have fun.. get em clapping a rhythm, then solo over it, play it back to them. Be creative, people like to be involved.

[derryk]

something else- pick a beat and explore all the possibilites of it.

[SkaRabbit]

if you get a good reaction take some old sticks along and throw them into the crowd!

[raz0r]

Remember to use space.. that's a big big difference between the great solos, and the rest.

The notes you don't play are just important as the notes you do play.

I couldn't agree more.
There is nothing more boring than a constant roll between toms.
Just watch the joey jordison video on drummerworld to see what i'm talking about. It's probably the worst excuse for a solo i've ever heard.

Another thing to remember. Dynamics. You can never have enough dynamics

[JohnDOEpoppyDOG1712]

I like men, MEHEHhhhhhhhhhh...>!>>!>!>>!>!!!!:p :thumb: :cool: :: :chug:

[Jezen]

^^^^
Get out.

[Kosmos Tree]

Well, for a first gig in front of 3000 people you're pretty brave to play solo, i wouldn't do it.

There were already some good points but i try to add another:
Have in mind what audience you play for: Drummers can enjoy technical solos a "normal" audience probably won't, they'll mostly enjoy a mixture between groove and speed. Don't solo too long, i as many others get bored really quick of long drum solos