Taking time off from playing...

[willyz]

For various reasons, including not being able to afford a practice space, career changes, my own perspective on music and the music business (or lack thereof) life events in general, etc, I haven't been playing a lot lately, which is something I've brought up a bit before usually in the Weekend Chatty threads. It happens. I think that we can all agree that sometimes taking a bit of time off is good for you, and that's with anything that you do professionally or not. I'm at the stage where I don't need to play for the love of playing or for the sake of it (though I do love it), and I'm not actively seeking gigs- I'd rather stumble my way into the appropriate situation or have the phone ring for a gig that's a good hang, music I can stomach, and (most importantly), pays appropriately. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Anyway, I got a call last month for a gig with some guys that I played with a handful of times last year. In fact, the last time I gigged with these guys was the last gig I played- so to make it clear, I had hardly played in about eight months- at least. The criteria (see above) were right and I took the gig. The bandleader said they don't practice anymore, are playing mostly the same material, and that the 'band' (as it were) has expanded to a slightly larger circle of players so they can just use whomever is available at the time. About a week or two before the gig, I received most of the set list (as I mentioned, mostly the same), and then was sent the first chunk of tunes for the first set the NIGHT before the gig. Nothing crazy complicated, by any means, but I was going in unrehearsed with players I haven't worked with in a good deal of time.

Showed up to the gig, and it turned out that the singer/rhythm guitar player was out of town, the lead guitarist would be taking all the vocals, and I met the bass player on the gig, so I had never played with him obviously. Needless to say, it was a fairly loose gig, with tunes called on the fly.

...and it, apparently, went really, really, really well. By the time the second set had gotten going, we had the whole place on their feet and dancing, and we were all having a good time. To be honest, I wasn't entirely pleased with myself- I do tend to be very hard on myself, I admit, but I thought I could have played much better. The crazy part is this: the band thought that I had been shedding relentlessly, had improved leaps and bounds from the last gig. They loved my pocket, my backbeat, simplicity, etc. The gig (for me) was a LOT of work, most notably the 'holding down the fort' concept. These cats, while being great players, made some fluffs here and there, forgot some of the arrangements (most of which I had embedded in my brain), and communicated that I was right with that sort of stuff.

Maybe this is stroking my ego, but I find it hard to believe that I've improved so tremendously without playing. It makes me wonder who they've been using and how that guy has been playing. Maybe the time away from the kit just led me to really focusing on the necessities of what the gig/band needed, although (obviously) I haven't made any conscious choice to change anything about the way I play or my approach.

Anyway, long story short, I've moved up on the drummer list and I'll be booking more dates with them as they come.

Any thoughts regarding this subject? Anyone experience something similar?

[Paul Marangoni]

Yes, nothing surprising really. Taking time off from physically playing will make certain things difficult (fast samba, intricate patterns, endurance stuff, etc.) but can actually make other aspects of your playing BETTER (time, groove, balance between limbs and sounds). The key is to be listening to good music (with good drummers) and thinking about playing while you take time off from the drums. This reinforces things that you want to play well or want to add to your drumming vocabulary, while diminishing the aspects of your playing that you no longer identify with. Listening and thinking (imagining?) goes a long, long way. Kudos dude!

[Matus]

To put it simply, don't force things. Life has its own flow and you just have to ride the wave and have the right attitude. Always adopt the position that gives you the most peace of mind, whatever it is. In this case, not forcing yourself to play leads to playing even more and better. Ironic and zen

[Julián Fernández]

Depends on the level you wanna perform... You can´t achieve your full potential playing twice a year. It doesn´t work that way.
If you find a good balance in your life, that´s great... All of us want/need to find a balance. Most people don´t work on their craft on a daily basis (even working musicians) and still play nice.
The bottom line is, don´t expect results that doesn´t match the level of commitment you have (not talking about you in particular, Willy)... If you shed 2 hours a week, and play 7 gigs a year, there´s a certain ceiling right there for you own progress...

[willyz]

The key is to be listening to good music (with good drummers) and thinking about playing while you take time off from the drums. This reinforces things that you want to play well or want to add to your drumming vocabulary, while diminishing the aspects of your playing that you no longer identify with. Listening and thinking (imagining?) goes a long, long way. Kudos dude!

Paul, I think you hit the nail on the head (in my case, at least).

[gretsch-o-rama]

I've always said that if a drummer always knows the melody, he'll never be lost.

[willyz]

I've always said that if a drummer always knows the melody, he'll never be lost.

Exactly.

[gretsch-o-rama]

I've always said that if a drummer always knows the melody, he'll never be lost.

Exactly.

That's, IMO, also why drummers like Vinnie and Dave are essentially "Ringo-style" drummers, but on steroids. It's just nice when a musical drummer has tons of technical ability...They will always be in demand.