I want your help.

[travisvwright]

ETA: Just thought I'd add the fact that there is now a facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/drummersbehindglass you can like and have the latest posts just show up without having to seek them out.

The fracturing and bloody crusades against stage volume have had many casualties. One tragic outcome is that drummers are no longer allowed to be in the presence of other band members while playing. They have to be segregated. Sometimes by some leaning plexiglass sometimes by entire rooms built to keep them away from the rest of the team. If you won't or can't undo this wrong, you owe it to your drummer to at least acknowledge it.

Here is the opportunity to do just that. At this weekend's service photograph your drummer in his cage, behind his shield etc. Then go to http://drummersbehindglass.com and click the submit image button. If you just don't do something to bring awareness to this issue you are propagating it. Hug a drummer this weekend. They are musicians too.

Yes yours probably isn't this fancy but it's your drummers unique "home on stage."

[travisvwright]

For anyone curious, the most current post is my drummer Sean and our shield. Yes, it is made of clear duct tape and vinyl. It's not much but it's "home".

[Mike on Bass]

I play drums on occasion (or at least beat on things with sticks), I am all about the rhythm section, but I have mixed feelings on this subject when it comes up in churches.

On one hand, I feel that drummers brought it on themselves. Other instruments, such as bass, keys and guitar, made some concessions. We aren't using full stacks on stage. In fact, amps on stage have all but disappeared for pods, pedals, preamps and DI processors. Keyboard/piano players let go of their grand piano for a semi-weighted keyboard. Is it the preferred way? Not usually, but it's a trade off that gave electric instruments a place on stage. With drums, it seems to be 'acoustic or nothing' approach. The mention of e-drums makes almost all drummers cringe and other players voice disapproval. Is it ideal, Of course not- but if they want to get out of the cage and join the rest of the band, they might have to let go of the sacred cow and get an electric kit. Or at least scale back the acoustic kit (I like the one in the picture), play softer, use different sticks or brushes, get creative. I mean, walk out on stage with a Marshall full stack or a Fender Hot Rod Deville every week, someone will want it in a box. Personally, I LOVE the acoustic kits over electric. But reality dictates what we can do. So do you want to be out of a cage, or play an acoustic kit?

I remember when guitar players would be up in arms when they couldn't have their amps. But they understood that they had to adapt. Other instruments had to adapt. We hated playing through pods and pedals straight into the board. But we learned how to make it work. In the process, most of the 'wars' became moot.

However, I do understand the image portrayed with a drummer in a cage. It's an eyesore and unflattering to the layout of the band. I have often thought about putting fish stickers and a treasure chest on the plastic to make it look like an aquarium. They are hot, make the drums sound like they are set up in a bathroom. In that aspect, I acknowledge it's a gray elephant.

So, I acknowledge there is an issue. However, there are solutions available that people don't seem to want to take advantage of. In that respect, I am not very sympathetic.

[sycamoredave]

AS with other worship team musicians, drummers have to be of the mind that this is not about them, but the body of Christ. Once you come to that conclusion, doing what is best comes easier. We made the transition years ago to Edrums, and have not looked back. A significant key is to approach Edrum equipment with the same mindset as acoustic sets. You cannot buy a toy and make it work. We bought a pretty high quality set used, and while purists will not agree, our sound guys, drummers, other band mates, and congregation are all pretty happy.

Blessings...
Dave

[fccworship]

we solved 90 percent of our sound issues with Roland v-tour drums. our drummer loves them, and they sound great. do you get as much expression as with acoustics? no, but it's close. AND...something rarly spoke about is the 100's of variations you can program in. i just bought a new cymbal, plugged it in, and set it for a 20 inch crash. all in 5 minutes. i can't explain how it has freed up worship at our church by not being a "distraction"

[after5cst]

We bought a pretty high quality [eDrum] set used, and while purists will not agree, our sound guys, drummers, other band mates, and congregation are all pretty happy.

We converted to an OK eDrum set about 5 years ago, and lost the acoustic kit and a partial drummer shield. Drummers were pretty unhappy, had constant mechanical issues. Sound levels in the room went from totally unmanageable to fairly good (monitor levels could all come down, drums weren't over the top), so the other band members, sound guy, congregation, elders, and pastor were all happy.

Replace it with a used decent Roland eDrum kit about 4 years ago, and spent money on some better quality Roland cymbals. Drummers were mildly unhappy but accepting.

Replaced it with a fairly good new Roland eDrum kit about 2 years ago, and bought a separate mixer. Ran four channels to the sound board for the sound guy to have more control. Converted the drummer to headphones, and gave them their own monitor feed plus a mixer so they could mix in their kit along with their dedicated monitor channel to their hearts content. Upgraded a cymbal or two, as well. Drummers are happy enough to not be constantly wishing for an acoustic kit. Sound levels are excellent. Blend is very good. Overall, a very positive arrangement for pretty much everyone.

Moral of the story #1: If you're going to get eDrums, buy quality.

Moral of the story #2: A good drummer is worth a lot towards getting a band to work well together. Spending money on good equipment goes a long way towards improving the overall sound.

"How did you pay for all those kits?"

The church paid for the first kit, it was very inexpensive. As we showed above, there was a reason for that.

The other two kits were donated by members of the congregation, who wanted the music and sound levels in the service to improve.

"But what in the world did you do with all those drum kits?"

The acoustic kit I think belonged to some church member, so it was returned.

eKit #1 was trash. I think pieces of it are still sitting in boxes somewhere.

eKit #2 (Roland TD-8), when replaced, was loaned to the youth department. Despite the youth guy's dislike for eDrums, it only took one week.... and then the youth wing's acoustic kit mysteriously vanished, and the eKit took it's place "temporarily". A year later, it's still there... and the youth guy is budgeting next year for a replacement kit.

eKit #3 is still used weekly.

[travisvwright]

First off I'm not drummer. But I'd be curious to know how your congregations have responded to eDrums. I'm not the only person I know who stopped going to a church because of eDrums. (Stopped isn't perfectly accurate. More like, a church I visited and would have attended switched to eDrums the second week I was there so I kept looking and found a different church. A few months later they went back acoustic and that became my church for a number of years.)

Drummers aren't the only ones who dislike eDrums. Have you considered your congregations?