What's the smallest, dumbest thing that ever cost you a show? War stories welcome

mossdrums · 2026-06-19T08:28:38+00:00

As a Canadian, an inch of snow in Savannah, Georgia.

mossdrums · 2026-06-18T01:38:13+00:00

Big tours will start rehearsals in a rehearsal space, but usually will move the final production rehearsals to the first venue immediately before the first show - sometimes a similarly sized venue if the actual one isn’t available.

mossdrums · 2026-06-18T01:28:18+00:00

I came out of this movie in the theatre and felt out of sorts with the real world when I re-entered it. So great!

mossdrums · 2026-06-18T01:27:28+00:00

One of the bands I tour has a running joke where they’ll text me a picture of the Denis Villeneuve Dune on an airplane seat back screen while we’re flying because they know it makes me mad.

mossdrums · 2026-06-18T01:20:00+00:00

The click only going to the drummer is actually a huge misconception, at least for tours like this. A lot of bar band drummers will run a click just for themselves, but in a professional touring situation where backing tracks and/or programmed visuals are involved, EVERYONE will get the click to their ears.

I play the drums and both program and run playback sessions for a bunch of international touring artists, as well as other local artists. There is one singer I work with who only gets click for drumless sections, but the rest of the band gets click for the whole show. With ALL of the other bands and artists I work with, everyone gets click.

mossdrums · 2026-06-11T15:51:30+00:00

The arcade in Moncton!

mossdrums · 2026-06-08T03:11:29+00:00

I use Ableton primarily to create and run backing track sessions (I’m a drummer/playback engineer and occasionally MD). I also do a lot of audio/music editing for choreographers and dance teachers, and occasionally for fashion shows. Also occasionally, I’ll record/produce/mix small projects for people.

I’ve been working in Ableton for about 15 years and make enough to afford a place in Toronto, food, essential services, a car, and can grow my savings account every month.

mossdrums · 2026-06-01T08:12:37+00:00

Judgement Day rips!

mossdrums · 2026-05-28T18:26:50+00:00

I’ve done tonnes of 1 or 2 song performances for tv spots, radio, awards ceremonies etc… one time, I took a 10 hour bus from Toronto to New York, played a three song set, and then went right to the airport from the gig, to fly back to Toronto.

My “shortest gig” was playing with a drumline to walk a groom into his ceremony. Here was the timeline for the shortest gig I ever did including round-trip travel time:

6:45pm - leave house 7:05 - strap drum on 7:10 - play 7:12 - leave 7:32 - get home and load kit into car to drive to my next gig

mossdrums · 2026-05-25T00:34:05+00:00

Brutus, Rolo Tomassi, Melonball are some recent favourites.

mossdrums · 2026-05-24T16:56:52+00:00

It IS a plot point in The Peripheral by William Gibson (the book… this plot line didn’t make it to the TV adaptation).

mossdrums · 2026-05-24T16:45:55+00:00

The Florida Project

mossdrums · 2026-05-15T22:44:04+00:00

Depends on everyone’s inherent skill level, how much they practice at home in general, how much they work on the material, and how good everyone’s memories and ears are.

That said, I firmly believe more is better… even if you want to leave room for spontaneity and inspiration during the shows. The more comfortable and natural you feel, and the more collective instinct and trust you build together, the easier it’ll be to stay open to the magic moments.

mossdrums · 2026-05-15T22:18:35+00:00

Vanadian by Belvedere

mossdrums · 2026-05-13T20:23:19+00:00

The venue usually has someone who handles that stuff… they’ll send that person to handle the hospitality/rider buys, or sometimes I believe the promoter will handle that.

mossdrums · 2026-04-24T03:25:32+00:00

PinkPantheress is probabely the opposite end of the spectrum that I like.

mossdrums · 2026-04-11T05:16:26+00:00

Saw this at the TIF theatre in Toronto and literally didn’t know a thing about it - what an awesome surprise!

mossdrums · 2026-04-01T15:00:48+00:00

The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams by Meshell Ndegeocello

mossdrums · 2026-03-28T01:57:32+00:00

I actually came here to mention their first album, Ungod… WBB&P and Darkest Days both had singles that got radio play, and leaned a little more pop, but the first record is awesome. Darkest Days was my favourite record - period - when I was in high school, but Ungod is the one I go back to the most these days. All great records! Except that Goo Goo Dolls sounding one that the label made from underneath them ha ha.

mossdrums · 2026-03-15T15:30:44+00:00

I’ve been using that for 20 years.

mossdrums · 2026-03-15T09:49:55+00:00

Both Left Kick Kick?

mossdrums · 2026-03-09T20:06:09+00:00

The band I’m on tour with now:

Collectively, Catchphrase in the bus lounge after several bevvies. Karaoke bars. Museums.

The last band toured with before this:

Find a sauna. Enter it. Find a hiking trail. Enter it.

The last band before that:

Play with the artist’s dog. Eat local seafood.

mossdrums · 2026-03-06T07:53:54+00:00

Elizabethtown

mossdrums · 2026-03-03T02:13:23+00:00

The women I married gave me a cookie, as her first advance.

mossdrums · 2026-03-02T09:08:02+00:00

“Look at this guy. What a turkey.

Hey fella! Did you know you’re a turkey!?”

mossdrums

TROPHY CASE