Drum shields, Like or hate?

[rickthedrummer]

I understand exactly what you meant.

Maybe I can explain better what I meant. In the church setting where I volunteered my services, the church already had the shield in place. The congregation made the choice to have it, regardless of the drummer. That's all I'm saying. Sorry if I wasn't clear before.

Bish, I was saying dynamics as it pertained to the OP's question. I don't think he was referring to a church setting but just gigging in general.

I can definitely see the need for a shield in church where there are a lot of hard surfaces. Not having been in a church since September of '78, when my future wife's brother got married, I assume they have made changes to allow for the sound of live music.

[tamashane]

Up-date: Played a show last night using the shield. DID NOT like it!!!!! Pro: The front of house sounded great. Cons: All I could see was lights reflecting, felt very isolated from the crowd and band, drums echoed off the shield back to me, and I was unable to hear the stage sounds in front of me. We discussed my feelings after the show and as a band, decided that the singer would try in ears. All in all, a lesson learned.

[drummer]

Hate 'em with a passion. Unless you have in ear monitors, it's living hell.

[SpazApproved]

yeah the one time i played behind one the backlash of sound was INTENSE! It may save the people in front of it but it really hurts as a drummer sitting behind it hearing anything other that yourself.

[slinglander]

Should be shields for some lead rock guitarist instead.

[SpazApproved]

Should be shields for some lead rock guitarist instead.

Thank make them lol
Good luck getting a guitarist to use one though

[Texdrumr]

Hate 'em with a passion. Unless you have in ear monitors, it's living hell.

IEM are a must.

[rickthedrummer]

I have never played behind 1 nor would I ever play behind 1.

I can remember seeing the Ventures at Palisades Park somewhere in the early to mid '60's. They had nowhere near the sound equipment that is available today and their songs sounded like they did on the records (and , yes, they played live). Drummers (I'm not counting electric drumsets) learned to control their dynamics due to the fact that we have no volume control while all guitarist wish their amps volume control went to 11.

If you watch the majority of drummers today, 95% of them play match which, among other things, lets them hit the snare at a volume that is way past what is actually needed. When I see a drummer's hand go above his head to hit the snare drum (or, in reality, any part of the drumset) like the ape at the beginning of 2001 in a bar that has less area than my house, I know (knew) that something's wrong.

Work on dynamics and that screen will become a distant memory. I now have to add 1 more thing to my list of things I will never have or use:

1) Metronomes

2) Cowbells

3) China cymbals

4) A screen

I doubt very much if I will ever play in a band again unless I play with people that play washboard and harmonica, a banjo, and a guy that looks like Porter Wagoner back in the '60's when everybody was raiding the sequin mines.

[Texdrumr]

There are several places we play that it isn't an option. In-house sound/engineer. You set up your drums and then they mic them and put the shield up. Doesn't matter who you are. If I told them I refuse to play behind a shield, it would be an acoustic gig. Like them or hate them, if you want to be a working drummer here, you had better be ready for any situation up to and including a shield. A legalistic approach in this area gets you a reputation of being arrogant, inflexible, and not invited back.

[rickthedrummer]

There are several places we play that it isn't an option. In-house sound/engineer. You set up your drums and then they mic them and put the shield up. Doesn't matter who you are. If I told them I refuse to play behind a shield, it would be an acoustic gig. Like them or hate them, if you want to be a working drummer here, you had better be ready for any situation up to and including a shield. A legalistic approach in this area gets you a reputation of being arrogant, inflexible, and not invited back.

That's probably due to drummers that beat the hell out of the drums no matter what kind of music was being played.

[SpazApproved]

I have never played a venue that owns a sound shield. But I can see them owning one and saying you have to use it regardless

[TazDrums]

Do whatever makes 'em happy. Wish I had a shield for a certain guitarist years ago ... pardon?

I like the clear shield pictured, having sounded reflected back would be useful in some situations. Foldback is often so poor.