Question 1

What does hiring a drummer for an event involve?

Accepted Answer

Most drummers and percussionists listed here work as solo performers who join an existing setup, whether that is a DJ, a band, or a backing track. You agree the date, timings and location, then confirm what they will be playing to and what the venue can provide.

A drummer will normally arrive an hour or so before the performance to set up and sound check, and will bring their own kit unless you have agreed otherwise. Beyond that the main things to settle are performance length, whether you want them for one set or several across the event, and access at the venue for loading in.

Question 2

What is the difference between a drummer and a percussionist?

Accepted Answer

A drummer plays a drum kit, the seated setup of snare, bass drum, toms and cymbals used in most pop, rock and function music. A percussionist plays hand and auxiliary instruments such as congas, bongos, cajon, timbales, shakers and tambourine, usually standing and often moving around the space.

The distinction matters when you are booking. A percussionist alongside a DJ tends to suit a party or reception where you want energy without much extra volume, while a full kit suits a live band setup or a stage performance. Many of the acts here do both, so if you are unsure which you need it is worth saying what the event is and letting the act advise.

Question 3

Do drummers bring their own drum kit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in almost all cases. A drummer will supply and transport their own kit, cymbals, hardware and stool as standard, and the price you are quoted normally includes it.

There are two exceptions worth asking about. At festivals and multi act events there is often a shared backline kit, in which case the drummer may only bring cymbals, snare and pedals. And where access is difficult, such as an upstairs room with no lift, some acts will ask about it in advance or bring a smaller setup. If you are looking to hire a kit on its own without a player, that is equipment hire rather than a booking made here.

Question 4

What is a session drummer and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

A session drummer is an experienced player who can learn material quickly, read charts or follow a click track, and slot into an unfamiliar setup with little rehearsal. They are usually booked for recording work, depping for an absent band member, or backing a solo artist or function band that does not have a permanent drummer.

If you are booking entertainment for a wedding, party or corporate event, you generally want a performing drummer rather than a session player specifically, though many of the acts here work in both roles. Say what the job is when you enquire, because rehearsal time, whether charts are provided and whether the material is original all change what the drummer needs to prepare.

Question 5

How much space does a drummer need?

Accepted Answer

Allow around 2 metres by 2 metres for a standard drum kit, and a little more if you want a riser or a screen around it. A percussion setup with congas and auxiliary instruments takes a similar footprint but is more flexible about shape, and a cajon player needs very little space at all.

You will also need a nearby power socket if the act is using any amplification or electronic pads, and a reasonably flat, solid surface. Deep pile carpet and soft grass both cause a kit to creep as it is played, so a board or mat helps. Check load in access as well, since a full kit is several trips.

Question 6

Are drummers too loud for indoor venues?

Accepted Answer

An acoustic drum kit is the loudest instrument in most line ups, and it is the usual reason a venue with a sound limiter cuts the power. If your venue has a decibel limit, tell the drummer the figure before you book rather than on the day, because there are several ways to work with it.

Options include playing with rods or brushes instead of sticks, using a screen or shield around the kit, switching to a cajon or a smaller percussion setup, or moving to an electronic kit that can be dialled to a set level. Percussion generally sits well below a full kit in volume, which is why it is often the better choice for a restaurant, marquee or listed building.

Question 7

Do drummers use acoustic or electronic kits?

Accepted Answer

Most work on an acoustic kit, which is what you will hear on the majority of profiles here. A smaller number also own an electronic kit, and a few work exclusively on one.

Electronic kits are worth asking about in two situations: a venue with a strict noise limit, where the output can be set precisely and fed to the PA, and a small indoor space where an acoustic kit would overpower the room. The trade off is visual and tonal, as an acoustic kit looks and sounds more like a live performance. If it matters to you either way, ask before booking, since not every drummer carries both.

Question 8

Can a drummer perform alongside a DJ?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the most common bookings in this category. A drummer or percussionist playing live over a DJ set adds a live element to a party or reception without the space, cost or volume of a full band, and works particularly well during the busiest part of an evening.

Nearly half the acts listed here mention DJ work in their profiles. If you want the DJ and the live player supplied together as a single package rather than booked separately, look at the Sax and DJ / Musician and DJ category, where acts are set up specifically for that combination. Booking the two separately is fine, but agree in advance who is providing the PA and how the drummer will monitor the DJ.

Question 9

Can a drummer play with a band or to a backing track?

Accepted Answer

Both are common. A drummer can be booked to join an existing band, either as a permanent addition for the night or as a dep covering for a regular member, and many are used to learning a set from recordings or charts in advance.

Playing to a backing track is also straightforward, though it needs slightly more setup. The drummer will usually want a click track in an in ear monitor to stay locked to the recording, so check that the venue or your PA supplier can feed them one. Send the material over well ahead of the date either way, since the amount of preparation is what determines how tight the performance will be.

Question 10

What events are drummers and percussionists suitable for?

Accepted Answer

Weddings and corporate events are the two most common bookings in this category. A percussionist over a DJ suits a drinks reception or evening party, a full kit suits a stage performance or a live band setup, and both work at festivals, product launches, club nights and private parties.

For a walkabout or processional element, where you want players moving through a crowd rather than performing from one spot, look at the Strolling / Roaming Bands category instead, which is where acts that move with a crowd are listed. A solo drummer or percussionist is generally booked to perform from a fixed position alongside other music.

Question 11

How long does a drummer perform for?

Accepted Answer

A typical booking is two or three sets of 45 minutes across an evening, with breaks in between, which is the same pattern most function bands work to. Where the drummer is playing over a DJ, sets are often shorter and more frequent, perhaps four spots of 20 to 30 minutes placed at the busiest points of the night.

What matters more than total playing time is how long the act needs to be on site, since that is what most quotes are based on. A drummer will normally arrive an hour or so ahead for setup and sound check. If you want them across a long day, for example a ceremony, a reception and an evening party, say so when you enquire rather than extending it later.

Question 12

Can a drummer perform outdoors?

Accepted Answer

Yes, provided the kit is protected. Drums and cymbals are more weather tolerant than string or wind instruments, but wooden shells and drum heads do not respond well to rain or damp, and hardware sinks into soft ground.

Provide a covered area, a flat and solid surface such as decking, a stage or boards, and a power supply if there is amplification. Wind is the underestimated problem, since cymbal stands and lightweight hardware topple easily, so a sheltered position is worth planning for. Confirm a wet weather alternative when you book, because an outdoor set with no fallback is the most common reason a performance has to be cut short.

Question 13

Can I request specific songs or styles?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A drummer working over a DJ set or with a band will usually take direction on the styles and the feel you want, and most are comfortable across pop, funk, house, Latin, rock and soul within a single evening.

For specific songs, the practical question is what the drummer is playing to. If there is a DJ or a backing track, almost anything is possible as long as the track exists. If the drummer is part of a live band, requests need to go to the band rather than the drummer alone, and a first dance or a particular song for a moment in the evening should be agreed well in advance so it can be rehearsed.

Question 14

How far in advance do we need to book your services?

Accepted Answer

Booking drummers & percussionists as early as possible increases the chance of securing their availability on your event date, particularly during busy times of the year. However, many acts also accept last minute bookings, and we have successfully arranged performances for clients with just a few hours' notice.

Question 15

How much do drummers & percussionists cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of hiring musicians can vary significantly depending on the type of act. The average price is currently &pound;662. Budget-level acts may be available for as low as &pound;100, while top-tier acts can command prices as high as &pound;3870.

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