Compliments and Ego

After playing a set at a gig, sometimes people come up to me and say nice things about my drumming. This can be anyone: the casual listener; a patron of the bar who’s had a few drinks; and/or a fellow musician up on the band stand with me. I’m not always comfortable accepting compliments, but I find that it is a part of being up there on the band stand.

In my experience, there are many ways to react in this situation. I try to remain thankful and grateful that someone took the time to come and talk to me and to express their appreciation for my drumming skills. The conversations are sometimes short and sometimes not so short. I let the person know how much I appreciate the fact that they are there and that they’re listening to the music. In an effort to keep my ego in check, I also try not to let this go on for too long.

The bottom line is that I am usually the best person to listen to when it comes time to access my skills as a musician and, more specifically, as a drummer. I can do that in many ways: watching videos of myself; listening to any and all recordings that I’ve done (rehearsals, demos, professional recordings, gigs, etc.). I know my limitations as well, and I keep that in mind when someone starts comparing me to other drummers. I am always flattered, but I know that it’s not the reality necessarily. My goal is always to try to serve the music being played at any given time. The better I get at leaving my ego at the door, then the better my chances of achieving my goal. If I’m not careful, my ego can swell during a break and some compliments are being tossed my way. Once again, I’m always grateful. I know, however, how far I want to go and whether I got close that particular evening. That being said, it’s always nice to hear nice things. With that in mind, I always try to be extra nice to people who like my drumming.