Playing Drum Licks

One thing that I’ve experienced is that when I’m at a gig and I attempt to play a “drum lick” that I’ve been practicing is that it feels different as compared to when I was at my drum studio all by myself. E.g., perhaps you’ve been working on some stuff in your basement and go to the gig and try to execute a certain fill and have noticed this. I find that it helps if I can relax and simply let it come out. This will happen if I have been very comfortable in the practice studio first. The lick or complicated drum beat will only have a chance on the gig if it is sounding good in the practice room. I heard Dave Weckl talk about a particular pattern taking him about one year of practicing before he felt comfortable playing it. Sometimes, I may get lucky and pull off a complicated pattern before it’s “ready,” but that’s not something I can count on. Patience is its own reward.