Question:
I saw you in a drum clinic in November 2008 in Vancouver. You talked alot about the changes in the music business and how income through cd
sales is non existent anymore.
My band is starting to get some good publicity and popularity and are building are way up, but I'm wondering if you have any advice as far as how to make any bloody money at it. Is there anything you would do if you were in this position?
Thanks very much for any advice you can offer,
~Dylan Weightman
Simon:
Hi Dylan,
Now that is a tough one. We are all trying to figure that out these days. Well - first off you need to make your CD available on as many download sites as possible. I use Tunecore.com. They seem to have the largest distribution of download companies and it is easy to upload the tracks. YOu need make your CD available on your website as a physical copy (but be careful not to manufacture too large an amount). Most duplicators will do short runs nowadays. I think My Space is still a good place to have exposure but also Facebook is becoming popular too. And there many more.
The best way you are going to get sales is to sell the CD as merchandising at gigs. So - playing live will be your main source of income. You have to think outside the box too.
Best of luck to you - hope that helps
Question:
I have a question about the sound focus rings in the tama starclassicmaple. Did you use them with your BRG kit?
Is the kit better with the sound focus rings or not?
Greetz,
ivo
Simon:
Hi Ivo,
I used sound focus rings on the first 2 Starclassic kits I had back in 1994. However once I heard the shells without them all of my Starclassic kits were without the rings. However on my new 30th anniversary kit I have sound focus rings. Just seems to sound better that way!
Question:
A drum kit the size of your's, how long does it take to get it all out of it'scases and set up just how you like it (all tuned and ready to play) and
who does that ?? You or a drum roadie. And if it is a Drum Roadie, is your Drum-roadie employed by you full-time or is it a part-time job (and
if part-time would that roadie look after several other drummers) ??
Please explain !!".
Simon:
I haven't had to set my own kit up in years - unless I am setting it up in my studio or prepping a new kit somewhere in the world - which is more often the case. I have a few different drum techs because I can't afford to employ someone full time. But when I am on tour I will have one guy who will do that tour. All depends upon who is available. I think it takes an hour to set up the kit. Then another hour to mic it up and cable it and prep it ready for a soundcheck. We generally change the snare drum head and toms 2, 3 and 4 every day. Tom 5 and the Gong Drum every other day and the other drums when they need it. I actually still like to change my own heads but that is not always possible. My main drum tech, Larry Crowe, also techs for Vinnie Colaiuta and Jim Keltner.
Question:
You seem 'meticulous' with preparation. This I notice because in the videos I've seen of you playing, your trousers are tight around the ankles (for example), I can see that your clothing is out of the way of flying sticks yet loose and comfortable, and you have a sweatband on (yes, I wouldn't like sweat
rolling into my eyes either). Please could you advise on your approach here as well ??
Simon:
You are looking at a video that is 17 years old!!! I don't wear those tight cyclist trousers anymore - or a sweat band!!! Ha ha ha!!!
I just use common sense. I play in jeans and a T shirt. Not very exciting or fashion conscious but it works!
Question:
"Simon, you look very fit and healthy, it seems to me that you take extremely good care of yourself both bodily and nutritionally. Please could you say something about that ??
Simon:
Well - I hate to disappoint but I don't really do anything apart from some yoga stretches. I forget and I am usually in a rush to do something when I am home. I think it's the playing that keeps me fit. However I do look after myself too and most importantly I try to eat properly and a balanced diet. I never eat Mcdonalds for example!!!
Question:
Hi Simon
actually I´m recording my drums with the input-section of the digital yamaha-mixer 01V96 and bring it over to the inputs of the terratec producer in my computer. But I feel the preamp ist the weakest in the chain. Can you give me some suggestion of a good recording (8 Channel) solution for the computer wich isn`t too expensive?
Many thanks for your answer
All the best from SouthGermany
Markus
Simon:
Unfortunately price is a huge factor when it comes to recording - especially signals with high transience. A mic pre needs headroom and that means expensive components. However you could certainly do better than the 01V. I recommend trying the TOFT designs mic pres. Also Pre Sonus M80 8 channel. If you then augment those with 2 slightly more expensive pres for kick and snare like Chameleon Labs 7602 which have an eq section you should hear a big improvement. However you need to bus down to 8 inputs (I imagine that is your limit for A/D conversion with the Terratec) TOFT also makes a 16 channel analog console so you could bus to any amount of tracks you wish.
Question:
Hi simon,
I’m dave from belgium and my question is if there are somekind of effects on your drums to make them sound that nice(rebound or reverb or so)? Greetz and respect!!
Simon:
It depends whether you are talking about recordings or live. If you came to see us live then you are getting a very natural drum sound with only some compression and maybe some verb added. There are very light gates used on some of the drums but I could blow on the mic and it would open the gate. If you are talking about recordings - then that depends upon the guy who mixed it - but in recent years the drums are pretty natural - just the room or verb that would make the character of the sound in terms of fitting in with the music.
Question:
What is more difficult for you: to find a drum pattern for a ballad like "Just can't get to you" or a drum pattern for fusion song like "Party in Simon's Pants" or "Dave's gone skiing"?
Simon:
It all depends upon the song. Usually it is a very natural, instinctive issue - I never think about it. However if the song is not working or the composer or artist wants to do something very different then it may take a while. When we recorded "Through The Looking Glass" we were challenged much more with this as we wanted to play the songs differently from the original. I think the song that took the longest to sort out was "House Of The Rising Sun".
Question:
I just wondered how many sticks you generally go through in, say, a year?????? I have pretty thick sticks and I don't hit my drums particularly hard, but I seem to break a fair few.
Simon:
I have no idea how many I go through a year. Depends upon how much playing/touring I am doing. On a normal Toto show I could use one pair for the whole show and then again I could go through three. Probably not as many as you would think!
Question:
Hi Simon,
I'm a big TOTOfan and I really like your way to play the drums. Well, what I wanted to ask is: How many hours did you usually practise when you were a teenager? Did you first play the Rudiment to warm up (or s.th. like that), or in what a principle did you practise? Thanks a lot!
Best regards!
Simon:
You have to remember when I was a teenager I was already playing professionally. My practise was done when I was 3 to 12 years old. I played along to records mostly - that was the bulk of my practise - and everyday but not more than a couple of hours at a time. At that stage I didn't even know the rudiments and wasn't that interested - just wanted to play music in a band!
