"Gearing up" for holiday gigs

[JoePasko]

I've been hanging on to my old hi-hat stand for years. Figured I'd find a use for it, eventually.
So with some holiday season jobs coming up next month, I had this *brilliant* idea.
I am using a 5/16" hex bolt and a cowbell U-clamp, to suspend some sleigh bells from the pull rod.... jingle all the way !

[JoePasko]

I discovered that with no cymbals on the stand, there's a tendency for the pedal to slam against the metal base, creating an unpleasant clang.

I had already removed the cymbal seat, and replaced it with a homemade pull-rod guide (simply a wooden dowel with a channel drilled through the center). By placing a felt over that, and attaching another U-clamp to the rod, the problem is solved: adjustable 'soft stop' to forestall any pedal-to-base contact.

[RushDrums24]

Nice idea

[Fuller89]

That is a great idea! Good luck with the holiday gigs.

I was to play percussion in a holiday concert with local school choirs singing Christmas songs... but apparently that never came to be as I haven't heard any updates about it

[Yodelling_Sheep]

Hahaha amazing, this fills me with holiday dread so glad I have no gigs til NYE now... great idea tho!

[therocker]

It's Ho-Ho-Homade! Nice. Even if it's not practical all year round, it's the thought that counts!

[Andy H]

Well... It's definitely a "conversation piece."

[Yodelling_Sheep]

It's Ho-Ho-Homade!

Lol

[JoePasko]

It's Ho-Ho-Homade! Nice. Even if it's not practical all year round, it's the thought that counts!

Ha ! Maybe it is practical all year round.

Last night I tried using my African seed rattle, instead of sleigh bells.

[therocker]

You could also hang an I.V. on that thing for hands free hydration!

[JoePasko]

You could also hang an I.V. on that thing for hands free hydration!

That's right.

Or... I could be making cocktails for the guys in the band, while we're playing ! [Shaken, not stirred.]

Merry Christmas & happy holidays ... and don't be too quick to get rid of old Hi-Hat stands, people !

[therocker]

That's my favorite attachment of all, Joe. Nice!

[Blisco]

Very clever. Let's see the rest of your rig.

[JoePasko]

Very clever. Let's see the rest of your rig.

Weekend before last, we played for the 2017 annual "Victorian Stroll" in Troy NY.

People dress up and walk around; all sorts of vendors and performers.

Many of the shop owners hosted live music in their stores... we played in a florist shop (we've been doing this for five or six years now, we always play at this same flower shop -- the owners treat us well). Our sound man put a speaker outside on the sidewalk, so they could hear us in the street.

Besides the new foot-bell thing, it's my usual 'hillbilly'/bluegrass set up: washboard, box drums, spoons, bones, Cajun triangle, tremolo harmonicas, brushes, saw blade, etc.

[Blisco]

Thanks for the cool gig pics. I think this qualifies into the 'needs to be heard' category.