Weekend as a Worship Drummer // A Day In The Life of A Drummer

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The backing tracks used in these videos are from Tim Baltes Drumless Tracks collection available here: slouxrecording...
#worshipdrummer #drumvlog #freelancemusician

[@pmclellan123]

You are one organized dude! Very inspiring.

[@malonedrum]

Thanks!

[@davidkerwood5181]

That two bar fill on Holy Water is crazy. The last time I played it, I was on guitar, and I was really impressed with how our drummer handled it. You punched through it like a pro.

[@malonedrum]

It's too long, but I certainly look forward to trying it each time.

[@BrandonMobley614]

Excellent content as usual, Mike. I really enjoy these behind the scenes looks at what all is involved with preparing for, packing for, and of course playing different gigs. You definitely keep yourself busy in your local scene. I’m glad you take the time to document the ins and outs of being a professional musician. I find these very informative, as well as inspiring.

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate it, these are fun stories to share

[@BrianODonohue]

I developed a lot of my chops through Worship drumming. Many, many years in several different churches. Always a blessing to play!

[@malonedrum]

That’s exactly what I tell my students!

[@kellyklingbeil5802]

Mike, It's so great to learn from an organized , talented professional. Thanks so much

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@StuartJrBarrett]

As a fellow drummer (Worship), this was very impactful and inspiring for musicians to see.

[@malonedrum]

I’m glad to hear it! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@jwillydrums9982]

I do this at my church weekly, and I'm also the Tech Director so imagine me trying to scramble before we start playing making sure all the volunteers are in place then playing the drums, haha! Thank you for this video, I'm moving up to the OKC area here in a few months and have to start looking for work. This is a good thing to see that other drummers like me are doing these kind of things and I love it. Subscribed! :)

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate the kind words

[@mariocaspar2340]

Thank you Mike for your informative, inspiring clips 🥁😃🥁 God bless

[@malonedrum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Crestfallen06]

I’ve been volunteering on the worship team for about 11 years now as a bassist for three different churches in two states. Pretty much copy and paste the experience for a Sunday morning. Great video!

[@malonedrum]

We're fellow owners of the Packers. #GPG

[@moreira_ferreira]

Hey dude, I wanna say to you how important your content is to journey to develop a career as a session drummer and freelancer musician! I just need to adapt the things I've learned from you to my context as a drummer here in Brazil. Thanks for all this knowledge and greetings from Brazil!

[@malonedrum]

Thanks man, all my experiences certainly varry pending where you live, but hope it’s somewhat useful for anybody, anywhere!

[@timbofromkeno]

Love seeing Stoic Drummer at the far end of your desk. Hope you dug the book!

[@malonedrum]

Nice eye Tim! It’s a nice way to take a step back from the grind every once in a while.

[@gscdrummer9422]

Very true to form for me as one of the main drummers at a contemporary church as a volunteer. While I do work for pay in other settings, I have a day job and all of the musicians at church are volunteers but take it very seriously. Years ago we did not run tracks, but the current leadership does and I have gotten used to those. Love your videos!

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@drumdiscussion7776]

Thanks for showing this. Great information !

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate you watching!

[@gregwonhoff7161]

I was aware that church music has changed quite a bit, but this is way over the top. I really enjoyed this video and sure hope that all of the various congregations out there appreciate all of the hard work you musicians put in so that their services deliver an inspiring message that is even better being musically enhanced by people like you.

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate the kind words Greg

[@gregwonhoff7161]

@@malonedrum About the most rocking song I can remember from my church days was HOLY, Holy, Holy. Most of the others just droned on and on.

[@DrummerDanny76]

Mike I really enjoyed this video very much because I myself am a drummer at my church in Orlando Fl. I've been a drummer in church since I was about 6 or 7 for the kids ministry. I'm 46 now. I love everything drums. I'm glad I found your channel. I've been enjoying each one so far. Thank you for sharing your content. By the way, I really like your playing !!!

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!

[@tzimme7639]

That chord progression at 9:56 got the vocalist shook

[@malonedrum]

I know, that's my favorite part, and I constantly remind him that I was able to include that moment so it would live on forever.

[@mike__durrett]

Here from your Reddit post. I grew up playing in church, and have considered trying to get into gigging in houses of worship since I have the experience. Thanks for this video! Super cool.

[@malonedrum]

Thanks Mike and welcome to the channel!

[@mariocaspar771]

Halleluja 🥁🤗🥁

[@malonedrum]

🤘🏼

[@benjaminbarham-wiese8184]

Always love these types of vlogs, Mike. Great stuff! And I agree, I love my church gig because I’m out by 11 and can usually fit in a brunch gig followed by a wedding or club gig!

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for checking it out. I don't do much of the three gigs in one day marathons anymore, but it's nice to have the option, when they all are worthwhile

[@jeffcrousedrums1584]

This was a fun video to watch and I can relate to some of it. I've been playing in my church for 15ish years and the musicians are very fortunate to be able to stretch out and play different styles. We play praise songs, hymns, and sometimes jazz. I've played these praise songs so many times but the tempo and groove needs to be right so sometimes I just need to hear a few bars to "put it back in my head!"

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, I've been lucky enough to work in some of those settings as well, but I do enjoy the "rockstar" element in the production and work that goes into some of these CCM mega churches.

[@jorge7085]

Thank you so much for these videos!

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for watching

[@murep]

Love these videos , keep up the good work.

[@malonedrum]

Thanks!

[@berkayyesil]

These vlogs are so good. It really motivates me. Thank you, i want more vlogs.

[@malonedrum]

Hope to do more, just challenging to execute.

[@wadedixon9890]

I’ve played in worship settings for almost 40 years. The music has changed quite a bit since my teenage years. The church I play at now has a contemporary service with a band and a traditional service with a small orchestra. Some is rinse lather and repeat but some can be very challenging.

[@malonedrum]

Agree, I’ve done plenty of that as well as more of a “hired gun”

[@channelite]

Cool

[@malonedrum]

Thanks for watching!

[@reedoslund3581]

I just did the worship team thing briefly. Enjoyed this post however. I played drums in a Mennonite Brethren setting. Hahaha I did learn to play with brushes for the most part. I also got to play an Xmas concert in a local "all stars" group. The material consisted of classic Xmas songs that were arranged in Southern Baptist style. Heavy on the funk, energy and odd time signatures thrown in. Hahaha, they put me in a plexiglass cage. The material was challenging. My brother who is an agnostic came to the concert. He said afterwards that the band was too white, but he liked my playing and told me that I actually channeled the "black" spirit of the songs.

[@malonedrum]

Ha, that’s fun. I love those southern style Baptist churches and their energy.

[@MomLAU]

This was very interesting! I'm a church pianist myself, and our setup is a lot simpler. We did have a choir, but right now it's just me and the music director. I did go to one church where U was part of a band (or "worship team"), but it wasn't nearly as elaborate as the services you showed on this video. Another church I went to had an orchestra (I played percussion for that), but we didn't play every week.

[@malonedrum]

Yeah, modern churches are a new world.

[@HenkJanDrums]

Thanks.

[@malonedrum]

Thank you!

[@davidhuckstep9703]

Awesome video mike

[@malonedrum]

Thanks David.

[@awrogers3013]

I couldn’t do it. Glad you enjoy it. I couldn’t

[@malonedrum]

That’s fine

[@awrogers3013]

I am an attorney. My time is better spent musically writing and recording than performing just to work. I admire your work ethic.

[@malonedrum]

@@awrogers3013 I’m a musician for a living, I’m sure there are elements of your career I wouldn’t want to do either haha

[@andypearce5537]

Been doing praise and worship music for 20 years.. it’s the studio gig of the 2000+

[@malonedrum]

Ha, that’s a very true comparison.

[@SurefireNebula]

I use the term trashcan ending all the time with my band lol

[@malonedrum]

I’m stealing that!

[@cosmonaut9540]

As a former hired gun, this was 100% my experience right here.

[@malonedrum]

😉

[@howlinwaters]

Hey Mike - instead of unloading in the middle of the night, couldn't u just back your car in the garage w/the equipment inside? That's what I do on gigs - just get home, back in w/van fully loaded & close the garage door. Just wondering ... 😊

[@malonedrum]

Fair question, but my garage is very narrow and the amount of tools I keep in there makes it very hard to park inside.

[@tobiaswinter1358]

As a European it's absolutely crazy to see what equipment/musicians a private church like this can muster! Do the churches want the hired musicians to be believers as well or can you be muslim/atheist/jewish/whatever, as long as you deliver and are a good hang?

[@malonedrum]

Who wouldn’t want a person coming in to perform in any setting want a person supportive of their cause, venue or event? But yes, I do think in a church setting they would love somebody who shares their values and beliefs, and in some church settings if you’re not a part of that ideology that could disclose you from participating in stage like this, but at this church from the video they have always been very welcoming, friendly, and supportive to me and others performing even if not a “member” of the church.

[@evercuriousmichelle]

In high school, I went to a Catholic church that had a contemporary Christian band and the band was the only reason I enjoyed church. I had always assumed they were paid because the band makes or breaks the service. I am shocked to hear that some of these regular bands are all volunteer!

[@malonedrum]

I think most people have the exact opposite thought at you.

[@evercuriousmichelle]

@@malonedrum 😄Perhaps! I have never had a sermon give me goosebumps, but music certainly has! But I think you are right, because a lot of the churches I've tried in my area are lacking in the music department!

[@Lute_Waffle]

I'm from the UK, I'm not sure if the contemporary church scene is the same here but would love to give it go

[@malonedrum]

I think it's picked up almost everywhere trying to appeal to younger audience and bring more people in with music and context that doesn't feel so dated. It's surely a lot more enjoyable for me as a musician performing this music vs the older traditional music.

[@saywhat445]

I think I preferred the two bar drum break with the Sebastian Bach vocal solo. Do you ever use diamonds? Is the next video of you subbing in on bass?

[@malonedrum]

Ha, I have subbed in there on bass, but I sure as hell ain’t gonna document that and share that with the world.

[@MantareyvPR]

can you do another video of this pls?

[@malonedrum]

Ha, why?

[@MantareyvPR]

Becsue i Am a 14 year old Drummer and i coud relate to that espesific video i love it cant stop waching it ❤️🙏🏻 hey i now this is kinda ramdom if you happen to have any spare floor tom i need one for my set that the only pieace that i Am missing for my set if you have one it woud be my lucky day becsue my set will be complete 🙏🏻

[@malonedrum]

@@MantareyvPR I have other vlogs on different subjects? Glad you enjoyed it. Good luck with your drumming journey and finding a floor tom!

[@levih.2158]

5:10 That was a *very* startling ding. Maybe turn the volume down on those or something

[@malonedrum]

I’m always amazed at the critic people provide after watching a whole video, and what they chose to point out. Thanks 🤣🤣

[@NickyNicest]

Hey Mike, just curious how much a gig drummer like yourself makes per year on average?

[@malonedrum]

Appreciate you asking, but I don’t really feel like disclosing my earnings to that degree with people, I can say that I live comfortably whiling owning my car, and a house, but I have to work a lot to keep all of that as fruitful as it’s become.

[@graemek7]

You are blessed... To not have a drum shield.😂

[@malonedrum]

Funny thing is, I actually miss being in the drum cage. The mix was a lot clearer and they never it seems like now they are so much more concerned with the acoustic volume and sound of the drums to get it sounding right in the house.

[@graemek7]

@@malonedrum good point 🤔

[@RockyTop85]

Just curious…are you a born again Christian? I only ask, because, as someone who has been serving in various churches for decades, you typically need to be a believer and active within the church. An odd concept to me to play at churches that I don’t regularly attend.

[@malonedrum]

I would say I'm a spiritual person, but don't really identify with being a member/part of a church in a personal setting. I've had a lot of luck being a hired gun in settings that accept that, but I've also had awkward interactions around people trying to have me join a church, and play, typically as a volunteer. Nothing against that, but if that's why I'm being recruited, that doesn't feel genuine either.

[@reedoslund3581]

That is an interesting takeaway from this video. Are the worship team members believers or hired guns?

[@jorymil]

Church is an interesting thing in many places. Some people come for their faith. Some for simply social interaction. Depending on where you live and the type of church you're going to, the mix is different. In many smaller towns, church serves as a social structure as much as it serves any sort of religious function.

[@loganhobbs2612]

I find it quite disturbing that a pastor of a church would allow musicians on a platform to lead worship that don’t seem to be saved. Holy Ghost filled believers need to be the ones leading worship. There seems to be a trend in some larger churches where priority is to entertain the church goers. He is the Holy Ghost NOT the Showly Ghost!! Hearts, lives, minds will be changed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! Just curious if there was any group prayer before the service? If the musicians cannot come together and pray for God to have his way in the service, to move, to heal, to restore lives, to break chains of addiction and for the Lord to allow the musicians to use the gifts of music that God gave us for the sole purpose of glorifying HIS name, then what does it matter what drum fill you do?

[@malonedrum]

I won’t get into too much of this, but I’m confident you have a community and environment to participate that reflects your values, and I’m happy for that. I lean to the side of having more than one way to do things, which allows people to find a community which best suits the way they choose to practice.

[@murep]

Hope you got paid for the gig bro.

[@malonedrum]

I feel like I mentioned it in the video, but yeah, I did get paid.

[@danalnajes]

I learn by ear no chart

[@malonedrum]

That's great for you! Unfortunately with the amount of times I'm called to play, I don't have that luxury to commit to learning every song, for every gig, at every church or group I sub with to memory, and it serves me best to be able to write things down, so if it comes up down the road again (say 6 months or many years later) I still have access to notes and guides to get me through again with minimal effort of learning it all over again.