As a drummer who’s constantly on the move, I’ve come to understand the unique challenges and benefits of using a travel drum kit. My guide will explore popular options like the Pearl Traveler Kit infused with my personal insights and experiences to help fellow drummers navigate their musical journeys with ease.
What is a Travel Drum Kit and Why Should You Consider One?
Travel drum kits are designed for mobility, allowing drummers like us to easily carry our instruments across cities or between gigs. My personal favorite, the Pearl Compact Traveler Drum Kit has been a game-changer for me.
Being both light in weight and designed to occupy minimal space means that I can easily maneuver through crowded underground trains or small entrances found at various show venues. And in one of my favourite gigs of all time – in a small café in San Francisco – the pearl kit’s small footprint was such that I could set up in the back of a conjested corner, an impossibility with any normal size kit. The night became easier and the performance better through its easy to use nature that availed itself starting from setup time till end when everything was packed away again.
How to Choose the Best Travel Drum Kit: Features to Look For
When I select a travel drum kit, here’s what I always consider:
- It is very important that my drumkit is light, as light as possible.
- Again, you need something that’s easy to set up and tear down. I’ve played two or even three spots in one day before and finding something that needs more than half an hour to put together and break down is a major negative for me.
- Sound Quality: I need a kit that sounds good no matter where I play. The sound quality that comes from these types of kits has always amazed me greatly.
- Durability: I travel a lot so I need a bag that can take a knock.
In my opinion, these are the things that have kept me stress-free during shows while making sure that the experience is as enjoyable as possible.
Where to Find the Best Travel Drum Kits: Top Retailers and Online Shops
Finding the right travel drum kit can seem daunting, but here are a few places I’ve had success with:
| Retailer | Models Available | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Guitar Center | Pearl, Ludwig | $300 – $800 |
| Sam Ash | Roland, Yamaha | $350 – $900 |
| Amazon | Various Brands | $200 – $1000 |
| Sweetwater | Custom Kits | $500 – $1200 |
When to Opt for a Travel Drum Kit Over a Traditional Set
For me, the decision to switch to a travel drum kit was all about mobility. I recollect one occasion where I had a concert on top of a building in downtown LA but the lift wasn’t working.
My legs were shaking as I tried to walk up those steps with my old traditional kit. That was the day I decided to switch over to using a travel kit.
The lightweight Pearl Traveler Kit has made moving between gigs so much easier for me and I’ve never looked back. Personally, I believe that for any drummer who values flexibility and efficiency, a travel drum kit is indispensable.
Our ability to adjust to different venues and situations is vital and having a lighter more portable kit is paramount in ensuring this.
To Sum Up the World of Travel Drum Kits
Investing in a travel drum kit like the Pearl Traveler Kit has fundamentally changed how I approach performances. These kits strike an ideal balance between portability and high performance, which is so important to me.
You could have me play on just about anything, anywhere and I’ll be able to sound great. I’ve learned that from my travels with the kit: less weight, less hassle, more flexibility. In my experience, a travel drum kit isn’t just a practical choice—it’s a pathway to greater musical freedom.
So, pack your sticks and your kit and let the world be your stage.
My opinion
The day when I played drums dressed as a chicken
Ever wondered what happens when you mix a professional gig, a Pearl Traveler Kit and a chicken suit? No? Well, let me take you on a journey through one of the most bizarre gigs of my life—an evening that still flutters in my memory like a chicken trying to fly. It all started with a misunderstanding.
My band had been booked for what seemed like just another regular gig at some local bar. Little did I know it was a costume party and we were meant to dress up. It wasn’t until I walked in and found myself amid pirates, zombies and a huge taco that I realised what I’d done.
Now, here’s where it gets clucky. The one costume i.e. left at the last minute store that I could have made use of was a chicken suit.
Yes, a full-feathered, beak-equipped chicken suit. Since I didn’t want to be the odd one out (or should I say, the odd egg out), I donned the suit and set up my travel drum kit.
Now, if you’ve ever tried hitting a snare drum with feathery wings you’d understand that it’s not exactly a walk in the park – sort of like trying to text using your elbows. The night was full of absurdities. THWACK! I finally strike a cymbal and it makes the chicken head tumble into the audience. Well, that was probably as good as a headless chicken can play a drum solo.They went nuts that night.
They were cracking up and not just because of my poultry attempt at drumming.
When Drums Meet Ducks: The Great Outdoor Concert Mishap
In a chicken fit one thing I thought if there might be more wild, let me flap your wings with another story this time about real ducks. Our band had gig near the lake where we were supposed to play outside also one day. I had this great idea of including natural sounds from the environment into our music as well. I didnt realize however that ducks dont seem to like good tunes as much as human beings do. During the middle of the performance some ducks came over to us and started quacking along with every beat I hit on my bass drum. It looked like they were objecting against what we were doing – their protest song maybe? What was supposed to be an ordinary concert turned out into very odd kind of a duckish opera where chorus of enraged birds followed each drum stroke made by me. It was so funny for people who came there; somebody from the crowd even shouted out loud the phrase “These birds have better sense of rhythm than drummer!” It hurt a little bit honestly speaking . well actually talk about fowl play huh but still despite having such unexpected backing vocalists still everything went well eventually turning even into some sort comedy act nobody had expected beforehand. now may ask Why would anyone continue playing drums under these circumstances? And my dear friend answer is simple – The show must always go on even if sometimes it looks more like circus than anything else; moreover let’s not forget drumming dressed up like chicken or fighting against flock quacking can provide us with great material funny stories if not good music itself. So what should we learn from all this feathered mess-ups? Always check twice costume code for your gigs and maybe do some rehearsals far away from wild creatures too. But most importantly dont lose your sense of humour ever! No matter whether you are raising hell behind kit or simply improvising while wearing ridiculous outfit because every single moment lived through counts towards those memories we cherish forever. Remember that even most disordered concerts might turn out being fantastic times of our lives sometimes quite literally speakingSo, grab your sticks (or wings), your travel drum kit and prepare for anything. Because anything can happen in music, everything might just quack – I’m sorry, crack – you up.