TIPS & TRICKS FOR 2021

With the summer of 2020 depriving us of gigs, we can’t explain how much we have reminisced about wedding season. The drumming, the food, the crowds, the road trips and yes even those days when Sunny used to have that Peugeot and we would question if we would even make it to the gig in one piece.

Our journey as Dhol players has been great and we have picked up so many tips and tricks along the way. We have been asked countless times about how to make it professionally as drummers and in this blog, we will share some of our knowledge to inspire anyone else looking to start a Dhol team.

1) Being a Dhol player is more than just playing Dhol.

People seem to think learning to play Dhol is enough to become a professional Dhol player. Unfortunately, it’s not. Think of yourself as a performer rather than a Dhol player. Nobody wants statues playing Dhol, they want performers! So move and throw some energy when you play Dhol and let the crowd feed off your energy. Also being a Dhol players is like running your own business. You need to be able to manage your time (nobody likes late Dhol players), you need communication skills, you need to adapt to the situation and you need to be able to deal with pressure. So before you decide to set off on your mission to become the next big thing in Dhol, just remember to work on other aspects of yourself too.

2) Never be scared to make money and know your worth.

Just like with any industry, people will always look for a bargain. And the sign of a good business person is to be able to secure the deal and at a price you are both happy with. However, never be scared and always know your worth.

People always see Dhol players as those guys who turn up, play Dhol for 15 mins, chill and then leave. That’s a completely understandable perception, but just not true. They aren’t just paying you to play Dhol, they’re paying for all the time and effort you put in to learn your craft and also all the preparation you put into their event. Remember, when you have multiple gigs at the same time, working logistics is a nightmare and it all comes at a price.

3) Don’t do it for the money

So many people want to play Dhol so they can go make a bit of extra cash. If that’s what you’re thinking, we advise you not to do it. Remember, this is someone’s special event, they want to see energy and passion when someone’s playing Dhol, they don’t want to see someone day dreaming about the cash they’ll receive at the end. Over the years we have seen countless drummers who lack the passion, charisma and energy but try to break into the industry. Honestly, if you are starting out and wouldn’t do it for free, then you probably don’t enjoy it enough!

4) You can’t please everyone

You can’t please everyone. That’s the rule of life. Dhol playing is no different. Just remember that when you start off. You will have critics and you will have unhappy customers. Listen to what they have to say, work on it and move on. As times change, so will the industry, so you’ll have to as well.

5) Practise, Practise, Practise

Its okay to make the odd mistake. That’s how you learn. Chances are the drunk aunty and uncle in the crowd won’t realise either. But as a team, its essential you practise together and develop a cohesion. Otherwise, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. And believe us, it’ll definitely show.

6) Make sure you can drive.

Don’t be that guy….just don’t. One of the great things about Imperial drummers is that the majority of us can drive. This means we have go anywhere to play Dhol. Make sure you guys have transport and drivers otherwise you’ll be limiting yourself on the gigs you can do!

7) Be Unique

Nobody wants another drummer that is the same as everyone else. They want something new, they want something fresh. Always think out of the box and try bring something new to the table. It’ll help you stand out. There’s nothing wrong with looking at other teams for inspiration but always try to be that little bit better.

8) Enjoy it!

The journey will be stressful, but it’ll be so much fun. If you have the genuine passion for it and use the tips mentioned above, time will fly and before you know it you’ll be the next big thing. Remember though, the hard work starts once you reach the top and try to maintain it. Check out our blog on anxiety for tips on how to deal with performance anxiety should you need help!

9) Network

We can’t stress this enough! This is something you should do in life & its so helpful in Dhol too. Speak to people! DJ’s, other Dholi’s, musicians, caterers, you name it! Get your name out there and support them. You’ll be surprised how much support you will receive in return – Don’t be bitter with other teams respect your competition and just know there’s enough work out there for everyone!

10) Learn another Instrument

Now this might sound a bit strange – But trust us, it helps. Some of the best percussionists are ones that can play multiple instruments. It opens your creative doors and also, those skills can be transferred. Some of the best drummers in our team can play multiple instruments such as Dholki, Tabla, Piano and the Dilruba just to name a few. Other instruments will teach you something different, whether its counting beats, different keys or even technical beats which you can transfer. If you’re enthusiastic, learning multiple instruments will be one of the most rewarding things. You won’t regret it!