Basically, it all started with Cherry & Durian (not their real names) turning off my drum sound midway through my practice session. I was quite shocked as with a nice roof drum shield and half a dozen mics, they still thought it was too loud. I shouted across the hall,"If you're going to turn off the drums, why not just remove the mics as well!" By this time, I was not fully angry yet. But what happened next made me lose it. I walked towards where Cherry was and asked him if there was a need to turn the drums off. He said even if he reduced the drum volume to zero, he could still hear the drums or the drums were overpowering the other instruments. He tried to explain the technicalities of mixing to me, of which I wasn't interested as it doesn't really solve the problem.
Our conversation developed this way-
Oli: Is what you're doing based on industry standards?
Cherry: No. (can't remember what else he said here)
O: Have you been to a Paul Baloche concert in a small hall where Carl Albrecht did not even have a shield and still sounded great?
C: No.
O: Then you need to develop your understanding of drum mixing.
C: Fine, send me for training then.
O: Do I need to send you for training? Aren't you motivated to go yourself? Do I need to question your motivation?
C: Look here, I'm really upset with what you're saying. I'm a volunteer. I don't have to do this.
(Both of us tried to cool down at this point. We continued our argument but in a gentler manner.)
O: (My last question) Let me find out your musical taste. Do you listen to Hillsongs or Paul Baloche?
C: No.
O: Then, I think it's pointless talking to you. (Conversation ends.)
I walked to the drumkit, took my drumsticks and threw on the floor. ZP, my electric guitarist, asked me if things were ok. I shook my head in dismay. We resumed practice. I switched to Hot Rods to get a softer sound to please Cherry. As much as I was bewildered why Cherry would think the drums were too loud, I tried to be professional about it and go softer. After all, by right, he's supposed to be in the best position to gauge the sound.
In the midst of using rods, the worship leader felt there was no punch. I told him I had to do so as Cherry did not like me loud. He asked Cherry down to the stage and told him the problem. Cherry explained the situation and things got even uglier here. Another round of conversation transpired and this time, it was in full view of the musicians, singers etc.
Worship Leader: I need the punch. But if Oli has to use rods, it's not going to help.
Cherry: (Mumbles something to WL.)
Oli: Forget it. Cherry is just a conservative guy.
WL: No, it's not about that. I still need the punch on stage.
(Durian comes in during this heated moment and told us all to submit to the WL's wishes. I told Durian the console people have the best view of the sound, not the WL. The conversation continues a bit longer.)
O: He's just conservative, while I'm not. Look at my T-shirt. It says 'The Beatles'. Cherry, after using rods, can you now control the drum sound?
C: (smiles) and says No.
O: (raising my voice) Then what the hell you want? After giving you whatever the hell you want, you still don't want whatever the hell I give! What the hell you expect me to do? Play with my fingers??? (Cherry walks out of the hall)
At this point, everyone looked stumped. WL wanted to carry on practicing. I told him the first thing we needed to do was to get Cherry back. WL walked out of the hall to get Cherry back. After 5 minutes with no sign of Cherry, I walked out of the hall to get him. Once outside, I saw WL trying to convince Cherry it was necessary to use sticks. I told Cherry I was sorry, shook his hand, and said let's go back and finish the job. I told Cherry we're guys and let's hate each other for all we want but don't sacrifice what we needed to do. Cherry agreed and we proceeded. The practiced resumed and it ended peacefully, at least outwardly.
My personal reflection on this whole episode-
Why in the world are incompetent people doing sound? This is the first time in more than 17 years of drumming that someone told me my sound is still out of control with the rods! Is he nuts? How can you expect not to have acoustic drum sounds spilling out into the audience? More remarkably, the next day, during soundcheck, when Durian wanted to test the drums. I told him if he was going to turn it off, might as well not test it. Then he said he would at least want to test the other drums, but not the snare as it sounded too sharp during practice. What??? Aren't there low and high knobs which he can simply turn to reduce the sharpness?
Seriously, I give up. After more than 5 years of hanging around, it's rubbish here. If I can find a better place, I'll go. No one is freaking motivated here and worse, getting jokers to do the job. One leader told me his plans to start training the teams. I told him if people were motivated, they don't need you to tell them to train. He said not everyone was like me. I told him there are. You just need to get them.
But what I truly meant was why even bother choosing unmotivated people. He would probably say there isn't enough people. Biblical examples show it's never about quantity, but quality. David won battles with only 5 mighty men. Samson destroyed hundreds of Philistines. Joshua and Caleb conquered the promised land with their leadership. The 12 disciples shook the world for Christ. Need I say more?
