I've recently mentioned how I haven't split sticks,cymbals or dented skins in many years. Years ago I played Thrash/Death Metal
, and used to smash the life out of things 
, but Blues Rock, Age, Cost, Effort 
........Whatever it was, I just stopped breaking stuff.Been playing heaps of low volume gigs, but the last 2 weeks we've played 2 gigs (1 each week) in the CBD of Melbourne at high energetic volumes, original tracks, 45min set. It had been months, yet we still had almost weekly low volume 3x '45min set' gigs.
We had rehearsed hard, and we're pumped to play LOUD
.First gig, very stiff, split a stick 2nd song,but, still not pulling the body I wanted from the kit, so I hit harder, and played stiffer,and I became fatigued easily
.Second gig, same routine, worse stage sound
, played smoother, yet more forceful when needed. Way more solid 
, and still hit quite hard, harder in fact (so I was told, by more than 1 person). Didn't break anything, and....We Rocked
.Although we were well received on both occasions, you know when you are On, and when..........
I had the same routine, and felt good prior to gig on both occasions. The stick breaking completely threw me, I even dropped a stick several songs later, could never quite get it back, bizarre
.Don't know why I started this thread, maybe just to see if any of you guys have had similar experiences when playing Live.
That comfort zone can be difficult to catch when the gig starts off a little unplanned. Mental Attitude has SO MUCH to do with performance
. I've been playing Live weekly or fortnightly for ages now, and haven't been thrown like this in years, What gives.. Cheers
