“All you need to bring is cymbals” translated

“What? Them's drums, ain't they? Whatsamatter?”

What this familiar instruction really means:

“Bring your cymbals, and these items too:

• two different sizes of hihat clutches
• cymbal felts, washers, sleeves, and wingnuts
• snare drum
• throne
• bass drum pedal
• what the hell: hihat stand
• extra cymbal stand
• optional, not optional: snare stand
• duct tape
• music stand, clothes pins, stand light, if reading music
• stick bag, drum key, of course

Failure to bring ANY of the above is 100% guaranteed to leave you TOTALLY SCREWED.”

As one drummer says: “If someone says that they are providing drums... don’t have any expectations[.]”