777Drum
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 08 2006
Posts: 389
Loc: TX
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I play barefoot. When I played out I traded off between dress shoes and just socks. At my house I play 100% barefoot. I was thinking about getting one new pair of tennis type shoes to use just for drumming. I do think it seems to give you a bit more power from the added mass alone compared to the barefoot.
Yet there is something about the touch with a barefoot compared to shoes I always miss. I do wear boots, but found I could never get used to playing in them. The heels were a problem, and in some ways the feet felt as though they were trapped in a sweaty leather prison. I did find that the best shoes seemed to be the dress slip on style. It felt like being the closest to the pedal with the feet compared to tennis shoes.
I decided to write this after reading this intersting article on walking and footwear.
http://nymag.com/health/features/46213
An interesting poll here would be is it Barefoot or if not what shoes do you wear for drumming.
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" I am not a Number! I am a Free Man!
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Mike4
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 03 2002
Posts: 624
Loc: Maryland
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There might be an old thread on this as I vaguely remember TigerBill or one of our self defense practitioners wearing the lightly soled kung fu shoes.
For me, barefoot is the one way I can't play as I'm too self consious about UGLY feet and jamming a toe into a gear or hard piece of something....
But I can and do gig in dress shoes or sneakers. I do sometimes practice in sweat socks as long as they don't snag on something.
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Foursticks
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 19 2003
Posts: 954
Loc: California
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It's low-cut tennis shoes or dress shoes for me. I can't wear anything that covers my ankles, like boots - too constricting. I've never practiced or gigged barefoot, so I can't comment on that, except that I think, like Mike4, I would be concerned about jamming a toe. No thanks.
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Tea Bag
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Sep 16 2004
Posts: 1129
Loc: Canada
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Gigging barefoot? Yikes - you'd want to make sure you don't have bunions, warts or long toe nails especially if the bar serves food! How do you get to the bar in between sets? (no shoes, no shirt, no service?) :o-
One of my bands has a dress code so we have no choice what to wear. Suits me fine...
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777Drum
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 08 2006
Posts: 389
Loc: TX
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I never did a gig barefoot, but plenty in socks!!
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" I am not a Number! I am a Free Man!
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awfulldrummer
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jun 26 2007
Posts: 583
Loc: manchester, nh, usa
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i'll practice at home in socks mainly because i'm too lazy to put shoes on! not barefoot! gigs anything but boots! as long as it's doesn't cover my anckles!
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http://www.myspace.com/awfulldrummer
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roger strange
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Dec 09 2003
Posts: 1119
Loc: Nova Scotia Canada
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Couldn't even imagine playing barefooted or in socks only with the stuff I play. I'd tear the soles of my feet apart in no time. I do heel toe and slide my feet all over the boards. Just the thought of carrying fast 16ths on a hi-hat pedal without footwear would be suicide for me. This whole thing was addressed last year on this site. Dig around, you'll find it.Besides which, in the past I have come up against barefoot or shoeless players in the cattle call auditions and when I see them I know I have the gig. And it's always proven out true. At the very least they always have the weaker and slower bass drum work especially on the double pedal or double bass passages. They also show signs of fallen arches if they have been playing that way for a few years and their time is not as tight.
Edited by roger strange (Tue Apr 29 2008 11:41 PM)
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awfulldrummer
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Jun 26 2007
Posts: 583
Loc: manchester, nh, usa
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roger, in your opinion. is it unwise for a drummer( ok me ) to practice in my socks? i don't play out that way, i wear shoes. i'm not perticular about my shoes as long as they're not boots. i think my playing with shoes is much better.
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http://www.myspace.com/awfulldrummer
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777Drum
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Feb 08 2006
Posts: 389
Loc: TX
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Fallen Arches from playing without shoes? Drumming would not do that. Read the article.
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" I am not a Number! I am a Free Man!
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Flam Master Flash
Tiger Talk Pro
Reged: Nov 17 2005
Posts: 325
Loc: France
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I play barefoot as well, and I have to say that my arches have strengthened since I've started playing. I can't see why playing barefoot would radically change your speed or time unless your feet are hyper sensitive. I've been teaching and practicing martial arts for the past 22 years, and I switched my classes to barefoot about two years back. I think that there is a conditioning process that the feet go through, and then they becoming stronger after that. Just bring a pair of clogs or slip ons if your concerned about going to the bar after your set.
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HIGH ON DRUMS
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