Live Sound Tip: Don’t Forget the Drum Mat

Not every venue will have a drum mat or rug for the drums to be set up on. It may not seem like a vital piece of a kit compared to the hardware, drums, cymbals, and percussion, but that lowly mat can be the difference between a great set and a disaster. Many venues and stages have slick floors. This isn’t a problem for amps, cabs, and mic stands, but it can cause drums to start creeping forward as they’re played. You know where this leads — at best, it means that the sweet spot of where you like to strike your drums shifts, while at worst it means that your drum kit falls off the riser or off the stage! If you bring your own mat with you, you know that you’re covered.