FDD - Female Drummer Discrimination

[Hydie Warwick]

I'm a girl drummer in a band with guys and find that sometimes it has its advantages, and othertimes its throwbacks. I get guys and girls coming up to me after a set saying, "wow, you're a really good drummer!" or "You have an interesting set up" and drummer talk like that etc. But I also get the stupid comment of, "you're an alright drummer...for a girl".

I want to know your views on this: do you feel like people judge you for your ability to play, or for the fact that you're a woman behind a drumkit and a minority? Also, tell me the oddest remarks you've gotten after a performance.

[Caitie Thompson]

I do agree that there is a stigma for female drummers. I work in a music store and every time people ask what I play they are always taken back when I say "percussion or drums". When I tell them I am a drumline instructor they are even more taken back.
I have had many people tell me that I am better than most men they know, and I have had people make fun of me and say "Oh is Tommy Lee your favorite drummer?" I also get the guys who wont even speak to me too... they're always fun. I've never really had anyone tell me I was horrible, but its very nerve racking when you dont know what they think. Most of the time I just shoot them the stink eye and they shut up. LOL

[M. Jackson]

i totally get that all the time. guys in my old band class actually told me i sucked because i'm a girl, even tho i hadn't played yet. oddest remark? that would be: why were you playing the drums instead of the bells?

[kaito]

the funny thing with me, back in Jr High band, was that I was one of the best drummers. the guys never hassled me cause I was able to make them look like idiots, and actually our band director (who was a guy) gave me harder parts to play cause he could tell I just picked up on the music too quick, and got bored easily. So luckily, I never got the ridicule.

[Hydie Warwick]

Ride on, Kaito :)

[April Dawn]

I feel you have to kind of prove that yes your a girl that can drum!!

they have higher expectations possibly.i enjoy the guys response some times though,its like you cant be a drummer,think some of them find it a turn on:) 

[Maxine Harrison]

I am 12 and I got asked to play with a bunch of guys who are about 20.

Someone has written my experience into a story. You can read it at the link below.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/drummer_girl

[Samantha]

In band my guy friend always thinks he can play better than me. But we Had a playing test jugded by our band directer and i won but right now we r competing for a drum set part and so far i am doing better them him

[Samantha]

In band my guy friend always thinks he can play better than me. But we Had a playing test jugded by our band directer and i won but right now we r competing for a drum set part and so far i am doing better them him

[Rachel Velvet Barela]

I had the usual, "oh, you play the drums?, that's cool!" I used to be legally blind before my eye surgery and I received comments like "wow your a girl drummer and blind"! "Is it hard to play blind?" LOL I thought that was funny since a guitar player does not have to see his/her instrument.  I got the question "are you good?" I replied well, I hope so.  But I get a lot guys wanting to talk to me about learning my fills that I play, which is cool, People tell me that I am very good for the time I have spent playing that I play better than most that has played a lot longer.  My bass players ex-drummer played for 20 years and saw my video and thought the same thing. When my band was auditioning they were surprised that "a girl" can play they told me that once they heard I was a female they did ot  expect much, until they heard me. Which is just silly.

[Tedi Mason aka Tedi Brunetti]

I'm 60 years old and have been playing for 46 years. Not much has changed. Honestly, I went to a blues jam at a club/bar last week and when I told the guitarist/bandleader I wanted to sit in on drums he said "really?'" well, let's face it, not to many 60 year old women want to rock the house! Lol Then this S.O.B. gets up on stage and announces "We got a female drummer in the house" "You know they play with their legs spread apart!" WTF????? My husband was with me but didn't hear the comment in the boys room.  Anyway,at this point I had to stay and play, because I'm a more accomplished musician than they are. I did my thing, slammed in the groove, and left. Geez

[fay coble]

Don't have any performance incidents to report but when I was representing Blues In the Schools @ an arts festival for local teachers one of the music teachers looked @ me & said Why @ your age? when I mentioned taking drum lessons. You know I really expect better than that from a music teacher!!!