When you’re playing drums, it’s really important that every piece of the kit says exactly where you set it. The bass drum is especially notorious for “walking” forward a little more with every hit. They don’t call it a kick drum for nothing!
Most kick drums have some sort of “leg” that are meant to keep the drum from sliding. These legs usually have rubber feet meant to grip the floor and hold the drum in place. Apparently I kick too hard, because those rubber feet never really work and my drum still marched forward. Many kits usually offer a better option: a steel spike, sometimes hidden under/inside the rubber. The spike works wonderfully, but only if it can dig into a carpet—and ideally one that the whole kit sits on so everything stays aligned.
So years ago, I went to Walmart and bought a cheap rug. It turned out to be one of the best upgrades I’ve ever made, and now I bring it to every gig. At first, I even used tape to mark where each stand should go, which made setup faster. Over time the tape wore off, but by then I knew my setup well enough that I didn’t need the guides any more.
So even though it may not seem like a big deal, that rug goes to every gig and keeps my bass drum from wandering off mid-song. And honestly, there’s something a little luxurious about rolling out your own fresh, clean carpet—especially since I play without shoes!
