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I hate it when people refer to me as percussionist. I rather be called a congero or bongocero. A lot of "percussionist" don't know technique nor roots of the instrument they are playing. Most "percussionists" I know really are drum kit players who think they know how to play any drum. The other day a drummer got ahold of my bongos and started to play, he was really fast cuz he was in drum line. But he was using his fingers and couldn't go on. And in the end of the night they introduced all the musicians "...and our percussionist _______". I told him after, they might call you a percussionist but don't you dare call yourself a bongocero! It the same thing with "percussionists" playing congas. ....... What do you guys think???

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Thank you for your input Cuco.... It's true what you say..but personally the term percussionist I don't like.... Percussion ensemble is better....

VJB I feel your pain bro.
You can't worry about them because most people (and musicians) are ignorant about our instruments & rhythms.

Next time your drummer grabs your bongos tell him to play "martillo" and then grab his sticks real fast and start hitting his toms as hard as you can.
Put a few good dents in their heads and they get the message.... they dig.

I HATE the term "percusionist"! I rather be called Multi-Instrumentalist!

I just love it when they call me a "bonga" player. Personally, I don't give a shit. The abundance of morons is overwhelming. As long as they enjoy what I'm doing-- that's all that matters. I'm resigned to the fact that as a "percussionist/congo/bonga player" I'll get no respect. Joke 'em if they can't take a fuck.

Thats, true..."i get no respect!"... to others, shakers, chimes, tamborines, "timbalas", "cangas" and "bongas" are all the same. But to us the conga is a drum not some "accessory". if a band needs to make cuts, our kind is the first one to go!.. we are the most misunderstood! do you think we are there to compliment the drummer?.. one time someone told me "the drummer has a more important role than you!..you are really there to compliment the drums."..so i picked up all my thing and up and left!

Ive had to carry the drummer on a few gigs. a drummer that doesnt have much of a handle on rhythm is much easier to come across than i have once thought possible.
i have been asked "oh, you HIT the tall, rounded bongos, right?" my mind keeps doing a back flip since no one knows, or really seems to care, that bongos, congas, and djembes are not the same things. "oh, same thing." ugh.

Let the ignorant be just that....if in the 21st century people do not know the difference...F...'em !