I walked with the tumbas - for 2miles for an unpaid gig

[Charangaman]

I can't drive.. My usual "Chauffer" let me down at late notice.. You can't get a taxi at 6pm in west london.. I waited at the bus stop, when it came it was chock a block with commuters..

So I had to walk two miles with the Tumbas, without bags. .. One in each hand, had to stop every 3 minutes
missed the soundcheck and my hands and arms hurt sooo bad, I could hardly play... And the sound engineer sucked!

Why I didn't choose to play Flute or trumpet!!!??
Nevermind, I still love the drum.... :;):

[onile]

Oye Papa!
You deserve the "Conga Players Universal Purple Heart" for that effort!
Since it hasn't been invented yet however, please accept the following in it's place!

Seriously Abure Charangaman, I feel you, that is truly a testament to your love for the drum and your committment to your word my brother! There is real honor in that! Beautiful!

Many blessings and respect!

Onile!

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... congas.jpg

[Charangaman]

Gracias hermano!

Did I tell you about the time I played a two hour set with flu?... Another day maybe..

Not even wild horses can stop me!

[windhorse]

Wow! Hats off to you!
Onile! Great picture!

I got an old timey 3 wheeler golf cart off e-bay a few years ago. You take a wood board and mount it to the bottom, and use bungies and side strap to affix as many as three drums to the bottom, and one on top, so it's possible to carry four drums by yourself on a cart!

One, is no problem at all..
Something to consider!

BTW, my favorite thing to watch is my girlfriend carrying her drums and watching her muscles pop out! whoof!

[Charangaman]

:D

Great tip! I did see an upturned shopping trolley on my way which tempted me but I don't think the venue would have appreciated me turning up like that .. ..

How about Congas designed like Russian dolls?
Quinto in Conga, Conga in Tumba = One very heavy load... Maybe wheels coming out the bottom.. ?

[Jongo]

I feel you Charangaman, the joke in my band is that if we were a REAL band we would have people carrying our instruments for us. That will never happen! I have had to walk carrying my congas by the handles and after a couple minutes you feel like your arms are going to completely give out. I have had to carry my congas a long distance but I had them in their bags and I could at least strap them to my back. You know I think that was for an unpaid gig also. I need to get a little cart but then how would I get the girls to help me with my gear?

[troels]

Makes me think about that I have never, in over 20 years of playing the congas, enjured or hurt my arms or hands by actually playing the drums - but I have done it some times lugging the drums around late at night, carrying them down the stairs behind a club, stuffing them in the back of a double parked van etc. :;):

Troels

[CongaTick]

Yep,

Been there. Done that. And like you have wished I'd taken up the harmonica. Definitely a ball-buster and at 64 am still doing it.

[Jongo]

Playing congas keeps you spiritually strong and mentally sharp. Carrying them keeps you physically strong. For you guys that are veteran congueros I am sure you are in better shape than most of the guys out there. It's an overall work out!

[Bachikaze]

I haven't been playing long, but I decided I would need some way to transport my three congas through dowtown streets in one trip, since I usually can't park close to the gig. I made a cart with two sets of wheels: four for pavement and four for off-road. The cart allows me to carry stands and other accessories as well. My life is much easier now.

[JohnnyConga]

You may want to start "lifting" your congas over ur head a little bit everyday like their barbells....I had to carry my congas IN THE SNOW up to my knees at 3am in the morning for an "after hour" gig in the Bronx, once, cause the Taxi got stuck in the snow and i had to walk pretty far in the snow....with 2 congas....I was soaked by the time i got there up to my knees...but I was on time and had a chance to 'warm up".....that is the "Life" of a "musician" so get ready for it's pitfalls and it's awards.....BTW my first instrument after bongos was the Flute...why didn't I stay with it?... ..."JC" Johnny Conga....pss...I'll be 59 and still carry my own congas and the rest....of course I use a "hand cart"...

[CongaTick]

Bachikaze.,

Would be interested in the look and design of your cart. A pix would be great. Do you have a van or SUV? Or do you load ina car?

BTW, any other congueros who have convenient/unique "congawheels/carts" for shlepping from distant parking into the gig space? I travel in a 4 door Mitsu-bitchy (Can't afford the SUV or minivan) with 3 congas, an 18" djembe, a gig bag full of perc toys and clip-on mic kit, a throne, a mic stand, so any help/ideas would be appreciated.

[rumbero russo]

It's funny, but I had the same problem yesterday. I walked with my conga & tumba (LP Valje/Armando Peraza the heaviest LP drums I Guess) , it was about may be two kilometers, may be more to the street I can get some taxi. You know, in our contry any driver can be a taxist, for many people it's the only way to make money, but I couldn't get anyone. I came to the gig to one island of our sity (Saint Pitersburg), it's the nice place to have a rest there, some partys, birthdays, weddings etc., very prestigious. But it's so hard to get out from it! Only feshionable, expensive cars, and me walking with my tumbadoras, more then 15 kilogrames (but they was in the bags) each one...
I'm not so stupid, I didn't buy tumbadoras before I bought a car. I played trumpet before, and now, then I have a gig as a trumpeter, I'm the hapiest guy. I can go by feet, I live in the centre of the city, and mostly work there. And then I take my trumpet, I don't care for trafic, for nondrinking becouse of driving, and it's so healthy to walk, and so unusual for me for about 5 years. I miss my trumpet days so much!
Yesterday, my car was in repair workshop, and I couldn't get it before the gig. I get there without any problems, and had to go out of island by feet. And the most terrible thing was, I DIDN'T GET THE GIG! As I cold understand, about 7 students from Africa (not musicians) with funny drums replased me on this party (I had to play alone with a DJ), I saw them then I got to the place.
Nobody even call the guy who offered me this work.
Very stange things heppend here...
But today I played a concert with my band, on a birthday of the big band of my friend and colegue. The audience didn't let us go out from the scene. It was excellent! For such kind of moments I can carry four tumbadoras, timbales and bongos!
I wish to all of you more such a moments, sure you know that I mean!
Dmitry

[Bachikaze]

Bachikaze.,

Would be interested in the look and design of your cart. A pix would be great. Do you have a van or SUV? Or do you load ina car?

BTW, any other congueros who have convenient/unique "congawheels/carts" for shlepping from distant parking into the gig space? I travel in a 4 door Mitsu-bitchy (Can't afford the SUV or minivan) with 3 congas, an 18" djembe, a gig bag full of perc toys and clip-on mic kit, a throne, a mic stand, so any help/ideas would be appreciated.

Here are the photos.
http://gorogoro.info/gorogoro/conga01.htm

In a standard passenger car, you could carry the cart in the back seat (it's 4 X 2 feet), and maybe a conga in the front passenger seat. I don't know where a second conga could go. The trunk? Maybe the third conga could share the back seat with the cart.

The world has too many djembes; leave it home.

I have a van.

[CongaTick]

:laugh: :laugh: You're probably right about the djembe!!!

Thank you for referring me to your very cool site, Bachikaze. Very nice. And what an elegant solution for shlepping 3 tubs. SInce all I have is a little car, it gets stuffed as follows: quinto and conga in the trunk, in their covers, resting on foam. Tumba lays on back seat. Next to it, upright , behind driver, djembe. On floor, syands. Front passenger seat gig bag and on front floor, throne, etc. Don't have enough room for your cart, but you've given me a PVC idea. Thanks for taking the time, Bachikaze. Much appreciated.