To begin with, I agree - You can use practice pads, thighs, pots & pans, or whatever.
But when you do come to actually play, the feel of a stick off an actual drumhead and the proper positioning to avoid getting utterly knackered will be a big factor. Some rudiments just won't work on thighs, as you need the controlled rebound to create speed and feel. The heavier stuff will also hurt!!!!
I've played for more than one band that performed non-stop, ie no breaks between songs, for 2 hour sets at a time - Unless you're properly set up and practiced in economy of movement, you won't last 10 minutes!
+1 on finding songs you like to play along with.
One of the biggest parts to being a drummer is developing your ear and feel for the song, especially if you're playing covers. Being able to hear what their drummer is playing helps you understand why the song works, as well as being able to create your own feel when you play it yourself.
Try and pick some songs with fairly basic beats to start with.
