A Drummer's Guide To...: Recent Episodes
adrummersguideto
Join Emily Dolan Davies as she shares personal stories, lessons and musings from her 20 years experience as a session drummer. Find out first hand what it’s like touring the world, recording remotely and running a successful business. If you’re just starting out in the music industry or simply crazy about drums - this podcast is for you!
I've been trying to answer a question that's fascinated me for years...
I've met unbelievable musicians who never pursued music beyond a hobby, and others who built incredible careers despite not necessarily being the "best" player in the room.
So if technical ability isn't the whole story... what is?
For my psychology dissertation, I'm researching the relationship between personality and interest in music, and I need as many musicians as possible to take part.
🎵 Hobbyist?
🎵 Weekend warrior?
🎵 Teacher?
🎵 Touring pro?
You're exactly who I'm looking for.
⏱️ Takes around 10 minutes
🔒 Completely anonymous
📅 The survey closes on 26th June 2026
👉 emilydrums.com/survey
And if you know any musicians, please share this with them. The more responses I get, the more meaningful (and interesting!) the findings will be.
I'd also love to make an episode sharing the results with you all once it's finished ❤️
Do you only get one chance to network with someone… or is that just something we’ve told ourselves?
In this episode, I answer a brilliant question from Anonymous about networking on Instagram, sending DMs, and how to actually build real connections — especially when it feels like you’re “using up your one shot” every time you reach out.
We talk about:
Why cold DMs often fall flat
How relationships are actually built online
The shift from “one message” to “ongoing presence”
Why being seen matters more than being perfect
And how to approach networking in person — especially if you don’t get a second chance to recognise someone
This episode is a big mindset shift if you’ve ever:
👉 Overthought a DM
👉 Worried about saying the wrong thing
👉 Felt like conversations always dry up
👉 Or assumed networking is about getting it right first time
It’s not about one shot. It’s about familiarity.
🎧 Listen now and rethink how you connect.
❓ Ask a question for a future episode:
https://emilydrums.com/ama
💬 Book a free 30-minute Coaching Taster Session:
https://emilydrums.com
Most musicians grow up believing in the idea of a “big break.”
That one moment where someone important discovers you…
The audition that suddenly changes everything…
The gig that launches your career overnight.
But in my experience, that’s almost never how it actually works.
In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, I answer a question from Jon Raynor about how to catch the eye of higher-level artists and move beyond smaller gigs into bigger opportunities.
I talk about my own journey going from playing with original artists to working professionally, and why the opportunities that changed my career came from relationships and consistency, not a single breakthrough moment.
In this episode I discuss:
• Why most professional music careers don’t start with a big break
• How gigs actually appear in the professional music world
• Why relationships often matter more than talent
• The difference between being a great drummer and being hireable
• Practical things you can do to make sure the right people notice you
If you’ve ever wondered why some musicians seem to move forward while others feel stuck waiting for the right opportunity, this episode is for you.
Ask your own question for a future episode:
EmilyDrums.com/AMA
Book a free 30-minute coaching taster session:
EmilyDrums.com
You’re a professional.
It’s just four minutes.
So why does this song feel like a punch in the chest?
In Episode 219 – A Drummer’s Guide To… Heartbreak on the Setlist (Q from Anonymous), I answer a listener’s question about performing a song that’s deeply tied to a painful past relationship.
Should you just “be professional” and play it?
Or are you allowed to have boundaries in a band?
We explore:
🥁 The difference between suppression and emotional regulation
🥁 When pushing through builds resilience — and when it’s just self-punishment
🥁 How music hardwires itself to memory
🥁 Whether raising it with your band is weakness… or maturity
🥁 How to reclaim a song that hurts (if you choose to)
This isn’t just about one sad tune.
It’s about emotional labour in performance — and what professionalism actually means.
If you’ve ever had to show up on stage while something personal was going on… this one’s for you.
💬 Want your question answered on a future episode?
Submit it here: EmilyDrums.com/ama
🎯 Want a free 30-minute coaching taster session?
Head to: EmilyDrums.com
Starting the year with no gigs?
Feeling like everyone else is working except you?
In Episode 218 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Starting the Year With No Gigs (Q from Anonymous), I break down what January really means for musicians — and how to use this time strategically instead of spiralling.
We talk about:
– What to post when you’re between gigs
– How to avoid looking like a “bedroom musician”
– Why covers aren’t the problem (your positioning is)
– Why January isn’t failure — it’s seasonal
– Turning quiet months into momentum
If you’re feeling the slow start panic, this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now.
Grateful. Successful. Still restless? You’re not alone.
In Episode 217 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Grateful, Successful… Still Wanting More (Q from Dom Ritchie), Emily answers a powerful question from Dom — a young professional drummer making a full-time living in music who still feels the pull of “what’s next”.
This episode explores:
Why satisfaction doesn’t automatically follow success
Whether moving to London actually creates opportunity
How to build a recording and remote session career gradually
Why restlessness doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful or failing
🎧 Listen now to Episode 217
💬 Ask your own question: EmilyDrums.com/ama
🎓 Free 30-minute coaching taster: EmilyDrums.com
Ever turned up to a gig already annoyed… because you know the money isn’t worth the effort? 🚗💸
This anonymous question is painfully relatable: great band, great musical experience… but the gigs are underpaid, the travel is brutal, and resentment is creeping in.
In this episode, I talk about:
⛽ when the petrol cost makes the gig fee pointless
🚗 how to handle long drives + low pay without burning out
😬 what to do when you feel a “chip on your shoulder” forming
💬 how to raise money concerns without creating band drama
🎯 how to decide what’s “worth it” long-term
This isn’t about being ungrateful — it’s about protecting your standards and your enjoyment of playing.
✅ Watch/listen now: Episode 216 — Underpaid, Overworked, Resentful (Q from Anonymous)
Got a question for a future episode?
👉 EmilyDrums.com/ama
Want support with confidence, boundaries, rates, career direction, or band politics?
👉 Free 30-min coaching taster session: EmilyDrums.com ✅
🩸 You’re not “too sensitive” - your body is giving you information 😌
🎧 Episode 215 - A Drummer’s Guide To… Women’s Health on Tour (Q from Suzy) 🥁
😅 Some weeks you feel unstoppable behind the kit… and other weeks you feel like you’ve forgotten how to play 🥁
🧠 In this episode, I talk honestly about cycle changes, energy dips, confidence spirals, and how they affect performance 🎭
🚐 We get into touring self-care that actually works: nourishment, hydration, sleep, anxiety management, and pacing yourself 💪
🛠️ Plus the practical stuff most people ignore - like kit setup tweaks that protect your body and prevent injury ✅
👗 And stage clothing comfort + hygiene tips, because drumming is physical and this matters more than people realise 😅
🙃 We also talk about the mental load of being underestimated as a female musician (yep… those comments) 🎤
👀 Watch Episode 215 to the end for the mindset shift that stops you panicking when you’re not at 100% 🔥
✨ It’s not about pushing harder - it’s about planning smarter so you stay consistent without burning out 🧠
❓ Ask a question for a future episode 👉 EmilyDrums.com/ama 💬
🌱 Book a free 30-min coaching taster session 👉 EmilyDrums.com 💛
Recording your in-ear mix sounds like a good idea… until you try it.
This episode answers Joe Threlfall’s question about capturing IEM audio, explains why it’s so unreliable, and explores whether it’s even necessary in the first place.
A practical, reassuring reframe for musicians feeling stuck over technical details.
Have a question you’d like answered on the podcast?
Submit it at EmilyDrums.com/ama
In music, talent might get you noticed — but trust is what keeps you working.
This episode was sparked by a question from Rob Quinn about the role of trust in a music career, and it opens up one of the most quietly important topics in professional musicianship.
Inside, I talk about trust on every level of the job:
• Trusting bandmates to show up prepared
• Being trusted by artists, MDs, and management
• What happens when that trust breaks down
• How trust is built during pressure, not perfection
• Why reliability often matters more than brilliance
• Learning to trust yourself when things go wrong on stage
From tempo disputes and difficult leadership dynamics to real-world gig crises where systems fail and people have to step up — this episode explores how careers are shaped by who people feel safe relying on.
If you’ve ever wondered why some musicians stay booked while others quietly disappear… this episode explains a big part of it.
🎧 Episode 213 is live now.
And if you want to talk through your own career situations, you can book a FREE 30-minute Coaching Taster Session via https://www.emilydrums.com or the link in my bio.
Ever been stuck in a band where tempos feel unpredictable…
there’s no count-off… no click allowed… and the tension is rising?
This week’s question comes from a drummer caught in exactly that situation — dealing with a stressed band leader, shifting tempos, and the pressure of holding it all together.
In this episode, I unpack what’s really going on in tempo wars — and how to deal with them without losing your confidence or your cool.
We cover:
• Why tempo issues are rarely just about time
• How to build trust in your internal clock (with or without clicks)
• When adapting helps — and when it quietly hurts you
• How to raise difficult topics without making things worse
• Collaborative compromises that actually work on gigs
• Protecting your confidence when frustration is in the room
If you’ve ever walked off a rehearsal or gig feeling rattled, blamed, or second-guessing yourself — this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now — Episode 212 is live.
And if you want support navigating tricky band dynamics, you can book a FREE 30-minute Coaching Taster Session via https://www.emilydrums.com or the link in my bio.
You know that feeling when you’re good — genuinely good — yet you’re still playing the same pubs, the same tiny rooms, and wondering why you can’t break into the gigs you know you’re ready for?
This week’s episode dives into Pete’s brilliant question:
How do you break out of the pub circuit and start playing the gigs that actually move your career forward?
If you’ve ever felt stuck… under-seen… or like your playing deserves better rooms, this one’s for you.
Inside we cover:
• Why talent alone isn’t enough (and what actually is)
• How to get seen by the right musicians, MDs, and gig-getters
• The psychological shift that gets you OUT of “pub loops”
• How to find higher-level players who help you level up
• Why comfort zones kill careers (and how to step out of yours)
• The big mistake seasoned musicians make when trying to “get noticed”
If you’ve been nodding along because this is exactly where you’re stuck… you don’t have to figure it out alone.
🎧 Listen now — it might be the perspective shift you needed.
🔗 And if you want personalised guidance, book a free 30-minute Coaching Taster Session via https://www.emilydrums.com
Ever wonder why some musicians get recommended constantly… while others get ignored?
Episode 210 digs into the truth behind it — sparked by a great question from Charlie Purdie.
Is a session career built through word of mouth… or through posting on social media?
The answer is both — but not equally, and not in the way most musicians expect.
In this episode:
– Why live gig experience is still the foundation
– How word of mouth really spreads
– The role social media plays (and what it can’t do for you)
– Why reliability beats flashiness
– How to make your online presence work for you, not against you
Got a question for a future episode? Send it over — I answer all of them.
Want career support? Book a free discovery call (link in bio).
Today’s question comes from Joe Threlfall (@joe_threlfall_guitar) - a brilliant guitarist working in theatre pits who wants to break into touring productions.
Joe asked:
“What should I be posting to Stories vs pinned posts on Instagram… and is it okay to film practice clips off my phone? Also, what would actually help me get my next step into working on theatre tours?”
In this episode, I break down:
⭐ What fixers really look for
⭐ The difference between Stories vs your public shop window (your grid + pinned posts)
⭐ What to film, what not to film, and why
⭐ How to build proof of experience when you’re not on a tour yet
⭐ Smart networking that doesn’t feel gross
⭐ The single biggest mistake musicians make on Instagram when trying to get booked
If you’re trying to build a career in theatre, touring, or any pro gigging world — this one will help you clean up your online presence and make it so much easier for fixers to trust you.
💬 Got a question for a future episode?
Submit yours (with as much detail as possible!) at emilydrums.com/AMA — I’d love to help.
⚡ Big changes ahead for A Drummer’s Guide To... ⚡
🎧 From now on, episodes will focus on your questions - real situations, real struggles, and real wins from musicians like you.
💭 If there’s something you’re working through in your career that you’d like me to explore, I’d love to hear it.
👉 Head to emilydrums.com/AMA to send it in.
ADrummersGuideTo #MusicCareerAdvice #MusicianMindset #CreativeGrowth #PodcastUpdate
💥 In Episode 207 of A Drummer’s Guide To... Confidence No One Can Give You, I’m diving into the kind of confidence that doesn’t depend on anyone else’s approval, praise, or permission.
🎯 We all crave validation — but what happens when you stop chasing it and start building confidence from within?
In this episode, we’ll unpack:
• 🧠 The psychology behind self-confidence and why external validation is never enough
• 🥁 How musicians can develop inner trust through practice, play, and self-reflection
• 💪 Practical ways to notice your progress and actually believe in it
• 🌱 How being your own biggest cheerleader builds resilience, motivation, and long-term success
Whether you’re on stage, in the studio, or just figuring things out — this is about claiming your confidence as yours, not something to be given or taken away.
👇 Watch A Drummer’s Guide To... Confidence No One Can Give You now, and let’s start redefining what real self-belief feels like.
🎧 Listen on Spotify / Apple / YouTube
📩 DM me “coaching” on Instagram if you’d like to work together on building your creative confidence.
ADrummersGuideTo #ConfidenceNoOneCanGiveYou #SelfBelief #MusicianMindset #DrummingJourney #CreativeConfidence #SelfWorth
Being “easy to work with” is one of the biggest compliments a musician can get — but what happens when it goes too far?
In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, Emily Dolan Davies explores the fine line between being kind, professional, and adaptable… and losing yourself in the process.
She shares personal stories of times she over-accommodated others — saying yes when she meant no, taking on too much to avoid rocking the boat, and confusing silence for professionalism.
Through honest reflection and years of industry experience, Emily dives into the darker side of being “the nice one,” and how to rebuild confidence, boundaries, and self-respect without losing your warmth.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
🎯 Why being “easy” can lead to resentment and burnout
💬 How to set boundaries without guilt or confrontation
🧠 The psychology behind people-pleasing in creative industries
💡 Practical ways to protect your time, energy, and self-worth
👉 Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Emily: emilydrums.com
👉 Submit questions or stories for future episodes: emilydrums.com/ama
👉 Follow Emily on Instagram: @HeyEmilyDrums
What happens when the music stops?
When the noise, the hustle, the scrolling… all fade — and you’re left with yourself?
In this episode, Emily Dolan Davies opens up about her lifelong discomfort with silence — how she used drumming and constant productivity to drown out difficult emotions, and what she’s learned over the last two years about sitting still, listening inward, and finding peace in the quiet.
She explores:
🎧 Why silence feels so uncomfortable — psychologically and emotionally
🥁 How busyness and distraction keep us from processing feelings
💭 The link between silence, self-worth, and creativity
❤️ How learning to sit with discomfort can build emotional resilience
If you’ve ever filled every spare moment with sound, work, or social media — this one’s for you.
✨ Try this: Practice sitting in silence for 10 minutes today. No distractions, no goals, just awareness. Notice what surfaces.
🎙️ Listen, reflect, and reclaim your calm.
➡️ Book your free discovery call: emilydrums.com
➡️ Ask a question anonymously: emilydrums.com/AMA
➡️ Follow on Instagram: @HeyEmilyDrums
Feeling stretched thin trying to be everywhere online? You’re not alone.
In this episode, Emily shares how to find balance between your live gigs, remote recording, teaching, and the endless scroll of social media — without burning out or losing focus.
🎯 What you’ll learn:
🥁 How to balance live and studio content authentically
💬 When (and when not) to split your accounts
⚙️ The psychology of online identity for musicians
❤️ How to show your versatility without confusing your audience
💡 Why people follow connection, not categories
If you’re trying to grow online while staying true to who you are — this one’s for you.
Thanks to Jake P for this question too!
🎧 Watch A Drummer’s Guide To... Social Media Balance (Ep. 204)
📣 Book a free 30-minute discovery call: emilydrums.com
🎙️ Listen to all episodes: A Drummer’s Guide To... Podcast
Talking about money in music is awkward enough. But shame? That’s the hidden weight nearly every musician carries.
In this episode, I open up about my own journey with money — the free gigs, the low fees, the times I felt like asking to be paid made me “less of an artist.” I share how shame shaped my early career, how I’ve learned to push past it, and why charging what you’re worth is not only okay — it’s essential.
We’ll dig into:
• Why so many musicians secretly feel shame about charging 💸
• The hidden costs of playing for free (and when it actually makes sense)
• How to reframe “breadhead” stigma into professionalism
• Negotiation strategies that don’t feel icky
• Why your self-worth and your rates are more connected than you think
If you’ve ever felt guilty, awkward, or ashamed about money in your music career — this one’s for you.
👉 Book a free discovery call with me here: emilydrums.com
👉 Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/emilydrums
Are you waiting until you’re “perfect” before you go for it? In this episode, I dive into the real reason perfection holds musicians back — and why courage is the thing that moves your career forward.
I’ll share my own stories of saying yes when I didn’t feel ready, the lessons I learned from failure, and why the moments I was most scared often became the ones that changed my career the most.
🎧 What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why perfectionism is secretly self-sabotage
• How courage creates growth (and opportunities)
• Practical ways to step out of your comfort zone
👉 Listen now, and if you’re ready to build confidence and momentum in your career, book a free discovery call at emilydrums.com.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new episode!
We’ve all heard it: “If you just put yourself out there, people will find you.”
Here’s the truth: posting alone doesn’t build a career.
In this episode I dig into:
👉 Why “build it and wait” leaves musicians stuck
👉 The missing ingredient between a polished feed and real gigs
👉 How to connect with the right people online without being spammy
👉 Daily outreach habits that actually lead to opportunities
If you’re tired of posting and getting crickets, this episode will show you how to flip your socials into a tool that actually gets you work.
🎧 Listen to Episode 201 now and find out how to turn invisible into in demand.
This isn’t your usual polished podcast… In this special live episode, I opened the floor to YOUR questions, shared behind-the-scenes stories, and let the conversation flow completely unfiltered. We dug into everything from:
👉 Gigging (even if music isn’t your full-time job)
👉 Pre-show rituals and post-show habits (the good AND the bad)
👉 Rejection, resilience, and staying confident on stage
👉 Touring, West End pit work, and building a sustainable music career
👉 Silly hypotheticals (yes, including unicorns 🦄 vs dragons 🐉)
This is raw, honest, and totally in the moment — the kind of episode you can’t script.
📩 Want to go deeper? Book a free discovery call and let’s talk about your music career: emilydrums.com
🎧 Listen. Laugh. Learn. Feel seen. This is what “Live & Unfiltered” is all about.
Welcome to Episode 199 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Getting Called Out!
This week, I’m sharing a raw and uncomfortable part of my journey — when I was publicly called out for not being authentic online. At first, it felt humiliating…but it became one of the most powerful lessons in vulnerability and accountability I’ve ever learned.
Inside this episode, I’ll cover:
😳 What happened when I was exposed for fake followers and automated comments
💡 Why accountability creates deeper trust than perfection ever could
🎶 How mistakes on stage (yes, I’ve made plenty!) actually brought me closer to bandmates
🤝 Why vulnerability is the bridge to stronger relationships in music and beyond
If you’ve ever struggled with self-esteem, feared making mistakes, or worried about being “found out,” this episode is for you.
👉 Listen now and let’s reframe rejection, mistakes, and shame into growth.
🎧 Plus: if you’re ready to get personal guidance on your music career, book a free discovery call with me at emilydrums.com.
Rejection stings. It’s personal, it’s painful, and it can leave you questioning whether you’re good enough. But here’s the truth: rejection isn’t a dead end — it’s data.
In this episode, I share the rejections that shaped my career (and nearly broke me), and how I reframed them into lessons, resilience, and growth. From missed gigs to failed auditions, every “no” carried a hidden “next step.”
✅ Why rejection hurts so much — and how to take back control
✅ The hidden reasons you might get turned down (that no one tells you)
✅ How to turn setbacks into setups for future success
✅ Practical steps to reframe rejection as feedback, not failure
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I just not good enough?” this episode will change how you see rejection forever.
👉 Listen now to Episode 198: Rejection Redefined and let’s rewrite the story together.
🔥 Think posting on Instagram is enough to grow your music career? Think again.
In episode #197 — A Drummer’s Guide To... Posting Isn’t Enough, I’m breaking down the real reason musicians get stuck at “likes” and never land the gigs.
You’ll learn:
🎯 The biggest Instagram mistakes that quietly cost you opportunities
🤝 How to turn followers into paying clients without feeling salesy
📲 My exact networking strategy that got me gigs straight from my phone
💡 How to make your profile a magnet for the RIGHT people If you’ve been posting and praying, this episode will show you how to actually get noticed, booked, and paid.
🎧 Listen to episode #197 — Posting Isn’t Enough now and turn your IG from a time-waster into your most powerful gig-getting tool.
Ever found yourself stuck between your own career goals and commitments you've made to others?
You're not alone.
In this episode, I’m talking about one of the hardest parts of building a career in music: letting people down.
Whether it’s leaving a band, turning down a gig, or backing out of a commitment that no longer serves you — this one’s for you. I’ll walk you through:
• Why disappointing others is sometimes the right move
• How to handle guilt and anxiety when choosing yourself
• The mindset shift that helped me stop sacrificing my career out of obligation If you’ve ever made (or avoided) a difficult decision out of fear of hurting someone else’s feelings…
this episode might be exactly what you need to hear.
🎧 This one’s a wake-up call. In this episode, I’m breaking down the sneaky ways we self-sabotage in our music careers — and how to stop.
From fear disguised as logic to procrastination dressed up as “research,” this is a raw, real talk on the hard truths most musicians avoid. If you’ve ever said:
👉 “There’s no work out there”
👉 “I’m just not ready yet”
👉 “I’ll focus on this after [insert excuse here]”
...then this episode is a must-listen.
Inside, we’ll talk about:
🔥 Why confirmation bias is stalling your career
🔥 How to build confidence without fake hype
🔥 Using jam nights, content, and community on purpose
🔥 Why perfectionism is the enemy of progress
🔥 How to replace passive hope with meaningful action
🎯 You’ll leave with honest strategies to stop unintentionally killing your own momentum — and a reminder that you're capable of so much more.
If you’ve ever looked at your age or your past and thought, “I’ve missed my chance,” this episode is for you.
👀 I’m diving into one of the most common fears I hear from musicians: "Is it too late to make music my career?" In this episode, I’m sharing:
🎵 Why your age isn’t a barrier — it's actually a superpower
💥 How life experience adds emotional depth to your playing
🧠 The subtle ways stereotypes around age, gender, race & goals limit us
🎯 How to reframe “missed opportunities” and start fresh — at any age Whether you're 21 or 61, there is a place for you in this industry — and it's never too late to take your next step.
💌 Want support making that leap? DM me "coaching" or visit emilydrums.com/coaching.
Let’s be honest: sometimes what’s holding us back isn’t lack of talent, it’s avoiding the truth.
In this episode, I’m sharing the unfiltered advice I’d give you if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings — because sugar-coating doesn’t create progress.
We’ll talk about:
• Why talent doesn’t guarantee success
• The difference between busy and effective
• How avoiding discomfort is secretly costing you gigs
• The harsh realities of professional musicianship no one talks about
• And what to actually do if you feel stuck right now
This episode is full of hard-won wisdom from years on the road, in studios, and navigating the ever-changing music industry. It’s the truth I wish someone had told me sooner.
💬 Listen in. Get uncomfortable. And grow stronger because of it.
😬 Got rehearsals coming up for a big gig… and no idea what to expect? You're not alone — no one teaches you what actually happens in pro rehearsals. That feeling of “I hope I’m doing this right”? I’ve been there — and this episode is here to help you ditch the panic and show up ready.
In A Drummer’s Guide To... Rehearsal Rundown 101, I cover:
🥁 How to prep before you even walk in
🤐 What happens when you don’t ask questions (and how to fix it)
📋 What MDs and artists expect from you
🍱 Why a heated lunchbox might just save your sanity
Whether it’s your first arena gig or your biggest gig yet, this episode will take away the guesswork.
🎙 Listen to A Drummer’s Guide To... Rehearsal Rundown 101 wherever you get your podcasts
📺 Or watch on YouTube.
🐺 Think you have to go it alone in music to prove yourself?
In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To... The Lone Wolf Trap, I’m breaking down the hidden cost of trying to build your career solo — and why real success is built with other people, not in isolation.
🎯 You’ll learn:
• Why isolating yourself slows your progress
• How to find your people (even if you’re shy)
• The difference between using contacts and building genuine connections
• What healthy networking looks like — without the cringe
• How mentors, bandmates, and fellow creatives keep you sane and successful
This one’s for you if you’ve been doing everything on your own, wondering why it feels so hard. You're not meant to go it alone. 🖤
🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms and YouTube, and start building your career together.
MusicCareer #ProMusician #NetworkingTips #DrummersGuideTo #CreativeCommunity #MusicianMindset
🎯 Think you're either broke or famous if you want a career in music? Think again.
In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To..., I’m sharing the truth about the bit in between — the one no one talks about, but where most of us actually live (and thrive).
🛠️ You’ll learn:
• The real range of sustainable music careers
• Why viral fame doesn’t equal happiness (or money)
• How to define success for your life and your values
• Ways to diversify income streams without losing your creativity
• How I’ve built a fulfilling career without being “big” — and why I wouldn’t trade it
If you’ve ever felt like you’re not doing enough, or not going fast enough, or not being seen enough — this one’s for you.
🎧 Listen now, and let’s normalise being in the middle of the mountain ⛰️
🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on building a real, human, joyful career in music.
MusicCareer #ProMusician #CreativeLife #SustainableSuccess #DrummersGuideTo
Feeling overwhelmed by social media as a musician?
This episode is your deep dive into crafting a clear, professional, and magnetic online presence.
I share proven strategies for optimising your profiles, creating compelling content, and building real connections in the music world.
Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your social game, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you stand out and grow your career.
🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more practical music career advice every week!
SocialMediaDeepDive #MusicCareerTips #MusicianGrowth #DrummingCommunity
Feeling overwhelmed by all the things you need to do as a musician?
Between teaching, performing, creating content, and managing your actual life… it can feel like you’re constantly behind or burning out. In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, I’m sharing the systems and mindset shifts I’ve used to go from chaotic and overstretched, to focused and fulfilled in my creative work.
In this video, you’ll learn:
✅ How to prioritise when everything feels urgent
✅ Simple tools to reduce decision fatigue
✅ The real reason you're overwhelmed—and how to fix it
✅ My exact weekly structure for balancing creativity, rest, and income
📌 New episodes every week — subscribe for more tips on surviving and thriving as a working musician.
👇 COMMENT below: What’s your biggest source of overwhelm right now? Let’s talk about it.
TheOverwhelmFix #MusicianLife #DrummerPodcast #ADrummersGuideTo #ProductivityForCreatives #MentalHealthForMusicians #CreativeRoutine
🔥 Feel like your creativity’s dried up? You’re not broken—this is part of the process.
Whether you’re a drummer, musician, or creative of any kind, it’s normal to go through phases where inspiration feels completely out of reach.
I’ve been there—burnt out, bored, and wondering if I’d lost my spark for good. In episode #187 of A Drummer’s Guide To... Reigniting Your Spark, I’m sharing:
🎯 Why periods of low motivation are actually necessary
🛠️ Simple, real-world strategies to reignite your inspiration
🧠 How to spot patterns in your creative slumps—and use them to your advantage
💡 Why stepping outside your comfort zone could be the reset you need Creativity doesn’t always look exciting. But sometimes the best growth comes in the quiet.
🎧 Tune in on YouTube or your favourite podcast platform. Just search A Drummer’s Guide To…
🌟 Want more support on your journey?
Visit www.emilydrums.com/ama to submit a question
CreativeBlocks #MusicianMotivation #InspirationTips #MusicMindset #MusicianBurnout #ADrummersGuideTo #DrummerPodcast #ReigniteCreativity #MusicianSupport #MentalHealthForMusicians
💥 This is the real reason you’re feeling lost in your music career right now...
💔 Are you a musician who's been through big life or career changes—and suddenly feel like you don’t even know who you are anymore?
😔 I’ve been there. From leaving a high-profile gig, to divorce, to a total career and identity shake-up… I know what it’s like to feel completely untethered.
🙌 But here’s the good news: those moments don’t have to break you—they can build you.
🎙 In episode #186 of A Drummer’s Guide To... Shaken, Then Stronger, I’m sharing:
✔️ How identity shifts can fuel personal and professional growth
✔️ The truth about bouncing back when life knocks you sideways
✔️ Why optimism, curiosity, and support are your superpowers in tough transitions
👀 If you’re at a crossroads in your career or life, this episode is for you.
🎧 Search A Drummer’s Guide To... on YouTube or your favourite podcast app to tune in.
🥰 Got a question for a future episode? Head to www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #MusicianLife #MusicCareer #IdentityShift #CreativeTransitions #MentalHealthForMusicians #MusicIndustryTips #BehindTheScenes #CareerChange
📌 The REAL reason you're not getting hired as a musician… isn’t your playing.
🎯 Are you a talented musician, putting in the hours, but still struggling to land gigs, connect with the right people, or build momentum in your career?
😬 I’ll be the first to admit — for years I thought my playing would speak for itself. But in this episode, I reveal why that mindset kept me invisible to the very people I was trying to impress.
🎙 In Episode #185 of A Drummer’s Guide To... The Skill of Being Seen, I’m breaking down:
- 🎭 Why visibility is a skill — and how to build it with purpose
- 📱 The key elements of a musician’s online presence that actually get noticed
- 🔄 The truth about consistency vs. perfection in your content
- 🤝 How to build genuine relationships in-person and online
- 🚫 The common mistake that makes great musicians look unprofessional (and how to fix it fast)
👀 If this has piqued your interest and you're ready to start showing up like a pro, then listen to episode #185 – The Skill of Being Seen – available on all podcast platforms and right here on YouTube!
🎧 And if you’re serious about building a sustainable, fulfilling career as a professional musician, subscribe to A Drummer’s Guide To... for new episodes every week
🎯 Is this the REAL reason you’re not landing the gigs you want?
✨ It’s not just about chops—it’s about how you show up.
🎸 Are you a musician who’s “good enough” but still struggling to get hired – especially when it really counts?
😬 I’ll be the first to admit, for years I unknowingly gave off “don’t trust me” energy. I was insecure, doubting myself, and wondering why the opportunities weren’t coming.
🎙 In episode #184 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Showing Up Strong, I share:
🔹 What showing up strong actually means
🔹 How to project confidence (even when you’re not feeling it)
🔹 Why believing in yourself creates trust in others
🔹 Simple things you can do today to start shifting how people see you
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out podcast episode #184 – A Drummer’s Guide To… Showing Up Strong
📱 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer’s Guide To… on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube!
📣 Are you a musician playing with mates, but don’t know how to pivot into the pro world?
👀 If you’re a musician who is confident in their skills and playing with friends but want to take the leap into the professional world without knowing where to start, then you might like my podcast episode #183 - A Drummer's Guide To... From Hobbyist To Hired
🤯 For me there is definitely a mind-shift that had to happen from playing with friends to wanting to pursue music as a profession
🎧 In this episode, #183 - A Drummer's Guide To... From Hobbyist To Hired I share the things that I feel would get a hobbyist over the threshold into the professional sphere:
🙋♀️ The importance of getting out there in the flesh, and how I tackled that as someone with major social anxiety
💪 How I used and use social media to leverage every interaction
💬 How I made contact with people to get some insight into the professional world
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #183 - A Drummer's Guide To... From Hobbyist To Hired
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 Support this podcast now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🚨 If you are a musician wanting to level up your socials video game, then my podcast episode #182 - A Drummer's Guide To... Gig Vid Glow-Ups could be for you!
👀 Are you a musician who is trying to post videos to showcase yourself, but…
😫 you feel you’re not getting any traction
😖 you feel that the quality is too low
😤 you just have no idea what to post!
🙈 Let me tell you, I’ve been there, trying to find some decent footage to post, or create my own, and then by the time I actually get something, I find it’s rubbish quality, or boring, or I feel so insecure I don’t even get to the drafts page on my Insta, and just abandon ship altogether!
🎙️ If this sounds familiar to you, then join me in my podcast episode #182 - A Drummer's Guide To... Gig Vid Glow-Ups. In the episode I share:
💡 How to make the most of even the worst phone footage
💡 How to make the videos really HIT with your audience
💡 How to present yourself in a pro way through your socials
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #182 - A Drummer's Guide To... Gig Vid Glow-Ups
🎙 And if you’d like to learn all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, you can submit it at:
www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🚨 If you’re a musician and thinking about quitting, STOP, and listen to this!
👀 If you’re a musician that has been grinding away doing, or trying to do the pro thing, but feel like the only thing you're getting closer to is throwing in the towel, then my podcast episode #181 - A Drummer's Guide To... Before You Quit… is for you!
🏳️ I’ll admit, there have been many times I’ve come so close to just giving up, tired of it all, ready to be defeated, and literally going to grab my white flag of surrender…
🙌 However, I (thankfully) didn’t.
🎙 In my podcast episode #181 - A Drummer's Guide To... Before You Quit… I share exactly how I have brought myself back from the brink in various ways, and if I found myself in that position now, how I would tackle it.
🛠️ Hopefully these tools will help you too, if and when you get to that point (because to a degree I think we all need to!)
👀 so if this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #181 - A Drummer's Guide To... Before You Quit…
🎙 And if you’d like to learn all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, you can submit it at www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🚨 Do you feel there is a gap between your goals and where you are right now, but you don’t know what the in-between contains?
😩 Are you a musician who doesn’t know the components that need to be in place to obtain your goals?
🧐 Or maybe you know the skills needed but are waiting to ‘get the call’ before you get good at those skills?
😖 Or maybe you’re working on the skills, but you don’t know what level they need to be at before you can start looking for opportunities? 🎙 If any of this is resonating with you, then my podcast episode #180 - A Drummer's Guide To... The Invisible Goal Gap could be for you!
👀 Personally I have experienced the ABSOLUTE WORST CASE SCENARIO where I got the call, got to the gig, and didn’t have the skills!!!!
🎧 I don’t want that for you, and so that’s why I share my ethos on having the skills in place for your professional goals in my podcast episode #180 - A Drummer's Guide To... The Invisible Goal Gap
🎙 And if you’d like to learn all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, you can submit it at www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🚨 Are you a musician who is becoming burnt out from your hyper-focus sessions?
😩 Do you wear your hyper-focus sessions and work yourself to exhaustion as a badge of honour? I know I absolutely did! I only ever felt like I had done something productive if I had driven myself to the point of exhaustion through hyper-focusing on tasks?
🎙 If you can relate to this, then check out my podcast episode #179 - A Drummer's Guide To... Hyper-Focus Highs and Lows
🧐 In this episode, I share:
💪 The massive benefits of hyper-focus - let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater here!
😖 The pitfalls I personally have experienced, and it goes waaayyyyy past just burnout!
☯️ How I use hyper-focus to my advantage whilst minimising the negative impacts.
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #179 - A Drummer's Guide To... Hyper-Focus Highs and Lows
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 …and if you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, then you can at EmilyDrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
💰 If you’re a musician who is struggling to know what to charge, then my new episode #178 A Drummer's Guide To... Pricing Your Passion could be for you!
💸 Are you a musician who is playing with artists but finding you’re doing it for little or no money, or maybe don’t know how to even approach a conversation about money.
💵 I’ll be the first to say, I find conversations about money HAAAARDDDD!!! I’m much better than I used to be, but has been and continues to be a process for me!
🎧 In my podcast episode #178 - A Drummer's Guide To... Pricing Your Passion I share…
🤑 How I approach conversations about money
🤑 How I price myself.
🤑 What NOT to do!
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #178 - A Drummer's Guide To... Pricing Your Passion
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, you can submit it at www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
😬 Are you a musician that has dealt with unsolicited criticism?
👀 If the answer is yes, then you are not alone, and the lovely Greg shared with us his exact experience of getting criticism during a gig, how they dealt with it, and my own experiences of similar situations (of which there have been many!)
🎙 If you’re part of this club too, then come join me in my podcast episode #177 - A Drummer's Guide To... Building Confidence After Criticism.
🎧 In this episode, I share how I have dealt with moments of criticism, in the moment and longer term. And here are the areas I look to:
☯️ Finding ways to know in myself my strengths weaknesses
🙋♀️ How to take criticism as an opinion rather than fact
🤔 Other factors that are almost definitely involved that we may not always bring into the equation
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #3 - A Drummer's Guide To... Building Confidence After Criticism.
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 and if you have a question you’d like me to answer on a future episode, then send your question in to EmilyDrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🚨 Are a musician who is wanting to transition from a ‘stable’ job to following your passion and making music your career?
☺️ Well, if it is, you’re in luck because the awesome @zachondrums asked me a question on this very subject and so I gave him some steps to make this scary step more manageable, and you can hear all about it on my podcast episode 176, A Drummer's Guide To... Teaching, Touring and Transitions.
🙋♀️ If you’re a musician who is also struggling with this step and want to know how to give yourself the best chance of success, then I think you’ll enjoy this, and feel a little less alone… hopefully.
🧐 In this episode I share how best to: Leverage your situation Leverage social media Leverage your current contacts …and then building from there!
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #176 - A Drummer's Guide To... Teaching, Touring and Transitions
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 Support this podcast now on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
🧐 Are you wondering the level of commitment needed to pursue a career as a session musician?
🎙️ If you’re wanting to make music your career then my podcast episode #175 - A Drummer's Guide To... Sacrifice is for you
🏞️ In my experience I feel sacrifice is necessary if you’re looking to excel into spaces that are off the beaten path, however, too much sacrifice in the name of music can make you fall down injured on that path and come crawling back to the mainstream!
🎧 In my podcast episode #175 - A Drummer's Guide To... Sacrifice I share my personal sacrifices I’ve made in my career that have made my career, as well as the ones that have hindered my career and life.
👧 This is an episode to my younger self, and so you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #175 - A Drummer's Guide To... Sacrifice
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
📣 And shoutout to Patreon member Matthew North, and if you’d like to check out his music, www.matthewnorthmusic.co.uk
🥰 If you'd like me to cover a specific topic on a future episode, hit me up at: https://www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
😱 So you get the call for the big gig, but then what?!
🤔 Are you a musician, aiming for a professional career, but maybe you don’t actually know what is expected from you, and are too embarrassed to ask, because you’re meant to be acting like a professional after all!
😳 That was me, embarrassed to ask what the job actually meant, and kind of guessed a lot of it, and when I say I took a path SO MUCH HARDER THAN IT NEEDED TO BE!!!! I want you to have the easier path.
🎙 In my podcast episode #174 - A Drummer's Guide To... Big Gig Ready I share how I get ready by:
📝 Finding out the info of the gig (seems obvious right), song list, lineup, my role expectations past my instrument i.e electronics, are we playing to clicks, is there track, am I running track(?!) what’s the monitoring setup, and loads more!
🤓 Researching peripheral information like previous live shows, other material that is not on the song list.
💪 Practical practising advice before rehearsals start (if you even get a rehearsal!!!)
👀 Other smaller life things that will make things easier to handle.
😖 I share all my experiences in so many different circumstances and the repercussions of being (and not being) prepared!
🎧 If this has piqued your interest, then check out my podcast episode #174 - A Drummer's Guide To... Big Gig Ready where I expand on all the thing you need to be ready when you get the call for the big gig!
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a topic suggestion for a future episode or something specific you’d like me to talk on, then hit me up at www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
😩 Are you struggling to find other musicians to play with?
🎧 If you’re a musician wanting to play with more people and expand your network and grow your career, then my podcast, and episode #173 - A Drummer's Guide To... Where Are All The Musicians?! could be for you!
👀 In this episode I cover how important other musicians are to our careers (sometimes even those playing the same instrument!)
🔥 I share the top places and scenarios I have met musicians that created seminal relationships within the industry and ultimately led me to my career flourishing.
😳 I include how I find these spaces, as well as the courage to actually enter into them!
✋ These include…
🥁 Jam Nights
🎸 Gigs (yours and others)
🎹 Trade shows, clinics and masterclasses
💻 Online options
👀 If this has piqued your interest, then check out episode #173 - A Drummer's Guide To... Where Are All The Musicians?!
🎙 And if you’d like the curtain to be lifted further on how to create a sustainable career as a professional musician, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
🥰 If you have a question you’d like me to answer on an episode, you can submit it at www.emilydrums.com/ama
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #MusicPodcast #EducationPodcast #BusinessPodcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
👀 Are you a musician putting the pro into procrastination?!
🙋♀️ Let me tell you, just before recording episode #172 - A Drummer's Guide To… Pro Procrastination that was ME!!!
😵💫 I share my struggles with procrastination in real-time and the ways I get over myself. This includes:
💥 Creating as little friction as possible to do the action
😍 Using rewards
😈 Telling people how naughty I’m being by procrastinating
💪 Looking at the bigger picture
🤏 (Paradoxically) Looking at the smallest picture possible
⏱ Using the ‘1 Minute Rule’
🫠 Using procrastination to your advantage
🎧 So if any of this sounds interesting to you, and you fancy an episode fraught with rambling, then check out episode #172 - A Drummer's Guide To... Pro Procrastination
🎙 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
Ask your questions for me to answer on an episode at https://www.emilydrums.com/ama
🚨 If you are a musician who believes that your playing ability can supersede your need to use social media in order to build a sustainable career then I have an episode for you! (and some bad news!)
🎙 In my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… playing vs posting I answer Phill V’s question addressing his struggle to come to terms with dedicating time to social media and content creation over becoming a better player.
👀 The reality is, we only have so much time in this world, and we’re all striving to be the greatest players we can be, however, if you’re looking to make this as a career, then social media has to play into it.
😖 In this episode I talk about my own struggles with social media and the balance of progressing as a player, and posting on social media.
💪 I then go into how you can leverage the need for progressing as a player and convert it into social media posts, so you can cover all the bases without adding huge amounts of work to your schedule.
😩 So if you’re experiencing the internal struggle of progressing as a player and posting on social media, then my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... Playing vs Posting
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
😳 Do you feel like your career in music is affected by the biases of others?
🎙 If this resonates with you then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Creating Brilliance from Bias
✏️ Thank you to this anonymous person who reached out via my ‘suggestion box’ (check out my highlights if you want to add your own).
❓ They shared that they have been struggling as an ‘international non-white female drummer’ in what they see as a ‘boys club’ and although they work to the highest professional standard, they feel they’re often put on gigs as part of a ‘box-ticking’ exercise.
😥 This is a rough headspace to be in and experience to have, and I talk on my own experience, thoughts and feelings around this, along with how I choose to see things to regain a bit of autonomy and empowerment in this situation.
🧐 This subject was a hard and complicated one to tackle, and if it’s something you’d be interested in hearing, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Creating Brilliance from Bias
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
😵💫 Are you a musician feeling disappointed with the opportunities available to you?
😫 Are you super busy, filling all your time, but instead of feeling like you're making progress, you’re overwhelmed and stressed?
🎧 If that sounds like you, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Making Space
💪 In this episode I cover the 3 most important areas to create space to cultivate the best shot at becoming a professional musician.
1️⃣ Create Space Mentally:
🧘♀️ Take time to work out exactly what the goal is and the steps you need to get there.
🏆 (If you want more chat on that front, check out episode 18 A Drummer's Guide To... Success)
2️⃣ Create Financial Space
💸 Starting by understanding, and minimising your outgoings, and then either creating a 6-month buffer or taking on only enough work to just cover those bare minimum expenses so you can spend the rest of your time and energy on investing in your career and ultimate goals.
3️⃣ Create Physical Space
📆 Create space within your life, within your calendar that can be filled with time to explore opportunities and devote time to really going for your goals. Going for things that stretch your abilities and surrounding yourself with people who are living the life you are striving for so their approach and mentality can rub off on you as normal way of being.
🎙 If this resonates with you and you’d like to hear more, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... Making Space
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
😱 Are one of these beliefs holding you back without you knowing it?
😵💫 There’s so much information flying about, and people have so many opinions, and sometimes we pick up beliefs about things that we think are absolute, but actually are holding us back. For. No. Good. REASON!
🎙 If this sounds like you may have been a victim of this, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… 5 Destructive Beliefs
🧐 These are the 5 most destructive beliefs I have come across from musicians I work with that are trying to move into the professional space…
1️⃣ ’I need a degree or qualification to be a professional musician’
2️⃣ ’If I have a degree or qualification then I’m entitled to a career, and will walk straight out of an institution and onto a gig’
3️⃣ ’I need to be able to read music to be a professional musician’
4️⃣ ’Social media is too saturated for me to be successful’
5️⃣ ’I need more followers to have a career’
👀 If any of these have resonated with you, made you feel defensive, or outright annoyed, then maybe it would be worth listening to my episode, A Drummer's Guide To... 5 Destructive Beliefs to explore those feelings further.
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
👀 Do you have a suspicion that perfection may be sabotaging you?
🚨 If you’re a musician who is striving for perfection, it may actually be undermining your progress creatively, professionally and connecting with others.
🎙 If this resonates with you, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… 3 Signs of Perfectionist Sabotage
🛑 Here are the 3 most prominent signs for me that I see within myself and students that perfectionist tendencies are creating a big old BLOCK!
1️⃣ Not posting to social media when you know it will benefit your career and expand your network.
2️⃣ Saying no to opportunities because you don’t feel you’re ready.
3️⃣ Feeling physical tension or stress in my body in rehearsals or on a gig because of fear of making a mistake.
🫠 If you’d like to dive deeper into these blocks you may be encountering too, and how to counter them, then check out my podcast episode, A Drummer's Guide To... 3 Signs of Perfectionist Sabotage
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and YouTube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums ---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
🚨 If you’re struggling looking to others for what you should be doing in your career, then this could be for you!
👀 Are you a musician looking for external validation, guidance, and worth? If something in you is feeling uncomfortable reading this, then my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Developing Your Inner Compass could be for you.
💜 I think although it’s great to get some guidance from others who have been successful in the area you want to be in, to define that area must come from within first and foremost!
🙋♀️ Here are some ways to develop (and continue to develop) your inner compass…
1️⃣ Define (and regularly redefine) what success means to you.
2️⃣ Find a way to measure your success in a tangible way so you can check you’re always moving forward and creating momentum.
3️⃣ Create a feedback loop in everything you’re doing so you can critique your abilities and make sure you’re progressing. I use the GIG sandwich method pinpointing:
👍 Something GOOD
😩 Something to IMPROVE
👍 Something GOOD Because we know, it’s too easy to find something wrong with what we’re doing, but we want to build confidence too, not just tear yourself down.
4️⃣ Document your progress to see how far you’ve come in the hard times (and there will be hard times!)
🎙 If any of this resonates with you and you want to delve further, check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Developing Your Inner Compass
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
🤨 If you think that getting to play with a ‘named artist’ is the end game for your career, and that you’ll be set for life, think again!
🎧 Musicians, if you want to know the reality of playing with named artists and all the stuff that goes on in between that you may not know about, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… In-Between The Big Gigs
👀 You may see musicians you aspire to be like on huge stages, touring the world, playing with renowned artists with massive adoration and massive followings…
🤨 What you don’t see?
😅 All the other moments, smaller gigs, unknown artist, jam sessions, working for free, and a ton of stuff in-between
🎙 I share all the stuff I was doing and continue to do in between all the ‘big gigs’ you might see on my socials in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... In-Between The Big Gigs
🎧 So if you’d like to hear more, and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
🚨 If you’re a musician looking to get on a named gig, then this may be for you!
🎙 If you’re a musician wanting to get some intel on HOW to actually get on a tour with an artist people have actually heard of, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… How I Got My Gigs
🧐 In this episode I go through how I got on the radar of the various artists I’ve worked for, to give you some intel to bring into your own journey.
😖 I’m not gonna lie, I felt weird doing this episode, cause it could be seen as a bit ‘look at me, look at who I’ve worked with’, but I had a moment of overriding that insecurity, to hopefully bring you some useful information that you can implement.
😌 Also, if you’re well on your way, it may be useful in giving you some solace that if you’re doing the same, it does work… but it sometimes takes time and patience (a virtue I struggle with!)
🎧 So if this sounds good to you, and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums--- #ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
🚨 If you’re a musician who is lost on what you should be posting on Instagram, then this is for you!
🙋♀️ Are you struggling to know what to post on Insta, are you overwhelmed, are you unmotivated or just are thinking ‘what’s the point?!?!’ then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Instagram
💪 For me, I see using Instagram as my personal marketting platform that I get to ‘speak’ to my ideal follower, with a view to them becoming the ideal musician, artist, or student I get to work with!
1️⃣ So first things first, WHO are you posting for?
🤔 Posting for other musicians who play the same instrument as you for ‘clout’ as it were is fine, but musicians who may want to hire you probably won’t be interested that you can play through all the permutations of a paradiddle cycling through each note as an accent and hitting all the subdivisions on a practice pad! #IYKYK
2️⃣ WHY are you using Instagram?
🧐 If you’re using it to get more work as a session musician? As an artist in your own right? As a teacher? These are all very different reasons, require different content to reach very different goals. These answers should lead you to…
3️⃣ WHAT should you post?
🤓 Here’s the ‘formula’ I use when working out what to post:
(Who is it for + Why are you using it) x (allowing people to know, like and trust you)
👍 Then, create content within the context of this formula such as:
🔥 Showcasing your skills
🔥 Showcasing your personality
🔥 Showcasing your schedule… everybody loves a busy person, so show you’re in demand!
🫶 In my experience is the most rich way to build connections and have clients coming to you in the most aligned way.
👀 Also, for a laugh, here’s my first ‘to camera’ piece:
https://youtu.be/NTkaAc3NTRw
🎙 If you’d like to hear some real life examples of how to and NOT to do Instagram, then check out my episode A Drummer's Guide To... Instagram
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
😥 If you want to eliminate burnout, then this is for you!
🎙 If you’re a musician who is suffering with feeling burnt out, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… Burnout!
😬 In this episode I go into how I tackle my endless battle with burnout as my body and mind seem to be in a constant battle with each other! And fun fact, it’s another real-time situation as I was suffering whilst recording this episode!
🤔 My recovery plan when dealing with burnout is:
1️⃣ I only tackle ONE essential thing every day and ONLY do it for a MAXIMUM of 3 hours concentrating on it.
2️⃣ Healthy stuff like eating well and exercising, but not overdoing it… at the moment boxing twice a week seems to be working for me… hopefully I can up it soon 👀
3️⃣ Self-Care and Compassion, aka listening to my body, allowing myself to rest, and not beating myself up if I’m not able to do everything I want or need… perfection is not the goal here, kindness is.
👀 So if this resonates with you and you want to find out more about what I do to deal with burnout, then listen to my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... Burnout
🎧 …and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
👀 Are you ready for a pro gig?
🧐 Are you ready for that audition?
😳 Are you ready to tour?
😵💫 Are you ready for recording sessions?
🎙 Musicians! If you want to know if you’re ready to get on a pro gig then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To… (Are You) Pro Gig Ready?
💪 Here’s how I get as ready as possible for a gig, tour or session, and I’ll never feel 100%, but here’s my process:
1️⃣ Learn the material
2️⃣ Research past performances for live work (if they exist)
3️⃣ Ask about the mechanics of the gig, like how the gig runs, what it entails, any peripheral skills you may need, and find out any important information
4️⃣ Do the work! Record yourself and listen back (of course!), film yourself and watch back (if applicable), get those peripheral skills up to scratch
5️⃣ Get your fitness levels up, especially if you’re heading on the road, and try to maintain it whilst on the road. Callisthenics is a great shout on that front 💪
🎧 If you’d like to delve further into how to be ready for a pro gig, then check out my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... (are you) Pro Gig Ready?
👀 and if you’d like to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
Is what you believe holding you back?
Are you a musician that has certain beliefs about yourself or others and what you should be doing to move your career forward?
Ellusive I know, well in my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... Common (Mis)Beliefs I address topics that seem to be coming up again and again in my one on one coaching sessions, and let me tell you, they’re not only not serving my students, they’re actually undermining them and creating unnecessary barriers in moving themselves forward, and I’d like to share them with you too.
The three most common I seem to be coming across are:
‘If I could be as good as ‘that person’ then I can have a successful career’
‘If I just keep posting consistently on social media, then musicians and artists will be reaching out to me left, right and Chelsea’
‘I don’t want to play other musician’s parts, I just want to play what I want to play!’
If any of those statements resonate with you on any level (and I apologise if you’re uncomfortable right now) then maybe it would be worth watching or listening to A Drummer's Guide To... Common (mis)Conceptions.
And if you want to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on YouTube and all good podcasting platforms.
😵💫 How good are you at saying no?
😬 Are you a musician that feels they have to say yes to everything, leading to overwhelm, burnout and just generally bad mental health?
🫵 If the answer is yes, then my podcast episode A Drummer's Guide To... Saying No might be for you
🙋♀️ Personally, saying no is something I struggled with for DECADES! I just couldn’t say no to things through mainly fear of missing an opportunity, so I guess FOMAO!
💪 As I progressed, I realised i can’t do all the things, I’m just one person, so it became more about saying yes to the RIGHT things that would move the needle in terms of skills, exposure, or just paying my bills!
🧐 These days, I look for certain markers that inform me as to whether I’ve said yes too much, and taken on more than I can handle, and I take action on that.
🚨 Then it becomes about looking at what I’m doing, and asking myself:
1️⃣ Is this serving my overall goals in life?
2️⃣ Is this moving the needle towards where I want to go? Am I gaining new skills? Is this a new group of people? etc
3️⃣ Is there another less intense way I can get a similar result?
🎙️ If you want to learn more about not just when to say no, but HOW to say no, and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
😩 I can’t be a professional musician because…
🤔 What’s the end of that sentence for you?
🎙 If you have a solid belief that something is holding you back from being a professional musician, then my podcast episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Professional Musician Myths is for you!
🙅♀️ I debunk some of the most common (mis)beliefs I come across with my students and give you evidence for why they just aren’t true! Here are some of the most common:
1️⃣ You have to be a flashy player with lots of chops.
❌ Absolutely NOT! As a session musician we are there to provide a service to the artist, their music and their fans, and the parts need to played, not overplayed and ruined!
2️⃣ You can only take on gigs firmly within your wheelhouse of skills.
❌ Nah. Whilst it’s great to lean into your strengths, it’s also important to always be pushing your boundaries and taking on a gig that is slightly on the edge of your comfort zone can make you grow in ways you may not have felt possible. That’s my experience at least!
3️⃣ You need expensive flashy gear.
❌ Absolutely not! The only thing you need are the tools to get the job done! Just get enough to get started and then build from there. The way you utilise the tools you have is waaaaayyyy more important! My rule is: Start with the end in mind.
4️⃣ Looking to others for what is possible.
❌ Everyone has their own biases, unhelpful beliefs, helpful beliefs, experiences, etc etc etc that govern what they believe is possible, but don’t take that on as your own experience.
Develop your own compass to not only work out where you want to be, but be very cautious about other people’s reasons for telling you if something is/isn’t possible (they may be positive, i.e trying to protect you) and seek out those that have successfully done what you’re trying to do and ask about their experience…
Just always know it’s their experience, and use it if it serves you to create your own.
🎧 If you want to learn more about these myths and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
😱 If you’re a musician who hates making mistakes, then this is for you!
😬 Are a musician who is feeling paralysed by the fear that you might make a mistake?
🫣 Or do you feel you may ruin the reputation you’ve built if you’re not perfect 100% of the time?
🙋♀️ If you do feel like this, you are not alone!!! 🎧 Check out my podcast episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Mistakes
😳 The fear of making a mistake informed so many of my life decisions in both a positive and negative way throughout my life.
🥺 I thought by making a mistake I would be letting myself and everyone around me down, it would make me unprofessional, and I would get thrown off gigs INSTANTLY!
😵💫 Not a great headspace to be in, and also can you imagine how tense I felt all the time!!! Not a great vibe to be bringing to the stage, rehearsal room, studio or on tour!
😌 It was only when I realised that mistakes were not only inevitable, they were necessary in creating moments of connection with those around me, and bringing more depth and honesty to my playing 🫶
🎙️ If you’d like to hear more about my experiences with making mistakes, then check out my podcast episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Mistakes
🎧 And if you want to lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
🙏 Thank you to Mike Tuppen for inspiring this episode 🙏
---If you'd like early access to future podcast episodes, join the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
📣 Calling all sick musicians!
🫣 No I’m not talking about awesome musicians - you can be awesome too, but I want to share what I do when I’m ill as a session musician!!!
🎧 Listen to my episode A Drummer's Guide To... Being Sick As A Session Musician
😱 So on the road is the worst version of events - not only are you a victim to the schedule, you’re around people that you desperately don’t want to get ill, but chances are you’re in close quarters!!! It’s a nightmare!!
👀 So what do I do?
✏️ Firstly I isolate myself as much as I physically can, and on every tour I do, I have my own ‘pharmacy’ with various medications that can help me deal with any issues for the 2 hours I need to be on stage, and the other 22 hours, I rest, I sleep, I hydrate, and literally cross my fingers it passes quickly without infecting anyone else!
🙈 If I’m home, weirdly it often is harder because I won’t LET myself rest! What a ‘mare! So I try to do ONLY what is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY and then rest every other minute I can - I’m rubbish at this, I know I am, I’ve literally just come off the back of being a bit sick and it being drawn out much longer than it probably needed to be because I didn’t just stop! I know, I know, nightmare!
💰 The other component to this that I think is important is to have a financial buffer, so some sort of savings that if you had no work whatsoever, you could survive. This is beneficial way past just being sick and allows for the inevitable fluctuation in this creative world.
🎧 If you want to learn more about being sick (as strange as that sounds!) and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then look for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
📣 Musicians! Is this the REAL reason your Instagram might not be hitting the way you want it to?
👀 Are you a musician finding it hard to use Instagram as a tool for getting work, getting more gigs, recording sessions and ESPECIALLY at a professional level?
🎧 If you're struggling then check out my newest episode A Drummer's Guide To... Optimising Instagram For More Gigs
💪 Personally it’s only when I worked out that social media was actually an empowering platform to showcase myself exactly how I wanted to that I got really inspired about it!
🧐 I got really specific about the kind of drummer I was, wanted to be and the kinds of gigs I wanted to be on, and then tailored my Instagram to suit my perfect follower that I’d like to hire me, and I still do that to this day! I leverage my bio, pinned posts and stories to allow people to get to know me, and resonate with more weirdos like me that I will then (hopefully) get to work with!
🎧 If you want to learn more about optimising your own Instagram for more work, and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
📣 Musicians, if you want to balance your creative aspirations with your day to day duties, then this is for you
🤨 Are you someone who is finding it hard to balance your need for creative growth and daily responsibilities?
🎧 Join me on this week's podcast episode - A Drummer's Guide To...Balancing Day-to-Day Creativity
⏳ Personally I’ve managed to bring an emphasis on creative growth into my life by carving out little pockets of time to allow myself to be creative as ‘waiting for creativity to strike’ is a little too elusive for me. I find by doing this also brings contrast and so when I feel inspired whilst doing something else, I can work towards my next ‘slot’ as it were and get excited about it.
🎙️ If you want to learn more about balancing creative growth and day to day responsibilities, and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer's Guide To...Balancing Day-to-Day Creativity on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
- 🚨 Musicians, if you want to destroy your performance anxiety, then this is for you!
😖 If you’re finding yourself side of stage, with knots in your stomach, worrying that everyone will be judging you, and that you will be ‘found out’ as an imposter, you are not alone!
🙋♀️ I’ve experienced all these things in some way or another, and as it turns out, so have other listeners of my podcast A Drummer’s Guide To...
👀 Personally the way I tackle performance anxiety is by noticing what is causing it, e.g. I will notice I’m imagining the scenario I’m about to go into and ‘see’ people around me judging me, thinking ‘what is she doing here?’ ‘she’s not good enough’ and fun things like that.
🥊 I combat it by then visualising the exact opposite, with people glad to see me, vibing with what I’m doing, and me doing a great job!
🙄 That’s just one way my personal performance anxiety shows up and how I tackle it.
📻 In my latest podcast episode A Drummer’s Guide To… Performance Anxiety I also go into how anxiety presents as fear of making mistakes, feeling I should be better, or feeling judged and being scrutinised by others.
👉 If you want to learn more about how I deal with Performance Anxiety and lift the curtain further on all the other things it takes to be a professional musician, aside from playing your instrument, then search for A Drummer’s Guide To... on all good podcasting platforms and youtube
performanceanxiety #sessionmusician #professionalmusician #mindset #visualization
🚨 Is avoidance of pain keeping you from success? 🚨
🙈 There’s a common misconception that I’ve seen flying around that if you do everything ‘right’ you’ll breeze into being a pro, and stay there as long as you stay consistent.
❌ Nope ❌
😖 It’s HARD - I don’t know any session musician that hasn’t gone through feelings of doubt, imposter syndrome, not feeling good enough, and then losing gigs, not getting auditions, and feeling embarrassed and humiliated. It’s part of the job, it’s part of life.
🤔💭 You should expect all these things and rather than being so afraid of them that it paralyses you out of making the hard moves, know that it’s going to be hard either way, so you may as well take your shot, and keep taking the shots until it’s normalised.
☝️So here are my top tips for facing these uncomfortable truths…
😥 When bad things happen (and they will happen!) face them head on. Whether it was a shortfall in skill, or a mismatch of personalities, or any other type of epic fail, take responsibility.
Ask yourself:
1️⃣ what was my role in this?
2️⃣ what I can do to mitigate this every happening again?
3️⃣ what positives can I take from the situation?
🥵 To say this is confronting is putting it so mildly that Nando’s don’t even have a sauce to illustrate it!
🧌 However, ignoring it, creates a much bigger problem in the long term, making monsters you’ll become terrified of, guarding the door to opportunities that could be perfect for you in every way!
🎙 I’ll share with you the most confronting moments for me in this week’s episode, A Drummer’s Guide To... Uncomfortable Truths
sessionmusician #musicianmindset #professionalmusician #acceptance #ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
🚨 Are you in control of your career? 🚨
🫣 To a point you may be, but honestly, with all the moving parts of this life, it would be arrogant for us to think we could control all the outcomes
😩 In reality, you will just be burnt out, unable to perform at your best, and take advantage of opportunities if they do arise.
😔 Accept that there is only so much you can control, things will go ‘wrong’ and it’s how you react to that that will make the difference.
🙏How do I accept things going wrong in career and life?
1️⃣ Accept the uncontrollable, and try to make peace with the situation
2️⃣ Reflect on evidence of past events that may have seemed ‘bad’ in the moment
3️⃣ Excavate the gold of the situation - use it as fuel, inspiration, a source of gratitude, motivation, or as a dose of (often confronting) reality
🙌 Just focus on what you can control, and then relinquish the rest because who know what can come from any situation 8 weeks, 8 months, or 8 years from now.
👀 Check out this episode A Drummer’s Guide To... Acceptance and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes!
sessionmusician #musicianmindset #professionalmusician #acceptance
🙅♀️Is fear of looking or sounding stupid keeping you from a successful career?
🙈 It certainly was for me for many years!!!
🤔What do you think will get you more work… someone watching you perform and being like ‘oooof that’s a lot!’ or not even notice you when you’re on stage?
😩Yea ok, both aren’t ideal, but the first version is waaaaayyyy better because they’re noticing you, which means that so are other’s in the audience, and although we as humans are great at focusing on the negative and ‘threats’ (it’s literally biological), for every person that may watch your performance and not resonate with it, there may be another 100 that will feel connected, in the moment and inspired by you 🙌🫶💪
🫥The second version of events, no-one’s feeling anything, and that’s not what music is about.
🧐So how do I tackle fear of embarrassment?
1️⃣ I challenge it, and face it head on
2️⃣ I test it out to check that the fear of looking sill is warranted for SURE
3️⃣ I reframe it in a way that actually makes the potential of me looking silly a POSITIVE
😌Just focus on being true to who you are as a player… FEEL it, the way your favourite players made you FEEL it when you first picked up your instrument, and how other’s make you FEEL it today.
👀 Check out A Drummer’s Guide To... Embarrassment and be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes 🙅♀️
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🤔 ‘If I work harder, I will be successful’ - is this what you believe?
❌ I did - I was WRONG! Well not entirely… but there was another part to that puzzle that I was no good at, and arguably am still working on!
🧘 Patience
😬 is this one skill keeping you from success too?
3 ways to develop patience
1. Falling in love with the process
2. Diverting your attention to other areas such as fitness, education in other areas, hobbies
3. Getting curious about others’ stories, and remind yourself you’re not the only one
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Community as I share how important a sense of community has been in my pursuit of being a professional musician, even when it was just a community of 2!
---If you'd like to support this podcast, now you can at https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Navigating Egos and Personalities where I share how I choose to see and react to 'bad behaviour' or difficult people on the road as well as sharing some of my own shortcomings (of which there are many!!!)
---If you'd like to support this podcast, now you can at https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Job Insecurity as I share with you how to make your job as a professional musician more consistent, stable and reliable, and I even talk about a massive shift that is on it's way with my career! Chaos has ensued!!!
If you'd like one-on-one coaching with me... www.emilydrums.com/coaching
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Session Musician Misconceptions as I address the reasons people claim they can't be a session musician, as well as some of the incorrect assumptions I made as a musician coming up to being a professional. Hopefully this will help you get over those barriers too so you can keep striving towards 'the dream'.
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Introverts Unite! I share how I navigate being an introvert in the extroverted world of music, and the drawbacks, benefits, and tricks I have to thrive in this space. I also share how I have cultivated an extroverted persona on stage and on camera, but rest assured, at my core, I am an introvert too! Weird I know!
---If you'd like to support this podcast, now you can at https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... The 6 Human Needs as I talk about the filter I run all of my career choices through to make sure I'm the most fulfilled I can be, or if I'm feeling down or empty what needs aren't being met so I can change it! I've found this very useful, and I hope you do too :-)
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... My Favourite Mantras as I share the MAIN things I tell myself, my inner workings and beliefs that help me stay on track with my career, goals, and in my personal life too. I've always been fascinated by what people tell themselves, so thought I'd share my side of things. I'd love to hear some of your favourite mantras too, so please feel free to share :-)
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Process Goals, where I turn goal setting on it's head, and reverse them, to make them more achievable, fun, and allow for all the uncontrollable elements that come with pursuing a creative career :-/
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Shortcuts where I share some proper cringey things I used to do when I was younger to find the 'most effective' route to becoming a professional drummer, as well as some useful things, but the reality of trying to get past the hard work that is necessary to a career in this industry. So if you'd just like to come and laugh at a past version of me, then this is the episode for you, and you're more than welcome to join! :-)
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Hot Cross Buns! Is it about food?! Nope, I wish! This is a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) method that is widely used to help with moments of anxiety by noticing what's actually going on within you. I share how I apply it to auditions, rehearsals, social situations, and I hope it helps you too! Also would highly recommend you look it up for a visual too :-)
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Hyper-focus and Flow as I share the benefits of getting into those states and how I use them to 'move the needle' as it were towards my goals. If you want to delve deeper, the books I talk about that are 2 of my favourites are Deep Work by Cal Newport, and Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Would highly recommend both! :-)
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Perfectionism Revisited where I share about my bloomin perfectionist attitude and negative self talk rearing it's head once again in my life. Coming off the back of a fight or flight situation (it's not really but could seem that way in the moment), it's so unexpected and so disruptive! Hopefully this makes you feel less alone if you're suffering with perfectionist tendencies.
---If you'd like to support this podcast, now you can at https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums---
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Join me in this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Identity Pitfalls where I share the dangers of identifying yourself in certain ways, vs empowering yourself. As always there's a lot of tangents, ramblings, and some real time realisations... you love to see it... kind of!
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Thank you to Lindsay Roberts who inspired this episode of A Drummer's Guide To Developing Complexity in Your Playing. Whilst I don't actually consider myself a complex player, I kind of realised through the episode that maybe I am, how I developed that, and liken it to other aspects of my life. Come join me :-)
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Join me on A Drummer's Guide To... Finding Your Rhythm where weirdly I won't be talking about drumming or even music, but working within your constraints to make the most of the time, energy and resources you have day to day to get stuff done without absolutely killing yourself!!! If you're the kind of person who has tried and failed at the 5am club, or can't get with the grind culture so many people preach about, then maybe this episode is for you! Come join the 'sustainable individual routine' club!!! So rock n roll!!!!!! Ha!
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Join me on this episode of A Drummer's Guide To... Goal Setting for 2024 as I share how I create, implement and maintain my goals for any given year and beyond. This is an amalgamation of many years of trial and error, and I'm loving this hybrid version I've created for myself! Hope it inspires you in some type of way too :-)
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Join me in this episode of A Drummer's Guide To... Looking Back At 2023 as I... look... back... at... 2023 funnily enough! I share some of the insights I gained as well as what I'll be taking into 2024! What have you learnt about yourself in 2023? Also, I'd like to say a massive thank you to you for listening, and supporting this podcast!xxx
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Normalisation. This is exploring the approach I take when deciding to tackle something, develop a new skill or want to achieve a goal. Hope it gives you some inspiration and ideas to level up parts of your playing or life!
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Rest! I was knocked out with a cold/flu bug last week - soooo annoying! As you know, I like to be on the go doing stuff, so I found it hard to stop and actually succumb to the fact I am in fact human, and need to recover! Annoying! Anyways, as someone who is rubbish at resting, this episode is kind of an exploration on the subject as it's an area I'm not great in! I hope you find something useful in it, and any ideas on a postcard please! Ha!
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Recent Musings as I share some of the thoughts I've been having the last few weeks, and talk about nothing in particular! It's a rambling ramble y'all! Let me know if any of it resonates with you, and I'll flesh out some full episodes for you delving further :-)
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Self-Talk as I share the things the voices in my head tell me! Yep, a reaaaaallll insight! I also share how I've gone from letting them sabotage me, to actually becoming friends with them. I hope this resonates with you cause my biggest fear is people finding out how insane it is in my brain at any given time!
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Faffing as I talk about what faffing around, or tinkering with little almost inconsequential things is a sign of for me and how I stop myself so I can address what's ACTUALLY important! Thanks to Kevin Cook for the inspiration for this episode! :-)
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Join me on this episode, A Drummer's Guide To... Feathers and Cogs as I share a concept to illustrate the reality of what it takes to become great at your instrument, or anything for that matter! I share my own cogs that I'm still calibrating, and some of my favourite books that have helped tackle the realistic (often boring!) day to day tasks that must be done to ensure a better future me! ---If you'd like to support this podcast, now you can at https://www.patreon.com/emilydrums--- #ADrummersGuideTo #Podcast #promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #professionalmusician #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #productivity #ama #askmeanything
Could imposter syndrome be positive?
Join me in this week's podcast episode of A Drummer's Guide To... as I explore this idea, and share how I use my imposter syndrome as a force for good in my own life (whilst getting a bit agro with it sometimes too!)! I'd also love to hear how you've used it in a positive way for yourself too!
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Join me as I share how I deal with feeling unmotivated and defeated, and yes I get those feelings as we all do! In fact I start the episode feeling rather flat, and you can see the physical change happen in me as the episode goes on! Real-time baby! Hope this helps gives you some ideas for yourself, and at the very least make you feel less alone in the way you might be feeling right now. We're all in this together!
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What is your inner critic trying to tell you?
In this episode I share how I turned my inner critic into one of my best friends, and use it as one of my greatest resources to take action in a way that is in line with what I truly want in my life. I hope this resonates with you, and the book I cite is The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters: https://chimpmanagement.com/books-by-professor-steve-peters/the-chimp-paradox/
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What is your greatest superpower?
Join me as I share what I think mine are, and hopefully inspire you to explore your own strengths along with the 'Kryptonite' element that comes with every superpower. Confused? Awesome! Welcome to my brain - come on in :-)
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Join me on this episode as I explore my own journey with creativity, how I harness my creativity, and expand its definition past where most would!
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What are some of the common traits that all musicians posses?
This was a question I obsessed over (I know, doesn't sound like me) for many years! Join me as a share my research and findings from about age 17 to present day (ABL - Always Be Learnin!)! Let me know if it resonates with you too :-)
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Social media! What's the point?!?!
In this episode I let you into my train of thought as to why anyone should bother posting on social media! It's oversaturated, so much noise, and compared to others it's easy to feel very VERY inferior! So what keeps me going? WHat could you have in your minds eye to keep you motivated, centered and avoid all the drudgery that posting can create.
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How do you stay present when you play?
In this episode, I share how I stay present on a gig so I can truly be in the moment, and give everything to what I am playing and feeling fulfilled to the brim!
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How do you deal with change?
Well, this is a unique opportunity to let you into how I deal with change in actual real-time! 2 hours before filming this episode, I found out The Voice Kids wasn't going to be coming back for 2024. Instantly out of the job! I wanted to share with you my thoughts, how I'm coping and give you the rawest, most honest reaction to the situation to hopefully give you some insight, as well as comfort that we all go through this in one way or another!
How do you deal with change?
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What is it that YOU want?
I spent the first 15 years of my playing (and arguably 26 years of my life!) looking to everyone else to find what would make me happy, where I should be putting my energy and how I should be living my life. It was only at a crisis point that I chose a different way, and started looking inside and listening to that little voice inside. Turns out that was the most important voice of all. In this episode I share my journey with it all, and the pain and struggle that still exists in me.
What is it that YOU want?
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How do you stay positive?
This is a quesiton I get asked a lot, and in this episode I go deep into why I HAVE to find the positive, my struggles when I can't, and hopefully give you some insight into how you can also be more empowered in your thinking.
If you're enjoying this podcast then please like, subscribe, and support at Patreon.com/EmilyDrums
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How do you eat well on tour?
Keeping on top of eating fairly healthily on the road can be a nightmare! There's not always great options, or sometimes there's great and very tempting options, plus you're working, so you deserve a treat every now AND then, or just all the time! We're tired, we just want something nice, easy, breezy, beautiful, and if often affects out waistlines, energy levels, and general mood.
In this episode, I share how I try to make my on tour eating as beneficial as possible with some little tricks I've learnt along the way! Let me know how you eat well on tour too!
If you're enjoying this then please like, subscribe, and support at Patreon.com/EmilyDrums
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #drumpractice #drumsound #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #gearporn #productivity #ama #askmeanything
How do you deal with online trolls?
In this episode, I share how I have dealt with haters and trolls and try to keep my composure and self-esteem intact. Hope it helps, and please share your tactics in the comments too :-)
If you're like to support this podcast, now you can by going to www.patreon.com/emilydrums
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #drumgear #gearslutz #drumpractice #drumsound #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #drumtuning #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #gearporn #allthegearnoidea #productivity #advice #ama #askmeanything
What are/were some of your favourite games, and why? Can you think of a way to reverse engineer your love of those games into areas in your life you want to build upon? Share your thoughts in the comments :-)
If you're like to support this podcast, now you can by going to www.patreon.com/emilydrums
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #drumgear #gearslutz #drumpractice #drumsound #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #drumtuning #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #gearporn #allthegearnoidea #productivity #advice #ama #askmeanything
How do you get past your own fears when you come up against something that triggers nothing but a want to run away from a situation?
Join me as I share how I make the potential for opportunity outweight the fear I feel in taking action.
Hopefully this episode will inspire you to find your own way to say yes to more opportunities despite the fear you may feel.
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #drumgear #gearslutz #drumpractice #drumsound #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #drumtuning #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #gearporn #allthegearnoidea #productivity #advice #ama #askmeanything
How do you deal with rejection?
Ah it's a tough one, and it's inevitable if you want to move forward in anything, so in this episode I lay out how I personally deal with rejection and try to take some positives from every situation.
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry #drumgear #gearslutz #drumpractice #drumsound #drummer #drums #drumming #lessons #drumlesson #drumlessons #drumtuning #remoterecording #homestudio #remotesession #gearporn #allthegearnoidea #productivity #advice #ama #askmeanything
One of the questions I get asked the most is, 'how do you do so many things?!'
Well the answer isn't big, clever, or sexy... what a great way to entice you into this episode eh?! What I can tell you is that what I do WORKS, and if you want to do more, then take these lessons away and take action on them!
If you're enjoying this then please like, subscribe, and support at Patreon.com/EmilyDrums
Welcome back to A Drummer's Guide To... !!!
It's been a 2 year hiatus (I can hardly belive it!) and now I'm BACK! Tacking all the subjects surrounding what it takes to be a professional musician that ISN'T playing your instrument! (Well maybe there's a bit of that, but not much!)
This week, I am mainly talking about why I stopped doing episodes, and how I have decided to tackle those things head on so I can be doing more of what I love in life, which is helping you essentially! :-) It's inevitable that when you do anything in life, there will be friction points, so best to try to anticipate those points, and put in place some sort of plan to deal with it if/when they come up. As my dad always says, 'there's always a reason to not do something' - so why not tackle it before it blindsides you if you can!
If you're enjoying this podcast, like, subscribe, and support at Patreon.com/EmilyDrums
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Join me as I geek out about routines and how it's made me the person that I am today for all the good and all the bad!
I also share how I'm trying to maximise my routines as in these crazy times to give me focus, purpose and hopefully keep me sane (although you wouldn't think it looking at me! Ha!)
PS If you wanna read a great book on routines, check out John Lamerton's Routine Machine:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Routine-Machine-successful-guarantee-themselves/dp/191060027X
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Join me in this episode as I talk about one of my favourite books - Malcolm Gladwell's, Outliers, which talks about the 10,000 hours to master a skill.
I share with you the moment I was nearing this milestone but was nowhere near a master of the drums. Then, how I changed my trajectory to make sure that the next 10000 hours counted to my successful career.
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Well, I bet you thought I'd never be talking about Cardi B's WAP, but here we are!
It made me really think about my attitudes and reactions to certain things, how they've changed, why they've changed and why I'm so happy that's the case!
I've officially gone from feeling very angry and upset, to taking lots of positive action, and it feels GREAT! Would recommend :-)
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Join me this week as I talked about the Curse of perfection, and how it breeds overwhelm, anxiety, and complete inactivity! So useless! I share with you exactly how I stop myself from being perfect, and as you can see I'm doing a great job! :-D
Don't be perfect, it means you can't grow any more, and growth is so much more important and INTERESTING!
Hope this helps you take that next step from going from a scared perfectionist, to brave action taker!
Sending you lots of love x
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In this episode, I wanted to address the idea of having a choice on what you can focus on in this life and how to get through tough times especially in relation to the current global pandemic.
I share how I literally employed the process of wearing blinkers when it matters (to me), affording me the energy and motivation to do the things that truly matter to me - like being here for you.
Sending you lots of love Em x
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Join me as I geek out about marginal gains, a concept about taking the parts of you as a musician, or even as a person that you'd like to improve, breaking them down into tiny pieces and then just focusing on getting 1% better at each.
In theory, upon putting all those 1% better parts back together you will become an absolute monster! This is something I've been learning about on my daily walks from a book called Routine Machine by John Lamerton I love it!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Routine-Machine-successful-guarantee-themselves/dp/191060027X
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Join me in this week's episode as I talk about what to do for the next six months upon the news that we are not going to be moving much further forward especially in the live music sector where most of us were earning our living up until March 2020.
I share what I'm doing to keep as sane, inspired and as hopeful as possible in this unprecedented time. I share what my focuses are, and I hope I can give you some ideas, and motivation to get through the next period we're about to endure.
Just remember, we're creatives, we will pivot and adapt, and at the very least, I'm here with you, and always reach out if you're struggling. You're not alone xxx
This is what I do to learn any music for any job, and have done for over 10 years! Let's share this so we can all be the best version of ourselves, especially when it comes to music, songs and creativity!
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This is one of the things that made everything so much easier for me to have in mind when it comes to content - including this episode! How meta!
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It feels like there might be a small light at the end of this pandemic tunnel, but there is also a lot of anxiety for many musicians, so here is my 2 cents on the subject and what I'm concentrating on to work through it :-)
Love to you
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It's not sexy, it's not that clever, it's very simple, but it can be hard... this is the thing, if done with consistency will get you productive beyond belief, and have people asking 'how in the world do you do so much?!' - something that I'm constantly asked! Ha!
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Lean in to stand out.
This realisation just made everything so much easier, and once you're past the first scary step, everything just makes so much more sense, and you'll attract more like-minded awesome people!
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This is the single thing that took me from wanting to be a professional musician, to actually doing it, and I continue to take this step over and over again to this day with the most incredible results!
It's awesome, it's scary, it's worth it! :-)
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Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging:
https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
These are the top 3 ways I use to find my clients at EmilyDrums.com! If you're looking at building your client base, try these 3 tips!
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging:
https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
This is a lesson I've had to learn over and over, but I think I've finally got it! :-)
These are my views on drum gear, and musician gear in general, and how important how that instrument or equipment is used to create awesome or awful sounds!
Want to start offering remote recording services?
Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
This is how I built my remote recording profile at EmilyDrums.com from scratch... I went from having no clients to now having over a thousand on my books, and it all started with my first portfolio track!
All it involved was me, my DAW and my recording setup! So whether you're a drummer, bassist, guitarist or vocalist, and you're working with Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Cubase, Ableton, or even GarageBand, this is for you!
If you'd like to learn more about getting clients, building your portfolio more, and what you should be charging, then come and take part in my workshop https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
In this epsiode, I’ll be going over what you absolutely need to get started recording for musicians and artists remotely! Now, this isn’t just for drummers, so don’t switch off if you’re wanting to record guitar, keys, marimba, or anything else!
I opened the online doors to EmilyDrums.com in 2016, and when I started out, I barely had any knowledge of how a studio even worked, let alone how to run a business with clients! But now, I’ve got a diary full of wonderful clients who keep coming back to get me to record on their songs. So let me share with you my bare essentials you’ll need to start recording remotely.
An interface
This is where you’ll be plugging your microphones into, to record into your DAW. The number of inputs will depend on your instrument, for instance, bassists really only need 1 direct input for their jack lead, whereas, for us drummers, we’ll need more. I’d say start out with an interface with 8 inputs, aka 8 mics, that can be expanded later down the line via ADAT. This will keep the price down initially, with room to expand as you do. Also, make sure you can connect to your interface via the fastest port on your computer or laptop, so mine is a thunderbolt interface, but your quickest port might be USB-C, you lucky person you!
Mics
The mics you buy and how many once again will depend on your instrument. If you’re a guitarist, like bass, you could just use a direct in, and amp simulators, but if you want to go old school, then a mic on your amp is fine. Us drummer, as with most things, it’s a little more involved and expensive! So do as I did when I started, and buy a ‘drum mic pack’ which will give you a great starting point and somewhere to build from. A typical mic pack will have mics for the kick, snare, 2 or 3 toms, and a couple of overheads. This is PERFECT to start with, just starting is the key. Gear It’s not about having the best gear in the world, it’s about making your gear sound as great as you can, and that can come from tuning, dampening, but most importantly, how you play your instrument. Practice not just getting a great sound in the room, but under mics too, as this is often very different to what you expect.
Curiosity and experimentation
The most underrated and lesser talked about thing that you absolutely need to start remote recording with people is a curiosity, and hunger for exploration. There is no ‘right’ way to mic any instrument… there are some best practices which a quick Google search will throw up, but ‘right’ and ‘good’ is completely subjective. This is an art form, and we’re all going for our own sounds… if you’re after a dingy, low-fi sound, the make it the most killer version of that you can! If you want it to be super hi-fi, which as an aside, will probably cost you a bunch of money, then go for it! If you want to create something people have never heard before, then explore that… I think that’s the key, explore, explore, explore, and make your sound… emphasis on your! As amazing as you possibly can.
I hope you enjoy setting up your remote recording setup, and if you’d like to find out more about the business side of remote recording, then hit the link below for my free workshop, so I can share with you how to get clients, what you should be charging, and the one thing that you must do to not fall at the first hurdle.
When I was younger, I thought how I performed on the drums had NOTHING to do with being a drummer... all that mattered was how I sounded, right? RIGHT?!....... WRONG!!!!
In this episode, I share how I worked on my live performance, and how I suggest you do too...
Thanks so much, Paul for the question, and if anyone wants to check out The Groovemores, head here: groovemores.co.uk
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
This is such a meta subject! Thanks so much for the question Alejandro!
He is asking how to talk to the camera comfortably... In this episode I share how I do it, what I keep in my mind, how I know if a video is good enough to release into the world, and how I used to be rubbish at it!
I hope this helps you if you're trying to get better at taking on and to the camera or microphone :-)
HIT SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP ON TOP OF FUTURE SUBJECTS :-)
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
Sit with me for 15 mins whilst I take a trip down memory lane to when I got to record drums on Last Of Our Kind with the legends that are The Darkness! Such fond memories, and an album that I am immensely proud to have been a part of!
If you haven't heard the album, then you can head over here to have a listen: https://open.spotify.com/album/54WyVRdcIGAwCFxW9HEOu8
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Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
This question is from the gorgeous Yuli Michalaki, who is asking about how I keep fir on the road, or in the studio, or just generally!
In this video, I discuss how I try to make a fitness regime as easy as humanly possible to keep, and minimizing the decisions and variables involved, and working it into my already hectic schedule! Hope this helps if you're struggling with finding the time to work out, get fit and stay healthy, and thank you to Yuli for the question!
To find out more about Yuli, head here: https://www.yogaallianceprofessionals.org/united-kingdom/barnet/yoga-teacher/yuli-michalaki
HIT SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP ON TOP OF FUTURE SUBJECTS :-)
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
This a great question from Nathan, who is asking, what advice would I have about playing festivals, best practices etc etc...
In this video, I share the best way to deal with festivals within your own realm, whilst also being mindful of the 'bigger picture', making new friends on and off stage, and how to be a pleasure to work with and get the promoter/festival/other artists, begging you to come back!
Hope this answers your question, Nathan :-)
HIT SUBSCRIBE AND ALERT TO KEEP ON TOP OF FUTURE SUBJECTS :-)
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
I have so many things to do, I don't know where to start, and when I write them all down into a list, I feel overwhelmed, and unable to take action!
That was me, has been me in the past, occasionally is me still before I catch myself! Overwhelm has been the single most debilitating factor in my career. In this video, I share the strategies I use and steps I take to keep productive, focused, and centred whilst avoiding overwhelm.
Thanks so much for the question Charlotte, and I hope the answer helps.
HIT SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP ON TOP OF FUTURE SUBJECTS :-)
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
How can you develop your feel?
This has always been a life-long obsession for me - how to create the greatest feel known to man! I'm not there yet, but I endeavour to go as far as I can with developing my feel and groove, forevermore :-) In this video, I share the things that I have done in the past and continue to do, to 'move the needle' towards a more delicious and delectable groove - hopefully one of the ideas will resonate with you, or you'll just realise how crazy and obsessive I am! Ach well! :-)
Thanks to Robert DiMaio for the question, and if you'd like to check out him and his music, just head here: https://www.robertdimaio.com/
HIT SUBSCRIBE TO KEEP ON TOP OF FUTURE SUBJECTS :-)
Want to start offering remote recording services? Watch my free workshop to find out the first steps to take, how to get clients, and what you should be charging: https://www.RemoteRecordingBusiness.com/workshop
★☆ Learn 4 foundation skills that are ESSENTIAL for any professional drummer ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/foundations/
I was so reluctant to work on my performance side of playing when I was younger, I really didn't appreciate how important (AND FUN!!!) it would be! Here's how I did it, and man it's taken my playing, connection and enjoyment up a huuuuge level! :-)
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
★☆ Learn 4 foundation skills that are ESSENTIAL for any professional drummer ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/foundations/
The quick answer is... whatever works for you! Don't give in to peer pressure, or argue about why one is better than the other... they're all awesome for slightly different reasons, so base your decision on what you'll be using it for along with your intuition when using them... there really is no right or wrong answer on this as long as you do you :-)
If you have any questions or subjects you'd like me to cover, comment below :-) Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
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There's one thought process I really had to shake in order to allow myself to be the best I can be in this life - watch this vid to find out what it is!
Is there anything you've had to overcome anything to let yourself be successful? Let me know in the comments!
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
★☆ If you're interested in my Professional Foundations Course, then you can sign up for updates here ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/course/
Oh, there are just so many lovely things to buy in this world! ESPECIALLY the music world! Here's my thought process to keep me in check so I don't over-do it (I have in the past), and try to be practical about these things! Hope it helps you too :-) Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
★☆ If you're interested in my Professional Foundations Course, then you can sign up for updates here ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/course/
This week's A Drummer's Guide To... is about balancing focusing on, and achieving your goals, vs not getting overwhelmed! I am the queen of overwhelm, and these are some tactics I use to stop myself and get in control before it all gets a bit much! I hope it helps you too, and let me know any tools you use 🙃
★☆ If you're interested in my Professional Foundations Course, then you can sign up for updates here ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/course/
This week I'm tackling a subject suggested by LM Read: Imposter Syndrome... they wanted to know if I had it (which I do A LOT), and how I handle it :-) If you're suffering, I hope this helps you, and let me know any other tactics you use to combat it, and let me know if you have any questions of your own in the comments below :-)
★☆ If you're interested in my Professional Foundations Course, then you can sign up for updates here ☺☞
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/course/
This week on A Drummer's Guide To... I'm talking about the most debilitating, uninspiring state: Procrastination! It suuuucks! However, this is how I've managed to overcome it in recent years... I used to suffer from it really badly, but I feel like I've really found my way around it, so I hope this helps you too! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗
★☆ If you're interested in my Professional Foundations Course, then you can sign up for updates here ☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/course/ ****
I was so reluctant to work on my performance side of playing when I was younger, I really didn't appreciate how important (AND FUN!!!) it would be! Here's how I did it, and man it's taken my playing, connection and enjoyment up a huuuuge level! :-)
★☆ Learn 4 foundation skills that are ESSENTIAL for any professional drummer ☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/foundations/ ****
This week's subject is talking about my approach to social media, why I post what I post, how often, and how I make it as easy as possible to save what valuable brain space I have left! :-D Hope you enjoy!
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
★☆ Level up your drumming to a professional level in just 5 minutes a day: ☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/workshop/ ****
This week's episode I'm talking all about my current goal which is learning to read better for a gig happening in a couple of months! I'm literally taking you through my actual process, via my crazy mind, let's hope I get out the other side in one piece! Ha! Hope you enjoy!
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
★☆ Level up your drumming to a professional level in just 5 minutes a day:
☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/workshop/
This is what I come back to whenever I'm feeling lost (literally), and a heartfelt thank you, to all who watch these videos.... it means the world to me :-) Hope you enjoy!
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
★☆ Level up your drumming to a professional level in just 5 minutes a day:☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/workshop/ ****
This is how I deal with feeling judged (whether it's in my head of real life), and how I reframe it to be a positive thing for myself, and others. Also recognizing where the judgment may be coming from really helps me too :-) Hope you enjoy!
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
★☆ Level up your drumming to a professional level in just 5 minutes a day:☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/workshop/
These are hands down the best way to invest in any musicians career, but ESPECIALLY drummers! If I could start again, I would have implemented these from day 1! Love 'em! Hope you enjoy!
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
★☆ Level up your drumming to a professional level in just 5 minutes a day:☺☞ https://www.adrummersguideto.com/workshop/
This is how I deal with learning any songs/set for any artist or band to hopefully not get so overwhelmed and stressed out to the point of despair! Hope it helps you, and tell me any ways you handle stress and gigs!
Join the new Facebook community: Find Your Rhythm; supporting each other's journey into and through the world as a professional musician!
www.facebook.com/groups/findyourrhythm
Enjoy this episode, share it with someone you think would benefit from hearing it, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects:
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promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
This is my number 1 productivity hack, and how I get the most work done, whether it's practising, learning songs, or even making these videos, without burning out! I've been through so many cycles of burning out in my career, and the older I got the worse it was... this is a manageable balance of work without absolutely killing myself!
Try it out and let me know how you get on :-)
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
This is a bit of a rant episode about excuses, and how to stop them from stopping you! You can do it! Don't be scared! Be brave! :-D
As my dad says: There's always an excuse NOT to do something!
Enjoy this episode, share it with someone you think would benefit from hearing it, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
Thanks to Jay Lawrence for this weeks question: How do you make a good living in the music industry?
As ever, this is just my own experience, and I hope it helps you on your journey too! :-D
Enjoy this episode, share it with someone you think would benefit from hearing it, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
This is the #1 piece of advice I was given by Billy Ward back in the day that I wish I had started doing that day. It is the quickest way to become a better musician, so start today (even though it will probably be hard and horrible), and I promise you will thank your future self!
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
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promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
How do you know when you're good enough to play with other musicians?
Short (and annoying) answer is you don't! You've just gotta jump in and go for it! I've given some tips on this video about how best to get out there with the most success, and hopefully enjoyment!
Hope you enjoy this episode! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
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This weeks video coming from a question asked by Steve Chafe:
'Any chance we could do one of your live chats about Clicks and Tracks Live? I think it's a fascinating subject and I would be really keen to hear about your experiences, Especially with Kim and Tom Bailey.'
Whilst I'm not sure I answered your question particularly well, thank you for giving me the inspiration to talk about a subject I deem very important Steve :-) Thanks :-) If you have a question you'd like me to answer, head to www.adrummersguideto.com
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
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A subject close to my heart and just some of the benefits and skills I have learnt through playing with covers bands! They are for sure a huge part of the foundations of my live playing!
Tell me why you do/don't love playing in covers bands? :-)
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
If you'd like to find out more about my Successful Musician Mindset Toolbox then you can sign up here: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/toolbox/
This is the controversial subject of whether you should be doing work for free? Have a watch, let me know your opinions - I know it's done me a world of good doing work for free, but open to all view points! :-)
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This video is how I defined success for myself, how it looks practically over a long period of time, and how I tried to not let 'shiny object syndrome' take me off my path (which it did, and still does occasionally to this day)!
If you'd like to find out more about my Successful Musician Mindset Toolbox then you can sign up here: https://www.adrummersguideto.com/toolbox/
I hope this helps with your goals as a musician and thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This week's video is about the top 3 ways I learnt, and continue to learn, and excel at playing the drums. Hopefully, it can help you accelerate your learning an instrument too!
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
If you'd like to find out more about my Successful Musician Mindset Toolbox then you can sign up here:
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/toolbox/
This week I tackle the subject of getting the call for a 'big gig' or a named artist, and the reality of the journey I took to get there.
If you'd like to find out more about my Successful Musician Mindset Toolbox then you can sign up here:
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/toolbox/
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This episode is about how I put myself in challenging situations to force myself to learn new skills, or up my existing skills in the quickest, and most high-risk situations. Always terrifying at the time, with a huge sense of relief and achievement by the end of it!
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
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This week's video covers a very sensitive subject of how I deal with feelings of depression I've had throughout my life, as I know that a lot of musicians also suffer with similar things. I'm no medical professional (obviously!) but I just thought I'd share what I do to help myself, and if you find yourself struggling too, hopefully, one of these will speak to you too.
Please feel free to add your coping mechanisms in the comments below, as I'd love to hear about them.
Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects:
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
This week I share one of the most heartbreaking (potentially career-ending) moments of my drumming life! I speak about how I chose to not only come back from it, but face my demons head-on, and I'm convinced it was the making of me, even though the path was long, treacherous, and painful!
Share with me your experiences of failing and getting back up to soldier on!
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com or leave them in the comments below :-)
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects:
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
Welcome to this week's topic: Groove!
This was something that was always very elusive to me, and upon realising it was the kind of drummer I wanted to be, became my life's quest! Hear the things I learnt from other drummers and musicians, and the steps I took to help develop my own groove.
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This week I talk about websites, why you should have one, the frustrations I have with people that don't, and what key things you should include on your own!
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This is what to expect from an audition for an artist/band, and my checklist I go through to be as prepared as possible, along with dealing with the aftermath! Bonus stories of the stranger auditions I've done too! Let me know you auditioning experiences and processes in the comments below, and if you have any further questions too! :-)
Hope you enjoy! Share with someone you think would like this, and shoot across any questions you have or topics you'd like me to cover at info@adrummersguideto.com
Subscribe to my mailing list to not miss any future subjects:
https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe/
promusicians #musicianproblems #musiciansofig #sessionmusician #musicianlifestyle #diymusician #sessiondrummer #musiceducation #musicianslife #behindthescenes #musicindustry
These are the 3 key questions I've always asked myself over the years which has led me to become a professional drummer. If you can get these 3 questions answered in your own mind and heart, then I think you will see that it can be done!
Once you've watched this video, please tell me your Whys, Whats, and Hows - I'd LOVE to hear them!
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming (info@adrummersguideto.com) and subscribe to the mailing list to not miss a subject! https://www.adrummersguideto.com/subscribe
This is the way I deal with approaching something that I can't technically play, but have to. It's how I tackle it, and what I prioritize to make sure that I get the job done in the best way possible :-)
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming at info@adrummersguideto.com and see you next week for another topic :-)
This is a short sharp episode on how to and definitely how NOT to network, including some stories about the strange things people have said to me around networking. It's all about relationships people, and nurturing :-)
Enjoy, and if you have any subjects you'd like me to cover, get in touch at info@adrummersguideto.com
This is one of the most useful tools I've leveraged (without knowing it for a long time) to get stuff done! Having someone else to answer to and be accountable with can really be a great motivator!
Thanks to everyone for all your awesome feedback and questions! Keep 'em coming and if you have any questions of topics you'd like me to cover, drop me a line at info@adrummersguideto.com
Touring is such great fun, but there's so much more to it than just jumping on a bus and playing shows every night.
These are some of the common problems and solutions to every day touring. It's the things that not a lot of people talk about, and it surely isn't what you'd tell people back home, because unless they're in this world, they may just think it's all fun and partying!
I hope you can relate to this, and if there are any topics you'd like to know about, let me know and I'll see if I can give you some answers: info@adrummersguideto.com
In this week's episode, I recount some difficult decisions I've had to make in the past, and how they were the greatest decisions I ever made for myself, and have lead me to this point. I talk about parting ways with The Darkness, the opportunity that afforded me, and about the birth of my remote recording studio, EmilyDrums.com
Enjoy, and as always, If you have any questions or subjects you'd like me to cover, then please send me an email at info@adrummersguideto.com
This week's episode is what it's like to tour on a bus - what to expect, the unspoken rules (which are very important!), and just generally how to survive without annoying anyone, or going crazy yourself! :-)
If you have any questions or subjects you'd like me to cover, then please send me an email at info@adrummersguideto.com.
Welcome to A Drummer's Guide To... podcast!
Let me introduce myself, my name is Emily Dolan Davies, and I am a professional drummer. I've been touring, recording and generally hitting things (hopefully) in time since 1999. I wanted to start a series sharing my experience of being in the music industry, and how I got to this point. This is the podcast I wish existed when I was a kid and didn't know where to turn for direction, support and ideas... so here I am! :-)
I hope you enjoy this first episode to get an idea of me and what I'm going to set out to do, and if you have any questions or subjects you'd like me to cover, then please send me an email at info@adrummersguideto.com.