A Drummer’s Guide To...

219 - Heartbreak on the Setlist (Q from Anonymous)

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

218 - Starting the Year With No Gigs (Q from Anonymous)

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.

217 - Grateful, Successful… Still Wanting More (Q from Dom Ritchie)

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

216 - Underpaid, Overworked, Resentful Q from Anonymous

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 ✅

215 - Women’s Health on Tour (Q from Suzy)

🩸 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 💛

214 - Recording Your In Ear Mix - Do You Need To? Q from Joe Threlfall mp3

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

213 - Why Trust Gets You Hired (Q from Rob Quinn)

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.

212 - Tempo Wars (Q from Anon)

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.

211 - Breaking Out of the Pub Circuit (Q from Pete)

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

210 - Word of Mouth vs Social Media (Q from Charlie Purdie)

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).