A Drummer’s Guide To...

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).

209 - Get Fixers’ Attention Fast (Q from Joe Threlfall)

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.

208 - Podcast Format Change

⚡ 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

207 - Confidence No-One Can Give You

💥 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

206 - The Dark Side of Being Easy to Work With

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

205 - The Fear Of Silence

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

204 - Social Media Balance

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

203 - Money, Music & Shame

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

202 - Courage Over Perfection

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!