158 - Professional Musician Myths

😩 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---

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