A Drummer’s Guide To...

170 - Creating Brilliance from Bias

😳 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

169 - Making Space

😵‍💫 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

168 - 5 Destructive Beliefs

😱 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

167 - 3 Signs of Perfectionist Sabotage

👀 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

166 - Developing Your Inner Compass

🚨 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

165 - In-Between The Big Gigs

🤨 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

164 - How I Got My Gigs

🚨 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

163 - Instagram

🚨 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

162 - Burnout

😥 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

 

161 - (are you) Pro Gig Ready?

👀 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