I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to kick into another powerful week.
Before we dive into this week’s topic of endorsements, I want to start this by letting you know, coincidentally—I’ve officially re-signed with Yamaha Drums, and couldn’t be happier.
I love their Hybrid Oaks, I love their Absolute Maples, but coming back, I wanted something different—something that truly represented where my sound is now, while also honoring the history of the brand, and to be honest, drums as a whole…
Enter the mighty Recording Custom in the iconic Steve Gadd Piano Black. I mean, just look at it!
Steve himself spent three years working with Yamaha to refine and modernize this legendary series, dialing in key features to enhance its tone, playability, and overall performance. Here’s what they came up with:
- 6-ply birch shells instead of 8—birch has been my favorite wood choice since my first experience with an original Premier Genista at 17 years old.
- 30-degree bearing edges for a warmer, more controlled tone.
- Upgraded 2-point YESS mount for better shell control whilst maintaining resonance and sustain.
- Heavier lugs for more shell control and tuning stability.
- And of course, the classic T-Rod bass drum tension rods—a feature from the original series that I’ve always loved and wanted to highlight.
This kit is everything I love about Yamaha—historic, iconic, sounds amazing, and built to deliver, no matter the setting.
You can hear my ‘first touch’ HERE
Endorsements are fantastic, yes, but they are not easy. Choosing to work with and promote one company also means not promoting another.
For me, this decision was a no-brainer, but at the same time, it wasn’t made lightly. I take these decisions seriously because I know they don’t just affect me—they impact others too. I always weigh things up carefully before pulling the trigger, ensuring it’s the right move for everyone involved. And this very much was.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know that for the past few years, I’ve been playing KDrums—a phenomenal New Zealand-based drum company that builds shells using only native NZ woods. Bens craftsmanship is absolutely top-tier, and second-to-none.
When I moved back to NZ from Melbourne, during COVID, my three-year Yamaha contract had just ended. At that point, I wasn’t focused on anything overseas—I was all-in on building my brand and career locally, here in NZ.
So, with international touring off the table, I decided to work with and fully support KDrums, to be part of something special within NZ.
But once I had settled in, and the world opened back up, international opportunities started coming up again. With that, my desire to pursue those opportunities also grew, and whenever I toured overseas, I still opted for Yamaha whenever I could, even without official support.
Why? Well, simply because I still loved them—they’re incredible drums, and it meant I knew exactly what I was getting on arrival. I trusted them completely.
As a professional drummer, (and especially for someone as detail-oriented as me), the biggest priority is knowing you can rely on your gear—wherever you are in the world. That peace of mind as a performer cannot be overstated.
Now, when it comes to KDrums, I still love them. Of course! I have two snares, and some shells too! They are exceptionally well-made drums. But, as I say, when it comes to aligning for my future, with more international touring and drum clinics on the cards, having the weight of a global drum brand behind me is crucial.
For example, I’ve just locked in a stacked UK/Europe tour mid-year, and have a couple clinic tours penciled in too (more info soon). Knowing that I have Yamaha for my backline needs, on arrival—anywhere in the world—is a huge relief.
So, a big thanks to Ben at Kdrums – you’re a legen man, and A-Class on all levels!
But also, a big thanks to Yamaha Drums, and MusicWorks NZ, for helping facilitate all this from the bottom of the planet!
That brings me to today’s topic—endorsements!
This is a hot topic in the drumming world, and I get asked about it all the time:
How do I get endorsed?
What’s the process?
What do companies look for?
Do I need to be famous to get an endorsement?
Short answer? Yes…. and no. There is nuance to all this.
But let’s start here. Endorsements aren’t about fame. Reframe it. They’re about value.
They’re a partnership, not a reward. And if you approach them with the right mindset, you’ll have a much better chance of securing one.
So today, I want to break it all down for you—5 Steps to Getting Endorsed.
Let’s get into it. 
1. Flip Your Mindset—It’s Not About You
The biggest mistake drummers make when pursuing endorsements is thinking it’s about them. It’s not.
They focus on what they want:
“I want free gear.”
“I want to be able to say I’m endorsed.”
“I want the credibility.”
But guess what? Companies don’t care about what you want.
What they do care about is:
How can you bring value to them?
How will you help them sell more products?
What makes you a great ambassador for their brand?
Does your values align with theirs?
This is the most important thing to understand.
An endorsement is not about getting free stuff. It’s about building a mutually beneficial relationship.
And once you shift your mindset to that—you’re already ahead of 90% of drummers trying to get endorsed.
2. Build Your Brand & Presence First
Before you even think about applying for an endorsement, ask yourself:
“What do I bring to the table?”
Companies are looking for artists who have an audience and make an impact. Do you have an audience?
This doesn’t mean you need millions of followers. But make no mistake, you do need some level of reach, influence, value, and/or credibility.
This could be:
- A strong social media presence (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.).
- Regular live gigs with notable artists.
- Session work on tracks or albums that people will hear.
- Teaching (whether online or in-person). I’ll add, don’t undervalue your reach if you teach 30-40 students a week. Thats a lot of eyes!
- And an extension of teaching—running a successful drum school or community.
The key is visibility.
If no one knows who you are, I hate to say it, but why would a brand invest in you?
Build your brand first. The endorsements will follow.
3. Actually Use (and Love) the Gear First
This should be common sense, but you’d be surprised…
If you’re trying to get endorsed by a company, you should already be using their gear. And not just using it—you should love it.
Companies aren’t looking for “endorsement chasers” who just want a logo in their bio. They want genuine advocates of their products.
Before reaching out to a brand, ask yourself:
Have I used this gear long enough to truly believe in it?
Do I naturally talk about and promote it already?
Would I be repping this brand even if I didn’t have an endorsement?
If the answer isn’t a clear YES, you’re not ready to pursue an endorsement with that company.
You should want the endorsement because you love and believe in the gear—not just because you want a deal.
And look, things can change, yes. That’s the thing—once you build an audience and establish a strong brand, you do gain leverage, too. And at that point, you may be in a position to move toward other companies you’ve had your eyes on as well.
But here’s the key—that leverage only comes from genuinely showing up, putting in the work, increasing your value, and building something real. No company is going to take a chance on someone who hasn’t proven their value anywhere yet. And even if they do, it’s most likely going to be short-lived.
Endorsements are about facilitating what the artist and the company both need. They’re about alignment—between your playing, your platform, and the company’s vision.
Build your brand and career first, then, the right opportunities will follow.
4. Do the Work Before Asking for Anything
Believe it or not, a lot of drummers send emails to companies saying:
“Hey, I love your gear. How do I get endorsed?”
That’s the wrong approach. Instead of asking, start proving. Tag them in posts. Show that you’re already using and loving their products.
Create content around their gear. Share demos, reviews, and use it passively in your content.
Show engagement. If you use their gear live or in the studio, talk about it naturally, and genuinely.
Essentially, you want to start doing the job of an endorsee before you even ask—Play the part.
That way, when you do reach out, the company already sees your value.
And speaking of reaching out…
5. Reach Out the Right Way!
Once you’ve put in the work, built your brand, and established your presence, then it’s time to reach out.
Most brands actually have an artist relations department or manager. Find the right contact (often listed on their website) and send a concise, professional email.
Here’s what your email should include:
Who you are (brief background—keep it short)
Why you love their gear (be specific)
What you bring to the table (audience, work, influence)
How you already promote their brand (proof of past work)
Why you’d be a great fit for their roster
The goal? Make it easy for them to say YES.
I’d recommend not DMing as that is literally what EVERYONE does. But, what you can do, is strike up a conversation if they message back, engage, or like one of your tags etc. eg.
You tag them in a post, and they like the tag and repost your content…
“Thanks for the repost, I appreciate it. I really love the gear…” etc etc.
Final Thoughts
The biggest takeaway from this?
Endorsements are partnerships, not handouts. It’s a mutually beneficial business relationship.
If you want to land a deal:
Shift your mindset—it’s about value, not free gear.
Build your brand—be visible and impactful.
Use and love the gear—authenticity matters.
Show up and do the work—prove your worth before asking.
Reach out the right way—clear, professional, and to the point.
And here’s the best part…
When you genuinely love and promote a brand? They’ll likely come to you.
Put in the work, focus on becoming the best drummer you can be, and opportunities will follow. Trust me. Don’t let the cart lead the horse. There is a process to all this, and it often takes time.
Focus on building a healthy career, with healthy relationships—it’s not just about having a logo in your bio, it’s about a mutually beneficial relationship with a brand you love.
Let’s leave it there this week as I have a full day of teaching ahead, and need to get on my bike to get to the studio on time!
Thanks for taking the time, and if you have any comments, please feel free to hit me back. I appreciate the dialogue.
As always, stay hungry (and healthy),
Stan