MasterMind Drummer
Newsletter #44
21 Oct, 2024
6 Hard Truths For Every Wannabe Pro…
Let’s get deep in the weeds this week!
The whole point of these newsletters is to bring you as much value as I possibly can, and outside the regular paradiddle lessons (which we all know is the worst rudiment of them all), that you often find online.
As the title suggests, this week I want to dig into some hard truths for those wanting to be a professional drummer.
These are not ALL the hard truths. Of course not, there are plenty out there, but these are very much at the forefront of my mind when it comes to being a pro, so I would like to share them with you.
These ideas are ALWAYS banging around in my head.
I guess it’s because –
A. At all times, I am working through my own limitations in some shape or form.
B. I tend to attract the people that need/want to hear these things, whether its through my newsletters, or my content online. So, the conversation is always active and fresh.
C. The algorithm on all of my social networks seems to only show me people that are wrestling with these sorts of ideas and topics.
I suppose you could say I’ve built my very own echo chamber?
…and a very interesting one at that, to say the least!
And yes, these topics are often confronting, for sure.
I mean who really wants a mirror put in front of their face, and on a daily basis? What sort of sociopath wants a constant reminder that they aren’t doing enough…?
(Slowly raises hand) Well, if I am honest… Me!
I think the thing to realise here, is that everything I write is actually for me.
I’m often just speaking to myself, well, a younger version of myself. I just happen to be sharing it with you. But make no mistake, it’s written from the perspective of talking to a younger me.
I have very high expectations of myself, and everyday I do my best to live up to those expectations.
Do I always nail it? No. Do I always put in the most work I possibly could that day? No. Do I have a perfect track record of showing up when it counts, and getting things done? No, of course not.
But I keep working at it. I keep chipping away. And everyday the scale tips more in the positive, and stays there too.
Don’t forget, as mentioned before, at my core, I am a very lazy and unmotivated person.
I spotted this preset in myself early on, realised it was going to be a problem down the track, so I decided to pull my socks up, and started putting in all the necessary work to slowly turn the ship.
But it’s a daily battle.
As I am writing this I literally just got back from another 10km run, with a 20kg weight vest on –
It was hard, I am sore, it tested my mind, but I did it (as I knew I would), and have told myself I will do it again tomorrow, too.
Why do I do this? Well, basically because it’s hard, and because I don’t want to do it. I do it to set a standard for how I face my day.
I believe in doing something hard every day, and more often than not, at the start of the day. Everything is much easier after that.
It felt amazing, my mind went into overdrive. So much so that I was actually gifted 4 new newsletter ideas. A great example of ‘you get out, what you put in’.
This often happens when I exercise – the gift of ideas.
I call it a gift, as they just hit me, and out of nowhere. The power of all your blood and oxygen running through your system, coupled with the endorphins and dopamine hits along the way, and it’s a winning combo.
All I am ever trying to do is live in a space of 90/10.
90% dialled in, and 10% of just whatever.
Why 90/10? Because I think 80/20 is a cliché, and it’s what most people are aiming for. I don’t want to be like most people.
100% is not attainable, we know that, and 80/20 isn’t enough IMO, so I sit on 90/10.
This means that most of the time I do my best, but I leave room to relax, too. I have a 10% buffer. Some leeway. And that leeway does not impact me, my goals, or my mindset. In fact, I’d argue it’s what helps me get there faster, that 10% reprieve.
So, with all that said, let’s kick into my 6 Hard Truths For All Wannabe Pros.
1. There are no guarantees.
We need to start here, purely for a much-needed reality check.
It is important to understand that just because you can pick up a pair of sticks and can play on some level, does not mean you are necessarily entitled to a career from it.
I see a very strong dialogue out there of people complaining that it just isn’t working for them. That they can’t seem to get the level of opportunities that they want, whether that be live or studio, teaching… whatever.
Well, first off, complaining about it won’t help. No one cares. Stop putting it out there. For your own sake, and for everyone else’s.
A little anecdote…
I remember when I set up my first espresso bar in Melbourne, back when I was 23. I was fortunate to be going into business with two others that were a bit older, and had a bit more business experience than me. Not hard, as I had none!
I took out a personal loan, used my credit card, sold some drum gear, and used all my savings, to pull together the required 20k we all needed each, so we could get this business off the ground.
I remember thinking it’s worth it because 20k down now (and a bit of financial hardship), will eventually become $xxx,xxx.xx down the track. Seemed like a no-brainer.
Then, one day, just before we opened, I remember one of my business partners pulling me aside. He said, “go into this expecting it not to work. Just because you can make coffee, and just because we have all the right gear, does not mean this is a guarantee. Sometimes things just don’t work out.”
Wow. Talk about a punch in the stomach. But he was right.
There are no guarantees with any of this, and that’s just how it is. So it’s important to enjoy the process, as sometimes, what we think is the destination, is actually just another stepping stone along the way – a lesson to be learned in order for us to get to our true destination, thats down the track a little further.
Now, yes, there are no guarantees, but, there is something you can do to at least tip the scale in your favour, and that’s what I want to discuss in number 2…
2. You will need to work twice as hard as everyone else.
This approach will always stack the odds in your favour.
If you are just starting your pathway to a professional career now, or are early on in the journey, accept that you will need to work twice as hard as everyone else.
Why?
Because, in short, you are up against already established players. People like myself. People that have already been in the industry for a substantial amount of time, and who already have access to opportunities and a strong network behind them.
Now when I say me, do I actually mean me, personally? No, I’m using myself as more of a ‘composite character’ here, representing the existing professional drum community.
There are plenty of fantastic drummers out there, ones who already have solid reputations, and a ton of experience behind them too!
Remember, every live gig you want, every studio session you’re working towards, and every student you are hoping to teach, is already potentially someone else’s opportunity.
If not literally, then certainly in theory.
This is because you are entering an already established ecosystem of players and networks, that already has a flow-on effect when these opportunities pop up.
It’s hard to break through that, so in order to do so, you will need to work twice as hard to get noticed. So get to work!
3. You will need to become a world-class self-promoter, content creator, and marketer.
I’ll keep this one brief and make my point super quick… I promise.
Generally speaking, I find this to be one of the harder pills for some to swallow. But be that as it may, it does not change the reality of it.
Let’s start here.
Just because you may not like social-media or making content, does not change the fact that it is very much needed if you are to survive as a full-time professional drummer/musician in 2024.
Burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away.
Here is the scenario.
You have two drummers – Drummer A, and Drummer B.
Both fantastic players, great people, and world-class in all areas.
Drummer A has an active online presence.
They frequently share what they are up to online, promoting the artists they work with and tagging the companies they use, and in doing so, have built a strong and engaged audience.
Whereas, Drummer B has no online presence – or certainly not anything that they actively update. You go onto their social media account, and there are just 4 posts, and the last one from 2019.
Aside from built-in nepotism, established relationships, or mates helping mates out, if a pro-level opportunity comes up, Drummer A will ALWAYS get the gig, as they bring more value.
There is so much more reason to use them, as not only do they promote themselves, but they promote the artists they work with, too.
Don’t forget, it’s not just a job, it’s a mutually beneficial value exchange. In all respects.
You happen to be alive during a very important and substantial technological shift in the way we distribute music, and then, in turn, the way we promote and market ourselves around it. Either accept it, learn it, and adapt, or be left behind.
Don’t forget, you are up against those that have already adapted, and are doing a really good job, too.
4. This is slow-burn, long term.
You’re playing the long game here. Accept that it takes time.
For you to be considered for any sort of pro-level work, you need to be of a certain standard. We can all agree on that.
Well, to get to that standard, you need to do the work.
You can not speed this process up, or nor can you fake it.
*As a side note, I see a lot of people freaking out online about how certain drummers edit their videos for social media. So, ‘faking’ it.
It comes up often.
In fact, there were two very big videos that dropped recently, from two respected creators, covering this very thing.
You can watch them HERE, and HERE.
These are entertaining, and quite fun to watch, I suppose, but ultimately, who gives fuck? It will all come out in the wash eventually, anyway.
As mentioned in a previous newsletter, I know two instances of drummers getting hired for tours due to the quality of playing in their videos. Then, when push came to shove, they were fired on day 1 of rehearsals, once the truth of their playing was exposed.
But, I digress….
As a society, we have definitely lost the ability to lock in and get the work done. There seems to be an expectation of things happening now.
I’d say this is mostly for two reasons.
1. Distraction is at an all-time high.
2. Having access to so many people, and bearing witness to all their wins and successes, seems, in some cases, to actually stifle personal growth.
Not for me personally, but certainly for others.
To expand on that, recently I put up a post sharing a thought that I’ve had for a few years now –
It’s a brash statement, (as always with me), but a true one none-the-less.
I’ve never felt stifled or disheartened by someone’s ability. I’ve only felt uplifted by it, as I now know what’s possible.
We are talking about the level of a world-class professional, here, so understand that this all takes time, there is plenty ahead of you, plenty behind you, accept it, and enjoy the process.
5. Stop consuming, and start doing.
If you are watching drum content more than you are actually practicing/playing, you will not be pro. Sorry.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that just because you are watching some sort of lesson or drum video on YouTube, that you are actually doing the work. You are not.
Nothing you watch will ever override the power of actually sitting there and physically putting in the reps. Nothing.
Now, if you are sitting at your pads while watching, and putting it straight into practice? Then for sure! Of course. But just don’t think that the act of watching is doing. Its just consuming, nothing more.
Pros get there by committing to the process, and making hard but necessary sacrifices along the way.
They override the desire to ‘veg out’ and mindlessly scroll, and get to work. They make sure they are always squeezing the most out of their day, on and off the kit.
Being a true high-level professional musician means, in my opinion, that you live your life by a certain standard.
Making positive choices like exercising regularly, eating well, consuming less rubbish online, nurturing your relationships, and getting smart with your business practices.
Be wise with your time, and intentional with your daily choices, as everything impacts everything.
My rule of thumb here is that I practice more than I consume.
Downtime is fine, sure, we all need it. But earn it.
6. If you aren’t achieving your goals as a drummer, it is on you.
At the end of the day, all we can do is be responsible for ourselves. Thats it.
Personal accountability is necessary to becoming a pro. I’d actually go as far as saying it’s the most important aspect, as it is a blanket over everything we do.
When you take full responsibility for your own life, and all of your current situations, then at that point, you can figure out what’s not working, and start to solve it.
Do a stocktake on your life.
Sit down in a moment of true silence, and with a pen and paper at hand, and be honest with yourself.
What’s working? What’s not working? Whats contributing? What’s not contributing? Deep down you already know, of course you do, because you are not an idiot.
Just make sure you face it, and stop ignoring it.
Write it down, form a plan, decide on what you can fix yourself, and then work out the areas you may need to outsource, eg. Lessons, coaches, nutritional and exercise advice, a business coach, brand support, and then get to work.
Remember, there are so many people out there (including myself), that have experience in the areas you may be trying to develop, and are willing to offer their services. Reach out, start talking, start improving, and ultimately, keep pushing.
It’s all there, the question is, how badly do you want it?
6 Hard Truths For Every Wannabe Pro…
—————–
It was a big one this week, but some are like that.
Let’s leave it there, as I have held your attention long enough.
As always, thanks for taking the time, and thanks for all your feedback, too. I really appreciate it.
I read them all. So please, if you have any thoughts, send them through, and let’s get a dialogue happening.
Don’t forget… Stay hungry (and stay healthy!)
See you next week.
Stan