This month, the blog takes a slightly different approach than usual. We have been asked by students of all ages what advice we’d give to someone thinking of taking up playing drums as a full-time job.
This article is pure opinion – please respect it as such. However, we speak from personal experience as musicians working professionally within the music industry. We’ve compiled the following tips based on the general consensus of the teachers at Elephant Drums.
Tip 1 : Be unique
To have a successful career in drumming you need a USP (unique selling point) to stand out from the crowd. It might not be enough to be simply “a great drummer” – you’ve got to get out there and get noticed! Find the right balance though – don’t be annoying in striving to achieve uniqueness. Getting on people’s nerves doesn’t get you employed.
Tip 2 : Diversify
Drummers with a diverse range of core skills are more likely to establish themselves as professional musicians. Think beyond the drum kit. When we receive CVs at Elephant Drums HQ we always want to see evidence of an applicant’s full range of skills, not just the skills related to music.
Tip 3 : Know your business
The music industry is changing. Learn about past and present business models and carve out the way you see the future. Remember you are a business – working as a professional musician you’ve got to be a businessperson. You may not like this, but the harsh reality is that’s just the way it is.
Tip 4 : Accept criticism
It’s all too easy to get knocked down by people’s comments. When unsuccessful at auditions or interviews try to take criticism as a constructive and positive thing. If you turn it around so that you learn from your experiences, you multiply the chances of the next audition being a success.
Tip 5 : Set your goals
Like all other jobs, you’ve got to start on the first rung of the ladder and climb up to the top. You might have to get some unpaid work experience, or take a job in something that’s barely related to music at all But ask yourself what the top of the ladder means to you – what is your ultimate goal? If you don’t know what you’re climbing towards it will be quite difficult to get there. Remember that very few people are successful by accident!
Encouraging words -
There are numerous different types of careers involving drumming. You can play in bands, become a teacher, work as a session musician, run workshops, use drumming for therapy, work in recording studios, or get involved with music business. There are plenty of opportunities to work within the field of drumming. The most important thing of all is you’ve got to keep on doing it, and keep on trying. The harder you work at it, the bigger the rewards. Good luck with your drumming career!
Finally, a quick note whilst we’re on the topic of drumming jobs. As London’s leading independent provider of drumming tuition, Elephant Drums is expanding and requires new drum teachers to join us. Further details about joining the Elephant Drums Network of professional drum tutors can be found on our website.
Hi. I started playing the drums at the age of 8 with a pair of knitting needles on a biscuit tin. Ii was very lucky as my mother ran a dancing school so at the age of ten I had a snare drum and set with the piano player for a few years and learnt all the rhythms you could think of. There was a scout band locally so i joined them, they taught me how to roll on the drums properly, I joined a few bands over the years, when I got to the age of 18yrs old i bought a car and started drum lessons, taught to read the dots and sent me out filling in for bands with no rehersals. I also did shows backing artists. Hope this has been some help to you.
Regards Nigel
Hi Nigel, Thanks for sharing your experience about how your drumming career developed. Really appreciate your feedback and thanks for following the blog. ED
great post, thanks for sharing
Hi. I started drum lessons at school when i was 6 years old, I loved it and went on to private lessons, I did grades 1,5 and 8 with trinity, And continued playing And gigging with many local bands, I am now 17 and I am studding drums at Brighton institute of modern music. I have wanted to be a professional drummer since I was 5 years old, I love drumming, it’s more than a hobby, it’s like my life! I am just unsure of the next step and where to go when I Finnish at Brighton, then what do I do? I just desperately want a career in drumming more than anything.
Josh.
Hi Josh, thanks for your contribution to this. Tip#5 from the article above is the key to it all – set your goals and then work backwards from there. Your next steps after leaving music college will become apparent when you know what your ultimate goal is.
Hi! i have been playing the drums ever since i was 3, and i think its time for me to take it to the next level!,i am 15 and i am READY!!!!
Hi, I started playing drums just over two years ago, I’m currently playing with a few bands and gigging often, I am studying at manchester music base, uk and i am working through grade 6 rockschool, all i want to is play drums, i think what i need to do is get out there more and push myself harder
hi,i started drumming about 8 years ago and bought my first kit 5 years ago, since then ive played in jazz bands, rock bands, brass bands, wind bands, orchestras and choir bands and im about to join my church band, however ive also palnned to start making youtube videos and will start once i have all the right equipment for good quality videos, how do i go about allowing this videos a better chance to get invited to play on tour with other bands or to get endorsment oppurtunities, however im still 15 so im still in school so also is there anyway i can do drumming during holidays to earn some more money and expiereance
Hi EJ,
Sounds like you’ve got the determination to go for it, let us know when you’ve made some videos of your playing.
Playing covers in a band with friends can be good live gigging experience, plus it might mean you can get paid.
Hi, am raymond, i started playing drums 7years ago in different churches. Playing drums is my only gift from god, i stil wana go places to play drums because i enjoy that.
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