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Most drummers dream of one day being able to make a living from playing. Some want to tour with a platinum selling artist, others want to spend their days in the recording studio, while others want to stay closer to home and lead the best club band in town. The common thread that links them all is the desire to have a career in music and spend their days playing the drums.
While many succeed in making this dream a reality, others never seem to get out of the starting blocks. It's not as easy as easy as it seems and there are lots of pitfalls along the way. To make sure that you become one of the success stories here are some top tips on how to become an in-demand freelance drummer:
1. Get Your Playing Together
This might sound obvious but many players try to jump in the deep end without having the skills to keep them afloat. Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression so get your playing together before you put yourself out there. You should have a great ear, great timing and the ability to play all styles authentically. If you get lost you should have the musicality to play off the other musicians and keep it rockin'. You are a support player and form the foundation of the band so remember your place in the music and strive to create infectious grooves that the rest of the band can work off.
2. Learn as many "standards" as you can
The "standards" are the most commonly played and commonly requested tunes you get on the gig. They are the classics from Jazz, Swing, Rock, R&B and Pop that people expect to hear and are a real must if you plan to do higher paid function and wedding work. Check out the websites of function bands in your area then have a look at their repetoire. Download and learn these tunes to the best of your abilities and your musicianship will increase dramatically. You may not like all the tunes but you're sure to find some that you really enjoy listening to and playing.
3. Read
The ability to read charts and create your own charts will allow you to play songs with minimal rehearsal and learn a large body of work very quickly. This skill is vital the higher up the musical ladder you climb. Sometimes you will be given a chart and expected to play it there and then, sometimes you will have a day to learn a whole new setlist. You'll find yourself in these challenging situations so keep your reading skills sharp - it will help you a lot and increase the chances of getting calls from bandleaders.
4. Sing
A freelance drummer who can sing backing vocals is a VERY marketable commodity for most club, wedding and function bands. If you can sing then work on your chops and let people know about it. You'll be offering a real service and it's a good point of differentiation between you and the other drummers in your town.
5. Be Professional
One of the most important things of all is your level of professionalism. People want to work with drummers who are reliable and fun to be around. Stay positive, arrive early, and be ready. If you prove yourself as a real asset time and time again and strive to be the best in your area then your name will get around and good things will happen for you. This really is a word of mouth business so make sure everyone is saying good things about you. Having a car helps, being able to assist the sound man helps and having a real knowledge of the business will set you apart and keep the phone ringing.
Freelancing can be tough but it's very rewarding. It gives you the opportunity to make a living doing what you love and a real foundation for growth as a musician. There are many avenues for you to perform and many career opportunities for you to follow. You may be a hired hand for a few years but want to transition into production work, songwriting or education. Whatever you decide to do over the long term, the skills you develop as a freelancer and the connections you make will give you a great start in the industry.
So do your homework, get your skills together and get out there. There's no replacement for on the job learning so now is the time to start.
Good luck!
Visit TheDrumNinja.com for free Online Drum Lessons.
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