So …approaching marketing as a player. These days…everything you thought was valid 20 years ago of course as we all know…FOGGETABOUDIT! I look around the music business and it is of course unrecognizable from that time 20 years ago. But as a PLAYER…its very interesting. My POV….
The things that counted before in order to keep you working have almost nothing to do with being a working musician anymore. There are guys that are gonna try to sell you the pipe dream. Saying things like …”Oh yeah be the best in the world! “I work all the time (while mostly playing at the local mall) because i can do this and that and I know how to read and i know this because my time and feel is spot on” bladha blablablaaaa. 100% bologna! WHY? Because those things are UBIQUITOUS in any major music hub. They are a given. Basic skills and even advanced skills are UBIQUITOUS! It becomes meaningless to face music and drumming in this way. So what is the starting point and where should your focus be? Ask any player that has a fulfilling life in music. 1rst…it has to be in your soul. Music and drumming should be the blood in your body. It should permeate your life! Outside of that…You will only be a clone of a clone. And only skim the surface of what drumming MEANS. This will never make you happy. Which brings me to the next point…DEVELOPING YOUR OWN VOICE is the only purpose you should think about as any kind of artist. WHY? Because the only true success is the achievement of your souls purpose. No amount of money or recognition from uninformed masses will fulfill you IF you are a true warrior. The power of rhythm and what it does to you as a human being cannot be measured against any material wealth. And although it might seem like exterior success is what brings respect…TRUST ME….i have had the fortune to play in the MECCAS of drumming across the world. That material success pushed by banal cultures does NOT bring respect as a player.
Play with your soul in front of you. Every time. Believe it or not…many people will not understand what that means!
POWER!
After all this is the following. Your network is your net worth!!
Be kind. Appreciate life and the miracle it is that we are alive on this speck of dust in the middle of nowhere. Even if you are 20 years old now…Measure your choices against the realization that your last day here is coming before you know it!
Peace.