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PODCAST

A Drummer’s Guide To...

adrummersguideto

’A Drummer’s Guide To...’ is the podcast that dives into everything it takes to thrive as a professional musician beyond the practice room. Hosted by Emily Dolan Davies, a drummer since 1999, pro since 2008, and a passionate mentor since 2018, this show unpacks the real-world challenges, triumphs, and strategies for building the career of your dreams. Whether you’re chasing gigs, navigating the music industry, or balancing passion with practicality, Emily’s got your back with honest insights and

music music interviews

All Episodes

36:01

211 - Breaking Out of the Pub Circuit (Q from Pete)

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/12/05

You know that feeling when you’re good — genuinely good — yet you’re still playing the same pubs, the same tiny rooms, and wondering why you can’t break into the gigs you know you’re ready for?This week’s episode dives into Pete’s brilliant question: How do you break out of the pub circuit and start playing the gigs that actually move your career forward? If you’ve ever felt stuck… under-seen… or like your playing deserves better rooms, this one’s for you. Inside we cover: • Why talent alone isn’t

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39:10

210 - Word of Mouth vs Social Media (Q from Charlie...

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/11/28

Ever wonder why some musicians get recommended constantly… while others get ignored?Episode 210 digs into the truth behind it — sparked by a great question from Charlie Purdie. Is a session career built through word of mouth… or through posting on social media? The answer is both — but not equally, and not in the way most musicians expect. In this episode: – Why live gig experience is still the foundation – How word of mouth really spreads – The role social media plays (and what it can’t do for

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32:36

209 - Get Fixers’ Attention Fast (Q from Joe Threlfall)

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/11/21

Today’s question comes from Joe Threlfall (@joe_threlfall_guitar) - a brilliant guitarist working in theatre pits who wants to break into touring productions.Joe asked: “What should I be posting to Stories vs pinned posts on Instagram… and is it okay to film practice clips off my phone? Also, what would actually help me get my next step into working on theatre tours?” In this episode, I break down: ⭐ What fixers really look for ⭐ The difference between Stories vs your public shop window (your grid

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4:53

208 - Podcast Format Change

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/11/12

⚡ Big changes ahead for A Drummer’s Guide To... ⚡ 🎧 From now on, episodes will focus on your questions - real situations, real struggles, and real wins from musicians like you. 💭 If there’s something you’re working through in your career that you’d like me to explore, I’d love to hear it. 👉 Head to emilydrums.com/AMA to send it in. #ADrummersGuideTo #MusicCareerAdvice #MusicianMindset #CreativeGrowth #PodcastUpdate

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36:42

207 - Confidence No-One Can Give You

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/10/31

💥 In Episode 207 of A Drummer’s Guide To... Confidence No One Can Give You, I’m diving into the kind of confidence that doesn’t depend on anyone else’s approval, praise, or permission.🎯 We all crave validation — but what happens when you stop chasing it and start building confidence from within? In this episode, we’ll unpack: • 🧠 The psychology behind self-confidence and why external validation is never enough • 🥁 How musicians can develop inner trust through practice, play, and

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47:31

206 - The Dark Side of Being Easy to Work With

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/10/24

Being “easy to work with” is one of the biggest compliments a musician can get — but what happens when it goes too far?In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, Emily Dolan Davies explores the fine line between being kind, professional, and adaptable… and losing yourself in the process. She shares personal stories of times she over-accommodated others — saying yes when she meant no, taking on too much to avoid rocking the boat, and confusing silence for professionalism. Through honest reflection

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41:31

205 - The Fear Of Silence

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/10/17

What happens when the music stops?When the noise, the hustle, the scrolling… all fade — and you’re left with yourself? In this episode, Emily Dolan Davies opens up about her lifelong discomfort with silence — how she used drumming and constant productivity to drown out difficult emotions, and what she’s learned over the last two years about sitting still, listening inward, and finding peace in the quiet. She explores: 🎧 Why silence feels so uncomfortable — psychologically and emotionally 🥁 How

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36:19

204 - Social Media Balance

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/10/10

Feeling stretched thin trying to be everywhere online? You’re not alone.In this episode, Emily shares how to find balance between your live gigs, remote recording, teaching, and the endless scroll of social media — without burning out or losing focus. 🎯 What you’ll learn: 🥁 How to balance live and studio content authentically 💬 When (and when not) to split your accounts ⚙️ The psychology of online identity for musicians ❤️ How to show your versatility without confusing your audience 💡 Why

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50:27

203 - Money, Music & Shame

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/10/03

Talking about money in music is awkward enough. But shame? That’s the hidden weight nearly every musician carries.In this episode, I open up about my own journey with money — the free gigs, the low fees, the times I felt like asking to be paid made me “less of an artist.” I share how shame shaped my early career, how I’ve learned to push past it, and why charging what you’re worth is not only okay — it’s essential. We’ll dig into: • Why so many musicians secretly feel shame about charging 💸 •

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42:13

202 - Courage Over Perfection

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/09/26

Are you waiting until you’re “perfect” before you go for it? In this episode, I dive into the real reason perfection holds musicians back — and why courage is the thing that moves your career forward.I’ll share my own stories of saying yes when I didn’t feel ready, the lessons I learned from failure, and why the moments I was most scared often became the ones that changed my career the most. 🎧 What you’ll learn in this episode: • Why perfectionism is secretly self-sabotage • How courage creates

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34:16

201 - Build It and They Will (NOT) Come

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/09/19

We’ve all heard it: “If you just put yourself out there, people will find you.”Here’s the truth: posting alone doesn’t build a career. In this episode I dig into: 👉 Why “build it and wait” leaves musicians stuck 👉 The missing ingredient between a polished feed and real gigs 👉 How to connect with the right people online without being spammy 👉 Daily outreach habits that actually lead to opportunities If you’re tired of posting and getting crickets, this episode will show you how to flip your

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48:21

200 - Live & Unfiltered

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/09/12

This isn’t your usual polished podcast… In this special live episode, I opened the floor to YOUR questions, shared behind-the-scenes stories, and let the conversation flow completely unfiltered. We dug into everything from:👉 Gigging (even if music isn’t your full-time job) 👉 Pre-show rituals and post-show habits (the good AND the bad) 👉 Rejection, resilience, and staying confident on stage 👉 Touring, West End pit work, and building a sustainable music career 👉 Silly hypotheticals (yes,

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35:35

199 - Getting Called Out!

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/09/05

Welcome to Episode 199 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Getting Called Out!This week, I’m sharing a raw and uncomfortable part of my journey — when I was publicly called out for not being authentic online. At first, it felt humiliating…but it became one of the most powerful lessons in vulnerability and accountability I’ve ever learned. Inside this episode, I’ll cover: 😳 What happened when I was exposed for fake followers and automated comments 💡 Why accountability creates deeper trust than perfection

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33:53

198 - Rejection Redefined

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/08/29

Rejection stings. It’s personal, it’s painful, and it can leave you questioning whether you’re good enough. But here’s the truth: rejection isn’t a dead end — it’s data.In this episode, I share the rejections that shaped my career (and nearly broke me), and how I reframed them into lessons, resilience, and growth. From missed gigs to failed auditions, every “no” carried a hidden “next step.” ✅ Why rejection hurts so much — and how to take back control ✅ The hidden reasons you might get turned down

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31:45

197 - Posting Isn't Enough

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/08/22

🔥 Think posting on Instagram is enough to grow your music career? Think again.In episode #197 — A Drummer’s Guide To... Posting Isn’t Enough, I’m breaking down the real reason musicians get stuck at “likes” and never land the gigs. You’ll learn: 🎯 The biggest Instagram mistakes that quietly cost you opportunities 🤝 How to turn followers into paying clients without feeling salesy 📲 My exact networking strategy that got me gigs straight from my phone 💡 How to make your profile a magnet for the

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28:01

196 - Letting People Down

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/08/15

Ever found yourself stuck between your own career goals and commitments you've made to others?You're not alone. In this episode, I’m talking about one of the hardest parts of building a career in music: letting people down. Whether it’s leaving a band, turning down a gig, or backing out of a commitment that no longer serves you — this one’s for you. I’ll walk you through: • Why disappointing others is sometimes the right move • How to handle guilt and anxiety when choosing yourself • The mindset

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38:15

195 - Self-Inflicted Failure

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/08/08

🎧 This one’s a wake-up call. In this episode, I’m breaking down the sneaky ways we self-sabotage in our music careers — and how to stop. From fear disguised as logic to procrastination dressed up as “research,” this is a raw, real talk on the hard truths most musicians avoid. If you’ve ever said: 👉 “There’s no work out there” 👉 “I’m just not ready yet” 👉 “I’ll focus on this after [insert excuse here]” ...then this episode is a must-listen. Inside, we’ll talk about: 🔥 Why confirmation bias is

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36:37

194 - Is It Too Late?

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/08/01

If you’ve ever looked at your age or your past and thought, “I’ve missed my chance,” this episode is for you. 👀 ⁠ I’m diving into one of the most common fears I hear from musicians: "Is it too late to make music my career?" ⁠ In this episode, I’m sharing: 🎵 Why your age isn’t a barrier — it's actually a superpower 💥 How life experience adds emotional depth to your playing 🧠 The subtle ways stereotypes around age, gender, race & goals limit us 🎯 How to reframe “missed opportunities” and

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47:12

193 - Hard Truths

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/07/25

Let’s be honest: sometimes what’s holding us back isn’t lack of talent, it’s avoiding the truth.In this episode, I’m sharing the unfiltered advice I’d give you if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings — because sugar-coating doesn’t create progress. We’ll talk about: • Why talent doesn’t guarantee success • The difference between busy and effective • How avoiding discomfort is secretly costing you gigs • The harsh realities of professional musicianship no one talks about • And what to actually

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42:33

192 - Rehearsal Rundown 101

A Drummer’s Guide To... ·

2025/07/11

😬 Got rehearsals coming up for a big gig… and no idea what to expect? You're not alone — no one teaches you what actually happens in pro rehearsals. That feeling of “I hope I’m doing this right”? I’ve been there — and this episode is here to help you ditch the panic and show up ready.In A Drummer’s Guide To... Rehearsal Rundown 101, I cover: 🥁 How to prep before you even walk in 🤐 What happens when you don’t ask questions (and how to fix it) 📋 What MDs and artists expect from you 🍱 Why a

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167 results

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