Where do I find ads for musicians wanted?There are so many places to look: Social media, local music shops, ads in the back of music magazines and online, notices in music venues and rehearsal studios, word of mouth, the possibilities are endless – and it’s easy to get lost. The key is: to know what YOU want. Knowing what you want to achieve will make you better to work with, more positive and focused and undoubtedly help you reach your goals faster. What do I want to gain out of the experience?Some people think of it as a hobby and others as a career choice, either way, it’s about enjoying yourself. Work out how and where you see yourself playing and what kind of commitment you are prepared to make. If you’re not sure, talk to your tutor, other musicians and friends, get involved with workshops, join a drumming group or musical collective. Sometimes you need to find ways to bounce ideas around before making an initial commitment to a band.  What type of music do I want to play?This is not about playing one style but it’s helpful to give yourself a starting point so that finding people becomes easier. You’re likely to discover all sorts of sounds that inspire you and, ultimately, it’s about finding like minded people to play with. Most bands looking for members state music their musical preferences in their ads. Match your taste against theirs. If it fits, get an audition. How long before I find something?Some of you may feel ready to go out there and find your band, others might want to join workshops, collectives and jam with other musicians to get a better idea of which direction they want to go in, musically.
The advice is always the same - If you practice hard, give it your all and keep an open mind, you're likely to do just fine. Putting the work in will open doors to all sorts of opportunities and the more you put yourself out there, the more chance you have. Get involved, stay focused and things will fall into place. Don’t forget if you're a drummer, that compared to the other members of a band, drummers are in high demand, so use this to your advantage. And above all – ENJOY THE RIDE!
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I have only recently learned her namedue to her recent passing, but I was instantly inspired and curious to learn more about her. As it turns out, she was pretty epic. In a male dominated industry (and world), she was quickly promoted as the ‘fastest girl drummer in the world’ in the 1930’s, alongside blazing a path for women in music. Viola played a giant drum set that included a double bass drum, an instrument that would years later become a tool for hard-hitting rock drummers. Where did it all start? Viola smith took up drumming as a teenager in Wisconsin, when her father assembled the ‘Schmitz sisters family orchestra’ (there were 8 daughters)! Their band played in theatres during school holidays and Viola took lessons from drummers in the orchestra pits. They were soon in demand for weddings and fairs. By 1938, she formed another all-female orchestra - The Croquettes. They moved to New York in 1942, where Viola studied under legendary snare drum innovator Billy Gladstone.  In the same yearas men were being drafted to war and women taking their place in factories, Viola wrote a now-famous article for Down Beat magazine, arguing for the inclusion of women in the big bands of the day. She wrote:
“Many of the star instrumentalists of the big name bands are being drafted. Instead of replacing them with what may be mediocre talent, why not let some of the great girl musicians of the country take their places? “We girls have as much stamina as men. There are many girl trumpet players, girl saxophonists and girl drummers who can stand the grind of long tours and exacting one-night stands. The girls of today are not the helpless creatures of an earlier generation. “Some girl musicians who are as much the masters of their instruments as are male musicians. They can improvise; their solos are well-defined and thought-provoking and show unlimited imagination”. At the height of her success, Viola performed with Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb, as well as for the 33rd president, Harry Truman in 1949. Today in 2020, the drumming industry is still very male dominated, with very few female drummers pursuing it as a full time job. I feel it is important to read about these female pioneers and continue to play in their honour. Let’s keep drumming girls! |
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March 2021
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