Making drums a career! How to get started as a session drummer
Blog by Christina Lopez under Live, Music Training & Careers, Recording & Production
In our continuing series of blogs brought to you via our partnership with legendary recording studio Strongroom in Shoreditch (who are offering a massive 50% discount - full details here!), Christina Lopez, who is a session drummer and a regular at Strongroom studios, has taken time out while touring with artists such as Kate Nash, Harvey Causon, Beren Olivia and Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly to share some simple tips and tricks you can use to make drumming your day job too.
Practice really does make perfect
As boring as it may seem, work on solidifying great foundations. Having steady timing, consistent hits, and being able to kit mix is key. Someone who is recording you wants to do little editing so make their life easier locking in!
Learning the songs
One of the best bits of advice I received was: “You don’t really know a song until you play the first 4 bars and then just click for the next 3 minutes! If you know it inside-out you should join back in for the last 4 bars” - Give it a go! And try to learn them quickly. Really know the lyrics, harmony and bass parts. Knowing the arrangement of a song better it easier to communicate with others about different sections in the structure. Write a chart sheet. Write notes on your snare (perfect hack for a gig!)
Predict the future…
Not in a supernatural way. This gets easier over time working with the same people, but with any new client check out their previous works, who they’ve worked with, what they listen to. You will find they usually have habits/musical traits, and you know their songs like the back of your hand now! Maybe you have a client who used to be an emo back in 2007 - it's the same beat all the way, but there’s a section where the bass distorts and pushes on the 4+, there’s no vocals here, so you open up those hats and play a pop punk fill into that 4+. “Dude, you read my mind!”
Get tech savvy
Get an SPD, demo Ableton. Learn the basics of live sound and how these tools are use by the pros. This will make you so much more employable. HONESTLY!
“We need a new drummer, wait you know Ableton? Cancel the auditions, you’re in.” True story.
How to make connections
I treat my Instagram like my CV and I do get work from it! Post your work, demonstrate your range of styles and highlight your USP e.g. metal drumming, pop or hybrid kit. Follow MDs, managers and even artists you like and engage with them regularly. You might see an ad, at least you’ll be in the right loop and fingers crossed you’ll get spotted. To make connection IRL, go to jam nights, networking events and, of course, plenty of gigs. Meet people!
Just be nice!
Simple really. Support your fellow musicians. Don’t stress people out by being late or chaotic. Be happy to just be there! A lot of people never get round to learning an instrument, let alone gigging.
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Tips and advice on how to become a session drummer
