Your chops are polished. Your kit is freshly headed and shining like a new dime. You’re all ready for your big opportunity— all you need now is a band. Frank Zummo of Sum 41 shares his tips on how to get the gig, stay in demand, and stay healthy and productive out on the road.

Getting Your Name Out

1. Film Yourself

Frank Zummo: “We live in this amazing world of social media now. There are guys and girls getting gigs in the biggest bands just from the videos they’re putting up on YouTube. Film a video that represents you, that sounds great and looks great, and put it out there. You never know who’s going to be watching.”

Sweetwater: This is tip #1 for the underrepresented drummer. Shoot drum covers with your phone and share them on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. It’s the simplest way to build your fan base. Eventually, your videos could end up in the hands of someone who needs your services.

2. Take to the Stage
“We even have these amazing music-based reality shows now where you can go on and showcase yourself and, you know, do a drum solo and be seen by millions of people.”

Who says you need a band to get noticed? One solo performance on Britain’s Got Talent is all it took for Susan Boyle to become an overnight sensation. If you’ve got the nerve and the opportunity, take to the stage or street whenever possible. Perform at an open mic night. Busk around town. As Madonna sang (paraphrasing the Bard of Avon): all the world is a stage.

3. Solicit Gigs
“There’s a lot of great places to make postings now to get gigs. With Street Drum Corps, we use BandMix to promote and find drummers. We’ve cast a handful of people from that.”

BandMix is a site to browse and post music-related classified ads. If your great passion is creating the most authentic Scorpions tribute band in the contiguous Lower 48, posting on a site like BandMix is your best chance of connecting with other like-minded musicians. Of course, BandMix isn’t your only option today. Craigslist, Facebook, Meetup, Fiverr, and SoundBetter are all great places to get your name and interests out there.

4. Get Out and Network
“Networking is really important. I can’t stress that enough. You can be the greatest drummer in the world, but if you don’t leave your rehearsal room, you’re not going to be seen. Getting out there and meeting people can help you go a long way.”

It may be safe and cozy in the comfort of your own creative space, but sooner or later, you’re going to have to put your name out there. And that means meeting people and letting them know you’re available. Networking can be as intentional as putting yourself in the right place at the right time, like waiting outside a club for a chance encounter with an artist, or as simple as making friends with other creatives in your area. Whatever your methods, the wider you cast your net, the more opportunities you’ll have for someone to call on you.

Building Your Brand

5. Be Prepared

“When you get the gig, show up prepared, like you’ve been playing the music for years. Bands don’t want to sit there and waste time while you learn the material. Show up knowing it inside and out.”

You may be hot stuff behind a drum kit, but bands and songwriters are looking for drummers they can count on. Being confident in the material before you make that critical first impression can spell the difference between a gig and a miss.

6. Be Professional
“Being on time, having a positive attitude, and being professional and easy to work with — those things go a long way. You’re going to get a reputation. So does blending with the other musicians and listening to what everyone else is playing and learning how to connect with those musicians.”

There’s a poster hanging in Sweetwater’s service department titled “10 Things That Require Zero Talent.” What it reinforces is that raw talent is overrated. At the top of that list are the very qualities Frank recommends in a working drummer. When it comes down to it, many artists will gladly choose a decent drummer who’s professional and fun to be around over a hot-blooded dynamo who flakes and doesn’t take the job seriously.

Another good skill that Frank illustrates is the ability to react to what other players are doing musically. At its core, being a good drummer is a lot like being a good conversationalist. Listen to players like Mick Fleetwood and Ringo Starr, who will sometimes go half a song without taking their hands off the hi-hat. Be quick to listen and slow to show off, and your reputation will precede you the next time you’re looking for a gig.

7. Practice to a Click Track
“So many bands are using backing tracks these days, or just running a click track to keep the show tight. Learn to connect with the click. Even in the studio. Studio time is expensive. Artists don’t want to waste money because you’re not tight or don’t know the music.”

It may not be the most glamorous part of our jobs, but as drummers, the most important thing we can do for an artist is hold a steady beat. Practicing to a metronome (click track) will not only help you learn better time but will also teach you how to stay solid and in the pocket when you’re recording or performing along to backing tracks. It’s also a great way to practice rudiments and fills. The sooner you learn this skill, the more in demand you’re sure to become.

8. Get Endorsed
“When you’re out on the road, make relationships with all these great companies. I got my first endorsements by cold-emailing or cold-calling companies and sending them my reel. It doesn’t hurt to put yourself out there.”

Whether it’s sticks, clothes, or skins, you can offset your expenses by finding a company that wants to use your brand and body as a billboard for their products. All this requires is that you reach out and give them reason to consider you. As Frank mentions, almost all will require a pro-looking demo reel. Some may even require a certain number of followers on social media. Be prepared in either case.

Staying Healthy and Relevant

9. Eat Healthy
“Your body needs to be healthy in order for you to do your job. We’re athletes, drummers. I hate hearing people say, ‘Oh, when we go on the road, we don’t have money, so we’re eating terrible food every night.’ That’s just an excuse. I travel with a bag of healthy food so I can have proper nutrition on the road. It’ll save you money if you go shopping as a band and bring these things with you.”

The freshman 15 doesn’t only apply to college students, but to new performers out on the road as well. Take Zummo’s advice — don’t fall into the trap of eating junk food for every meal on tour, or your performances may suffer. Instead, save money and properly fuel your instrument (your body) with a balanced diet of protein, healthy fats and carbs, and fruits and vegetables. This way, you can stay in top form and play to your full potential night after night.

10. Rest and Exercise
“Getting rest when you can is so important. So is working out, exercising, just so you can be in the best shape and put on the best performance that you can give the audience.”

These suggestions go hand in hand with Frank’s advice on staying healthy. Ensuring you get proper rest where you can find it — after soundcheck or when you’re not the one driving the van — is the only way to keep your body healthy on the road. Sleepless nights are a sure way to get you sick. Having a healthy outlet for physical activity, as well, is important for your muscles and your mind. Bring a hacky sack or a football on the road. Find parks to jog or skate in. Join a gym like Planet Fitness that has nationwide memberships and tons of locations across the US.

11. Meet Your Fans
“When you’re out on the road, don’t hide in your dressing room or your tour bus or your van all day. Go meet your fans. Hang out at the merch booth. Hang out outside the venue when people are leaving. These are the people who are going to support you through your career, and they want to have that connection.”

Never forget that your musical success depends on the willing ears, hearts, and wallets of your supporters. Staying connected to your fans, both at shows and over social media, is your greatest chance of staying relevant. And who knows — you may just impact someone’s life for the positive.

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