Drummers on Drumming

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I’m Ben Hilzinger, and this is another segment of The Drum Panel. This week I’m joined by Eric Urrea (La Armada, Marina City) and Matt Crouse (Working Drummer podcast). In this episode: Why doing less with your podcast might be the only way to keep it alive The quiet way a podcast can land you real gigs years later Craigslist vs. Nashville vs. “just being in someone’s brain” The real thing bandleaders notice that has nothing to do with chops Caring vs. coasting, and why people can feel it instantly The weird mental spiral of over-practicing and then freezing on stage Why taking a break might fix something faster than grinding it The shift from loving drums to needing them, and what that cost We re-address whether drummers deserve songwriting credit… and why it’s still messy Why some songs wouldn’t exist without the drum part, even if no one admits it --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ...a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum... In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Jared Shavelson (Joyce Manor, The Bronx, Seal) and Mike Robinson (Say Anything, Slayyter, Oliver Tree). We discuss: Playing festivals - yay nay or meh The pefectly “sized” tour The backline details that matter most when you’re trying to play your best How each of us thinks about success, growth, money, and career momentum Why big milestones can feel surreal in the moment and strangely empty right after The pressure of chasing goals in music when the target keeps moving What really makes a gig feel worth it, beyond the size of the stage --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week’s episode is a special one. In light of James Gadson’s passing, I wanted to bring this conversation back to the top of the feed. James was one of the all-time greats, and getting to talk with him was a real honor. The audio is a little raw, he was on his phone, moving around, doing his thing, but the stories are gold, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it feel like James. Back when Big Fat Five was still the main format of the show, I asked James to bring in five records that shaped him. Instead, he flipped it and brought in songs he played on that shaped his career. That turned out to be even better. We get into the grooves behind Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band’s "Express Yourself," Dyke and the Blazers, "Dancing Machine" by the Jackson 5, Bill Withers classics like "Use Me" and "Kissing My Love," Cheryl Lynn’s "Got to Be Real," and even Beck’s "Paper Tiger." Along the way, James talks about jazz, Motown charts, studio instinct, restraint, feel, pocket, practicing with intention, and why the hi-hat has to talk. This one is a reminder that a simple groove is not simple. It’s deep. And James Gadson was one of the deepest to ever do it. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this episode of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Eric Urrea (Marina City, La Armada) and Kris Mazzarisi (Founder of BFSD / Winnetka Bowling League) - In this episode: Why prep pay still is not standard, even though most drummers are expected to show up overprepared The weird state of touring right now, from DIY scenes disappearing to arena tours barely breaking even The last breakthroughs we’ve each had in our own playing, from posture to vocabulary to control Easy things that make a drummer more effective on stage The difference between playing quietly with sticks and changing the whole sound of the kit Whether traditional grip has any real practical use in modern drumming --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. We're here with another segment of Big Fat Five and today’s guest is John Stanier of Battles, and if you know anything about powerful, creative, unmistakable drumming, you already know why I was excited for this one. John was also a founding member of Helmet, has played with Tomahawk, and has built one of the most unique voices on the instrument over the last few decades. I saw him play once in Seattle and honestly felt bad for his snare. He hits with so much force, but there’s also so much thought behind it. He’s a powerhouse, but he’s also super articulate, deeply creative, and clearly hears the instrument in his own way. I’ve known about John for a long time, so getting to finally sit down with him was a real treat, and he did not disappoint. He was kind, energetic, sharp, and just really fun to talk to. JOHN'S BIG FAT FIVE: Artist - Rush Album - Permanent Waves Release Year - 1980 Drummer - Neil Peart - Artist - Siouxsie and the Banshees Album - Juju Release Year - 1981 Key Track - "Arabian Knights" Drummer - Budgie - Artist - Return to Forever Album - No Mystery Release Year - 1975 Key Track - "Sophistifunk" Drummer - Lenny White - Artist - D.O.A. Album - Bloodied But Unbowed Release Year - 1983 Key Tracks - "The Prisoner," "Slumlord," "Waiting For You" Drummer - Chuck Biscuits - Artist - Yes Album - Fragile Release Year - 1972 Key Track - "South Side of the Sky" Drummer - Bill Bruford - HONORABLE MENTIONS: Artist - Led Zeppelin Album - Houses of the Holy Drummer - John Bonham - Artist - Billy Cobham Album - Spectrum Drummer - Billy Cobham --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week, we’re celebrating the release of Mike Robinson’s new Food on Tour Guide. Mike has toured with Say Anything, Oliver Tree, K.Flay, and many more and this guide is built from years of eating on the road. It’s a curated digital map with more than 2,000 spots across three layers: food, drink, and tiki. It gets updated regularly and helps save you from wasting money on bad meals while touring. To celebrate, Mike, Eric, and I each share five spots that have stood out to us over our combined decades on the road. Once you download the guide, you can find links to all the places mentioned in this episode by searching Drummers on Eating. But in the meantime, here are the picks: Ben’s picks: Slick Rock Burrito – Spokane, WA Decibel Sake Bar – New York City, NY Molinari Delicatessen – San Francisco, CA Thai Station – Carrboro, NC Ichiran – Brooklyn, NY Eric’s picks: Kopp’s – Milwaukee, WI Aqui Con El Nene – Tucson, AZ Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles – Los Angeles, CA Nicoletto’s – Nashville, TN Terry Black’s BBQ – Texas Mike’s picks: Brat House – Milwaukee, WI Sotto – Cincinnati, OH Rossi & Sons – Poughkeepsie, NY Nong’s – Portland, OR Mai-Kai – Fort Lauderdale, FL --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming...a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this segment of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Matt Starr (Sarah McLachlan) for a conversation that starts in the weeds and slowly turns into therapy. We kick things off with some proper nerd talk about trash can endings, stingers, and the infamous shugidaboom. From there, the conversation opens up into music education, what band programs still get right, and what probably needs to change if we want young musicians to feel like there’s a real place for them. Along the way, we talk about community, ego, self-direction, and why playing with other people is still the part of music you can’t really learn from a screen. Then the back half gets more reflective, as we get into success, creative identity, and the weird pressure of trying to make something that actually feels meaningful. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming...a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. In this segment of The Drum Panel, I’m joined by Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Ralph Alexander (Poppy) for one of those conversations that goes everywhere. We start with life on the road and the physical reality of playing demanding shows night after night. From there we get into practice routines, creativity, and the strange balance between working hard and actually allowing yourself to rest. Eric also brings in a few spicy listener takes, which sparks some fun debates about jazz vs rock, whether technical drummers lose their feel, and the never-ending argument about electronic drums. Somewhere along the way we end up talking about confidence, why most drummers struggle to say they actually like their own playing, and how your influences slowly shape the way you hear the instrument...who'd have thought? In this episode: Ralph shares the story of the Slayer shirt he’s carried to every show for over twenty years The first drum parts we learned that actually felt like a real breakthrough A debate about whether learning jazz really makes you a “better” drummer Why some drummers worry that learning more might ruin their feel The role rest and downtime play in creativity Whether electronic drums should even be compared to acoustic drums A rare moment where drummers admit they might actually like their own playing --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This is another segment of The Drum Panel featuring myself, Sarab Singh (MUNA), and Brendan Buckley (Shakira). In this episode, we talk about: Getting over the fear of recording at home and figuring out certain techniques later in your career Why some producers and artists choose emotional takes over technically perfect ones When quantizing, sample replacing, or comping starts to blur the line between your playing and studio editing The tension between technique and comfort—and why great technique doesn’t always feel great What makes a groove feel “bad,” and how context, consistency, and taste shape that judgment --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is up? Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. I decided to move this episode toward the top of the feed and revisit it. Last weekend, Tim Very, the drummer for Manchester Orchestra, passed away. While we weren’t super close, we stayed in touch over the years. He was kind enough to be part of my first book, and he also came on the podcast to do a Big Fat Five. That’s what you’re going to hear today. Going back and listening to this conversation was a real gift. Tim was such a creative drummer. Powerful, playful, and always deeply respectful of the song. He knew exactly where to sit in a part. You can hear how thoughtful he was, not just as a musician, but as a person. Quick heads up about the audio. He was calling in from the back of his tour bus over Zoom. The Wi-Fi was rough. There’s some generator noise. The first half isn’t perfect, but what he says is worth it. About halfway through, the connection dropped completely. And just to show you the kind of guy he was, he re-recorded his final three picks as voice notes and sent them to me so the episode could still come out on time. That’s Tim. I first saw him live at The Fillmore in Philadelphia in 2018. I didn’t buy a ticket. I was playing upstairs at The Foundry with my band. To get to our dressing room, we had to walk along a path overlooking the main room. Manchester Orchestra was sold out below us. It’s either motivation or humiliation, depending on how your tour’s going. But I remember watching him and thinking, this guy really understands how to serve a song. So with that said, this is Tim Very’s Big Fat Five. The five records that helped shape his playing. I hope you enjoy it. And I hope it inspires you the way it inspired me revisiting it. TIM'S BIG FAT FIVE: - Artist - Foo Fighters Album - The Colour and the Shape Release Year - 1997 Key Track - "Hey, Johnny Park!" Drummer - Dave Grohl / William Goldsmith - Artist - AC/DC Album - Highway to Hell Release Year - 1979 Key Track - "Highway to Hell" Drummer - Phil Rudd - Artist - Wilco Album - A Ghost is Born Release Year - 2004 Key Track - "At Least That's What You Said" Drummer - Glenn Kotche - Artist - The Refused Album - The Shape of Punk To Come Release Year - 1998 Key Track - "The Deadly Rhythm" Drummer - David Sandström - Artist - Colour Revolt Album - Plunder, Beg, and Curse Release Year - 2008 Key Track - "Ageless Everytime" Drummer - Len Clark --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠Click here to order now!⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠ and follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, Twitter, and TikTok. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This episode is a new installment of The Drum Panel, and it’s Part One of Two diving into Chick Corea’s Cheap But Good Advice For Playing Music in a Group. I’m joined by good friend of mine Rafa Vidal, who also plays with the band Almost Monday, who are currently killing it, and of course Eric Somers-Urrea is back on the panel. We start off reacting to a post from Tommy Igoe about drum education and who should really be setting the agenda in lessons. That opens the door to a bigger conversation about intention, listening, and what it actually means to function inside a band. From there, we break down the first six pieces of Chick’s advice and what they look like in real life: Play only what you hear. If you don’t hear anything, don’t play anything. Don’t let your fingers and limbs just wander—place them intentionally. Don’t improvise endlessly—play something with intention, develop it or not, but then end off, take a break. Leave space—create space—intentionally create places where you don’t play. Make your sound blend. Listen to your sound and adjust it to the rest of the band and the room. We also get into a Rafa's new endeavor called Touch Grooves. Check out more information on that HERE --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Big Fat Five, a segment of Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This episode is a first for the show. For the first time ever, Big Fat Five has two hosts. I explain it more at the top of the episode, but today Eric Urrea is joining me as a co-host. Eric’s someone I trust musically and personally, and having him in the room added a different kind of energy and flow that I really loved. It felt natural, and honestly, it raised the bar. Our guest today is Patch Mahoney. Patch and I share the same lockout facility, and I walk past his room all the time. I’ve wanted to have him on the show for a while, not just because he’s a great drummer, but because he’s genuinely one of the nicest dudes around. Patch plays with Hilary Duff, Bebe Rexha, and many more and has built a career rooted in taste, feel, and adaptability. We sat down and talked through the records that helped shape him into the drummer he is today, and along the way we got into things like practice habits, recording yourself, restraint, gospel influence, drum tones, and how a drummer’s voice actually develops over time. And with that, here’s Patch Mahoney’s Big Fat Five. PATCH'S BIG FAT FIVE: - Artist – Tower Of Power Album – Tower Of Power Release Year – 1973 Key Track – “What Is Hip?” Drummer – David Garibaldi - Artist – Steely Dan Album – Aja Release Year – 1977 Key Track – “Aja” Drummer – Steve Gadd - Artist – Phoenix Album – Bankrupt! Release Year – 2013 Key Track – “Entertainment” Drummer – Thomas Hedlund - Artist – Young The Giant Album – Home Of The Strange Release Year – 2016 Key Track – “Titus Was Born” Drummer – Francois Comtois - Artist – Transformation Worship Album – Overflow: The Album (Live) Release Year – 2024 Key Track – “Impossible? (Nothing At All) – Live” Drummer – Tony Taylor - Honorable Mentions: Glory Sound Prep – Jon Bellion Random Access Memories – Daft Punk The Captain and Me – The Doobie Brothers --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ... a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week's Drum Panel features myself (Ben Hilzinger) alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) and Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer) aka **The Dream Team** We talk about: The specific tools we each use to stay on top of gigs, holds, and payments The not-so-obvious challenges of over-scheduling and saying “yes” to everything Gunnar’s hot take on whether live percussionists should be allowed cymbals How double-drummer bands actually work, including famous examples and personal wish lists The real anxieties and logistics behind committing to tours vs. staying available for “dream” gigs or family Practical advice for 22-year-old drummers moving to new cities—and why being physically local still matters for working players Social media as a calling card: when it helps, when it’s oversaturated, and how to post for the gigs you want --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming ... a podcast powered by Big Fat Snare Drum This week’s Drum Panel has me joined by Mark Stepro and Kris Mazzarisi for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when gigs fall through, routines get shaken, and you’re forced to rethink how you want to work and live as a drummer. In this episode, we talk about: How to respond when a major gig disappears Why direct, personal outreach still beats mass posts Aging, touring, and shifting priorities Social media’s role vs real relationships Practicing vs working, and why confusing them stalls growth Tracking progress without over-measuring Onstage anxiety, depersonalization, and mental spirals Balancing family, business, touring, and sanity Letting go of shame around how your brain works Building a career that isn’t dependent on constant touring --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City. We talk honestly about rejection, identity, and what actually gets built in the moments when things don’t go your way. In this episode, we talk about: Rejection as a mirror, not a verdict, and how quickly one “no” can distort your self-image The danger of ruminating on tiny moments, and how over-analyzing the past steals energy from the present Why authenticity matters more than perfection, and how trying to manage how others see you leads to bad fits The hidden value of “failed” prep, and how deep study always compounds even when the gig disappears The emotional difference between ego pain and income fear, and how each one shapes your reactions Balancing confidence and self-doubt, and why artists need both to stay sharp and grounded How unclear communication creates unnecessary emotional weight, and what that reveals about professional culture Why creative freedom often shows up disguised as disappointment New Year’s intentions around health, connection, communication, and long-term sustainability Letting go of shame around how you work, and learning to build systems that actually fit you --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. Happy New Year. This week’s Drum Panel features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside George Martinez (aka @skinnygeorge) and Eric Urrea from Marina City. In this episode, we talk about: Burnout as a signal, not a failure, and how to tell when you actually need to step back The success trap of linking worth to being busy, and how scarcity thinking keeps you stuck Dependability, kindness, and the invisible parts of your reputation that shape your career Grace under pressure, and what tech failures and bad shows reveal about who you are on stage Confidence without arrogance, and how to take your craft seriously without taking yourself too seriously --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week features another batch of my favorite clips over the past year. Let me know if you agreeeee. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week features a few of my favorite clips over the past year. Let me know if you agreeeee. --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. Featuring myself, Ben Hilzinger, with Gunnar Olsen (Puscifer, TrackTribe) & Eric Urrea (Marina City) Inside this episode The real life of high-output music production How drummers survive the modern content grind without losing their mind Touring vs session vs teaching: finding the mix that keeps you sane When your “Instagram drum sound” fights your natural playing How to meet heroes backstage without being that guy Building drum sounds, dealing with phase, and chasing ideas that actually feel good Progress, burnout, and what it means to “feel like a drummer” again --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to Drummers on Drumming, powered by Big Fat Snare Drum. This week features me, Ben Hilzinger, alongside Eric Urrea (Marina City) & Zack Albetta (Working Drummer podcast, & Juliet Broadway tour) Inside this episode: When to chase a stable gig and when to walk away How Broadway touring shapes your mind, body, and playing Staying confident when you’re surrounded by people who could change your career The honest math behind consistency vs freedom --- Get Your Copy of the Drummers on Drumming Book Today! 🎯 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to order now!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit. For more information on Big Fat Snare Drum, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.bigfatsnaredrum.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices