Interesting topic and I hope you can push on. I’m intrigued by the part where you say this is where most people quit. Maybe it’s my area of the world but I find most people quit much earlier, when they realise they won’t be the next Beatles/Oasis.
Looking at my first 3 bands when I was in my early 20s, out of the combined 12 members; 1 has sadly passed away, 7 no longer play music and only 4 including me have continued - of those 4 remaining, only 2 of us are gigging more than a couple of times a year.
I feel very fortunate to be playing music full time, and even more fortunate to be getting by just playing a couple of bars a week (a lot of people said it couldn’t be done and I’d have to hit the cruise ships or teach). I’m in my own bed every night and every single morning I remind myself not many have these opportunities and to be thankful for it.
My advice to you would be to push a few areas of yourself and see where it takes you. Work on your selling points. I realised a long time ago I was never going to be Buddy Rich, that I’d never be one of my old teachers top students. But there are things I can do that a lot of drummers struggle with which has helped me find my market.
Looking at my first 3 bands when I was in my early 20s, out of the combined 12 members; 1 has sadly passed away, 7 no longer play music and only 4 including me have continued - of those 4 remaining, only 2 of us are gigging more than a couple of times a year.
I feel very fortunate to be playing music full time, and even more fortunate to be getting by just playing a couple of bars a week (a lot of people said it couldn’t be done and I’d have to hit the cruise ships or teach). I’m in my own bed every night and every single morning I remind myself not many have these opportunities and to be thankful for it.
My advice to you would be to push a few areas of yourself and see where it takes you. Work on your selling points. I realised a long time ago I was never going to be Buddy Rich, that I’d never be one of my old teachers top students. But there are things I can do that a lot of drummers struggle with which has helped me find my market.
