A Drummer’s Guide To...

I've been trying to answer a question that's fascinated me for years... I've met unbelievable musicians who never pursued music beyond a hobby, and others who built incredible careers despite not necessarily being the "best" player in the room. So if technical ability isn't the whole story... what is? For my psychology dissertation, I'm researching the relationship between personality and interest...

Do you only get one chance to network with someone… or is that just something we’ve told ourselves? In this episode, I answer a brilliant question from Anonymous about networking on Instagram, sending DMs, and how to actually build real connections — especially when it feels like you’re “using up your one shot” every time you reach out. We talk about: Why cold DMs often fall flat How relationships...

Most musicians grow up believing in the idea of a “big break.” That one moment where someone important discovers you… The audition that suddenly changes everything… The gig that launches your career overnight. But in my experience, that’s almost never how it actually works. In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, I answer a question from Jon Raynor about how to catch the eye of higher-level arti...

You’re a professional. It’s just four minutes. So why does this song feel like a punch in the chest? In Episode 219 – A Drummer’s Guide To… Heartbreak on the Setlist (Q from Anonymous), I answer a listener’s question about performing a song that’s deeply tied to a painful past relationship. Should you just “be professional” and play it? Or are you allowed to have boundaries in a band? We explore:...

Starting the year with no gigs? Feeling like everyone else is working except you? In Episode 218 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Starting the Year With No Gigs (Q from Anonymous), I break down what January really means for musicians — and how to use this time strategically instead of spiralling. We talk about: – What to post when you’re between gigs – How to avoid looking like a “bedroom musician” – Why...

Grateful. Successful. Still restless? You’re not alone. In Episode 217 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Grateful, Successful… Still Wanting More (Q from Dom Ritchie), Emily answers a powerful question from Dom — a young professional drummer making a full-time living in music who still feels the pull of “what’s next”. This episode explores: Why satisfaction doesn’t automatically follow success Whether movi...

Ever turned up to a gig already annoyed… because you know the money isn’t worth the effort? 🚗💸 This anonymous question is painfully relatable: great band, great musical experience… but the gigs are underpaid, the travel is brutal, and resentment is creeping in. In this episode, I talk about: ⛽ when the petrol cost makes the gig fee pointless 🚗 how to handle long drives + low pay without burnin...

🩸 You’re not “too sensitive” - your body is giving you information 😌 🎧 Episode 215 - A Drummer’s Guide To… Women’s Health on Tour (Q from Suzy) 🥁 😅 Some weeks you feel unstoppable behind the kit… and other weeks you feel like you’ve forgotten how to play 🥁 🧠 In this episode, I talk honestly about cycle changes, energy dips, confidence spirals, and how they affect performance 🎭 🚐 We get in...

Recording your in-ear mix sounds like a good idea… until you try it. This episode answers Joe Threlfall’s question about capturing IEM audio, explains why it’s so unreliable, and explores whether it’s even necessary in the first place. A practical, reassuring reframe for musicians feeling stuck over technical details. Have a question you’d like answered on the podcast? Submit it at EmilyDrums.com/...

In music, talent might get you noticed — but trust is what keeps you working. This episode was sparked by a question from Rob Quinn about the role of trust in a music career, and it opens up one of the most quietly important topics in professional musicianship. Inside, I talk about trust on every level of the job: • Trusting bandmates to show up prepared • Being trusted by artists, MDs, and manage...

Ever been stuck in a band where tempos feel unpredictable… there’s no count-off… no click allowed… and the tension is rising? This week’s question comes from a drummer caught in exactly that situation — dealing with a stressed band leader, shifting tempos, and the pressure of holding it all together. In this episode, I unpack what’s really going on in tempo wars — and how to deal with them without...

You know that feeling when you’re good — genuinely good — yet you’re still playing the same pubs, the same tiny rooms, and wondering why you can’t break into the gigs you know you’re ready for? This week’s episode dives into Pete’s brilliant question: How do you break out of the pub circuit and start playing the gigs that actually move your career forward? If you’ve ever felt stuck… under-seen… or...

Ever wonder why some musicians get recommended constantly… while others get ignored? Episode 210 digs into the truth behind it — sparked by a great question from Charlie Purdie. Is a session career built through word of mouth… or through posting on social media? The answer is both — but not equally, and not in the way most musicians expect. In this episode: – Why live gig experience is still the f...

Today’s question comes from Joe Threlfall (@joe_threlfall_guitar) - a brilliant guitarist working in theatre pits who wants to break into touring productions. Joe asked: “What should I be posting to Stories vs pinned posts on Instagram… and is it okay to film practice clips off my phone? Also, what would actually help me get my next step into working on theatre tours?” In this episode, I break dow...

⚡ Big changes ahead for A Drummer’s Guide To... ⚡ 🎧 From now on, episodes will focus on your questions - real situations, real struggles, and real wins from musicians like you. 💭 If there’s something you’re working through in your career that you’d like me to explore, I’d love to hear it. 👉 Head to emilydrums.com/AMA to send it in. #ADrummersGuideTo #MusicCareerAdvice #MusicianMindset #Creati...

💥 In Episode 207 of A Drummer’s Guide To... Confidence No One Can Give You, I’m diving into the kind of confidence that doesn’t depend on anyone else’s approval, praise, or permission. 🎯 We all crave validation — but what happens when you stop chasing it and start building confidence from within? In this episode, we’ll unpack: • 🧠 The psychology behind self-confidence and why external validatio...

Being “easy to work with” is one of the biggest compliments a musician can get — but what happens when it goes too far? In this episode of A Drummer’s Guide To…, Emily Dolan Davies explores the fine line between being kind, professional, and adaptable… and losing yourself in the process. She shares personal stories of times she over-accommodated others — saying yes when she meant no, taking on too...

What happens when the music stops? When the noise, the hustle, the scrolling… all fade — and you’re left with yourself? In this episode, Emily Dolan Davies opens up about her lifelong discomfort with silence — how she used drumming and constant productivity to drown out difficult emotions, and what she’s learned over the last two years about sitting still, listening inward, and finding peace in th...

Feeling stretched thin trying to be everywhere online? You’re not alone. In this episode, Emily shares how to find balance between your live gigs, remote recording, teaching, and the endless scroll of social media — without burning out or losing focus. 🎯 What you’ll learn: 🥁 How to balance live and studio content authentically 💬 When (and when not) to split your accounts ⚙️ The psychology of on...

Talking about money in music is awkward enough. But shame? That’s the hidden weight nearly every musician carries. In this episode, I open up about my own journey with money — the free gigs, the low fees, the times I felt like asking to be paid made me “less of an artist.” I share how shame shaped my early career, how I’ve learned to push past it, and why charging what you’re worth is not only oka...

Are you waiting until you’re “perfect” before you go for it? In this episode, I dive into the real reason perfection holds musicians back — and why courage is the thing that moves your career forward. I’ll share my own stories of saying yes when I didn’t feel ready, the lessons I learned from failure, and why the moments I was most scared often became the ones that changed my career the most. 🎧 W...

We’ve all heard it: “If you just put yourself out there, people will find you.” Here’s the truth: posting alone doesn’t build a career. In this episode I dig into: 👉 Why “build it and wait” leaves musicians stuck 👉 The missing ingredient between a polished feed and real gigs 👉 How to connect with the right people online without being spammy 👉 Daily outreach habits that actually lead to opportu...

This isn’t your usual polished podcast… In this special live episode, I opened the floor to YOUR questions, shared behind-the-scenes stories, and let the conversation flow completely unfiltered. We dug into everything from: 👉 Gigging (even if music isn’t your full-time job) 👉 Pre-show rituals and post-show habits (the good AND the bad) 👉 Rejection, resilience, and staying confident on stage 👉...

Welcome to Episode 199 of A Drummer’s Guide To… Getting Called Out! This week, I’m sharing a raw and uncomfortable part of my journey — when I was publicly called out for not being authentic online. At first, it felt humiliating…but it became one of the most powerful lessons in vulnerability and accountability I’ve ever learned. Inside this episode, I’ll cover: 😳 What happened when I was exposed...

Rejection stings. It’s personal, it’s painful, and it can leave you questioning whether you’re good enough. But here’s the truth: rejection isn’t a dead end — it’s data. In this episode, I share the rejections that shaped my career (and nearly broke me), and how I reframed them into lessons, resilience, and growth. From missed gigs to failed auditions, every “no” carried a hidden “next step.” ✅ W...