Diversify and Conquer Part III

You'd think that with fewer playing opportunities available, there would be fewer work opportunities for drummers. Thankfully we're pretty adaptive, plus technology has given us a boost. Here are some 'new age' career possibilities.

On Line Teaching
This whole concept seems to have gone viral, with new 'online studios' cropping up almost daily. The competition is pretty severe right now, but for the person with the right combination of material, presentation and personality, it can be a good move.

Studio Tracking
This music model has been around for some time, but many drummers are now making a specialty of it. The idea is someone sends tracks to your studio. You then create drum parts for the music and lay down final tracks. No more dragging your drums into the studio and waiting for the rest of the gang to get their act together.

Blogging/Guest Blogging
If you have a penchant for writing, you can create your own blog in about 15 minutes. And your blog can be 'monetized' -- that is, you can make money at it! But for a blog to have any chance of financial return, you need to reach a wide audience and visitors who decide to click. And to attract advertisers, your subscription list has to be well into 5 figures. Guest blogging may pay a stipend, but more often it is a marketing option that will further enhance your audience and your credibility.

YouTube Star
Ah yes, the ship that launched Justin Bieber and a host of others. By now you may even suspect that a YouTube video is more important than having a business card. Videos are great marketing tools that can also be monetized, and a run-away video can bring you all sorts of rewards.

Clinician
Not long ago, a career as a clinician was nearly unheard of. These days, it's become a bit of a spectator sport with big budgets, large audiences, and stars galore. Most are sponsored by the bigger companies, but even small music stores run successful clinics these days.

Wrap-up
Most drummers who make a go of it have a number of interests and have a great time wearing different hats. If playing full time is not on offer, or just doesn't appeal to you, there are lots of ways to keep your hand in. Because of my health, I rarely gig. So I write a blog, I network with musicians, I buy and sell drums & stuff, I teach, and I play a bit with a small jazz band. Even when I was playing full-time, I maintained a teaching studio and worked part time in retail helping drummers (and others) with their hardware needs. It was fun, rewarding, and adequately lucrative.

Bonus Idea
A lot of drummers are joining the 'maker culture', and boutique drums, cymbals and accessories are showing up all over the world. If you've been toying with the idea of building drums or inventing drummer solutions, you may have a future as a manufacturer.