Gettin an Opportunity

[Ontherise]

Do any of u guys get tha feeling it's kinda of great and unfair that some Gifted and Anointed drummers like Calvin Rodgers, Jeremy Haynes, Terry Baker have the opprtunity to play with some of the great gospel artists, and other up and coming drummers will probaly never get that opportunity. Don't get me wrong I think it's great cause we could learn from these drummers. I'm just saying I would love to get the opprtunity to play with some of these gospel greats

[MaestroDivine]

New drummers are gettin' discovered constantly ... however, it's no different than any other job. The person with the best resume, likely will get the gig before you. That just means that you have to get out there, get gigs, and do the absolute best job you can as a musician & as a person. Character, of course, matters a lot.

[crazyfoot]

I understand what you are saying doc! But two realize this if its God will for it to happen it will. second, networking with other musicians is very important that helps to open doors in terms of exposure. and third you need to learn your craft fully caus the cats you mention they all have learned and im quite sure still learning and improving there skills on there craft thats why they are where they are!!!!!!!! Personally, i desire to play for many top gospel artists in my case whether it be drums or organ or keys but in the mean time im working on my craft caus in due time God will bring me out if its his will so look at it in that way!

[stiksnmypocket]

Not trying to be funny, but YES I remember feeling like this when I was a KID, but now that I've matured its far from being like that. 1st off you have to wait on God, be Humble, and put in WORK, all these cats didn't jus wake up one morning and start getting gigs, I could go on and on about this but I know the rest of the fellas are gonna eat this one up. Oh one last thing if you're that good and you network alot, small gigs lead to other gigs big and small, so jus keep standing behind the drummer he'll get tired one day

[depondrums]

New drummers are gettin' discovered constantly ... however, it's no different than any other job. The person with the best resume, likely will get the gig before you. That just means that you have to get out there, get gigs, and do the absolute best job you can as a musician & as a person. Character, of course, matters a lot.

Agreed.  Hey maestro, How's it going?  Still praying for you man.

[hendoo]

BIG GIGS ARE GREAT, BUT KEEP IN MIND, EVEN IF YOU DON'T GET THE BIG GIGS,STAY TRUE TO YOUR CRAFT, EVERY GOOD & GREAT PLAYER DOESN'T ALWAYS GET BIG GIGS, BEING A GREAT DRUMMER IS MORE THAN JUST SKILLS, IT'S ABOUT BEING ON TIME TO REHEARSAL, LISTENING & MOST OF ALL SEEING YOURSELF PART OF THE MUSIC RATHER THAN PLAYING TO THE MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!

[Natejam71]

Agreed.  Hey maestro, How's it going?  Still praying for you man.

I could not have said it better.  Stay Blessed, Nate J.

[SabianKnight]

Do any of u guys get tha feeling it's kinda of great and unfair that some Gifted and Anointed drummers like Calvin Rodgers, Jeremy Haynes, Terry Baker have the opprtunity to play with some of the great gospel artists, and other up and coming drummers will probaly never get that opportunity. Don't get me wrong I think it's great cause we could learn from these drummers. I'm just saying I would love to get the opprtunity to play with some of these gospel greats

What good is the opportunity if you are not ready. You have to position yourself to be able to get these opportunities via preparation and networking. You have to go through their assessments to get excepted into theose circles. You have to prove that yu can run with the big dogs. Right now it seems that you don't want to go through that. I'll tell you straight I have a fear of failure and that has kept me from taking the necessary risks to get to where I am supposed to be. I didn't believe I needed to fail to succeed but I do. Don't cry about missing opportunities you have not stepped up and taken. It doesn't work, I tell you experience. Trying to be too perfect (that I allowed doubt to walk in) has cost me a lot of opportunities.

Get out there and do the thang! 

[MaestroDivine]

What good is the opportunity if you are not ready. You have to position yourself to be able to get these opportunities via preparation and networking. You have to go through their assessments to get excepted into theose circles. You have to prove that yu can run with the big dogs. Right now it seems that you don't want to go through that. I'll tell you straight I have a fear of failure and that has kept me from taking the necessary risks to get to where I am supposed to be. I didn't believe I needed to fail to succeed but I do. Don't cry about missing opportunities you have not stepped up and taken. It doesn't work, I tell you experience. Trying to be too perfect (that I allowed doubt to walk in) has cost me a lot of opportunities.

Get out there and do the thang! 

Fear of failure, huh?

Well, I can definitely relate to that. At the same time, that's the one thing that drives me to become the best musician I possibly can be. As we all know, the way to ensure failure, is lack of preparation. Sabe, if you KNOW that you KNOW that you're prepared - then you just have to let God handle the rest. Sure, in this industry, it takes more than preparation to 'make it" - however, we all just need to make sure that, if we get rejected, it'll be for reasons other than character & preparation....

[Ontherise]

Sabianknight i feel exactly what u are sayin. Rite now it just time, preparation, and strenghting and waiting on God to lead me on that path. Being humble is a way of life for me. I just figured it was a topic some of us tend to think about so I decided to post it. I don't want anyone to misunderstand me

[SabianKnight]

Sabianknight i feel exactly what u are sayin. Rite now it just time, preparation, and strenghting and waiting on God to lead me on that path. Being humble is a way of life for me. I just figured it was a topic some of us tend to think about so I decided to post it. I don't want anyone to misunderstand me

See the thing that I am learning is tha God already lead us down the path. It is finished. We just have to walk the path out and believe. I didn't believe that I knew enough. I didn't believe that I could play well because of being around short sighted folk whom didn't want to be the best thy were meant to be. As a musician more times than not you are only as good as the musicians you hang around/play with. If they aren't pushing, studying and working you won't either.

I also always told myself failure wasn't an option so if I didn't believe that I would get the gig or win I wouldn't enter. I wouldn't give myself the opportunity to fail... nor to win. "What if they want me to play something I don't know how to play yet?", "What if they want me to travel? I might have to leave my job that I don't like and tha isn't paying the bills or offering any growth. What will I do wit out my job?" You know we tell ourselves stupid stuff like that because of the enemy's suggestions even when we know that God gave us this gift with a purpose to acheive success that His word would not return to Him void. Now, my eyes are opening and I know that what you don't know will surely kill you because the people perish for lack of knowledge. Part of knowing comes from experiencing so if you never take a chance on an experience then the guilt will surely get you.

Don't spend too much time preparing for what you don't know/experience. Get out there and find out what you need then address that need.   

[sugabear]

See the thing that I am learning is tha God already lead us down the path. It is finished. We just have to walk the path out and believe. I didn't believe that I knew enough. I didn't believe that I could play well because of being around short sighted folk whom didn't want to be the best thy were meant to be. As a musician more times than not you are only as good as the musicians you hang around/play with. If they aren't pushing, studying and working you won't either.

I also always told myself failure wasn't an option so if I didn't believe that I would get the gig or win I wouldn't enter. I wouldn't give myself the opportunity to fail... nor to win. "What if they want me to play something I don't know how to play yet?", "What if they want me to travel? I might have to leave my job that I don't like and tha isn't paying the bills or offering any growth. What will I do wit out my job?" You know we tell ourselves stupid stuff like that because of the enemy's suggestions even when we know that God gave us this gift with a purpose to acheive success that His word would not return to Him void. Now, my eyes are opening and I know that what you don't know will surely kill you because the people perish for lack of knowledge. Part of knowing comes from experiencing so if you never take a chance on an experience then the guilt will surely get you.

Don't spend too much time preparing for what you don't know/experience. Get out there and find out what you need then address that need.   

Man... Sabe...that was a really encouraging word. I so needed to hear that. I've been here in Tampa for almost two years and have yet to do anything with my gift. Unfortunately, I've been waiting to be elevated by man and not God. I've been a part of a "church" band roster for at least a year and haven't touched the set outside of an offering song--not so motivating. I know that God has given me a gift and I really need to rely on that and get out there and do something. I sat and looked introspectively and asked myself "Really, what have you done? How have you gotten your name out there? Yes, your reliable, patient, musical, spiritually sensitive, congenial, and passionate about your gift but who knows that?" This word that you gave is seriously gonna propel me into my next level. Thanks man.

[SabianKnight]

Man... Sabe...that was a really encouraging word. I so needed to hear that. I've been here in Tampa for almost two years and have yet to do anything with my gift. Unfortunately, I've been waiting to be elevated by man and not God. I've been a part of a "church" band roster for at least a year and haven't touched the set outside of an offering song--not so motivating. I know that God has given me a gift and I really need to rely on that and get out there and do something. I sat and looked introspectively and asked myself "Really, what have you done? How have you gotten your name out there? Yes, your reliable, patient, musical, spiritually sensitive, congenial, and passionate about your gift but who knows that?" This word that you gave is seriously gonna propel me into my next level. Thanks man.

That was just my testimony (if you will). If it will keep someone from feeling what I have felt and struggling the way I have struggled with myself then so be it. God Bless.