1. Drumming is not a race. Take your time. Not everyone is the same and what takes someone a month, might take you a year to get.
2. Play for the music. ALWAYS. Chops are secondary to feel and good musical sense.
3. Be punctual – rehearsal, soundcheck and gig. Nobody likes a drummer who shows up late consistently
4. Learn your material inside out before a gig. Also, learn to read music, it helps.
5. Try not to play under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, it does not make you John Bonham
6. NEVER diss the sound engineer. Learn up a bit about micing techniques, frequencies et al so you can convey better to the sound engineer what you hear in your head with respect to your sound.
7. Wear ear protection. I have hearing loss in one ear thanks to not wearing ear protection.
8. Carry your own sticks, pedals and a spare snare or snare head.
9. Respect the people you work with, however unimportant the gig may seem to you. They just might give you the break that you were looking for. Getting gigs is also about networking well and being amiable.
10. Lastly, be yourself. There can only be one Dave Weckl or Mike Portnoy or Tomas Haake. Influences are good. Don’t get lost trying to be your influences.
Hope you got some sense knocked into your head. Now run off and practise for your gig. Even if you don't have one.
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