Session Drumming Month: Getting out there

Getting a break - Three very different ways

Ben Kennedy: "I did three years at ACM and went to every audition they put me forward for. I got my first signed gig through them. I got involved through an agent and worked with Girls Aloud. It’s a way of building up your CV if you’re working with different acts. I met a bass player how happened to be playing with Ladyhawke and she happened to be looking for a drummer so I did the audition and got that. It’s tough. You’re looking for different things all the time. Once you get devoted to an artist it’s hard to juggle different things. I got involved with a fixer and auditioned for him which led to the Clare Maguire gig. It’s just meeting different people, agents, fixers, MDs, they’re all good people to know."

Getting a break - Three very different ways

Dean Butterworth: “I was playing tons of clubs and one night Ben Harper showed up he liked my playing andhe needed a drummer and I got the gig.”

Getting a break - Three very different ways

Robin Guy: “I played Top Of The Pops with Faith No More because I took a deep breath and walked straight in through a door marked Session Connection - NO appointments unless booked!”

For more session hints, tips and secrets pick up the latest issue of Rhythm and check out our online Session Month.

Rich is a teacher, one time Rhythm staff writer and experienced freelance journalist who has interviewed countless revered musicians, engineers, producers and stars for the our world-leading music making portfolio, including such titles as Rhythm, Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, and MusicRadar. His victims include such luminaries as Ice T, Mark Guilani and Jamie Oliver (the drumming one).