Scary thoughts and Perspective

Recording
Having spent the day in the studio today, I feel I've given myself a lot to think about. I was recording another drum cover today, and it has to be said, I was never really quite happy with any of the takes I did, which was very frustrating. I knew that today was going to be a struggle, as I was attempting to record drums for a Linkin Park track (will show everyone when its been mixed). Linkin Park were always going to be a tough band to cover, for a number of reasons, the biggest of which being quite obvious, Linkin Park use a lot of synthesisers and loops in there music, which makes it very electronic and dead metronomic. There is absolutely no room for mistakes and all mistakes are undeniably exposed making it a nightmare for drummers (well, for me at any rate). Having said that, I did very much enjoy the challenge, and eventually managed to put together a take that I was sort of happy with. They are an amazing band, Linkin Park, and have a phenomenal drummer whom I have to tip my hat to, not that I wear a hat, I'm not cool enough.

Scary Thoughts
The whole experience has got me thinking, what if I'm am just simply not good enough. It shouldn't matter how hard the track is, I should be able to nail it. So am I good enough? Can I ever be? The fact is that the music business is getting more and more competitive, there are 7 other very good drummers on my course, in my year alone. Think about how many others there are, in identical courses, at the Tech schools, at the music colleges. There are thousands of other drummers in this country alone, most of whom are probably at a higher standard than myself and are looking for the same kind of work I am. I am quickly beginning to feel like a very small fish in the Pacific Ocean! Everyday I hear about other drummers and musicians, guys who can nail takes in one, dead to a click, guys who can blast beat at 210 bmp without sweating. I can't do that! I have nailed takes in one before, but nothing complex, just basic beats. I could spend hours perfecting my fills on recordings, and I still most likely would hate them!

Contacts
And then there is the next scary thought. Who do I know? Who do I know that works in the music industry and would give me work? Of the top of my head, I can't think of anybody! So what am I going to do, in a years time when I finish uni and have to find work? Because I will have to work, I have to earn money. The last thing that I want to happen is to fall into a 9-5 job, and to not be able to be involved in the music industry at all. The idea of not working in music actually terrifies me, what will I do? What other skills do I have? Can I be happy with out music? Playing professionally is my dream, but is it realistic?

Perspective
I think I need to give myself some perspective here. Yes, there are thousands of other drummers in this country, and yes, music is becoming more perfectionist and far more quantised. But maybe this isn't something I should fear. And perhaps I don't need to see it as a competition to be the best drummer in the country. Because I won't win that, there will always be those who are better than me, that is the way the world works. What I need to be is good, professional, friendly and reliable, that's how to make it (I believe). As for contacts, all I can do is keep putting my self out there, you tube, jam nights, gigs what ever I can and as much as I can.

Well that's all folks, good night.