Inside Zildjian’s historic building, I sit down with Eric Gross (Head of Artist Relations at Zildjian/Vic Firth) to trace the winding path from Berklee days to backstage access—how internships, chance meetings, and a few well-timed risks opened real doors. We compare notes on choosing “music business” over a pure performance track, surviving Nashville on hustle, and the mentors who changed everything.

Eric pulls back the curtain on artist relations and product development (think: how ideas become the gear drummers obsess over), plus the balance between following trends and setting them. It’s equal parts career roadmap and drummer candy

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