Thank you for being a longtime listener of Broadway Drumming 101.

I’ve been thinking about doing more solo episodes for a while, and I’m finally starting today.

Over the past week, I’ve been deep in rehearsals for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and this version is even stronger than what we did at PAC. Everything feels sharper and more focused. We officially open on April 7th, and I’m excited for people to see it.

READ: Two Icons of New York, Ready for Broadway’s ‘Jellicle Ball’

At NAMM, I brought up a topic that doesn’t get talked about enough:

How careers really begin.

For me, it wasn’t Broadway. It wasn’t some audition. It was a hotel gig in New Rochelle, playing the same 20 songs every other Friday night.

A connection from that gig led me to a tour.That tour opened the door to subbing.And subbing eventually brought me to Broadway.

In this new solo episode, I break down:

• Why saying yes early in your career matters• Why showing up beats just posting• How small gigs compound over time• And how to know when it’s time to start saying no

If you caught my talk at NAMM, this episode goes even deeper into that topic.

READ:

And if you’re serious about building a real career in theater, get my book:

Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

You can order it right now on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.If you want a signed copy, go to SignatureBrandWorks.com.

Listen to the new solo episode.Pick up the book if you’re interested.And I hope to see you at the Broadhurst!

Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway musical Cats: The Jellicle Ball, opening at the Broadhurst Theatre on April 7th. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of the forthcoming book Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.

His Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, along with extensive subbing on shows such as Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.

Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.

www.claytoncraddock.com

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