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“It’s Not About What You’re Playing — It’s About What You’re Doing”
Coming Soon: The Tom Jorgensen Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast Episode
There’s a line that’s stuck with Tom Jorgensen ever since he first heard it from jazz legend Michael Carvin:
“It’s not about what you’re playing — it’s about what you’re doing.”
It sounds simple. But as Tom explains in the upcoming episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, that one sentence completely changed how he approaches music, performance, and storytelling on stage.
For those who don’t know Tom: he’s the drummer on the North American tour of Beetlejuice The Musical, which returned to Broadway in a limited 13-week engagement at the Palace Theatre beginning October 8, 2025 and running through January 3, 2026.
In this episode, Tom opens up about how Carvin’s philosophy guided him through every stage of his career. From late nights on cruise ships to the bright lights of Broadway. He shares how mentors like Rich Mercurio and Nadia DiGiallonardo helped him realize that playing music isn’t just about perfect notes or flawless grooves, it’s about listening, intention, and being part of the story.
This episode goes beyond chops and technique. It’s about presence, purpose, and what it truly means to serve the music.
If you’ve ever found yourself going through the motions—counting bars, chasing perfection, or just trying to “get through” a gig—this conversation will hit home.
It’s a reminder that every note, no matter how small, can help tell the story.
Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway revival of 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 is currently on tour with The Rock Orchestra and 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
Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscribe
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By Broadway Drumming 101Coming Soon: The Tom Jorgensen Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast Episode
There’s a line that’s stuck with Tom Jorgensen ever since he first heard it from jazz legend Michael Carvin:
“It’s not about what you’re playing — it’s about what you’re doing.”
It sounds simple. But as Tom explains in the upcoming episode of the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, that one sentence completely changed how he approaches music, performance, and storytelling on stage.
For those who don’t know Tom: he’s the drummer on the North American tour of Beetlejuice The Musical, which returned to Broadway in a limited 13-week engagement at the Palace Theatre beginning October 8, 2025 and running through January 3, 2026.
In this episode, Tom opens up about how Carvin’s philosophy guided him through every stage of his career. From late nights on cruise ships to the bright lights of Broadway. He shares how mentors like Rich Mercurio and Nadia DiGiallonardo helped him realize that playing music isn’t just about perfect notes or flawless grooves, it’s about listening, intention, and being part of the story.
This episode goes beyond chops and technique. It’s about presence, purpose, and what it truly means to serve the music.
If you’ve ever found yourself going through the motions—counting bars, chasing perfection, or just trying to “get through” a gig—this conversation will hit home.
It’s a reminder that every note, no matter how small, can help tell the story.
Clayton Craddock is the drummer for the upcoming Broadway revival of 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 is currently on tour with The Rock Orchestra and 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
Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscribe