SHANNON FORD grew up in Washington DC playing rock, jazz, blues, and country. He has performed and recorded with various artists in NY, Nashville, and LA, including Paul Simon, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Phoebe Snow, Lou Christie, Kenny Rogers, Roger Miller, Danny Gatton, and many others.

Shannon has spent the last 25 years working on Broadway productions such as Next To Normal, Chaplin, Godspell, and Beetlejuice.

On this podcast, Shannon shares his many years of experience working with a variety of artists and discusses:

* The healthy competition with musicians who play Broadway musicals.

* Why playing relaxed helps with hand technique.

* How he was fired three times subbing on shows and what he learned from it.

* His experiences working with directors, actors, and choreographers and how these relationships helped land certain gigs.

* Why preparation is key and why it’s important always to pay attention to the conductor.

Clayton Craddock, the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 28 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. 

He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Spongebob Squarepants, The Musical, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.

Follow him on Instagram, Twitter or read more on his website: claytoncraddock.com

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