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MARK D⚠️NGER POWERS

@markdangerpowers

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Working drummer (@markpowers). Practical ideas for freelancers and creatives, learned on the gig, all around the world. One useful step at a time.

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“It is one thing to study war and another to live the warrior life.”

— Telamon of Arcadia, in “The War of Art” by @steven_pressfield

You can read every book on the battle. But struggling at the gig, fighting to meet the deadline, facing the empty room… those moments are when and where you actually learn the important and valuable lessons.

Studying may prepare you. Living it all changes you.

What has the work itself taught you in the past that no book ever could? by @markdangerpowers

Something I’ve certainly learned over the years is that the most rebooked musician is rarely the flashiest one in the room.

It’s like the two-panel cartoon I’ve seen numerous times. The first panel features a drummer throwing down mad chops, playing ALL the notes. The bandleader standing over his shoulder exclaims, “Wow, you’re amazing!” The second panel features the drummer just playing Boom-Bap Boom-Boom-Bap with the bandleader shouting, “You’re hired!”

As Arnold Schwarzenegger put it in two words: Be useful.

For a freelance musician, that can be a booking strategy. Make life easier for the people who hire you, and you become the first call when the next opportunity opens up.

Today’s one simple action is on slide 4, and I’d love to hear where it takes you!

Save this for the next slow week.
Pass this along to your freelance musician friends.

Comment USEFUL and I’ll send you the full Working Musician’s Edge “Be Useful” post.

Follow here and on Substack for more like this… we’re just getting started :)

#WorkingMusician #FreelanceMusician #MusicianLife #MusicCareer by @markdangerpowers

You are the CEO of your life. Hire, fire, and promote accordingly. The habits. The people. The things you say Yes to. by @markdangerpowers

Day to day, job to job, not feeling like you’re improving? Not moving the needle in the direction that you’d like?

After a project, gig, or busy week, it’s easy to immediately move on to whatever’s next without pausing to reflect on what you could learn from the recent experience.

Enter: the Start-Stop-Continue framework. Taking the time to ask yourself the three questions below is a valuable way to help you decide what to change (and what NOT to change).

What’s one thing I should START doing?

For example: Start recording your practice sessions. Start following up with potential clients. Start making time for a daily walk.

What’s one thing I should STOP doing?

Stop saying yes to every request. Stop rushing past the hard measures. Stop checking your phone every time the work you’re doing gets uncomfortable.

What’s one thing I’m already doing well and should CONTINUE doing?

Continue spending time with people who recharge you. Continue showing up prepared for rehearsals. Continue delivering what you promise.

Write down your own answers to these questions and keep them handy. Let this framework guide you toward what needs to change, as well as what’s already working. by @markdangerpowers

“Progress doesn’t come from time spent. It comes from attention paid.” — @mark_feldman_drummer

Swiped this valuable nugget from Mark’s recent post about how 30 minutes of practice can beat 2 hours . . . which you should read. Right. Now. by @markdangerpowers

“You’ve survived every single thing you thought you couldn’t handle up until this point. Why would the next one be any different?” — @markmanson by @markdangerpowers

Sit down. Do the work. Rinse and repeat. by @markdangerpowers

Luck is real. Sometimes the right opportunity lands in your lap.

But more often than not, the people we call “lucky” are simply the ones who kept showing up, kept improving, and were ready when the opportunity finally arrived.

Don’t build your future on hoping for luck. Build it on doing the work.

#luck #opportunity #dothework by @markdangerpowers

Bad gig?
Bad day?
Missed opportunity?
Feeling jealous?
Stuck?
Don’t be bitter.
Get better. by @markdangerpowers

Worthy goal (musically & otherwise): “Doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason — and nothing else.”

(@arimeisel) by @markdangerpowers

“Remember this: Anything above zero compounds. Showing up consistently matters more than showing up perfectly.
Small things become big things. Never allow optimal to get in the way of beneficial.” — @sahilbloom by @markdangerpowers

Digging this custom D⚠️NGER bass drum beater crafted for me by @lowboybeaters! by @markdangerpowers