Nearly one year ago, I embarked on an artistic journey. Craving some creativity in my life while working from home in a studio apartment, I decided it was time to do what I always wanted: Take drumming lessons.
I’d be lying if I didn’t say that part of it had to do with my love for the Muppets character Animal. A former pianist, I also know the importance of keeping rhythm and was even told I am “rhythmic” when completing certain tasks. So, why not give this percussive instrument a try?
After playing for a month, I found myself continually inspired by both the art of drumming and the wisdom of drummers. Whether you’re feeling stuck on your strategy or career in digital marketing, these quotes from drummers can guide you on what to do next:
Don’t rely on fancy tricks to get results
“Playing fast around the drums is one thing. But to play music, to play with people for others to listen to, that’s something else. That’s a whole other world.” – Tony Williams
When I first started drumming, I was inspired by the fast beats from Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit or Rage Against the Machine’s Guerilla Radio. As I began to learn new beats and fills, I saw there’s more to drumming than playing fast. Slower songs like Japanese Breakfast’s Boyish could move me just as much as Carly Rae Jespersen’s I Really Like You.
I still have yet to play the alternative rock I grew up with, but I’ve seen that it’s about more than fancy drumming tricks. You also have to think about your audiences and the potential impact you want to make on them.
Among the many quotes from drummers, Williams’ thoughts make a strong statement for digital marketing. It can be easy to get caught up in the hottest platform or feel the pressure to participate in a viral trend, but the question to ask is: “Should you do this? Will it resonate with your audiences?”
Sometimes not participating in the latest content trend is the better way to go. Your audiences may be confused or not appreciate your decision to go in a wildly different direction when they relied on you for something they already enjoyed. Just like playing faster drum beats isn’t always better, jumping on every new marketing tactic might not be the best way to reach the people you want.
Keep practicing and honing your skills
“You only get better by playing.” – Buddy Rich
Like any skill or craft, drumming takes time and requires you to keep polishing. Becoming Ringo Starr or Dave Grohl overnight won’t happen. Many times, I stumbled over beats and had to pause and reset myself when I skipped the bass drum. Experienced drummers make playing around the different drums look easy, but it takes time and playing over and over again until you feel comfortable and the music flows.
The same is true for digital marketing. The only way to get better at running social media ads or editing photos or creating graphics is by practicing over and over again. It’s a lesson I’m constantly learning and Buddy Rich’s simple statement stands out among the quotes from drummers as a reminder that you don’t have everything in digital marketing figured out. No one is an expert at anything the first time they do it. Everyone improves by the simple mantra: Practice, practice, practice.
Take the time to understand what works best
“Drums all have their own particulars – each drum has a place where they sound the best – where they ring out and resonate the best...” – Chad Smith
What I’ve come to enjoy most about drumming is how different each drum and cymbal sounds. The crash cymbal, hi-hat, snare drum, bass drum, and every tom produce their own individual sound that can make you feel a certain way. To figure out what will resonate and make an impact means having a close ear on each drum. That’s what makes drumming so exciting, every drum has its own feel that you connect with as soon as you hear it.
Drumming and concerts aren’t the only places where I listen closely and take the time to figure out what works best. Using the same approach for digital marketing is just as important. Listening closely to audiences’ reactions and comments is an essential part of my work in digital marketing. What people say (or don’t say) and how they connect with content across digital channels helps me understand what kind of content is the most effective. Taking a moment to assess feedback from audiences provides me with a deeper understanding of how people use digital channels and consume content.
Experiment, test, and learn
“You need to take risks, you never know if the end results will be beautiful or strange, you need to be instantaneous, listening to every moment, without missing a scrap of the music, even if you play a rest.” – Brian Blade
After practicing and getting good at the basics, there comes a point for every musician where experimentation is a natural next step. At some point you have to breakaway from playing the same pattern and improvise with a fill, extra beat, or rest. It may not work out, but you won’t know until you give it a shot and see what happens. Once you have a response from audiences, you’ll know if your experimentation works or if it’s better to go back to basics.
I often feel the same way about digital marketing. After getting to know your audiences, you know which tactics work. While it’s a good idea to keep using what’s been effective in the past, it’s also good to figure out when to branch out. If experimenting with a new kind of content aligns with your brand and vision, it might be worth it to explore something fresh and new to keep your audiences coming back. Once you’ve hit “publish,” take the time to assess the results and understand what the analytics are telling you to see if your experiment paid off. Drummers know what I’m talking about.
Know your worth
“I love being a drummer. Everyone thinks you’re dumb. What they don’t realize is that if it weren’t for you, their band would suck.” – Dave Grohl
If there’s one quote that stands out among the many quotes from drummers for me it’s this one from renowned drummer Dave Grohl. Drumming is about more than hitting the drums. It’s also about keeping the rest of the band on the beat, providing an extra punch when your song needs it, and setting the sonic landscape for your band’s creativity.
When it comes to digital marketing, there’s no shortage of other opinions on the kind of content you should be producing. It can be hard to advocate for yourself when hearing opinion after opinion starts to wear on you. What I’m constantly learning and reminding myself is that I have the experience and analytics to know if what others are saying is valuable.
Anyone can post on their personal Instagram account or send an email, but doing the same thing for a brand is a different story. Most people don’t understand this until they’re actually in your shoes.
What they do understand is the power of digital marketing, which is why you shouldn’t discount yourself as a digital marketer. You have the power to make a difference in how audiences view your company and whether or not they want to connect with your brand. Never forget the influence you can have and the value you bring to the table.
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