We were lucky to catch up with Andrew McNeill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Andrew, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Earning a full-time living as a musician has definitely been my reality for quite some time, and I don’t take it for granted. It has been an imperfect journey to get to that point, so I guess I could share what worked for me.
The journey to get there looks different for every creative, but I would say mine involved an incredible amount of patience and risk-taking. That mixed with working incredibly hard with a student mentality can yield some good results.
My first major step is a lifelong one, which is making sure I hone my craft behind the drums everyday. I believe you never stop learning as a musician. Practicing everyday you possibly can is the only way to nurture your gift as a musician. I especially did this when I was younger all the way into my years in music school. Its important to practice and learn music that inspires you, and even more important to work on concepts and styles that challenge everything you know. That’s the only way you grow.
Even when you’re not behind your instrument, you can still be practicing with your eyes and ears. You’ve got to listen to as music as possible(all genres) any chance you get….more than the average person. “You are what you eat,” and the same goes for “you are what you listen to.” I once had a teacher tell me: “You’re only as good as your sample bank allows you to be.”
Use every available resource on the internet to watch and listen to the masters of your craft. Watch their performances, watch their masterclasses, listen to every interview they’ve ever done, etc. They’ve been where you are, there’s so much out there that can inspire and inform you. I’ve also gotta say that the older you get, the less free time you will have to do all of this. So to the younger folks, take full advantage of all the time you have for this…because the older you get, the more you have to learn to manage that time. The earlier you start the better.
Another important step(one that helped me and every other pro musician) includes going out every single day/night in your local scene and making meaningful relationships that you nurture. Go to every show and every jam session in your city. Get involved in EVERY scene. Trust that you’ve honed your craft to the best of your ability and go out there and sit in with bands and artists as much as possible. (that is, if they are down with it…be persistent, but don’t be pushy). Something always lead to something else…so the more experience you have playing out….and the more relationships you make while doing so…the further along you will get.
It’s important to listen and learn from those professionals who have been at it longer than you. Most of them are approachable. Ask them questions. Pay close attention to how they play songs. Grab lunch with them, and talk about life. You’re absolutely doing it wrong if you aren’t seeking out mentors in those who do it better than you.
Be yourself, learn to relate to different kinds of people, and play well and tasteful. With the meaningful relationships, honing your craft, and experience under your belt….the gigs will come. And you take every single one of them.
Once the first few gigs start coming in, remaining professional is everything at this point. Show up on time, learn the music, treat people well, resolve conflict, learn to take criticism, keep that student mentality, play tastefully with dynamics….respond to texts/calls/emails timely. And know your worth. When the money starts to come in, make sure you manage it well.
All of that and more has more or less carried me to a point where I can make a living with music.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Not sure it could be said better than my last interview, but….I’m a lucky man. I get to travel the world on tours, play drums and collaborate with songwriters in the studio, and most importantly, my lifelong pursuit of being a better musician has also become my professional career.
I love and appreciate every genre of music, and am always trying to avoid a flock mentality. I always want to do something that’s different from what everyone around me is doing. I find fulfillment in playing music like that. I consider myself deeply rooted in the drumming tradition created in Memphis(as well as American music in general), and that’s the point at which I jump off from.
I like serving the songs of the artists I’m working with. I want it to mean something special every single time. I believe in protecting the groove on stage, and in live shows having a forward motion. I believe in an intentional style of playing, and not having some preconceived notion before I even know what I’m about to play.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of this creative life is having the ability to create something from nothing, and witnessing how that touches other people. Whether someone is hearing me doing it live, or they are hearing it on a recording….seeing how they respond is probably the most rewarding part of this life. And its a beautiful thing….
All the while, on a personal level….I get to take whatever I’m going through in life…whether its good or bad…..and turn it into music. Expressing myself through music has added a tremendous amount of beauty to my life, and at many times….it has literally saved it…
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
There have been a few times(I won’t specifically name them)….where I had a really a bad performance. These were due to my playing not being up to par, or I just wasn’t feeling the situation emotionally or physically….that will 100% ruin a performance if your heart isn’t in it. A couple of these bad performances happened to be in front of 2 very legendary drummers I look up to. One just berated me in front of everyone, and the other simply walked out of the room. I immediately used experiences like that as learning moments. How can I do better? What really needs improvement? They were actually pivotal moments that didn’t really bother me too much…they just drove me to do better.
There have been(are still) other times where I just simply am not feeling it and don’t perform as well as I want to. Sometimes you just experience life at its worst, and still have to deliver as a professional artist. And that’s incredibly difficult.
However, that is when music can be most theraputic. Music is healing. For both the audience and the artist. So you trust that, do your best to rein the hard feelings in, and make the most beautiful music you can possibly make.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.andrewmcneillmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amcneilldrums/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amcneilldrums
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-mcneill-b955a368
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/amcneilldrums
Image Credits
Laura Carbone, Francois Kohl, Taylor Orr, Jamie Harmon and Jim Hartzell