You’ve played Jesse’s Girl 50,000 times.  You’ve played Bon Jovi 10,000 times.

How does one get through the burnout factor and still enjoy playing the music?

I turn to the folks watching me play.  Over the past 10 years, playing cover gigs to help pay the bills, I’ve had different periods of burnout.  The one thing that always puts me back in that great place of loving what I do is a smile from an audience member be them young,old, male, female, it doesn’t matter.

The past few years, I’ve made it a point of all of my performances  to try to make eye contact with every person in the room.  Staff, patrons, fellow band members, I try to connect at some point of the show with all of them.  It’s amazing what can happen if you do.  I’ve had smiles, the horns, a fist, the head bob, the “Whazup” head lean-back, it always puts me in a great place and usually those folks will come talk to you after the show.  It also tends to shrink the room and make every show more intimate for the audience.

Never forget that those people in the audience may be hearing you play that song for the 1st time.  So the next time you’re on stage and you hit that negative place- make someone smile.  Remember they’ve never seen you play before. Make them smile, then play the hell out of it.

One of the most common questions that I am asked is what is the difference between maple and birch. All of today’s large drum companies like Pearl, Gretsch, Mapex, Tama, and Ludwig (in no particular order) have semi-pro and high-end pro level birch and maple kits available. The way I like to describe the difference, having owned and gigged on maple and birch kits, is the difference in the “ooom.”

Check out the full story by clicking here to go to the Ken Stanton Music website.

I’ve been there.  I’ve had the shot of Jaeger before the gig.  I’ve smoked cigarettes during my breaks.  I’ve drank a good 6-7 beers in a night. I’ve eaten the bar’s supreme nacho special before the gig.  I’ve eaten the value meal after the gig on the ride home.  I also stopped and have been thankful ever since.

It was the 90’s.  I at a time weighed in at a good 270 lbs.  I was playing 3-4 nights a week. Playing the typical 45/15 45/15 45/15 show.  I was really starting to feel good about my playing.  Then my dad had heart surgery.  After I came in from a cigarette at the hospital, while sitting in my dad’s room before he headed under the knife all of my uncle’s on my dad’s side came in one by one.  One heart surgery, two heart surgeries, bypass, quadruple bi-pass, triple bi-pass.  They all had it.  A lump instantly rose to my throat.  The Dr. then ran into me in the hallway and said, “I’ll see you when you’re 45.”

My life changed that instant.  I’ve battled with all of the demons and truly feel I’m winning the fight. I’m not trying to preach but I’m just trying to introduce the focus of healthy thought. In order for us to fully connect with the creative, feel-oriented, drummer that inside of all of us we have to strip away the fat.  Substances, diet, and inactive living can have extreme adverse affects on how we play and how our musicianship flows through us.  They can be huge roadblocks.  All you have to do to realize this is be “the sober guy” one night in a partying band and it can be the most miserable musical experience in the world.  Now I’m not saying to stop the party.  I love to throw down just like the next person when the time is right.  Just know, healthy mind and body=healthy groove.

Do something that causes you to sweat (I mean..sweat!) everyday.  It’s that simple.  If you don’t know what it is, don’t put it in your body.  It’s that simple.  Drink water.  It’s that simple.  Take vitamins. It’s that simple.  The more garbage you strip away from your system, the more the information can flow.  “Be water” as Bruce Lee said.  I challenge everyone to pick one bad thing (and you know what it is) that you do and get rid of it to become a better musician.  Whether it’s soda, not exercising, cigarettes, it can be anything.  But it’s YOUR thing and only you know what it is.  Strip away the fat.

It will be hard, it will be painful, it will be work but any goal is achievable.  I now am the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life.  I went from a 46 waist to a loose 34.  I now weigh in at 190 lbs.  I do P90x (which I highly recommend) everyday.  My gig is 4 straight hours (no breaks) on stage playing rock and metal.  My goal is to always play the last song of the night with the same conviction as the 1st song and I feel I’m getting closer.

Find that challenge for yourself.  You and only you know what it is.  Only then can we truly see and feel the rhythm in her full light.  Rhythm is life.

-Kent

Keep checking back for informative blog posts from Kent and make sure to check the calendar for Kent’s schedule.  Hope you all enjoy the new website – if you want summarized updates everyday, just put your email in that box up in the top right corner… don’t worry, we will not spam you/share/sell/rent your email address!  Your email address is completely private.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out the new site. My goal is for this site to be an avenue of information and inspiration that will help you become the drummer you want to be.  I will be writing new blog posts frequently about something having to do with the world of rhythm.  Topics such as technique, tuning, professionalism (how to get the gig), touring, and more  will be covered.

You can also keep up with all of my goings ons such as dates, clinics, dvd release, etc. by checking out the “Kent Live” page. The DVD which is unofficially titled “Technique and Musicality for the Weekend Warrior” is scheduled to be released in early fall.  You will be able to purchase your dvds from this website as well as stores near you.

I can’t thank my friend Keith Wilson and his wife Megan for all of their help with this site and other business happenings.  Thanks so much guys.  I also have to thank Stephen James and everyone that is helping with the dvd.  Last but not least by any means, I have to thank my wife Steph as well as my pooches Yoda and Pixie, my family, and all of you friends and fans for all your love and support! I hope this blog finds you all in good health and good spirits.

Have a blessed day.  See ya at the shows!

- Kent