Clayton Craddock: Drumming for “Ain’t Too Proud,” Constructing Your Own Safety Net – Episode 221

Clayton Craddock’s drumming career spans decades and numerous Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals. He’s currently the drummer of the Broadway Show Ain’t Too Proud-The Life And Times Of the Temptations. Clayton has held the drum chair for several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including “Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, and Lady Day At Emerson’s…

Read more

It’s The Little Thing That Matter – The Impact Of a Handwritten Note

As I continue to explore ideas surrounding networking, I thought I’d continue with a post about one of my annual traditions – sending out handwritten notes. Several years ago, I began sending holiday cards. Reaching out to those I cared about to say hello or spread good cheer during the holidays seemed like a great…

Read more

How To Use Social Media Effectively – A Broadway Musician’s Guide To Social Media Networking

In my post How To Become Better At Networking, I discussed five ways to begin building your network. Today, I will talk about social media and how to use it to your advantage. Fun fact: if you are a monster on your instrument but can’t seem to gather the strength and courage to talk to people…

Read more

Ain’t Too Proud-The Atlantic Fest Virtual Event Preview – “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”

From the Ain’t Too Proud Instagram Page: “Tonight, the folks at #TheAtlanticFest got a sneak peek at our upcoming Ain’t Too Proud virtual event in partnership with American Express featuring performances from the cast and a conversation with book writer Dominique Morriseau and original member of The Temptations, Otis Williams! Oh, and it’s hosted by…

Read more

How To Network And Become A Successful Musician – Part II – “Social Media”

In my last post about networking for musicians, I wrote about how to be assertive and just ask. If you are a monster on your instrument but can’t seem to gather the strength and courage to talk to people you don’t know, you may be that amazing musician that no one knows about. That’s generally the…

Read more

How To Become Better At Networking – Here are five tips that can help make connecting with people a little easier.

I often encounter musicians who tell me they suck at networking. They’re the kind of person who, in their formative years, spent hours learning how to play their instrument but little time on meeting other musicians. I’ve heard complaints from my colleagues about the lack of work or when work is slow. There are always…

Read more

Five Things You Need To Know About Playing Drums On A Broadway Show

If you are at all interested in finding work as a musician playing drums on a Broadway musical, I can certainly give a few tips. I’ve been fortunate to have played in several over the past 20 years and I’ve learned a  little from each one I’ve been in. Each of the shows I’ve done…

Read more

tick, tick…BOOM! – Therapy

Before Rent, there was tick, tick… BOOM!. This autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize–and Tony Award–winning composer of Rent, is the story of an aspiring composer who questions his life choices on the eve of his thirtieth birthday. It was first performed as a solo rock monologue by Larson back in 1990. I…

Read more

‘A smile so bright’ as this Broadway cast gathers for digital performance – Ain’t Too Proud on PBS Newshour

“In the midst of overwhelming sadness and suffering, we wanted to end the week on a high note. It’s brought to us from the Tony Award-winning cast of “Ain’t Too Proud,” the Broadway show about The Temptations. They recently got online to connect and delivered this performance, part of our ongoing arts and culture series,…

Read more