A few weeks ago, I saw a video of someone in the film industry talking about how much they loved their work. They said they had a “get-to” job, not a “got-to” job. They wake up excited to do what they do instead of dragging themselves through the day just to pay the bills.
That line stuck with me and it made me think about my own path.
When I started subbing on Broadway, I knew it was something special, but I didn’t fully appreciate it at first. I was in survival mode. Learn the book. Nail the parts. Prove I could handle the pressure. When I landed my first full-time chair on Memphis The Musical in 2009, it finally hit me. I get to do this for a living.
That was a dream moment, but getting there took years.
Very few of us shows up in New York and gets handed a Broadway show. I spent years grinding. Subbing, hustling, and staying ready. Before Memphis, I played off-Broadway shows like Tick, Tick… Boom! and Altar Boyz. Great gigs, but not guaranteed and definitely not steady.
And even when you get the big one, nothing lasts forever.
Memphis ran for almost three years. That is long by Broadway standards. But when it closed, that steady paycheck disappeared overnight. You go from packed houses every night to asking yourself what comes next.
That is why I tell musicians to think long-term.
A Broadway show is not a nine-to-five. Even when you have one, you still need to network, study, prepare, and position yourself for the next opportunity. If you’re lucky, you will get another show. If you’re really lucky, you will get a few.
I’ve had three Broadway chairs so far with another one coming in spring 2026. This business has its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it. This is a get-to job.
If this is what you want, stay at it. Play everything you can. Meet musicians. Go see shows. Learn new styles. Build real relationships. It takes time. Usually years. But when it happens, it is worth every struggle.
That is why I created Broadway Drumming 101. To share the real story of what it takes to play on Broadway.
I’ll be diving deeper into all of this in my upcoming book, Broadway Bound and Beyond, publishing in mid-December—right before the holidays. If you want to get on the list for updates, head to BroadwayBoundBook.com.
Because one day, if you stay ready and keep pushing, you might just find yourself sitting in a Broadway pit, looking around, thinking:
“Damn, I get to do this for a living.”