What does it really take to build a sustainable Broadway drumming career?
In this classic episode of Broadway Drumming 101, Elena Bonomo, drummer for SIX, breaks down the long game behind working in musical theater. Originally recorded in January 2022, this conversation still holds up because the career realities have not changed.
Elena talks about growing up in a musical family, learning to read music early, and why drums always felt like fun instead of work. She shares how school musicals and early pit gigs quietly prepared her for professional theater work long before Broadway was even on the radar.
We also dig into her time at Berklee, why versatility mattered more than picking a single lane, and how touring, low-paying gigs, and cruise ship work all played a role in building real-world skills. Elena is honest about the financial realities, the grind of early career decisions, and how adaptability ultimately opened doors.
If you are a drummer, percussionist, or musician trying to understand how Broadway careers are actually built over time, this episode offers perspective that is still relevant today.
Guest: Elena Bonomo
Originally released: January 14, 2022
Broadway Drumming 101 Classic Episode
January 26, 2026
Learn more about Elena:
If you want to go deeper into this world, Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career, is available now on Amazon.com.
If you’d like a signed copy by Clayton, along with Broadway Drumming 101 merchandise, head to signaturebrandworks.com.
The book lays out the mindset, preparation, relationships, money realities, and long-term thinking behind real theater careers.