Every week, I talk to students, colleagues, and fellow musicians about the holy grail of New York music gigs: playing on Broadway. It's one of the most visible and steady jobs for musicians in this city. People fly in from across the country and around the world, hoping to be part of this scene. And yes, performing in a Broadway show, especially a hit, is an incredible experience. I've had the good fortune to be part of three Broadway and two Off-Broadway hit shows so far.
But here's the truth that doesn't get talked about enough: that dream gig is rare. And it might not even be your dream gig once you finally get there.
Let's start with some hard numbers. There are 41 Broadway theaters, and on average, 20 musicals are running at any given time. That's roughly 20 drum chairs. Maybe 15 percussion chairs. Over half of those shows are long-running hits, which means those musicians are locked in. That leaves around 10 drum and 5 percussion chairs open. And most of those shows won't last more than a year, sometimes even less.
So if you're banking your entire music career on landing a single Broadway chair and expect it to keep you afloat in New York City for decades, consider the reality that comes with that choice.
