Episode 68 | Nick Ruffini of Drummer's Resource Podcast
If you know about drumming podcasts, even if only a little bit….it is almost impossible not to know about Drummer’s Resource. With over 360 episodes recorded, Nick Ruffini has never failed to release a podcast every single Monday since November 2013. Some of the guests that Nick has had on the show include Mike Portnoy, Thomas Lang, Ndugu Chancler, Steve Gadd, Chad Smith, Nate Smith and Lenny White. Any of the guests listed above gives you the impression that Nick has made some deep contact within the industry. It is not a small task to book those caliber of shows, as I can relate to the process myself.
So I have to share a small story to explain to you why this episode is pretty special to me as a podcaster. Over a year ago when I started DrumGAB podcast I had never listened to a podcast before. I knew what they were but that is all I knew. So when I decided to develop my own podcast I had no references initially which was a problem because I had no idea if I was doing it correctly and so it was time to start listening to them.
I didn’t know of any drumming podcasts so I went to Google to search and the first result that came up was Drummer’s Resource, so I clicked on it. I can’t remember the first episode I listened to but I do remember my first impressions of the show upon first listening. The host was comfortable, the audio is good, the episode list is stacked with legacy players and I had a lot to learn.
For about three months I listened heavily to the podcast picking up some nuances of flow, the delivery of questions, responding organically through careful listening to the guest and some production stuff. It wasn’t that Drummer’s Resource was a blueprint but I felt that I was gaining experience by listening.
Eventually I reduced my listening to Drummer’s Resource and other podcasts and began isolating myself to my own project so that I could be as original as possible and find my own way in podcasting. I think that was a wise move because I didn’t want other podcasts to be my source of creative inspiration.
It was November of last year when Nick reached out and in our first conversation had said that he was digging what I was doing with the show. I must say that because his show was the first podcast I had ever listened to and originally obsessed with when I started mine, receiving a compliment like that was pretty awesome.
Fast forward up to a couple of weeks ago….I recorded a solo show about social media engagement and influence building and sat on it for a week. The show is actually assembled and I could have published it by now, but I kept holding onto it. Then a lightbulb moment happened and just figured, why not talk to Nick about this stuff? I caught a couple of his live feeds on Instagram and he was talking about this stuff and I figured he would be a great guest to have on to discuss this stuff and besides that I wanted to talk some podcast shop too. That brings us up to the present.
The Episode
I think listeners will recognize a few things relatable to themselves in this episode. One concept that I think people should take away from this episode is not to limit yourself by having a restricted way of thinking. You have to decide how badly you want something and then understand that it is not impossible at all but that it will be difficult and you will have to deal with personal tests that will challenge your passions.
Another strong message in this podcast is how too much information and not enough action can create an unhealthy cycle of over motivating your mind but underachieving as a result.
We also go over the importance of engagement on social media and that big numbers don’t always mean big engagement or meaningful connections. There are more examples of great points being addressed that are beneficial to the modern drummer, whether it is practical application or state of mind, this episode touches on a lot of quality subjects that lead to great conversation with a veteran in the podcast game.
Drummer’s Resource Socials
Instagram | Facebook | Website
DrumGAB Socials