Meet Tom and find what it's like to be Kylie's drummer. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Tom Meadows - Drummer
I’m a drummer which, obviously, I hit things for a living. I’ve been with Kylie now for nearly 10 years. Basically, I’m just making sure that people nod their head and dance whilst she’s on stage!
I’ve been doing this now for probably about 25 years. I started at school and I was in school bands and playing in pubs and clubs around London. And I think that’s the most important thing, I learnt my craft playing in pubs and clubs where often people were there and they weren’t particularly interested and you had to win them over. I’ve gone step by step; a just signed artist who’s supporting a bigger act to a more established act who maybe’s doing their first headline tour all the way up now to Kylie who’s, you know, doing arenas around the world.
It’s playing to, well, sometimes 10 people, sometimes 10,000 people but each time you know that you’re having a little effect on their day. That, to me, never gets old. Even though I may have been playing the same songs for 10 years but each audience is very different.
To break into this industry now, things are tough, but I don’t think that should ever stop you from doing what you want to do. This is one of the ultimate passion vocations I think, you have to really love it, because there’s a lot of hard graft, there’s a lot of schlepping your gear up and down stairs, in and out of cars at midnight, 1 o’clock in the morning, 2 o’clock in the morning… You have to love it. And if you love it, you’ll do it. And that’s the only advice that I can give, is that if you love it, do it and keep loving it.
Whether you are playing for 10 or 10,000 people, knowing you are having a little effect on their day - that never gets old.
Tom has been working with Kylie for ten years and currently splits his working time between Kylie and Will Young
Drumming has been part of Tom's life for as long as he can remember. He started playing in school, then in pubs and clubs. Step by step he progressed from working with a just-signed artist, to drumming with a more established artist doing their first headlining tour, until he eventually started to work with Kylie
"It's hard to break into the industry", Tom admits, "but don't let that stop you doing what you want to do"
"If you love it, do it and keep doing it!" is the advice Tom has for anyone considering a career in this industry.
A drummer can also be known as a musician. Musicians create or perform different types of music, from classical to pop and rock.
What to expect if you want to be a musician
- Musician average salary: Variable.
- Musician typical working hours: 34 to 36 hours per week. Be prepared for long and unsociable hours at times.
What qualifications do you need to be a musician?
You could get into this role via a university course, a college course, applying directly or specialist courses run by private training organisations.
Sources: National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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