POCAST #91 - Andrew Atkinson

This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.🎧 A quick note to our listeners:We want to apologize for the slightly odd sound quality in this episode. It was our very first time recording the podcast remotely, so the audio might sound a little different than usual. Thanks for bearing with us through this little glitch!And trust us—you need to check out the video version of this episode when it drops on YouTube. The way we kicked things off is absolutely hilarious. You don’t want to miss it!In this episode, we sit down with the talented Andrew Atkinson—Broadway drummer for MJ the Musical, former sub on Hamilton, and an incredibly versatile musician whose journey is anything but typical.Andrew shares his unique path from a childhood split between Miami and Jamaica, to discovering his love for drums in a middle school percussion class he tried to transfer out of. We dive deep into his early musical influences (yes, country music and Shabba Ranks), his DIY passion for building computers, and the unexpected road that led him from playing jazz clubs to landing a seat in one of Broadway’s hottest shows.He discusses:* How he went from Miami art school to NYC drum pits* Playing with Gregory Porter and getting the call for Hamilton* The challenges and innovations of using fully electronic drums for MJ the Musical* Why discipline, preparation, and teamwork are essential for Broadway musicians* His experience working on America’s Got Talent and why that production team is the most organized he's ever seen* His deep respect for rudiments, practicing to perfection, and emulating legends like Art Blakey and Max RoachThis episode is packed with inspiration, practical wisdom, and stories from the grind. If you're serious about carving out your path in musical theater—or just want to hear what it takes to go from video games and ska in Jamaica to Broadway's biggest stages—this is the conversation for you.👉 Subscribe, rate us 5 stars, and check out exclusive content at BroadwayDrumming101.com🎥 Also available on YouTube – don’t forget to hit that bell for updates!Clayton Craddock founded Broadway Drumming 101, an in-depth online platform offering specialized mentorship and a carefully curated collection of resources tailored for aspiring and professional musicians.Clayton’s Broadway and Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. As a skilled sub, he’s contributed his talents to Motown, Evita, Cats, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Rent, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, Hadestown (tour), and many more. He has also appeared on major shows, including The View, Good Morning America, Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the TONY Awards, and performed with legends like The Stylistics, The Delfonics, Mario Cantone, Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Kerry Butler, Christian Borle, Norm Lewis, Deniece Williams, Chuck Berry, and Ben E. King.Clayton proudly endorses Ahead Drum Cases, Paiste Cymbals, Innovative Percussion drumsticks, and Empire Ears.Learn more about Clayton Craddock here: www.claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscribe