The Hidden Skill Behind Great Broadway Subs

In this clip from my conversation with Noah Hadland on the Broadway Drumming 101 Podcast, we get into something most drummers don’t think about.I asked him what the hardest part is about subbing multiple shows at once. Most people would say the music.It’s not.If you’ve done the work, the notes aren’t the problem. The real challenge is touch.Every drummer you sub for plays differently. Some dig in. Some are right on the click. Some lean with the conductor. Some lay back. Some push.When you’re bouncing between shows — sometimes in the same day — you have to carry all of that with you. Not just the parts. The feel. You’re not covering a book. You’re covering a person.That’s where most drummers fall short. They learn the notes and think they’re ready. But they don’t sound like the drummer they’re subbing for. Stay tuned for Noah’s GREAT interview. Make sure you’re subscribed to be notified when the episode is released:Clayton Craddock is the drummer for Cats: The Jellicle Ball on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. He is also the founder of Broadway Drumming 101 and the author of Broadway Bound and Beyond: A Musician’s Guide to Building a Theater Career.His Broadway credits include Memphis, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill, Ain’t Too Proud, and Cats: The Jellicle Ball, with additional credits spanning tick, tick…BOOM!, The Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical, and subbing on Rent, Motown, Evita, Avenue Q, and the Hadestown tour.Clayton has appeared on The View, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and the Tony Awards. He has performed with artists ranging from Chuck Berry and Ben E. King to Kristin Chenoweth and Norm Lewis.www.claytoncraddock.com Get full access to Broadway Drumming 101 at broadwaydrumming101.substack.com/subscribe