What I Learned about Money by Playing Drums for the Stones

Yes. I actually do play drums for the Stones sometimes.

No. Not the Rolling Stones.

Once in a while I play for one of the best Rolling Stones tribute bands in the United States – the Hollywood Stones. It’s a great hobby and side job, and I learned a lot about money by playing with these blokes.

(I’m not in this picture, but this is the band.)

First, a little background. When I started off my career in finance I didn’t stop being a human. I have plenty of other activities. In fact, I’ve been playing drums since I was 12 and I love it.

It’s a big part of who I am, so when I get a chance, I play my heart out. But I never learned the money lessons behind music until about five years ago.

You see, up until then, I played with great musicians but not great people. I am a good player, but no Buddy Rich. So when great musicians were interested in playing with me, I jumped at the chance regardless of what kind of people they were. Even though this was my hobby, I put up with things I should not have. I didn’t learn how to negotiate at all.

But when I played with the Hollywood Stones, I learned invaluable lessons about money and life. After I played with these chaps the first time, I knew I’d never play music the same way again. Here’s what I learned and how you can apply it to your finances.

1. Don’t Waste Time

The Hollywood Stones are a band that sounds, looks and acts like the Rolling Stones. They are 100% entertainers. The audience and the players thoroughly enjoy themselves from the word go. Playing with these boys is about the most fun I’ve ever had.

Once I tasted this, I knew I’d never play with anyone I didn’t have a riot playing with again.

The money lesson:

Don’t stay trapped doing something you don’t love – hobby or job. If you don’t like your situation, do something about it and don’t put up with any crap from anybody. There are plenty of great jobs and opportunities. Either find something you love about what you do and who you do it with, or make a change. If you are miserable, you have nothing to lose if you take a chance and do something different. Life is not a dress rehearsal.

2. Self-Confidence

I do have a lot of self-confidence, but I’m human and I have my doubts like everyone else. I was not as confident in my playing as I should have been. As a result, I put up with people I otherwise would not have. My wife told me for years that nobody does you any favors and she was right – as usual.

The money lesson:

If you have a boss, she isn’t doing you a favor by giving you a job. You earn your keep every day. Feel confident and express your feelings, concerns and thoughts. Of course you shouldn’t go overboard and think you’re doing someone else a favor by working for them. But remember that people do business with others because they expect a benefit. Always think of yourself as being self-employed. If someone continues to do business with you, it’s because they benefit. Don’t ever doubt your self-worth.

3. Faith

For the longest time, I put up with playing music with the same group of people that I didn’t especially enjoy being around because I thought there was nothing better out there. I heard the Hollywood Stones play and never imagined I’d be able to play with them. But here we are, and I play with them now whenever their permanent drummer is unavailable. For me, this is a dream come true.

The Money Lesson:

Allow yourself to dream big. Music for me is a hobby – not a profession. So when I quit the other band with no real alternative, I wasn’t jeopardizing my family’s financial security. But just because you have bills to pay doesn’t mean you can’t dream and take action.

If you are wondering which job is right for you, take action and look into alternatives. Don’t ever stay stuck. I believe you can do anything you want to do if you are willing to do the work. Have faith. Take action. Make it happen. Oh…and rock on!