Meet Greg Garman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Garman.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Greg. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born into a family of creative people. My dad played guitar and wrote songs for fun and my mom (a dance teacher) started playing drums when she was pregnant with me! She taught me my first beat when I was about 4 to Queen “We Will Rock You.” It’s Crazy because my sister became a professional dancer/choreographer and I’m a professional drummer. My sister was even playing drums before me. I might have been in 5th grade when I mustered up enough courage to ask my mom for drum lessons. She was stoked I wanted to learn and taught me a lot! She still plays and now I show her some things. Growing up, I actually really wanted to be a professional baseball player. My dad helped a lot with my training and coached teams I was on.

By Sixth grade, I knew I wanted to be a drummer and have been playing almost every day since then. I decided to stop playing baseball in high school to focus on drums full on. Even though my parents were bummed I quit sports, they were always supportive of my decisions to pursue what would makes me happy. They would even drop me off at club gigs with my drums and pick me up at 2am when the shows were over. I wasn’t old enough to be in those bars/clubs so I had to stay by my drums at all times. I never played in school band because I already had gigs that were paying money and the school bands concert schedule conflicted with my gigs… I was mainly playing with guys 3 or 4X my age but I also played in bands with my friends and participated in the local drum competition throughout High School. I was so eager to “start my life” that I wanted to drop out but I’m glad I stayed that extra year. I knew I wanted to be a pro drummer but didn’t know how to go about it so my family encouraged me to go the Musicians Institute. I spent a year after high school working with my dad doing tile construction to save money to move to LA.

My sister Michele and cousin Jenny already lived there/here and needed a roommate so I moved in with them and started school. Tuition was high then and it’s unreasonably high now. FAFSA didn’t help at all with tuition grants so my mom helped me take out a loan to go to that school. I didn’t know how I was going to pay it back but I knew I’d figure it out so I didn’t let the money hold me back. Even though it seemed daunting at the time… I had an amazing time at that music school. Something was special about that time, the teachers, the students, the excitement of being on crazy Hollywood Blvd everyday… I made lifelong friendships/work relationships for sure. I actually met (who is now) Anderson.Paak the first day of school in 2006. We hit it off and I was playing drums in his band while he was singing and playing keyboard. He always had an undeniable talent and the most positive energy a human can have. It’s amazing to see your friends thrive!!!

During the time I went to MI they had this thing called Hiring Hall. Artists and or Bands would have auditions and hire people straight out from school. I did every audition that came through that school and didn’t get any gigs…lol When I graduated I had no idea what to do next so I looked on Craigslist and found a band that needed a touring drummer. I spent the next three months touring around the country in a van with three other dudes. It was a rough but fun tour. People were generous enough to give four guys a couch or floor to sleep on most nights but sometimes we had to all sleep in the van in Wal Mart parking lots. We did another two months tour then I decided to stay in LA and try to make more things happen. I needed to make money so I would go back home to Morro Bay and work with my dad while I was applying for work out here. It was 2008/9 during the recession so everyone was getting fired rather than hired. I couldn’t even get a job at Taco Bell or Target… Fortunately, MI hired me as a teacher assistant. Still wasn’t making a lot of money but it was something.

One day I was walking to my car and one of my friends asked me if I signed up for the new audition. Didn’t know what he was talking about but I had 5 min. before the office closed and I proceeded to sign up to audition for Selena Gomez’ band. I wasn’t familiar with who she was at the time but millions of other people were from her Disney show. I didn’t expect to get the gig because I was so used to not getting them…lol. I made the third round of auditions and later that night the Music Director, Loren Gold called me and offered me the job! At this point, I literally had $5.00 to my name and had to borrow money from my roommates at the time to put gas in my car to make it to rehearsals. I ended up played drums for her from 2009-2014. I’m forever grateful for that entire experience. When that ended it was difficult to “get back on the scene” because I had one gig for so long I wasn’t building a network by working with a lot of other people. I took any and all the drumming jobs I could which eventually let to a lot of the work I have done/ am currently doing. There’s a full list of credits on my website greggarmandrums.com but here are some notable gigs I’ve done/artists I play(ed) with: Filter, Christina Grimmie, Pentatonix, Kirstin Maldonado, Zella Day, Grace Vanderwaal, Sophie Simmons, Greyson Chance, Anastacia, Jody Watley, MKTO, New Language, Maddie Poppe, and currently I’m drumming with Holy Wars and Hollywood Undead. I also make lip balm and candles and sell them online https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApocalipsBalm.

Has it been a smooth road?
I brought up some on the last page but most the challenges for me have been mental or driven by my own anxiety or self-doubt. It’s not easy to change the way you think but we are all capable of doing so, Thoughts are powerful so I try to stay in the positive. We’re not all perfect and negative shit comes up but recognizing it and dealing with it in a healthy way is very important to personal development. Anything is possible if you believe and execute. You are not your thoughts but your thoughts can become reality so be mindful where your head is at.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am a professional drummer. I specialize in Rock/Pop music. Live, touring, and studio recording. I am proud that as a kid this job was my dream and now it is my reality. I love what I do and I am grateful to have my passion as my profession. I take pride in my work and anyone who hires me is going to get my best efforts always. It’s got to be fun too! Why do anything if it doesn’t make you feel good… Music is medicine and I get to be a part of bringing people joy!

I also have a small business called Apocalips where I make and sell vegan lip balm and candles.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
LA is a great place for people that want to be active in the entertainment industry. You can achieve soo many things online too… It depends on the person if LA is right for them. Giving back, being nice, helping people all go a long way for improvement. No matter where you are, be a good person, be respectful.

Contact Info:

• Website: greggarmandrums.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggarman @greggarman
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ApocalipsBalm

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