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Tim Ferriss

Dave Elitch — How to Get Out of Your Own Way (#348)

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“Slow down. Do it again.” — Dave Elitch

Dave Elitch (IG: @daveelitch) first garnered attention with his band Daughters of Mara’s debut album I am Destroyer in 2007, but his time touring with the American progressive rock band The Mars Volta in 2009-2010 is what really put him on the map. He has since worked with Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, M83, The 1975, Juliette Lewis, Big Black Delta, as well as many others.

Dave conducts master-class lectures worldwide and is a regular in the L.A. session scene, including performing on film scores for many major motion pictures. As an educator for the last 20 years, Dave has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist who has helped many of the world’s top players and educators overcome physical and mental plateaus at his private studio in Los Angeles. His brand new online course, Getting Out of Your Own Way, is available now at DaveElitch.com (use the code FERRISS at checkout for a 25% off discount).

Please enjoy this episode with Dave Elitch!

Listen to the interview on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Overcast, or on your favorite podcast platform.

You can find the transcript of this episode here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

#348: Dave Elitch — How to Get Out of Your Own Way

Further curious about how drummers see the world? You’re not alone! — Make sure to listen to my conversation with Stewart Copeland, drummer for The Police and son of a bona fide CIA operative! (Stream below or right-click here to download):

#262: The CIA, The Police, and Other Adventures from Stewart Copeland

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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Scroll below for links and show notes…

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with Dave Elitch:

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Book Recommendations by Dave’s Therapist:

Further Book Recommendations by Dave:

SHOW NOTES

  • Who is Dave, and why is he in my house? [04:28]
  • “Slow down. Do it again.” [08:49]
  • How Dave quickly identified and alleviated one of my greatest sources of discomfort behind a drum kit. [10:48]
  • My first introduction to Dave and his capacity for monster drumming in The Mars Volta, and why he’s known as a bit of a mercenary cleaner on the music industry tour circuit. [13:13]
  • How does Dave prepare to tour with a band — often on last-minute notice? It’s actually not dissimilar to how I prepare for speeches. [18:55]
  • What does the day of the first show of a mercenary tour look like for Dave? What advice or rituals does he suggest to others who find themselves facing a similarly stressful trial — musical or otherwise? [31:21]
  • How mastering or understanding the inner workings of one discipline — whether it’s drumming, tennis, Zen Buddhism, or something else altogether — can extend to solving the problems posed by countless other disciplines. [39:03]
  • A book exchange that took place between Dave and his therapist. [48:40]
  • What Marshall McLuhan might have told us about the influence of Auto-Tune on modern music. [50:01]
  • Who really sculpted our world’s love affair with consumerism: Sigmund Freud’s nephew or Edward Bernays’ uncle? These Adam Curtis documentaries should shed some light on the answer (while blowing a few minds in the process). [55:24]
  • Visual art, coping with met expectations of success that lead to burnout, and microwave manifestation. [1:03:36]
  • Oblique Strategies: how Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt can help us reconsider perspective and possibly course correct. [1:17:00]
  • How has a failure set Dave up for later success — and how did he reframe this failure to recognize it as a runway to that success? [1:25:28]
  • What makes Dave doubt the choices that led him to where he is today? [1:32:10]
  • It’s been said by some of Dave’s most well-known students that he excels in teaching patience. Why might drums make this an easier feat than if he taught saxophone? [1:39:50]
  • What would Dave’s billboard say? [1:44:46]
  • If Bill Burr doesn’t approach comedy like Sam Kinison, why should he approach drumming like John Bonham? [1:48:11]
  • Does Dave have any unusual habits or love of weird things — Himalayan or otherwise? [1:50:29]
  • Dave didn’t begin therapy until he was in his thirties. What made him start, and what keeps him going? [1:52:31]
  • Dave has contributed to quite a few film scores. What does that process look like from his perspective? [2:02:38]
  • Book recommendations and final thoughts. [2:04:30]

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