Judging A Book By Its Cover
I may look conservative, but deep down inside, I have a rebellious side.
This photo was of me laying down a track for a heavy metal/fusion band many years ago.
Don’t be fooled by the way I’m dressed.
Many moons ago, I worked a square job-meaning a 9-5 day gig. I was a financial services rep for MetLife and also a banker at Chase. Yeah, I did what I had to do.
On this day, I came from working at the bank and went right into the studio.
People at those jobs often asked me what style of music I played. Most thought I was a jazz musician because of my suit and tie. Little did they know, after work, I was playing hardcore rock, be-bop, world music, funk, disco, heavy metal, country, and believe it or not, show tunes. In 2006, I left all of that day job stuff to play in musicals full-time to support my family. I couldn’t take faking it. I never liked selling things I didn’t always believe in.
I always found it interesting how people make assumptions by a person’s outward appearance. It’s true that it matters, but in my case, the way I dress has little resemblance to how I think.
I may look conservative and wholesome, but I’m quite a different person when the sun goes down. Hey, don’t let that rebel stuff fool you either. I’ve become quite a conservative since I’ve seen the realities of human nature-especially the way fathers get treated in family court.
In my head, I’ll always zig while everyone around me is zagging. I never liked conformity or following rules that the rest of society says we should. I’m still going to be true to myself.
Especially in times like today.
Why Think Things Through?
I discovered the Socratic method many years ago and found it fascinating. When you start asking people questions and digging deeper into what people are feeling and thinking, they tend to either feel cornered or threatened - or realize what they were thinking didn’t make sense after all.
With this newsletter, I‘ll share some of my thoughts on current events, music, the arts, ideas, drumming, theater, and social trends. I’ll dig deep into what’s going on around us and ask questions to get you thinking a little differently. When you subscribe to the newsletter, you’ll receive entertaining, enlightening, and thought-provoking writing. Hopefully, I’ll make my readers a little more knowledgeable and intellectually curious.
Here is a sample of the content you’ll receive on a regular basis:
Broadway Lives MatterOver 97,000 of us are being dismissed at unimportant or non-essential, yet we bring in $14.7 BILLION to the economy of New York City.
Why I Refuse To Pay Child Support - I am living proof that there is another way.
Does New York Have A Phase 5? - It's time to end Governor Andrew Cuomo's emergency powers.
Soul Vaccination - The Swine Flu Fraud of 1976 - Are you willing to take an unproven vaccination so quickly? You might want to see this before you do.
Safety Third, Not Safety First - There are no safe spaces in life
The People Who Love Never-Ending Lockdowns Have Jobs - The rest of us are getting more concerned about our future with each passing day.
The Perfect Storm - Frustration, anger, sadness, disappointment, rage - violence!
CDC Stands for "Can't Decide Completely" - The Circus For Disease Confusion is a mess
The 1968 Pandemic You Never Heard About - The Lessons from the Hong Kong Flu
Stay up-to-date
I encourage you to forward this newsletter to your friends in hopes that they will like the content. Think Things Through will be free until December 31, 2020. When you subscribe, you’ll get full access to the newsletter and website. You won’t miss an update. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox!
Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain’t Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University’s School of Business and is a 25 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in a number of hit broadway and off-broadway musicals including “Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical and Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill. In addition, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.