The music industry forces musicians to be publicly agreeable and not share their true thoughts. Of course, everyone says they are not liying...when what they mean is that they are not telling the whole truth. This makes most musicians morally questionable as they are willing to trade integrity for financial opportunity(not so different from the average joe, but we should keep higher standards).
Most musicians that are critical of other musicians are usually jealous and deep in the 'im not good enough' thought process that they reduce the quality of their art. Have self respect without letting your ego take control and your playing will reflect it.
An audience is not worth the $ loss it takes to play publicly when you do not have a demand that calls for a meaningfully profitable pay scale. I can invite people to my place, play at home...less headache and potential threat.
If you believe you will get discovered at a jam then you better get active buying lottery tickets as they are more likely to be productive. If I want to get more popular, I can hire a PR firm...its more reliable and likely to have effect on myself as a business than going to jams. Jams are where 'marks' are found to 'play for exposure'...yes, some contacts can be good from jams but most are poor contacts and the good ones you could have made with proper PR/Management.
Playing music you do not like effects your playing... detrimentally. Fake enthusiasm can be heard and felt.
After developing your skills for decades, mental practice(off the set, no sticks) can be a significant enhancer of your skills.
If you don't play at least 2 additional instruments and work on your singing, you are selling your drumming short....does not mean you will be performing the additional instruments or voice but cross training WILL make your drumming better.(had a lot of drummer try to dissuade me from that opinion).
Music theory is as important as rudiments to a drummer. Be able to read rhythm on the fly (Classic, Coral and Nashville Notation) and at least be able to interpret pitch notation...and that's at a minimum. Nail down your circle of 5ths and alternate modes...understand what intervals are and what they are called and how they work together.
Thinking you will make money playing music(without side businesses) to make a living is usually a fallacy.
Teaching sucks - I want to play!
Get an entertainment lawyer and contract everything you do if it involves money or property risk. insure yourself as a musician as well as your equipment. How much is your ability to play worth to you?...insure it for that much.
Question all things told including those told by popular musicians.
Never be a band follower, be the band leader and take your enhanced portion of profit. Don't be on the other end.
Write songs, have an automatic copyright process set up for every recording of your song development(live stream to a backed up server is wise)...but note, people will lie about 'writing the song first'...so proof you wrote it can be a bit difficult when fighting truly unethical money mongers.. Never release without copyright protection. Chase violators of your copyrights and pursue stiff penalties(and never settle!! Better to let the lawyer have a larger take than to let the rich *%#$^ get away with it.) Pursue criminal prosecution when your materials are stolen...be it a stolen drum set or a stolen song or performance.
No one really wants to do the business side until its too late...and most drummers I have met argue against being financially/legally sound! Surprises me...the excuse is usually that it looks bad to be business like??!!??