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If you have any comments about the podcast or are a performer who wants advice please do email info@thevarietyshowpodcast.co.uk
Artist bio
Richard Enion is a Midlands-based drummer and entrepreneur who blends live percussion with facilitation and business. Raised in a small village near Burton on Trent, he started drumming after being inspired by a school assembly performance and later trained formally for several years in Derby. Alongside playing drum kit in bands, Richard built a career delivering large-scale drumming workshops for companies, using rhythm as a tool for connection, stress relief, and shared achievement. He appeared on Dragon’s Den, accepted an on-air offer, and later chose not to take the deal, while still benefiting from the experience and exposure.
Episode summary
In this episode of The Variety Show, Adam Sternberg talks with drummer and entrepreneur Richard Enion about how rhythm became both a musical path and a business. Richard shares his early life near Burton on Trent, his first drum kit at 12, and the school assembly moment that sparked everything. He explains how he moved from playing in bands to running corporate drumming workshops, building sessions that take groups from zero to a full performance and helping people feel safe, energised, and present. Richard also tells the story of travelling in the Caribbean, trusting a gut instinct that landed him a drumming gig, and how that period led directly to buying djembe drums and launching the team-building side of his work. The conversation covers why drumming can feel meditative and communal, what happens when participants are hesitant or have been drinking, and why arts access in schools matters. Richard then talks through his Dragon’s Den journey, including pushing back after being told there was no slot, the eventual pitch, the offer, and the decision not to sign. The episode ends with Richard teaching Adam basic stick rudiments and sharing advice for young musicians on starting with whatever you have, then doing the practice that builds real skill.
00:00 Intro and Richard’s background near Burton on Trent
00:02 First drum kit and the school assembly inspiration
00:04 Lessons, rudiments, and learning the fundamentals
00:08 Caribbean drumming detour and trusting the instinct to ask
00:10 From bands to djembe workshops and the start of team building
00:11 What a corporate drumming session looks like and why it works
00:14 Handling reluctant participants and the alcohol factor
00:15 Drumming as focus, stress relief, and shared “medicine”
00:21 Arts in schools and inspiring young people through music
00:21 Dragon’s Den, the offer, and why Richard walked away
00:27 Adam learns stick basics: singles, doubles, and paradiddles
00:33 Human energy vs electronic tools and AI concerns
00:36 Advice for young drummers: start anywhere, then practice hard
What is The Variety Show?
The Variety Show is a celebration of the extraordinary people who bring live performance to life. Each week, host Adam Sternberg sits down with a dazzling range of guests – from magicians to contortionists, gospel singers to tap dancers to uncover the real stories behind their craft. How do artists decide to dedicate their lives to performing? What inspires them, challenges them, and keeps them coming back to the stage? Through intimate conversations, Variety gives listeners a behind-the-curtain look at the journeys, passions, and influences that shape today’s performers. Whether you’re a fan of live entertainment, a lover of the arts, or simply curious about the paths less traveled, this podcast offers a fresh perspective on the world of performance.
If you have any comments about the podcast or are a performer who wants advice please do email info@thevarietyshowpodcast.co.uk