making bass my job...

Brian7StringNY · #1 03-01-2009, 05:07 PM

Ok here is a bit of background. I am 36, I have been playing one instrument or another for most of my life, bass for 24 years. I used to read music from playing violin but have lost that talent. Over the years I have been more experimental and relied on ear training. I have collected as many books, college texts, videos and everything else on theory, sight reading, technique, etc. I could find in the past 5 months. I am at a crossroads and wish to pursue a career in music using bass. I am proficient with my 7 string but I plan on getting stronger by studying as much as I can for the next, say 2 years.

Question: What should I concentrate most on and what is the best way and best location in the US to audition for session, or any "professional" gig? Also what categories lie within the term session/pro musician?

Thanks ever so much,

Brian

Count Bassie · #2 03-02-2009, 04:46 AM

Geez... do you gig now? I'd say use what's in your own backyard and just get into the idea of networking. Do a little schmoozing (which I have never done 'till recently)... you are only 5 degrees removed from the Queen of England- and connections come from surprising places and moments. If you are active and stay awake, you'll be able to answer the door when opportunity knocks.

I wouldn't go travel for location, but I have heard that Austin, TX is a hotspot for music scenes.

But the best advice I could presume to give would be to not spend your energy planning, but playing. Fine, study. But a job has more to do with how you handle relationships than even how you play, I think. Look in at youtube. Lots of cats with chops working regular day jobs. Go figure...

Brian7StringNY · #3 03-02-2009, 06:25 AM

That's the problem...there's nothing in my backyard. Plus I know guys with chops on YouTube have regular jobs. But what about those guys who work making soundtracks, cat food commercials, and elevator jazz. My ambition is pushing me to leave upstate NY and dig my heels into a full time playing gig. I've gigged the rat juice out of this area and came full circle to a band I had quit 5 years ago. I've had contracts for recording rock/metal bands in my face with producers soothing me with promises of new "free" gear. But as always the fine print was too good to be true

I am looking for a mature avenue but not a cruise line gig from Music Jobs USA.

That is my quest...where do people look for jobs like recording that music you hear when on hold with your credit company? I can get into that. I'm tired of schlepping gear from one club to another, or spending years recording progressive metal in a basement.

Still thanks for the input but I know there's more out there...'cuz there's nothing here!

Count Bassie · #4 03-02-2009, 09:44 AM

Well I'd think moving to a place with a major city nearby might help. You need to be where there's an audience.

If I weren't married with kids and responsibilities I'd be doing it. I am though, in a limited way, in my own neighborhood. It's probably a little more accessible than yours (I'm guessing)... My low-level effort has gotten me a good little buzz out there, but I'm not so free to pursue much just now.

Do you have demo stuff on disc? Got some kind of resume material? Is it interesting? Make it interesting! You know how Will Lee started, right? Look up his story.

Snarf · #5 03-02-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian7StringNY

That's the problem...there's nothing in my backyard. Plus I know guys with chops on YouTube have regular jobs. But what about those guys who work making soundtracks, cat food commercials, and elevator jazz. My ambition is pushing me to leave upstate NY and dig my heels into a full time playing gig. I've gigged the rat juice out of this area and came full circle to a band I had quit 5 years ago. I've had contracts for recording rock/metal bands in my face with producers soothing me with promises of new "free" gear. But as always the fine print was too good to be true

I am looking for a mature avenue but not a cruise line gig from Music Jobs USA.

That is my quest...where do people look for jobs like recording that music you hear when on hold with your credit company? I can get into that. I'm tired of schlepping gear from one club to another, or spending years recording progressive metal in a basement.

Still thanks for the input but I know there's more out there...'cuz there's nothing here!

Hey man, there's really not much in the way of "full time" gigs. Even gigs that you play every single week don't come close to paying the rent. You have to have a bunch of those. And a lot of them are locked up tight. Plus there's the fact that Broadway is disappearing. Pop tours are okay money, but they're not even close to being full time. A tour is 16-ish weeks. Then you need to find the next one.

I think you need to redefine your expectations of what's out there a little bit.

Count Bassie · #6 03-02-2009, 05:24 PM

I'm a carpenter days, play a pretty regular schedule at night on weekends, and have an original band that wants to make a record. I'm not living the glamorous musical life, but I'm doing something I like and it's worthy. Those people who write the arrangements you hear in elevators are mostly working out of publishing houses or production studios, and may not even have actual musicians playing those arrangements.

I often say I was born 20-30 years too late. I'm not bumming on it though- I'm playing with a vengeance!

Brian7StringNY · #7 03-02-2009, 05:41 PM

I was never really wanting to "make it big". In all honesty I would rather not be offered that. I was, however, hoping to make music a full time thing. I am not after money; OK, only for GAS. But I did want to play bass and nothing else. Yes I have a cover band, we make $70 a weekend each and have a great time. I also have an original progressive band and we all know that costs more than it makes.

I was just searching for something more. I guess the only way to get what I am after is to become better than Bill Dickens, Jeff Corallini, or Jaco and then get noticed...

Well I am rather disheartened by this but I can not let it discourage me from trying. I will stick to my plan of ultra/theoretical/tonal/mega bass playing and stick my big toe in any crack that says "bass player needed".

I wish to thank you all for your input.

~Be well and kind to each other

Count Bassie · #8 03-02-2009, 07:25 PM

Don't be discouraged bro, we have to create our own future! Do not let trends, opinions, or the Weather Channel disuade you from your pursuit of happiness, enlightenment, whatever it is you're making.

The market is the market, but it doesn't make you more or less valuable. It's just that life requires balance. A lot of the things I've learned during times I'd have rather not had have done something good for my musicianship. I'm going to go ahead and believe that anyway!

Go to it man, make it happen. If you don't, it won't. Right?

And where's this Janek cat, anyway?

Sorax · #9 03-02-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

And where's this Janek cat, anyway?

On tour in Europe I believe

Count Bassie · #10 03-02-2009, 07:53 PM

Oh, that's just great! Off on tour, playing the bass somewhere in Europe. Fine...

Brian7StringNY · #11 03-02-2009, 08:55 PM

LOL...in Europe...on tour? Such a lucky (enter favorite expletive here)...

Thanks for the encouragement...I had not planned on giving up, hells no, not ever. Things change and some cat playing a talk show gig needs a broken finger someday...

Count Bassie · #12 03-02-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian7StringNY

LOL...in Europe...on tour? Such a lucky (enter favorite expletive here)...

Thanks for the encouragement...I had not planned on giving up, hells no, not ever. Things change and some cat playing a talk show gig needs a broken finger someday...

...and you'll be just the guy to give it to him!

Snarf · #13 03-03-2009, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian7StringNY

I was just searching for something more. I guess the only way to get what I am after is to become better than Bill Dickens, Jeff Corallini, or Jaco and then get noticed...

Getting noticed isn't a passive thing, either. You have to put yourself in positions to play with other great players, maybe ones that have gigs, to get noticed. Not as easy as you may think.

adri24an · #14 03-03-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarf

Getting noticed isn't a passive thing, either. You have to put yourself in positions to play with other great players, maybe ones that have gigs, to get noticed. Not as easy as you may think.

+1

janekbass · #15 03-04-2009, 05:02 PM

sorry for the late reply, i have indeed been in europe on tour. I'm in oslo right now two weeks into the tour, another 11 days to run i think, not even sure anymore.

I've only had a chance to glance over a few of the responses, but here's my advice.

Ask yourself a simple question. What do you want out of playing. Your own answer is going to give you the information you need to make a good decision as to what to do.

If you decide that you want to better your ability, advance your depth in music, create something new that can be identified with you and you alone.... then I would say move to New York.

There is no such thing as a session musician anymore, so forget about that right away. that was for the 70's/80's/90's and before.... now the studio is occupied by musicians that are left over from that era, and there are very few chances for new musicians to make any kind of steady living playing on records in the studio.

There are tons of headings and job descriptions that fall under the professional musician, but it's really up to you to ask yourself what you want rather than looking at a bunch of job names and picking one. The deeper inside you the will to play comes from, the more you're going to get out of what it is you end up doing.

If you are considering working as a sideman with other people, I would suggest not being a seven string bass player. There isn't a single gig out there that you actually need one for, and there are very few, if any, musical directors or band leaders that will hire you if you have one. Get a cheap mexican P-Bass if you don't have the bread for an american standard, maybe a Jazz bass... but something simple and effective. If the bass is an integral part of your sound, and you write music and want to be some form of solo instrumental artist then why not play a seven string bass...? it's not my cup of tea, but it's all about being you, and sticking to what it is you love.

And BTW......I wish i was playing the bass on tour in europe... I've been playing guitar the entire tour. And even had to play piano on german radio today before we came to oslo. only had time for one take if we were going to make our flight. and so it goes.....

Easy,

Janek

Count Bassie · #16 03-04-2009, 05:11 PM

Well man, that was a pretty sound reply. And good inside info on the session scene as well. Yep, according to Janek here, you're going to have to decide how you want to define yourself, and go into it head-first. And now you have a little bit of a guideline as to what's actually, realistically available for options- to start from anyway.

Once you define yourself, just make sure you don't get lost!

Get it?...

Sorry. I know it's important man- when I discovered the bass guitar, I suspect it saved my whole being from some stupid and useless oblivion when I was 17. So don't take my lightness as dissmissive!

That was a good response.

adri24an · #17 03-05-2009, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by janekbass

And BTW......I wish i was playing the bass on tour in europe... I've been playing guitar the entire tour. And even had to play piano on german radio today before we came to oslo. only had time for one take if we were going to make our flight. and so it goes.....

Easy,

Janek

guitar??? damn! then who is playing bass??

janekbass · #18 03-05-2009, 03:45 AM

no one is playing bass. just acoustic trio with me on guitar, Jem on vocals, and Jim Watson on piano.

We might do a TV show in Paris next week where I'll play bass, but that's about it I think. Nothing on bass until I get to NYC for a show on the 18th of March.

Easy,

Janek