meeting people

[colicab]

hi justin,

i'm sure you've talked to us about this many times before, but i would love to hear some advice you would have on networking and meeting people.
personally, i think i am more of an introverted person, but by no means expect my inbox to be full of emails asking for my playing straight away. i need to get myself out there, but i just need to know how!
i think i have alot to offer; i'm a 4th year classical double bass student, i've played with the orchestras in town here in toronto, i can play a little jazz when i need to, i've played (and still do) play bass guitar in every environment from punk bands to world music bands that have tons of instruments like tablas, erhus, etc. i listen to just about everything, i can sing and dance when i have to, and i think i am an open minded, flexible musician. i've received good comments ony my stage presence, compositional skills, intonation on my fretless instruments, my perfect pitch, my tones, the way i use space when i have to solo...but i just need to learn how to market myself so that i can offer these things to everyone! how did you break through into session work? how did you meet producers? how do you promote your work and your skills?
i get stressed out, but i suppose i need to remind myself that there is no time limit to getting into these industries. i guess i feel like i'm running out of time a little because i'm going to be earning my degree in april.
my ears are open! i'd definitely love to hear what you have to say. thanks so much,

-alex.

[jmjbassplayer]

Wow, you have what I would characterize as an awe-inspiring skill set, Alex. That is very exciting to hear what you have going on. Congratulations on your immanent degree.

I'm not sure how I broke into session work. I basically fell into it, by nature of being a personality about-town in LA. Most everything happens, I believe, as a direct result of just being around, having fun, making casual associations. The professional connections (i.e. producers calling out of the blue) happen as a net result of all those years of just hanging out, jamming, making friends, sitting in with various bands, etc. I don't have a marketing plan for myself, and never did. I have a set of ideals, though, and those have kept me focused in the right direction for the most part.

Don't feel stressed about time. I still feel like I'm finding my career, and I'll be 40 in March. As an aside, things are a bit different with regards to ageism than they used to be, except in the expanding universe of Disney and Disney-type artists and/or straight up pop artists. But for a bass player, you can expect a nice, long career ramp. Sure, your roles may change depending on your age and experience, but there's plenty to do.

A small corollary/detour: I think also people respond to one when they are quite simply having a good time. Feeling music, deeply involved in it. When that's happening, it "magnetizes" one, in some way; it creates attraction for you. I know it sounds elementary. But too often, musicians are either thinking too much while playing, not quite present enough, or self-concerned (thinking about gear, worrying about the next gig, worried about the NEXT section of the song, or the next song, worried about their image, concerned with how they are being perceived, that kind of stuff). Sometimes, I can almost see on their face when a bass player is thinking about the money they are, or are not, earning on a gig.

I hope that makes sense. I'm just trying to impart the concept that music is, and always will be, a primal essence of humanity. So the closer we can get to the REAL, and not the machinations surrounding the actual performing of music, the better off we will be.

Best,
Justin

[cvogel]

that was a really insightful response justin, thanks. i've been dealing with the same situation myself.

[StyleOverShow]

Just wanted to expand on Mr. J's advice. April is just the starting line. You sound prepared and now you have to go out into the world and work it.

When I was your age there were many more live venues available and any musician worth his salt traveled with his axe with him all the time. We sat in with one another's bands and jammed with people we didn't even know. It all added to our musical experience and increased our associates, now referred to with the rather corporate "network" term.

If you have an idea of what you like to do, like musical theater or small combo work then find the local venues, talk to the denizens and be nice, respectful and ask them for a chance to work with them. Keep working the idea and expand your geography, and show up more than once to do the same thing. You'll get work and experience, which in turn, will get you more of the same.

-richard