hi there, thanks for your post and interest! let me see if i can answer these for you-
1. What training did you receive before starting your career? (e.g. instrumental lessons, college/university courses, in-store training etc.)
most of my 'formal' training came from a few different sources... in my late-teens, i attending the atlanta institute of music, which at the time was an satellite location/offshoot of musicians institute in hollywood. a.i.m. was (and still is) a certificate program in music which put an emphasis on performance competency. there i studied under a bassist named russ rodgers and also took part in a variety of classes there. after high school i went to the university of georgia but wasn't majoring in music there. however, i was involved in the jazz ensembles and also steel band ensembles and took some music theory courses while i was there. i eventually changed my major to music and transferred to georgia state university as a jazz performance major. i was there for a little while before deciding to leave school early to try and go ahead and start a music career.
2. Before actively pursuing a career in music, what interested you about working as a musician?
music was a passion of mine from as far back as i could remember, so there was never a question of what i really wanted to do for a living... the only questions revolved around how i could make it work and survive. i was attracted to the emotional, communicative, and expressive nature of music, and the fact that there was at least a possibility i could be successful at making a living at it.
3. Do you enjoy your work?
absolutely. however, a music career is often difficult and challenging. you have to be willing to accept the fact that your livelihood can be a financial and emotional rollercoaster.
4. What are some pros and cons of being working in the music industry?
pros: you get to play and record music for a living!, get to work with artistic and creative people, can make decent money if you are smart and versatile, you have the opportunity to inspire and mentor others
cons: the unpredictability of your workload and income, the frequent letdowns, lack of equitability between your hard work and the payoff
5. What advice would you give to aspiring professional
musicians?
stay diversified. in other words, don't put all of your eggs in one basket. be musically fluent in a variety of styles, even if they are not your favorites. learn to sightread; it will set you apart significantly from the majority of bass players. be sincere and genuine in your networking and interaction with others. don't be purely opportunistic. invest in the creation of FRIENDSHIPS, not mere contacts.
