How to become Studio musician/producer?

[azfryguy]

Hi, I just turned 18 years old and have been playing bass for 6 years now and had some questions. First off I was thinking of going off to college and getting my 4 year degree in music comp, music theory and general recording. I would really love to become a professional musician, a guy that everyone says "you need to have this guy in you studio! He is a lot of help." However I don't have the slightest idea how to become a session musician. Here are some questions

-Can I make a good living being a full time professional studio/session musician?

-If I have a four year degree in music comp, music theory and general recording will that be a massive advantage? Or any advantage?

-I live in AZ is there a profession studio/session musician I can talk to in person?

-Would I have to move out of state?

-What’s the main difference between a studio/session musician and a producer?

These are just the big concerns I have. For arguments sake lets just say I am average at bass. I have no idea how good I really am or am not. I have videos of YouTube of me playing and I have recording of my self on MySpace, I'll post the links below.

I can play guitar a little bit but only what I can do on bass. I can kind of play drums. I also have a little experience recording.

Imagine this, I graduate with my degrees and play bass, guitar, drums, piano and can sing above average. Should I just send in my resume to studios around Arizona?

Here is my idea of what it would be like. A band comes in, wants to record some songs. Two of them can't play there instruments very well. So, I fill in for them. I record everything, mix and master, add some additional parts and just help them out overall. A few days after that I get a call I need to make a minute jingle for a TV commercial. A week after that a band says we need a bassist for a show tonight can you fill in I say "of course!"

If I’m dead wrong on my assumption of a studio/session musician, then what do they do? If my idea of a professional musician sounds more like a producer then how do I become one of those?

Thank you very much for any and all opinions and suggestions.

P.S I really hope I'm in the right forum!

http://www.youtube.com/user/azfryguy?feature=mhum

http://www.myspace.com/garretfry/music

[plangentmusic]

I don't want to be a downer, but studio work is near non existent. Nashville may be the only place where it still thrives and breaking into that scene is more about living there for years and hoping you fall into the right crowd.

Producers are a dime a dozen. Everyone has a home studio these days. Many big time producers are either ex-successful studio players or people who invest in high tech equipment and develop a following. No one is sitting around hoping to find a producer.

Your best bet is to just keep studying, and playing and gigging as much as possible (take ANYTHING that comes along) and meeting as many people as possible and seeing where it takes you. It isn't very stable or dependable but that's the reality.

[azfryguy]

Thank you for your honesty. I don't like things sugar coated . . . except candy

[Roy Vogt]

There is a recording school near Phoenix, AZ in Tempe. Here is their website:
http://www.audiorecordingschool.com/index.htm
Bassist Ray Reindau (he is over in the Ask a Pro Forums) is associated with the school somewhat and can answer some questions about it.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f168/
At Belmont we have a Commercial Music with Music Tech Emphasis. It deals with sequencing, sound design, production, etc. as well as your primary instrument. When a Bass Major comes to school and is totally focused on studio work, I recommend that course of study.
The Good Old Days of Carol Kaye, Joe Osborne, Lee Sklar and Will Lee doing round the clock sessions in Brick and Mortar Studios are gone for good, I'm afraid. What's replaced them is the "in the box" productions. One thing I've noticed, however, is that some studios are busy cutting drum tracks, etc. for those "in the box" producers. It's not uncommon for session drummers to have studios in their homes so they can record drum tracks and send them to clients online via ftp servers. Lots of bassists (including me) do this as well.
If you are going to play bass, produce, or engineer for a living I would advise you that you're going to have to really be a self-starter and a motivated entrepreneur. I do some production work at this point and that amounts to lots of time working with a client to determine their needs, visiting studios if I'm not recording them myself to see what the best fit for them is, finding players and helping with arrangements, etc. Sometimes it feels like the gig is more like a Realtor than a Music Biz gig. The people I know who are making good money at this do many different things. Working for just one band or hoping to live on nothing but studio dates aren't likely scenarios. However, if you find a niche that you fit in and cultivate a client base (everything from Rock Bands and Rappers to Church Choirs and Local Businesses) you can do OK. Just realize you'll have to do a little of everything.
You can do a lot to train by getting a Pro Tools LE Rig and the manuals and just experimenting with recording. I've seen serviceable setups at GC for under 500 bucks. Remember, you're not trying to win a Grammy, just to learn something about the process. If you don't check out EQ, Mix, Tape Op or Electronic Musician I'd start now. They have good online sites.
As a player, I can tell you that players that can slap, tap, shred and do tons of Bass Tricks are pretty common but that players who can sightread, know tunes, double convincingly on Upright, and play and understand any style with a great feel are pretty rare. The rarer you are the more you will get called for work, IME.
Good Luck! If it's your passion and you are willing to work twice as hard as everyone else, get a great education of the basics, never stop learning, and eat, breathe and live Playing, Producing, Recording and Music in general you'll do all right.

[Roy Vogt]

Seek out Caleb Mundy on this Forum. He's a Belmont Grad from a few years back but he's still a young guy and he can give you some insight as to the Pros and Cons of this strategy for young players just starting out.

[azfryguy]

Holy cow! I am seriosly in schock right now. I had no idea difficult it would be. Also be the sounds of it, there is zero job stability. Is that right? I want a profession that is stable, secure and reliable, and by the looks of it music is not one of those fields.

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

There is a recording school near Phoenix, AZ in Tempe. Here is their website:
http://www.audiorecordingschool.com/index.htm
Bassist Ray Reindau (he is over in the Ask a Pro Forums) is associated with the school somewhat and can answer some questions about it.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=168
At Belmont we have a Commercial Music with Music Tech Emphasis. It deals with sequencing, sound design, production, etc. as well as your primary instrument. When a Bass Major comes to school and is totally focused on studio work, I recommend that course of study.
The Good Old Days of Carol Kaye, Joe Osborne, Lee Sklar and Will Lee doing round the clock sessions in Brick and Mortar Studios are gone for good, I'm afraid. What's replaced them is the "in the box" productions. One thing I've noticed, however, is that some studios are busy cutting drum tracks, etc. for those "in the box" producers. It's not uncommon for session drummers to have studios in their homes so they can record drum tracks and send them to clients online via ftp servers. Lots of bassists (including me) do this as well.
If you are going to play bass, produce, or engineer for a living I would advise you that you're going to have to really be a self-starter and a motivated entrepreneur. I do some production work at this point and that amounts to lots of time working with a client to determine their needs, visiting studios if I'm not recording them myself to see what the best fit for them is, finding players and helping with arrangements, etc. Sometimes it feels like the gig is more like a Realtor than a Music Biz gig. The people I know who are making good money at this do many different things. Working for just one band or hoping to live on nothing but studio dates aren't likely scenarios. However, if you find a niche that you fit in and cultivate a client base (everything from Rock Bands and Rappers to Church Choirs and Local Businesses) you can do OK. Just realize you'll have to do a little of everything.
You can do a lot to train by getting a Pro Tools LE Rig and the manuals and just experimenting with recording. I've seen serviceable setups at GC for under 500 bucks. Remember, you're not trying to win a Grammy, just to learn something about the process. If you don't check out EQ, Mix, Tape Op or Electronic Musician I'd start now. They have good online sites.
As a player, I can tell you that players that can slap, tap, shred and do tons of Bass Tricks are pretty common but that players who can sightread, know tunes, double convincingly on Upright, and play and understand any style with a great feel are pretty rare. The rarer you are the more you will get called for work, IME.
Good Luck! If it's your passion and you are willing to work twice as hard as everyone else, get a great education of the basics, never stop learning, and eat, breathe and live Playing, Producing, Recording and Music in general you'll do all right.

So in a nutshell just get recording software. Make as much music as possible, and be as versitile as possible, right? I assume you are a professional bassist. So when you are done with work, come home, do you still want to play bass? I really don't want to make my love and passion my work. I want to come home and look forward to play bass. Not think "ah man I gotta make a song for these guys and do this and write this."

[BobaFret]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

Holy cow! I am seriosly in schock right now. I had no idea difficult it would be. Also be the sounds of it, there is zero job stability. Is that right? I want a profession that is stable, secure and reliable, and by the looks of it music is not one of those fields.

I'm not a UNIX Engineer because I like it more than music.

[Chrisk-K]

There are fewer successful studio musicians than successful rock stars.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by plangentmusic

I don't want to be a downer, but studio work is near non existent. Nashville may be the only place where it still thrives and breaking into that scene is more about living there for years and hoping you fall into the right crowd.

Producers are a dime a dozen. Everyone has a home studio these days. Many big time producers are either ex-successful studio players or people who invest in high tech equipment and develop a following. No one is sitting around hoping to find a producer.

Your best bet is to just keep studying, and playing and gigging as much as possible (take ANYTHING that comes along) and meeting as many people as possible and seeing where it takes you. It isn't very stable or dependable but that's the reality.

While I agree with your general advice, I disagree that studio work is non-existant - - In LA, folks still can make a living. But you really have to be able to *play* - which means you have to read, dead-cold as well as be professional in every facet of your playing. A degree is a fine idea but hardly required.

[Freddels]

Being a successful studio musician is sort of like saying you want to be a concert pianist. It's not impossible but it's a very steep climb. There are still some people earning a living from it and you have to be in the right place, right time, and have the chops when needed.

Just keep practicing, learning, etc. Sight reading will be very important.

Shoot for the stars and if you fall short, you'll still land on the moon. Don't give up but it may not be exactly what you're picturing in your mind by the time you're ready.

Best,

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

So in a nutshell just get recording software. Make as much music as possible, and be as versitile as possible, right? I assume you are a professional bassist. So when you are done with work, come home, do you still want to play bass? I really don't want to make my love and passion my work. I want to come home and look forward to play bass. Not think "ah man I gotta make a song for these guys and do this and write this."

That's pretty much it. Get as much Professional Training as you can. The degree really doesn't matter as much as the knowledge, your competency, and your reputation. I think the degree is smart, and I'd even think about Grad School just in case you'd ever like to teach.
In answer to your other question, yes I do this for a living. I've been pretty open about that on my profile (it's always smart to look at those so you know who someone is). To tell you the truth, I've been doing this for a living for over 30 years and I haven't burned out yet. I tend to go by the old adage that if you do what you love, you won't work a day in your life.
Beware, if you "kinda sorta wanna play bass-it's cool" this is probably not for you and you'd be better off to keep it as a hobby. No shame in that at all, but success will demand a lot of you both to arrive and maintain.

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

That's pretty much it. Get as much Professional Training as you can. The degree really doesn't matter as much as the knowledge, your competency, and your reputation. I think the degree is smart, and I'd even think about Grad School just in case you'd ever like to teach.
In answer to your other question, yes I do this for a living. I've been pretty open about that on my profile (it's always smart to look at those so you know who someone is). To tell you the truth, I've been doing this for a living for over 30 years and I haven't burned out yet. I tend to go by the old adage that if you do what you love, you won't work a day in your life.
Beware, if you "kinda sorta wanna play bass-it's cool" this is probably not for you and you'd be better off to keep it as a hobby. No shame in that at all, but success will demand a lot of you both to arrive and maintain.

So knowing me a little bit what music profession could I make a living off of?

[Melik]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

While I agree with your general advice, I disagree that studio work is non-existant - - In LA, folks still can make a living. But you really have to be able to *play* - which means you have to read, dead-cold as well as be professional in every facet of your playing. A degree is a fine idea but hardly required.

The guys who still get jobs in LA are the old session cats, you know, Dean Parks, Lenny Castro, Jerry Hey, guys like that

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

So knowing me a little bit what music profession could I make a living off of?

That depends on how hard you want to work and how much you'd like to learn. I started out exactly where you are now, and so did every player over on the Ask a Pro Forums. The good news is that at age 18 and a High School Senior you have the time to do this if you want. You just have to want to do this and go about it intelligently- one step at a time and no shortcuts.
There are tons of guys and ladies in their 20s making good livings playing live gigs, sessions and tours in Nashville, LA, New York and elsewhere. Many more want to do this. The difference is mainly dedication, education and perseverance.
At 18 I was a pretty good High School bassist. North Texas State kicked the stuffing out of me and made me practice, learn and improve. My classmates were Steve Bailey and Gary Willis among others and I'm sure they'd tell you the same thing. None of us had any idea we'd be doing what we are today-we just wanted to play.
A friend just sent me a CD of my first High School Rock Band when I was 16. It's funny and humbling that that stumbling bassist playing all those bad notes and awkward grooves actually learned what to do for real. The good news is if I can anyone can!

[dpbass613]

I wouldn't put your eggs all in the music basket...my dad was a berklee grad and before i went to school he told me get a degree in something solid and then build music around that. I took lessons the entire time i went to school and studied music on my own, in comparison to a lot of the students who shared the same AP music theory classes as me in high school. I went to a decent school that didn't charge me an arm and a leg and i make a good solid living in the business world. I also made in excess of $15,000 playing music last year in small format studio settings, songwriting but primarily live performance. I would not consider myself a phenomenal player but versed in enough musical styles and have enough chops to keep up with any band that is getting paid to perform live. The best thing I think you can do as a professional musician is hone your ear in multiple ways, one is for recognizing parts and then being able to play them back with little effort, but also as far as developing lines for someone elses song, you need to understand there music and play according to what fits them best...Striving to be a producer is a much more difficult road than just getting a degree, and you would need some extensive and expensive training to get to the level that some guys that just have it are already at.

Long story short, get an education in something that guarantees you work, and use music as a way to enhance your life, make some extra money and keep you sane, and by the way the kids that went to music school aren't making nearly as much money as I am, have higher student loans to repay, and haven't played even one tenth of the amount of meaningful gigs that I have. Its about approaching in a way in which you can bring success to yourself.

[skwee]

Good luck to you. I recommend to my own students and kids I clinic that if they are serious and have talent, work to become as amazing as they can, and try at look at playing music as one income stream among a few. Know that if you want to sustain any kind of artistic career that there will be times you play for the little guy, sometimes on an amazing project, and hopefully a number of high-level things. But be ready and willing to do all of them, while you put the most effort into securing the higher level things. Learn to network, because once you have a knowledge base, it turns into a "who you know" game.

[azfryguy]

That makes good sense with building music around my life. This is so confusing it's driving me insane!

[WalterBush]

Originally Posted by skwee

Learn to network, because once you have a knowledge base, it turns into a "who you know" game.

This +1000. I went years scraping by in the building trades and working myself silly getting paid almost nothing for gigs...then I met some of the right people who liked my playing, and I'm having to start wondering who I'm going to turn down now and then.

Also, there are plenty of paying gigs to be had in Arizona, but I've only ever done paying studio work in my own home or in California. Be willing to travel a lot no matter where you go. You may be better off starting your own sound design or advertisement firm if you're not interested in playing live.

Seriously consider moving to New York, LA, Las Vegas, Orlando, Nashville, any place where music or TV and film productions requiring music are made...it's hard to break into markets like that, but it's a lot easier than trying to create your own market or enter one where there's ten bassists for every paying gig (such as Phoenix).

Also, monster chops are a great assett, don't get me wrong, but being able to put the right note in the right place and being personable, prompt, and prepared will get you called back more than the shredmonster with a massive ego and a tardiness problem every time.

Just my experience, which is admittedly not as broad as some people here, but I'm willing to bet many long-time pros would agree with me

[willgroove2]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

So in a nutshell just get recording software. Make as much music as possible, and be as versitile as possible, right? I assume you are a professional bassist. So when you are done with work, come home, do you still want to play bass? I really don't want to make my love and passion my work. I want to come home and look forward to play bass. Not think "ah man I gotta make a song for these guys and do this and write this."

I know your young but did you ask Roy Volt if he was a professional bassist?

Being a pro Musician despite the hype around it is a legitimate profession as long as you treat it like one,train for it like you would any other profession