Would you rather?

p0werslav3 · #1 04-08-2009, 06:30 PM

My friends and I discuss these weird things at work and since this came up and it's about playing the bass, I thought I'd pass it along.

Would you rather:

1) Be a great studio bassist that is highly sought after
2) An average bass player but in a mega-star band

IanStephenson · #2 04-09-2009, 05:54 AM

Not sure your poll, and your post match up...

a great studio player who is highly sort after probably makes more $ than a replacable bass player in a name band.

If the name band bass player is average he's probably not seeing much in the way of writing credits/royalties, and after the "management" have taken their cut he's probably making an OK wage.

If a GREAT session guy can do three or four sessions a day, and be home in time for dinner with the family that sounds like a much better deal than sleeping in a tour bus for months on end to promote a record which ultimatly you don't see any profit from.

two fingers · #3 04-09-2009, 06:04 AM

I think Ian has a point. I know of a few guys who tour with big name acts. They really don't make all that much money. A few hundred bucks a night and expenses is about it. I'm sure Will Lee (Late Night With David Letterman and session guy for everybody from Weather Report to Steely Dan) makes a lot more than that for a Taco Bell commercial. And he probably rarely leaves NYC. I'd say he has the better gig. But to stick to your topic, I've hit the road enough in my life. I would take the studio gig (skills included) if it paid the bills.