A career in bass playing

[_asdfgh_]

most of your examples are of wildly successful musicians on a global scale and lending/endorsing their name/ownership to a business just adds to the credibility/marketability of that business.

I take your point to some extent but they were all heavily involved in the business side of things, hence the examples, and in Anderson's case he was instrumental in setting it up for additional income/security and tinned salmon isn't exactly a sexy, rock-and-roll thing and I am not sure being a rock star would have helped brand recognition much, although I did first notice Newman dressings due to his picture on the bottle (but I kept buying because it's decent and if not his picture would only have got one extra sale from me). There are plenty of examples of what seem to be endorsement too (clothes, headphones, etc.)

Being wildly successful gave then the capital to set up what they set up, so you are right on the money with respect to that, but my point is more that at a lower level there might be more modest business investment opportunities that give a backup plan, in the event of music not working out so well, or carpal tunnel syndrome curtailing a career, for example.

 

[MrLenny1]

We all felt that way at your age.
Here is reality. There is no money in the ARTS! Repeat & repeat again.
Unless you are very lucky you will not make it big. You can have a career but that usually involves teaching full time & will need a degree. It's a great hobby but frustrating when aspiring to move to the next level.

 

[_asdfgh_]

There is no money in the ARTS! Repeat & repeat again.

Simon Cowell seems to do ok out of it!

There are multiple markets (genres, locations, physical, virtual), changing at different rates, affected by changing technology and economic and social habits. I am not sure what sort of education necessarily prepares you for all those changes in the context of whichever brand of level of music you'd want to be doing. There are certainly opportunities that will be out there, but, as they say, luck happens to those who are most prepared for it.

 

[IGotGas]

Edwin,

First, I want to comment you on the effort you are putting into your craft. You are striving to be a pro-level dude, and the truth is, most kids your age are just NOT that grounded yet musically. I am not joking when I tell you, I think you COULD be the next John Entwistle! I've not heard you play. But IF you are doing all that you say you are, and if you are willing to go about this in a smart manner, you well may be one of the very few who make it in this industry.

My advice?

1. Get a college degree. In fact, go for two! Get one in music and one in business or marketing.

2. Become a student of the music industry.

3. Become a student of people.

4. Be careful of who you allay or associate yourself with musically.

5. Be versatile and flexible. I get gigs with headline artists because I can play virtually any music they play. I can sometimes make it better. I can play a few other instruments and sing. I am very good in the studio. But I also understand what showmanship is. And I try to be the funnest (and most helpful) dude on the buss.

Remember, the easiest thing to do in the world is quit. I HATE quitters. So when things get tough, play more! Practice more. Be open to harsh critique. But keep your focus on what is really important.

 

[Stumbo]

Are you planning on going to school in the US?

Since you haven't ever lived in the US, some culture shock will probably be in order.

Good luck.

 

[lfmn16]

As a career music veteran of 45+ years my advice to staying active in the music field is this:
Learn tunes in many styles. Hang with the rockers, rednecks, jazzbos, bluesmen, latins, experimentalists.
Jam & learn. Then you will be fairly qualified to jump in and play in a lot of situations that will pay.
Keep practicing and stay involved in the learning process.
Learn chart reading also.
Learn writing charts and number system (Nashville).
Use your business education to help you as a self employed worker. Business ed is a +.
Make solid relationships and try not to burn bridges. You might get hired by a former bandmate someday. And referrals are a big part of staying busy and making money in music. Most of this has worked for me and at 58, I'm busier than ever playing! Good luck!

It's a good thing there was no Talkbass when you were starting out or you would have known that what you were going to do was impossible. Congratulations for achieving the impossible.

I don't know why some people are so determined to squash other people's dreams.

 

[Tellez Bass]

Is important to spot that you live in a third world country (just like me) and the conditions around here are so different compared to USA or Europe, being a successful musician is as hard than be a successful architect, lawyer, engineer, etc...
I'm from México and here the average salary with a degree is around of 600 dlls... yes, you read it correctly, just 600 dlls/month.

You need to keep in mind some points:

1.- Being a musician is not the "easy way" is hard as hell, but you can do it.

2.- Learn, learn and learn, learn more instruments, use your voice, learn theory, harmony, rhythms, etc...

3.- Take a real study in music, you need it to be a teacher and give you some respect.

4.- Be friendly and try to network all the time, all the f***ing time, for real!

5.- The success is 10% knowledge and skills, 90% hard work and effort.

6.- Don't wait for the gig, create it.

7.- You can go networking in the morning, play for a restaurant at mid day, practice in the afternoon, being a techer at 7 pm and go to play again at night. I'ts a FULLTIME WORK, not just a NIGHT WORK.

8.- A band is a company, you're going to create a company, and as a company, you need to invest a lot, and gains take time.

9.- All the people wants to see you fail as a musician, your family, your neighbor, your girlfriend, all the others musicians, you're a bit alone, always keep in mind your goals 'cause the system is against you.

10.- You're going to lose friends and important people, also, don't stop your career waiting for the others, if someone is slow just leave him.

Well... a lot of things, but trust me, is entirely possible to live from music, and you don't need to be famous for that, just insistent, multipurpose and comitted.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

It's a good thing there was no Talkbass when you were starting out or you would have known that what you were going to do was impossible. Congratulations for achieving the impossible.

I don't know why some people are so determined to squash other people's dreams.

There's a difference between squashing a dream and giving someone a realistic outlook on what the career would actually be like. People see guys like Flea, Jaco, Wooten, etc... on stage and say, "Wow, that looks like fun and not like work, and it pays!" The reality is that there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes and the audience only gets to see the fun side of it all. People also have a tendency of seeing the most famous musicians and not the average Joes, so there's usually a lot of false expectations of what the job really looks like.

It's good to give anyone considering this career a realistic look at it and what it would most likely be like if you want to be successful (ie. teaching, taking on sub gigs, joining a house band or theater group, doing recording sessions playing other people's music, etc...). In other words, a career in music mostly likely won't involve playing on some of the largest stages in the world in front of hundreds of thousands of adoring fans. At the OP's age, it's smart to get a career in something worthwhile while also pursuing music on the side. If the music thing happens then awesome, and if not he has a backup.

 

[lfmn16]

There's a difference between squashing a dream and giving someone a realistic outlook on what the career would actually be like.

I agree, and I've never said it would be easy or even that there was a good chance of success. I just get sick of these bean counters telling everyone to get a business degree and play part time. I wouldn't ask a successful musician how to make a living as an accountant and you shouldn't listen to an accountant telling you that you can't be a successful musician.

If you want to make a living playing music, listen to the guys that are doing it.

 

[srxplayer]

My youngest daughter just graduated from high school in June and she is starting college next week. She doesn't know what she wants to do either and it's a very confusing time for young people these days.

As far as playing bass as a career; I think it's a tough road to travel. A career in music generally is not easy to make a living with so you should have a back up plan. But if you think you have the skills and are willing to work hard and are thick skinned enough to deal with disappointment and rejection for a while then follow your dream. Just remember that it will not be easy. But anything that is worth doing never is. You are young and have time to make a run at it.

 

[Chazinroch]

Stay in school and get a degree. Music is a tough biz, and only the tiniest fraction ever succeed at it, never mind "changing modern society's perception".

It's great to have a dream, and to play & fulfill it, but you'll always need a backup. It's better to take the world by storm with a degree in your back pocket, rather than being burnt out by 40, and having to work low-paying jobs to keep the wolf from your door.

+1

 

[nicopiano]

When I was your age, I've been told : don't do that!

Now I'm a professionnal piano/keyboard player (and occasional bass player!), and everything is going fine with the money and everything.

But:
- I like teaching
- I play every style of music and enjoy doing it
- I get along well with more than 95% of musicians around me

Option 2: keeping music as a good sideline.