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How to become a pro bassist?

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#21
learn to read and write music.
You need to be able to sight read without missing a beat or a note.

learn to read & write on piano. This will improve your understanding of what everyone else in the band is doing.

learn to make charts for all members of the band

get into shape, work out, be healthy. Smile. Be personable.


get a passport, keep your nose clean and schedule up to date so you know right away if you can accept a gig or not.

buy a nice fitted suit and some beatle boots.
 
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#24
Jay boogs said:
I have been playing bass for a year and after just exploring music and just life in general I realized I want to become a pro bassist . My playing is OK but I feel I'm bad and probably won't make it to being a pro but anyways I would like to know the steps needed to become pro or at least close to it. BTW my style is typically roots, fifths, thirds, octaves and chromatic and diatonic movement
Click to expand...

Please, take this with a grain of salt - if you get paid for a job - you are a "pro". If you join a gigging bar band, you are a paid "pro". If you are a session player at a studio, you are a "pro".

Now, if you plan on being in a big time, million selling band, you might have better luck in the NFL :)
 
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#25
Slough Feg Bass said:
learn to read and write music.
You need to be able to sight read without missing a beat or a note.

learn to read & write on piano. This will improve your understanding of what everyone else in the band is doing.

learn to make charts for all members of the band

get into shape, work out, be healthy. Smile. Be personable.


get a passport, keep your nose clean and schedule up to date so you know right away if you can accept a gig or not.

buy a nice fitted suit and some beatle boots.
Click to expand...
I think I should dress like jamerson
 
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#26
Jay boogs said:
I have been playing bass for a year and after just exploring music and just life in general I realized I want to become a pro bassist . My playing is OK but I feel I'm bad and probably won't make it to being a pro but anyways I would like to know the steps needed to become pro or at least close to it. BTW my style is typically roots, fifths, thirds, octaves and chromatic and diatonic movement
Click to expand...

What do you mean by pro ...

1 - Professional quality
2 - Professional in earning a living

#1 is easier ...
 
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#29
+1 to those saying "get paid."

For about an eight year stretch I made a comfortable living wage from music (I could pay my modest living expenses, own a reliable vehicle, take a couple of nice vacations each year, and sock a little away for a rainy day).

I did it by doing live performance work everywhere and anywhere that threw money my way, mobile DJ work with upscale private event clients, studio work, and maintaining a roster of around 25 private students per week.

It's the hardest work I've ever done in my life based on sheer volume. I worked from sun-up to sundown at least 6 days a week. Careful what you wish for.

The vast majority of musicians who have "made it" worked their asses off to get there and continue to do so. The music and entertainment business is indeed, in every sense of the word, a "business."
 
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#31
electracoyote said:
+1 to those saying "get paid."

For about an eight year stretch I made a comfortable living wage from music (I could pay my modest living expenses, own a reliable vehicle, take a couple of nice vacations each year, and sock a little away for a rainy day).

I did it by doing live performance work everywhere and anywhere that threw money my way, mobile DJ work with upscale private event clients, studio work, and maintaining a roster of around 25 private students per week.

It's the hardest work I've ever done in my life based on sheer volume. I worked from sun-up to sundown at least 6 days a week. Careful what you wish for.

The vast majority of musicians who have "made it" worked their asses off to get there and continue to do so. The music and entertainment business is indeed, in every sense of the word, a "business."
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You know what I think I will just become a dj and also be a writer since I like writing I mean I prefer this over working my but off all the time I mean what time would I spend with future bf
 
#36
Join a band, any band. Or create one. Play for friends and relatives as they will almost always say your're good. And do it for cash. But if you can get charity gigs do it as well. Take any bass gig you can get. Then, once you get some experience under your skin, you'll know where you really stand in the world of pro bass player. Avoid drugs and ETOH, unless prescribed by a MD, and you too can become president of the US.
 
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#37
These days it's all about self-suffiency and autonomy. Sure, it's great to be in a band with other folks when everything is clicking, but don't sideline your own individual progress even if you think the band is bound for stardom. You CAN make a living in the music industry today but it may very likely take a different form than you expect. I for one grew up wanting to be a bass-playing rock star but it wasn't until I became adept at composing and working in a DAW that I was able to make it my day job. Maybe for you it'll be playing bass along with mastering, or music journalism, or coding music apps, or music law?--who knows? Keep playing your bass, but get your hands dirty with a DAW, learn about digital AND analog recording and mastering, learn about publishing, copyright, learn about how music is used in other media(TV, film, interactive) etc---you don't have to be expert on ANY of these things (even bass;)) but these days you need a good understanding of how it all dovetails together. It's all there to peruse--that's the beauty of the internet. When I was growing up we didn't have such a luxury!
 
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#38
Jay boogs said:
I have been playing bass for a year and after just exploring music and just life in general I realized I want to become a pro bassist . My playing is OK but I feel I'm bad and probably won't make it to being a pro but anyways I would like to know the steps needed to become pro or at least close to it. BTW my style is typically roots, fifths, thirds, octaves and chromatic and diatonic movement
Click to expand...
You also have to go where the music is. Meaning "big city".
 
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