So I am actually in a band however I am getting into recording and looking into buying an irig or something and I have been look for opportunities to play on others tracks on bandlab and inline in general
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How to become a pro bassist?
- Thread starter Jay boogs
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That's great that you have a band. Thus, take as many gigs as you can for the experience. And if your band is known, gig only for cash. No charity stuff unless its big venues that can provide your band a lot exposure.
Recording is another great way to get into the pro world of bass. Some say you need to learn to read notation well. Others say a good understanding of the digital recording process is essential to recording great bass tracks, and studios will like you. Thus, you can get some online info on how studios record and mix bass tracks to get an idea of what studios like. Best wishes...
Work hard, be open minded, learn to read music, learn about as many different styles as you can, consider formal training, take advantage of every opportunity
To earn a living at it you need to do a lot of different things. In NYC there are jobs to be had, but even more competition. First step, practice at least 30 mins a day for the rest of your life. Second, learn theory and sight reading. Third, learn upright bass. Join a wedding/General Businesses band. Audition for musical theater bands often, and take any gig you can get. Between these, in new york you can earn enough for a tiny studio apartment if you are lucky enough to continue to find work. So most importantly, be someone people want to hire again. Not just good at playing bass, but a nice person, easy you work with, no ego, dependable, punctual, prepared. In your spare time maybe you can be in an original band too. 
good luck and enjoy the ride.
good luck and enjoy the ride.
lose your day job. get paid anything at a gig. Professional.
Pro musicians don't need to ask what style, they just ask how much it pays.
If you are good at a few styles but suck at others, don't quit your day job.
Pros are the ultimate hoes (in a good way you guttersnipes
), if the pay is right, they are down with the sickness.
If you are good at a few styles but suck at others, don't quit your day job.
Pros are the ultimate hoes (in a good way you guttersnipes
), if the pay is right, they are down with the sickness.
You have 365 in person access to literally hundreds of top pros and you're asking the ****ing internet? Did the Village Voice stop listing live music or something?
Learn as many styles as you possibly can
Study music theory
Practice and play often
Be dependable
Play with the best players that will work you, and as you grow as a player, keep finding better and better players to play with
Don't be the guy who shows up at a gig without a cable, or strap or anything you need
Have reliable functional gear that is appropriate for the gig you are playing
Check your ego and realize that working musicians are side men in somebody else's project
That's a good start!
Study music theory
Practice and play often
Be dependable
Play with the best players that will work you, and as you grow as a player, keep finding better and better players to play with
Don't be the guy who shows up at a gig without a cable, or strap or anything you need
Have reliable functional gear that is appropriate for the gig you are playing
Check your ego and realize that working musicians are side men in somebody else's project
That's a good start!
"From Zero to Sideman"
Book by pro bassist Mel Brown.
Must read for any bassist trying to go pro.
Walks you through every step you can imagine and steps you haven't imagined.
How to prepare, what to practice, what books to get, what equipment to get, how to network, how to market yourself, who makes the big bucks in the industry, who makes the little bucks in the industry, how to organize taxes effectively, how to get gigs, is the lifestyle truly for you in the first place. Etc etc.
Get the book.
Book by pro bassist Mel Brown.
Must read for any bassist trying to go pro.
Walks you through every step you can imagine and steps you haven't imagined.
How to prepare, what to practice, what books to get, what equipment to get, how to network, how to market yourself, who makes the big bucks in the industry, who makes the little bucks in the industry, how to organize taxes effectively, how to get gigs, is the lifestyle truly for you in the first place. Etc etc.
Get the book.
When you listen to music, listen for the bass. Play along with the recordings. Bass is the foundation, so you need to know your music theory. You must understand simple chord progressions. You must be able to play with a metronome (Click Track). You must understand the different feels. swing 8th (swing, jazz, blues) versus straight 8th's (surfing rock, punk,) 16th groove, (funk) versus swing 16th grove, (hip hop). Be professional, show up to gig early. have dependable gear. Get along with other people. learn to work together. Lock In with drummer, no matter what happens...Be a team player!
Jalen, keep in mind that professionalism extends to communication skills as well. If someone can't be bothered with periods (or, god forbid, question marks), it creates the impression that they're sloppy about details. And attention to detail is the soul of professionalism.
Outside of super low key jamming, ALWAYS be playing with a metronome. Always.
In my opinion, being an instrumentalist these days is getting harder, as you are competing with a popular music industry that is moving more and more away from conventional instruments and instrumentalists. You've got to have the precision and reliability of a synth track running on a computer, because that is becoming the expectation. For your band to succeed, and for you to succeed, you need the whole package. High level musicality, understanding of music theory, being an entertainer, knowing your gear, network with people, have as many marketable skills outside of music as possible, being reliable, being adaptable, working hard...the list goes on and on. Suffice to say, what some others here have said, making a living off of music is extremely difficult.
Also, in my opinion, you sound a bit like me when I was younger. I was super into music. Classically trained violinist and singer. Picked up guitar largely on my own. Was determined to go to a music college to get a degree in music performance. I was in high school bands that I loved. I was in choirs. I was in orchestras. I did solo voice performances often.
My perspective changed when my parents decided it was time to level with me...they were pretty upfront about not wanting me to try to live that life. They convinced me to go to college, get a more applicable degree (I went into engineering), and to work full time with music as my after hours hobby. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't be happier with where I'm at. I'm satisfied with my work, but it's just work. When I come home I can do all the stuff I want, because I can afford to have expensive hobbies. I spend a lot of time playing bass and being in a band, but I can still simply enjoy it because I don't depend on it for income. Hobbies are easily polluted with frustration and stress when you turn them into your job. At least for me, I'd rather my passion for music just be passion...something I do for fun.
And to make sure somebody mentions it...even high level pro musicians make absolutely awful money these days. I've talked to and head from several current top-tier musicians in the metal community, and they have a really hard time getting by. All the musicians in 3 of my favorite bands (TesseracT, Periphery, and Twelve Foot Ninja) are all pretty upfront that their bands don't make them any money, and in their earlier stages they were continually losing money. They all have to take breaks from your now and then to work a side job for cash, or to do some other project that will generate some income for them. I don't want to say they are unhappy, I'm just trying to say that they work much harder than most people, and they make very little money.
It may sound crude, and I don't want to get all Mike Rowe on you, but if you want to be do music but want to have a stable income and steady job that you can use to finance your hobby...learn how to be a welder, plummer, electrician, etc. If you can get an apprenticeship, within 4-5 years I'd confidently say you're yearly income will be than most of your idols have and will ever make.
I know as a young person us "oldies" talk too about money, and in the face of something you're super passionate about money seems like a stupid thing to worry about...but I think you'll find as you get a little older, a steady job with consistent income is really desirable.
I say/type these same things to all people who are interested in becoming "pros" at anything creative or performance based, so I'm not just picking on you. Same goes for all the people who want to be pro-gamers, pro-chefs, pro-athletes...etc on and on.
In my opinion, being an instrumentalist these days is getting harder, as you are competing with a popular music industry that is moving more and more away from conventional instruments and instrumentalists. You've got to have the precision and reliability of a synth track running on a computer, because that is becoming the expectation. For your band to succeed, and for you to succeed, you need the whole package. High level musicality, understanding of music theory, being an entertainer, knowing your gear, network with people, have as many marketable skills outside of music as possible, being reliable, being adaptable, working hard...the list goes on and on. Suffice to say, what some others here have said, making a living off of music is extremely difficult.
Also, in my opinion, you sound a bit like me when I was younger. I was super into music. Classically trained violinist and singer. Picked up guitar largely on my own. Was determined to go to a music college to get a degree in music performance. I was in high school bands that I loved. I was in choirs. I was in orchestras. I did solo voice performances often.
My perspective changed when my parents decided it was time to level with me...they were pretty upfront about not wanting me to try to live that life. They convinced me to go to college, get a more applicable degree (I went into engineering), and to work full time with music as my after hours hobby. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't be happier with where I'm at. I'm satisfied with my work, but it's just work. When I come home I can do all the stuff I want, because I can afford to have expensive hobbies. I spend a lot of time playing bass and being in a band, but I can still simply enjoy it because I don't depend on it for income. Hobbies are easily polluted with frustration and stress when you turn them into your job. At least for me, I'd rather my passion for music just be passion...something I do for fun.
And to make sure somebody mentions it...even high level pro musicians make absolutely awful money these days. I've talked to and head from several current top-tier musicians in the metal community, and they have a really hard time getting by. All the musicians in 3 of my favorite bands (TesseracT, Periphery, and Twelve Foot Ninja) are all pretty upfront that their bands don't make them any money, and in their earlier stages they were continually losing money. They all have to take breaks from your now and then to work a side job for cash, or to do some other project that will generate some income for them. I don't want to say they are unhappy, I'm just trying to say that they work much harder than most people, and they make very little money.
It may sound crude, and I don't want to get all Mike Rowe on you, but if you want to be do music but want to have a stable income and steady job that you can use to finance your hobby...learn how to be a welder, plummer, electrician, etc. If you can get an apprenticeship, within 4-5 years I'd confidently say you're yearly income will be than most of your idols have and will ever make.
I know as a young person us "oldies" talk too about money, and in the face of something you're super passionate about money seems like a stupid thing to worry about...but I think you'll find as you get a little older, a steady job with consistent income is really desirable.
I say/type these same things to all people who are interested in becoming "pros" at anything creative or performance based, so I'm not just picking on you. Same goes for all the people who want to be pro-gamers, pro-chefs, pro-athletes...etc on and on.
That quickly turned from basic advice to deep thoughts. Not sure what drove me to type that all out...but whatever.
Just some stuff to think about.
You just gave a lot of very good advice, Emoney. Particularly about being able to optimize the role of music in one's life by not burdening it with the obligation to pay the rent. A "professional" isn't necessarily the one most in touch with their muse.
I personally pursue making the music I'm truly interested in; financial considerations run a distant second, when they're in the running at all. I accept some paying gigs, but not BECAUSE they're paying gigs. No need to be a mercenary. In fact, as this article points out, nowadays "the best way to have a career in music is not to have a career in music": Link Removed
Being a good musician (even an important one) and making a living aren't synonymous.
How to become a pro bassist?
Get good as a player and as a listener.
Learn to read(to sight read, if possible).
Get to know many people; get along with them.
Play with them and get hired(first as a dep, perhaps) get paid.
Do not ask for money-get gigs that pay.
Getting a teacher who is also a player is also a good idea. Get to dep for your teacher at first...
Get lucky.
Get good as a player and as a listener.
Learn to read(to sight read, if possible).
Get to know many people; get along with them.
Play with them and get hired(first as a dep, perhaps) get paid.
Do not ask for money-get gigs that pay.
Getting a teacher who is also a player is also a good idea. Get to dep for your teacher at first...
Get lucky.
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Not quite... "pro" means "making a living" at what you do. I get paid to gig, but I don't think anyone, including myself, would consider me a pro. It's a hobby, and so I have a day job that pays the bills.
Keep going mate. Silverchair released one of the best albums of 1995 when they were 16. Metallica were 18 with Kill 'Em All. Green Day 22 with Dookie. All were accomplished musicians and great at their chosen craft.
Ignore the neysayers. You just need to want it enough to overcome anything that stands in your way. And don't put too much pressure on yourself
My advice re: IRig is go for the digital options. The analogue one is really low quality. In fact mine had cold solder joints inside and had to be repaired..... so next time I buy an iPhone interface I'll look at other brands.
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