Session Work--How To Become A Great Sideman

By Mark Grove

Tips to Sidemen Out There:

The reason players get gigs is the relationships you build, not just your talent being a wizard on the frets. If you're not a hugely social player, you'll have to have your playing skills as the big part of what you're about.


You'll also have to learn where to find bands looking for sidemen for live and studio work in the genre you play.

Stick with the genre you play mainly, and jam with players outside your genre.


If you play blues mainly, jam with jazz cats every so often to stretch your playing ability.



You may have to audition 10's of times before you hit a good pay day. Get a good agent for your solo gigs who will have you working both studio and live work when your main band is taking a break.

Also you'll want to learn to write songs for your own publishing income, and for other artists to keep a steady stream of income from different music sources coming in. Write articles on other bands in your genre to create value for other blues acts and jam with both better players and ones who have only been playing for less than a year.



You might end up learning a lick from a newbie that becomes an element of your style. Gigs will be the mainstay of your music income, but the session work and songwriting will help you make money even when you're not working.

If you still need to work a regular job do it. You may have a lot of late nights--but if you want to be a real musician who makes good money you'll need to do all these things.

So get started doing just one thing to become the great sideman I know you'll become.

Mark