How To Become an Instant Session Player That's in Demand

Carl Verheyen, one of the most in demand Session Players                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Whether you're just a local, regional or national player you can become a session guy who's a go to guy as well. You can be a session player and not even realize it by doing a few things in this article, and give you the resume you need to get better paying live and studio work.



Most players think you need to audition or be discovered by agents or label scouts and A & R weasels to get session work that pays big to keep you cash flush. First of all think of the type of music you play mainly and go with that. Don't try and be a session lad doing 3 or 4 types of music. You'll go in too many directions and end up doing nothing. You won't be focused.

If you play Blues and Country stick to those two. But start with just one type of music for doing session work.

If you go out to local jams sessions and see blues bands at these jams and know they use hired guns from time to time, talk to them about their music and ask them questions about it. Don't talk about your blues playing.

Offer to interview them to learn more about their work. Ask them what kind of music they play even though you know they're bluesmen. Their blues may be a little different than yours. You may be more of a blues rocker and they play mainly country blues, and you want to learn all you can about the music they play.

Ask them what kind of guitars and amp rig they use along with strings and effects or other equipment such as mic's. This will give you much insight into their music and how you should approach sessions with them. Even ask their bass player and drummer how they play and their equipment they play to learn more on how to play their music.

Also,how they play with each other and how a second guitar player plays with this band. Listen to them and play in accordance to their feel,tempo,phrasing and texturing is very vital. Write up some articles and interviews from the interviews you conduct with them and continue going out to their jams and gigs and buy their CDs. And watch their shows and if they let you, their practices.

By creating value for them that will plant a seed in their minds that you're not just a player who wants paid work and you're helping their band. You may be a great player but you still need to practice jam and learn from other musicians besides your band. And you might just get regular session work if you follow the steps I've outlined. And if you do get session work with that country blues band, before you can play sessions your way, create value for them with interviews and articles and media help, along with still doing articles that teach other musicians by creating value for this band you want session work with.

And like usual you need to jam with different bands in the blues and country sector to get the feel you need to play like a real roots session guy. Learn all you can so you can be an in demand session player that many other bands who play blues will want to pay you well for what you do. In a live or studio environment.