You think I'm kidding don't you? I'm not. Most musicians will not, I repeat not have 2 nickels to rub together during their music career. Sure, go ahead and become a guitar player, bass player or drummer.
Unless you're among bands that make in the high 4 figures or in the five figure range and beyond gigging, you won't make much dough ray me. Don't believe me?
Why do you think the Rolling Stones went back on tour in the mid 80's? Even their album sales start falling off, and the best way to make money for a well known and highly regarded band like the Stones, was to tour like crazy. And yes, they are able to command big tour dollars. They now have made nice big piles of cash and live very care free lives financially.
One of the biggest issues over the years has been Major record labels and their control over even big name acts ability to make money with an album. I'm not sure what the score is now but all I know is when a band came out with an album in the 60's, 70's, 80's, and even the 90's the label paid for promotion, advertising, studio time and even band merch. But after the album comes out the label still has to recoup from the band what the label paid for to make and promote the album. It could be in the 10's of thousands of dollars or the 100's of thousands.
You better sell a lot of units if your band ever hopes to come out ahead. For every track you literally make cents on the dollar for every album sold, unless you're in the league of the elite bands that make "moocho money." And if the label wants they can take on hired guns, meaning session players who command a nice buck which comes out of your pocket. And yeah, if they hire a Don Was or Rick Rubin to produce it, they get points on the album. So that might be 3 or 4 percent on top of what you're already paying. You have a band manager? you'll still have to keep paying.
Not much fun is it? This is the reality. Is strictly gigging looking better guys? This is all why you and your band need to look at off the beaten path ways to make cash. Not just gigging and selling albums. You can make your own dream job in the music biz. Don't worry about dealing with major labels and people who are out of your league. But you could do something such as interview bands you know that have succeeded. Ask them questions about where they make most of their money and if they do other things to make money music wise. Interview Band Managers and Agents as well. This will leave clues as to how to make extra money.
Okay, let's say you're a band leader and your band is taking a break from playing gigs. Don't worry about making money from selling Cd's. Most musicians think they'll make all kinds of passive income from album sales and gigging. It probably won't happen. Here's a good way to make what I call "Active Income."
I'm not saying it's going to work for you but work your ass off doing this and you'll do good. Okay, I'm basing this on an article I came up with a number of month's back. Think about what type of music you play. Okay, what bands locally do you know that play your kind of music and hire session guys. If you're a Musicians Union member, meaning the AFM, ask them what bands hire session guys for live and studio work. Ask them what you need to do to become a great session player. But first figure out if you're best suited for live or studio work. Interview bands locally and don't ask them for a job, that's a job killer right there. Do a little bit of investigative work. Ask the band about what kind of guitars and gear they use and make an article about it and put it on your band website.
Even ask them what gear they use for studio and live gigs. Don't tip your hat too soon or they'll know you're looking for a job. By doing this investigative work you'll be further ahead than most musicians. Most players will never do what's needed to go the extra mile to be a good session player. Don't be that person. Okay, keep interviewing bands you want to work with and at a certain point ask them about what they look for in a live or studio player.You have to expose yourself sometime. Don't ask them to come to your gigs, or listen to a CD. Keep the focus on the band you want to work with. Believe me if you talk about your band and what they can do, that's the ultimate deal breaker.
I realize you want to make good money, but if you have to, do session work with other bands in your genre live or studio for free, so it gives you experience that can help you when you ask for a job with a band that can pay a good session fee. Because you did all the legwork interviewing other bands and giving them PR and some investigative work to boot, you'll have a better than average chance to get the gig. I learned a long time ago most musicians won't make shit and they won't do what's needed to succeed.
Doing session work can be tedious and you won't be able to play your way chances are, until you have a lot of experience. Two of the most well known session guys in LA are Steve Lukather and Carl Verheyen. They would tell you the same thing as I am. Doing session work can be some of the best paying work if you work hard enough not just to get the gig, but create real value for a band who's sees that you're honest and want to help others.
You don't have to be the best player to get a live or studio session. You just need to be able to do your part without trying to play more notes or show them your virtuosity. That's nonsense, kind of like my brain sometimes. Once you get a number of live and studio sessions under your belt and you're known as a competent session player, they may want a signature sound on their album, or a different textural feel on their live gigs, and it might be you. After you've done all that get a good agent who represents session players. Make sure they know you want to be a session player and what you're willing to do to become a great session lad. This I think is one of the best ways for a player to make good cash on the side. You'll become better known as not just a great live or studio cat, but a musician who helps other musicians. Make sure to ask an agent or Band Manager what certain bands are looking for in session players.
I'll be interviewing a well known session player soon to give you players more insight in how to become a great hired gun for bands. Being professional in your dealings with bands will also help you along the way to get the kinds of session work most musicians will never get, because they didn't go the extra mile like you.
I'll have another tip on dream jobs in music soon, so stay tuned to Canadian Guitar Player.
Much success as session cats guys.
Mark Grove
mdgrove@rock.com
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