Why Session Players Need To Look For Work in Nashville and LA

Hey everyone, thought I'd put up this video with Dan Needham a well known session drummer and producer who talks about why you need to go to Nashville, LA or New York to become a well known session Cat. That's not to say you can't find sessions where you live who'll pay you.

But chances are they don't pay very well and there really isn't enough work to sustain you financially. That's why you need to search out how to become a go to session guy. If you're a blues guy just stick with blues sessions, because you'll get more work that way. Yeah you're being a one trick pony, but you're focusing instead of going in ten million different directions.

Dan also talks about why you need to contact players who play different instruments than yourself and develop contacts from studios that have session work with the type of music you play. If have a diligent  agent or manager who has session players and knows the score, that can help you out as well. Don't depend on them totally for all your work or once again you'll be spinning your wheels.

But what you want to do mainly is do gigs with your own band and develop off the beaten path ways of making cash as a player. But keep looking for sessions in Nashville and LA. Before you decide to venture  to these places, make sure you have a contact there. if your band tours regularly see about doing a short  tour in Tennessee or California.

Take a producer to lunch and ask him some questions. Pay for his time and for lunch. Time is money guys. Learn all you can about what's expected of you in a studio setting and who to seek out. Interview the top session guys like Nashville's Bret Mason or LA's Steve Lukather or Carl Verheyen.

These are all very well known session guys. Then keep playing and learning.

Any questions?