Breaking into the professional music scene is intimating. It takes time, patience, and dedication. You can’t expect to graduate from music school and head straight into a professional, high-paying career. If you’re passionate about becoming a bassist and want to streamline your success, you’ll need to start small and work your way up. The best way to do this is by playing small shows and growing your experience, gig by gig.
Here’s everything you need to know if you want to jumpstart your career as a bassist.
Getting started as a bassist
Before you can start landing high-paying jobs in the music industry, you’ll need to start by building relationships in the community. The music industry is all about connections. To expand your network and get your talents noticed by other individuals, you’ll want to go where they spend most of their time. Go to every show in town, local bars, and open mic nights.
From there, here are a few ways to get your talents noticed:
Play local gigs
Once you have a network in your community, you can start looking for new opportunities. Church gigs, local bars, weddings, and small events are all great options that will help you get your feet wet. Plus, you’ll get to pocket an extra $75-$100 for each gig you book and play!
Join a working band
Search Craigslist, Facebook forums, and other community boards that post listings looking for a bassist. These resources will help you land an audition with a working band in your community and give you more experience under your belt. As an MI student, you get the added bonus of studying along with many potential bandmates, which you can meet in your classrooms and Live Performance Workshops.
Consider being a substitute
Musicians are sometimes double booked, and things happen at unexpected times, which means substitutes are more common than you think! This is a great option for individuals that don’t have the time to fully commit to a full-time band and are just looking to get experience.
Cover bands
Who doesn’t love a good old cover band? Cover bands are a top choice for weddings, bars, and private events. They set the tone for the night and unlock old memories for attendees. However, the competition is fierce. So you’ll need to find a reliable group of individuals to join your band. If you can’t find a group to form a band, consider becoming a substitute for one or looking on forums.
Teaching
Teaching provides consistent and reliable income. As a teacher, you have an opportunity to inspire the younger music community and push them to follow their dreams (Just like you are!) Even if you aren’t passionate about teaching, you should know that it’s not uncommon for professional players to teach on the side a few times a week.
Join the theater
Local theaters are always looking for live musicians for the background music. Usually, theaters need a trio or quartet to play the background music. You’ll need to be able to read music and play upright bass as well as electric bass to find success here.
Become a hired gun musician
A hired gun musician is someone who is hired to help a solo artist on tour or in the studio. This is a great way to make new connections and grow your network. However, there isn’t as much job security. Since solo artists only usually need someone here and there, you can easily be replaced.
Take the first step in your bassist career with MI
At MI, we have an extensive, hands-on bass guitar program designed to equip you with the experience you need to succeed. Our teachers will provide you with the resources to help you handle any style of music. Everything from funk, rock, jazz, R&B, and more. With this kind of experience, you’ll be able to diversify your talents and confidently take on any bassist gig that comes your way.
Request more information today to see if we’re a good fit for you.