Thursday, October 16, 2014

How To Be An In Demand Session Guitar Player---By Creating Value For Other Bands Beyond The Music

"I Think Most Players Filled Out The Application Form When They Started Playing Guitar, And Forgot How To Be An Original Guitarist"    Mark Grove

I was reading an article in the September issue of Guitar Player in the "Session Stories" section at the back of it. Carl Verheyen was the profiled session guy. Anyone who knows session players or is involved with players of his "ilk" or anywhere in his chopdom, know he's still a very sought after session guy. Hell, he even does sessions from his home on the internet. Not many players can do that. And that is not where I'm going with this piece on how to be a wanted session player.

But in today's 5 bucks a gallon of gas world it's an option once you start getting regular live and studio work with other bands besides your own. It will definitely cut down on expenses. But here's the gist of all of this mumbo jumbo of session playing.If you've been a player for any length of time playing in your own band here is what to do to get extra work as a sideman.

Start talking to and interviewing band's whose music you like and remember this, make sure they play the kind of music you play or complements yours, and you can make a good contribution to with your style of play and tone. If you play blues and you're looking at a Jazz or Metal act, but have never played that music, don't go near it. You'll say, I want the experience to learn different music and make extra session cash. If you can't play to the changes, keep the tempo or the feel don't bother.

Chances are if you don't like the music but like the Paycheck because it's big, chances are you won't enjoy doing that kind of work. It will feel like going to a regular day job, and you don't want that. You'll get more sessions and be more in-demand if you look for sessions of music you like or love and want to be a part of.  You'll probably like hanging with those musicians too if you love the music they play.

If you play slow blues well, and like Country bands that play slow Country-Blues, seek out local or regionally based Country acts of that kind who might be searching for a good session man. Go out of your way to talk to local Country bands, or blues acts of the kind I mentioned above, and interview them on something like the kind of gear they use. Don't ask for a job. This way you're getting some good intel on the kind of gear they use without tipping your hand.

Put that interview on your site, and ask local media to publish the interview. Keep interviewing this band, go to their gigs and buy a CD. And when you do another interview, ask if you can attend a practice session to get a good handle on what they want tone and feel wise. Once again some under the radar intel.

If you know they use session guys regularly, you'll have one over on the majority of players who want to work with this band. Chances are at some point they'll ask if you play and you'll say yes. Then ask them if it would be okay if you practiced with them sometime. Chances are they'll say yes as well. Keep playing with your current band and have them come out to a gig or blues jam. Ask them to jam with you on stage.

Keep interviewing this band and them only. This will keep you from stretching yourself too thin trying to deal with a bunch of bands. You'll get more work if you stick to one or two bands you want to work with. After you've done all that with the band you're interested in and you enjoy playing with them, ask for sideman work with them. All they can say is no.

 I get no's constantly from people I want to write for in the music business. If they say yes and employ you doing either live or studio work,work hard learning their material and what they want from you to complement their music. Keep helping them out interviewing them and getting them local media. As well, you won't feel burnt out from trying to get session work from 10 million other bands, bands you don't like, and you'll be more focused and results motivated, and actually succeed.

As well, what you can do is search out your local Musicians Union for session gigs, and keep your session work to blues or country bands. Don't say to unions you'll do any sideman work. Keep to the plan I outlined above. Learn all you can about how to use the Union to your advantage and become a member.

Start a Separate Bank Account For Sideman Gigs:

At some point you'll want to start a bank account outside your regular band's business account, and start an account strictly for your session work gigs. Take some money and become a paying member of the Union, not just to get better paying side gigs, but to learn how to structure your music business like a professional  and how to work with other bands opening for them and working in Joint Ventures with them.

As well, if you're a union member you can get a reputable agent who can help your main band get gigs, and get you session work. Make sure you interview a number of agents so you're not stuck with one that doesn't help bands that play blues or country. Or they have so many bands they ignore yours. No you don't want that.

Even interview the agent who becomes your booker, and learn all you can about what he does. But don't just leave all the work up to him. Look for jobs yourself and keep doing media for your band.If you have an agent who will work hard for you and sees you care and have a good work ethic business wise, you'll have more success with your main band and your side work.

Back to the extra bank account:

Use it to pay not just for gas to gigs but for guitar strings that will be appropriate for the kind of session work you'll be doing. A solid practice amp of even 10 to twenty watts and all tube. You don't need a 50 watt amp for doing some session work. Once you get enough money in that account, buy an axe with pickups and strings that are right for those gigs. Even the proper effects pedal. There are good deals to be had on gear and accessories out there.    http://www.sweetwater.com

If your money is limited, take the train to go to sessions that are at least 2 hours away or more. You'll save money on gas if you take a train or bus on a regular basis. If you do make good cash as a sideman, yeah you can use your own vehicle. But if not, take alternate routes. Your bank account will thank you.

But helping local bands you want to do session work with, and play complementary music will get you faster to success than going all over the musical style map. Keep practicing your ass off, write songs and even do backing vocals as well, to make you more employable.

Keep promoting your band and the side acts you're playing with. It's easier than you think. Once you start doing sessions with a band and it ends for a while such as 3 months, search out other bands and help them as well. Make sure they play music you love and would like to hang with. If these bands see you're not just a great player, but will go out of your way to help and learn their material, you'll most likely be an in demand session boy.

If you follow these little tips, you will make more money as a player. Your own version of  "Session PlayeMoney Grab". But remember this, don't try to get and do session work online. Do live auditions for bands.

Chances are you'll be frustrated and never get sessions, and eventually quit. That type of work is non existent for almost every player except good ole' Carl Verheyen.

You can do it as a session lad guys. Go for it.

Mark Grove  mdgrove0@gmail.com

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