setion musician

shred me good

New member
mmmmm my speling is ppooooor!
i was wondering if this sight was home to any setion musistions who may answer some qs of mine.
i work on tecknique so i can show off, but also in the back of my mind is the fact that if i can play the hardest stuff in the world then shurly the easy stuff will seam super duper easy, and so far it has worked.

soooo, what is a setion musician
what do they do
is it hard
y is it hard
how do i become 1
do i want to become 1
any advice on geting there
what are the pros and cons of setion musichionship

cheub
 
Re: setion musician

If English isn't your first language, then skip to Chapter 2.

Chapter 1:

If English is your first language, you really need to work on it. I'm not trying to beat you up here, but its relevant to your question, and at 15 years old, you should know better. Here's the thing - since you're typing in a public forum, you have the time to compose your message. Even at my age, I have a dictionary right beside my computer. If I want to use a word that I'm not sure of the spelling, I look it up. Simply because I want to put my best face forward, especially when asking others for help. It shows a lack of self-respect on your part that you didn't bother to construct your post in a way thats easier to read, which then influences how much effort someone else is going to put forth to help you.

Ok, enough spanking. :laugh2:

Chapter 2:

Once you deal with Chapter 1, (so you can fill out a job application), try to see if you can get a job in a guitar, or music store. One of those ones like GC or something that doesn't require real experienced people is a good start. (BTW - thats not a slam on you, just you know how those places are, and you might get your foot in the door there.) If you can get into one of those places, take the time to learn your product well, so that you can talk intelligently about it to customers. Your customers will appreciate it and remember you - and thats what I'm going to touch on next. Learn the concept of "networking". It simply means that you try to cultivate relationships with folks you meet while doing simple sales. You never know who you might run into. Give a hoot about everybody, and go the extra mile to serve them.

At some point in time, if you haven't been "discovered" yet, be prepared to move on to a better music/guitar store, now that you have some retail experience. Hopefully, you may have "networked" somebody else in a better store. Perhaps a smaller, more personal type store where you can learn more about "the ropes". The thing is, you want to try to work your way up the ladder of contacts and opportunity, in large part, by the people you come in contact with. Someone, somewhere has to get to know who you are and what your skill levels are. All the better if you're building them as you go. Make yourself desirable, needed, and valuable. Keep your ears and eyes open, and don't burn bridges.

As I think of more, I'll try to add it. ;)

BTW - I used to work consumer audio, and through contacts there, moved up to pro audio, and worked in a small recording studio. We also did small shows. I was a small-time "roadie". I got to meet Livingston Taylor, (James little brother), The Ohio Players, I built the microphone cables for the Broadway show, "The Wiz", and numerous other little "accomplishments". Unfortunately, at the time, I didn't know, or understand, myself what I'm telling you now, and missed some golden opportunities. Don't let it happen to you.

But . . . learn to spell first. :laugh2:

Take care buddy. ;)
 
Re: setion musician

i dont own a dictionary!
i spent all my money on guitars and cheep electronic equipment!
that was MAJOUR help! thank you ver much.
however there was still one thing i was wondering....
do i have totaly the wrong idea but i thought a session musician was someone who played guitar in recording studios for people who think they can sing and have the money to pay somone to play an uncreative backing track?
if not what is it a am thinking of?
 
Re: setion musician

shred me good said:
i dont own a dictionary!

(They're online too.) ;)

shred me good said:
however there was still one thing i was wondering....
do i have totaly the wrong idea but i thought a session musician was someone who played guitar in recording studios for people who think they can sing and have the money to pay somone to play an uncreative backing track?
if not what is it a am thinking of?

Absolutely, you are correct. However, you still have to get noticed. You need to make "contacts", and you need to do that somehow within what I'll loosely call "the music biz". I started off in an appliance store that happened to sell audio. As a result, I met, from that same store, the guy who does Stevie Wonders synthesizer programming, the lead guitarist for The Judds, the guy who was the publisher for Billy Jean (the singer), which, by the way, was not Nile Rodgers, who ripped my friend off by placing his name on the album cover - the bastage. :yell:

BTW - Those are all folks that worked at that store. Thats where they started.

Like I said, I missed some opportunities. Get out there and "network". You're young and have the time to build a portfolio of folks you know. You never know who you might sell a guitar or patch cable to. ;)
 
Re: setion musician

i seeee!
good advice!
ill make friends with them....and then ill KILL THEM!!! i mean PRODUCE RECORDS FOR THEM!!!! mohahaha
 
Re: setion musician

Just be cool, calm, and collected. Don't slober all over them.

Remember, don't call them, they'll call you. All my promotions came by someone telling someone else about me, and then they called me up asked if I wanted to work for them. ;)
 
Re: setion musician

One more thing - in regards to why "Chapter 1" is so important:

You might be surprised as to whom you might meet right here in this forum.

I'ld put my best foot forward if I were you. ;)
 
Re: setion musician

oohh argh um
yes sir mr artietoo sir
um ur, what 2 say, um
im off now to buy a dictionary and get a job in a guitar shop!
oh no its nearly midnight, shucks i better practice my musuc reading then!
 
Re: setion musician

If you are interested in becoming a studio session player you'd better learn to read music so well you don't even think about it. Rare is the player who can get by in the session world on his ear alone. Doing session work for folks who haven't made it is generally uninspiring, frustrating and low-paying work. Doing commercial recordings (or even commercials for that matter) is where you need to be if you want to make a living at it. Get a job as a gopher in a local studio that does at least some sort of commercial work and get used to all parts of it, once you are a part of the team see if you can sit in a watch some guys that really understand recording. Mouth shut, eyes and ears open or you're wasting your time. Then see if you can score some time laying down parts on anything you can, be a quick study, friendly and professional and maybe something will break for you. It's like being an artist build up a portfolio and make a name for yourself.
 
Re: setion musician

i first thought of session musicianing when i saw "buckethead"! who is obviously just some random very good studio guitarest with a bucket on his head!! good way to make a name for yourslf though.

hhmm .............. (note to self "1 go to kfc and buy bargain bucket, 2become famous)
....(1 learn to play reeeal good 2 go to kfc and buy bargain bucket, 3 become famous)
 
Re: setion musician

And don't forget Waddy Wachtel. One of the great studio musicians of all time. ;)
 
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