Who Wants to be a Nashville Bassist?

matt king is a killer session drummer. he asked me to advise a friend of his who wants to move to nashville to work as a bass player. here's what i told him...

keep in mind: thanksgiving thru valentine's day is typically dead unless you're on a christmas tour.

if you know theory & numbers and can play solid 8th notes at any tempo... if you can be perfectly happy going at least 24 hours without playing anything but the root... if you can write your own charts (and ultimately discard everything you've prepared because the artist wants to try something different)... if you can read a record producer's mind (or at least make him think you know what he means by "could you play something more sandpapery?")... if you can show up early with great sounding gear that actually works (or miraculously make junky gear sound amazing)... if you can tolerate flaky artist indecision and management/label vagaries on life-and-death matters... if you're willing to sling coffee at starbucks, boxes at a warehouse or perhaps paint on walls of houses for the first five to seven years... if you have a huge nest-egg saved up or independently wealthy and generous parents, grandparents or in-laws...

and most importantly, ultimately, if the Lord wants it for you...

you may be able to make a very modest living as a musician in nashville.