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Tips
(to help keep ya workin')
How to beat the competition in a freelance world By Andre Berry (www.andreberry.com) |
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"My
father taught me: You meet the same people on the way up that you meet
on the way back down!” Which means, things always have a way of
leveling out, so watch what you say and to who!"
ATTITUDE OK..Here’s tip #1. It's something that my father used to always tell me: ”Make Yourself Useful!” But no seriously...that is a real tip. To me, you have to do more than just play good these days. Go above and beyond the call of duty in any situation you’re in. Make yourself valuable. Make yourself wanted. Be a team player and let the word get around. Learn the music more thoroughly than anybody else. Give 110%. For example, be eager & ready to rehearse...This is a big point because in LA especially the first question is “Is rehearsal payin?” Most players don’t want to rehearse. They would rather read charts on the bandstand and wing it on the gig and just get the cash with as little work as possible, but I tell you from seeing it first hand, the gig doesn’t go as well and when the next gig comes around the leader is always hesitant to call those guys and ends up asking you for your opinion on that last guy, because you did a great job and were eager to put in the work. Believe me, your attitude will translate. On top of that, play good and I tell you, you will work. People will want you. The word will travel around. The tendency is to skate and give as little as possible and for some if you are supremely talented you can get away with it...but I say, no matter how talented you are, you can’t get away with that attitude forever. There are players like me, that play good, want the gig and will give 110% with a great attitude. REHEARSAL? Here's another tip: Be on time at the very least. Even better yet, be early! This was a hard one for me. It took me a while to get it together but finally I got it down and I tell you, people appreciate it. I know it’s cool and it shows how much you are the man by getting away with being late, but people resent it. They feel as though you don’t take them seriously. They feel disrespected, even if you’re so good they allow it and act like it’s cool. They may love what you bring to their thing and may not be able to find another bassist at the time, but the day will come when they do find a bassist they dig and is ontime and you won’t get the call...Being late is unavoidable sometimes and there are times when mistakes just happen, but I’m talking about the habitual lateness that becomes the way you do things. Your M.O. Your baggage. See..Things change, Gigs open up and you don’t want the word to be on you “yeah but you know he’s always late like he don’t give a damn....He can play but you gotta deal with his ego” Because that’s what it is. THE OL' BIG HEAD Tip #3: Control your Ego! Don't let it get ugly and big! It’s one thing to have a healthy ego, which means you like what you do and enjoy what you do, and feel good and ready to play, but a inflated ego constantly needs feeding. You need to be better than everybody else or you don’t feel good. You either need to knock everybody else down to let everbody know how much better and hip you are, or, you need to boost yourself up by letting people know your resume when they first meet you. You know the type...”Hey man how you been doing?” Answer...”Aw man, I’m working all the time. I’m on the road with Shelia E, Mariah Carey, Elton John and Engelburt Humperdink all at the same time! Everybody loves me and I’m playing with everybody!! My life is so incredible!!” And after that, every conversation they find some kind of way to come back to who they are working with again. “Why when I was with The Spice Girls...what we did was....Did I mention I was with the Spice Girls and they paid me more than everybody else in the band!!” What they are really saying is “See how happening I am and how happening you’re not!??” I guess nobody ever told them not to brag and that humility is attractive. Bottom line is...Nobody wants to hear that s**t!! And I mean NOBODY! Say “i’m doing fine” and shut the hell up!! See, A big ego says, “What are they gonna do, ha ha..replace me?? replace me?? who can replace me??” A Big ego says, “they’ll put up with it because I am the man!” A big ego says, “ I can do whatever I want, because I am the man, and they know this!!” A big ego says, “I don’t have to rehearse because I am far above all this”. (I say, why are you doing it then?) A big ego points the finger and says “He sucks, he Sucks, She sucks and he sucks, and because I am so great, I know, who's got it and who doesn't. Respect my word, look up to me because I am the man” A big ego also says..”I’ll just play so good they’ll forget about my being late..” and they might for awhile, but..one thing you can count on..Things change. The tables turn. The tide changes. Those who were the hippest get older and music is fickle. The hippest of hip today become yesterdays sound and then everybody recalls the attitude you had when you were ‘the man’. THE UPS & DOWNS Another age old rule my father taught me: You meet the same people on the way up that you meet on the way back down!” Which means, things always have a way of leveling out, so watch what you say and to who. That guy you said sucks so bad might be playing absolutely great 2 years later and be in a position to give you the nod for a great gig. That session that you didn’t give a damn about, it turns out that the producers got a few hit records and now calls everyone that did that session except you, and now, they pay triple scale. That girl you pointed out to your friend as “so ugly” might end up being the love of his life! You never know who will be a king tommorrow, so watch who you disrespect today! IN CONCLUSION Now I know it might sound like I'm preachin' and I guess I am. What I am really trying do is, give you young players out there some sound advice. Advice that will help you avoid some pitfalls that may harm your career. Hopefully, when you sit down and reflect on your career, you will be thankful that you are working so much! Maybe you will have a nice list of clientelle that call you and are glad to see you! Once again, these tips are based on my opinons, which are based on my experiences. I'm not trying to say they hold all answers, but they might just help. Keep playin' and practicing. All the best, Dré |
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About the author Andre Berry is one of the busiest touring bass players in the soul funk & jazz idiom. He has played with The Brothers Johnson, A Tribe Called Quest, TLC, Rick Braun, Dave Koz, Chris Botti, and many others. Now serving up some intoxicating funk with his group the Deep Fried Funk Society. Visit Andre on the web at www.andreberry.com and www.thedeepfriedfunksociety.com |
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