Session players?

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:35 pm

With the dissolution of my primary band, I might be getting into this lucrative business. I've had a bunch of offers to play on people's CDs and the money doesn't look too terrible.

Anyone else ever do this? What was the experience like?

Hunter/Killer · Post by **Hunter/Killer** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:41 pm

when i was a 'freshman' in highschool there was a bassist and drummer who were seniors that had gotten offers from a record company to be session players.
the bassist i think took it after highschool and the drummer refused but ended up working at a studio mixing and other shit.

BassPhemy · Post by **BassPhemy** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:44 pm

Do they give you sheet music and tell you what to play?

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:39 pm

BassPhemy wrote:Do they give you sheet music and tell you what to play?

I'm sure in some instances that could happen, but this town isn't particularly full of GIT types, so it's very likely I'd never have to read. I'm not averse to it, though.

I'm not going to be like Neil Stubenhaus or something like that. It'd just be an occasional thing. It would keep my chops up, at the very least.

wal · Post by **wal** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 10:53 pm

BassPhemy wrote:Do they give you sheet music and tell you what to play?

they usually do.
not really.

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:10 am

These are singer-songwriter types. At most I'll see a chord chart, but I don't think most of them read or write music anyway.

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:11 am

oh! I got an offer from a pretty good avant-shred kind of guy. I'm not usually big into Vai-or-Satriani type of stuff, but he's definitely got his own angle and wants me to work with him on a CD. He's in his mid-40's and hasn't played in a band since grunge stomped out the genre. Home studio and lots of other goodies. I think I might give it a whirl.

BassPhemy · Post by **BassPhemy** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:33 pm

Will you have to figure out the stuff by ear or will he write songs with you or what's the deal?

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:25 pm

BassPhemy wrote:Will you have to figure out the stuff by ear or will he write songs with you or what's the deal?

He sent me a bunch of his ideas. They're mostly songs without a definitive structure. I already laid down so basic ideas underneath them today, just so i could get a feel for what he's doing. All of the grooves are on a drum machine but the drummer from my old band will also be playing on this, so me and him will definitely be able to flesh out more solid parts.

Lord of This World · Post by **Lord of This World** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:30 pm

that could really be cool. if it's not in a sterile boring studio it could be lots of fun, especially if he wants some creative input.

dead forever · Post by **dead forever** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:55 pm

Nick Menza and Ellefson charge 1000 Dollars per song on session recording!

Lord of This World · Post by **Lord of This World** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:09 pm

dead forever wrote:Nick Menza and Ellefson charge 1000 Dollars per song on session recording!

i thought menza couldn't play well anymore?

dead forever · Post by **dead forever** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:14 pm

He sounds pretty capable on all the recent recordings I've heard of him.

http://www.myspace.com/ORPHANEDTOHATRED

http://www.memorain.net/

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:17 pm

Lord of This World wrote:that could really be cool. if it's not in a sterile boring studio it could be lots of fun, especially if he wants some creative input.

Yeah, all my parts will be mine to create, more or less. I'll be paid by the song too, though probably not $1,000 each!

dead forever · Post by **dead forever** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:21 pm

PflÃ¶yd wrote:
Lord of This World wrote:that could really be cool. if it's not in a sterile boring studio it could be lots of fun, especially if he wants some creative input.
Yeah, all my parts will be mine to create, more or less. I'll be paid by the song too, though probably not $1,000 each!

I guess Ellefson and Menza have a big enough name to carry that price tag. Though it seems like Menza is playing with 2 types of band :

Megadeth ripoff (memorain)
Pantera ripoff (Orphaned to Hatred)

One of those "memorain" riffs is basically Blackmail The Universe

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:33 pm

I suppose price will be negotiated. Most pros in "non-music" cities cost like $200 per session, so I'll probably be undershooting that by about half. My track record of nailing songs is under 5 takes (without overdubbing because I hate punching shit in) so I could potentially actually lay down a single song in an hour or so. Course the time invested in learning the stuff counterbalances that.

dead forever · Post by **dead forever** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:34 pm

That shouldnt be a problem if you enjoy the music.

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:39 pm

dead forever wrote:That shouldnt be a problem if you enjoy the music.

Yeah, that definitely helps. Truly, I put it in the perspective that I'm being paid to practice which is something I've been badly neglecting on the bass. It's going to be challenging stuff and I'll probably be using a pick quite a bit to boot!

silverback77 · Post by **silverback77** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:44 am

My session experiences have covered a wide range of styles, some of which I never listen to or like. The point is that you're getting paid to play music, which is better than a day job any time. As long as you can do the right thing for the track in a reasonable amount of time, you'll keep getting work whether you're a good reader or not. My reading chops haven't been super good since school, but I don't think I'd run screaming from a chart either.

You'll have fun even when the music sucks. Let us know how your projects are going, dude. Always cool to hear what other people are up to.

Lord of This World · Post by **Lord of This World** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 10:57 am

i didnt realize how common nashville number charts were in studio work, especially with country music being the most popular genre in america right now

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Mon Sep 18, 2006 6:54 pm

silverback77 wrote:My session experiences have covered a wide range of styles, some of which I never listen to or like. The point is that you're getting paid to play music, which is better than a day job any time. As long as you can do the right thing for the track in a reasonable amount of time, you'll keep getting work whether you're a good reader or not. My reading chops haven't been super good since school, but I don't think I'd run screaming from a chart either.

You'll have fun even when the music sucks. Let us know how your projects are going, dude. Always cool to hear what other people are up to.

Certainly. I'm no Wooten or Pastorius, but a lot of people have approached me because they enjoy my approach. Versatility is key. There really isn't any style of music I'd absolutely hate playing unless it was the only style I played. This will at least expose me to different things I haven't otherwise had extensive work in. And it'll fill time while I work on my CD and try to find a band that will take on the material live.

Gimp · Post by **Gimp** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:58 am

dead forever wrote:He sounds pretty capable on all the recent recordings I've heard of him.

http://www.myspace.com/ORPHANEDTOHATRED

http://www.memorain.net/

Pantera version 2

dead forever · Post by **dead forever** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:31 am

Minus the hooks/talent.

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 8:33 am

This dude seemed pretty impressed with me and my drummer friend. The guy hasn't played in a band since '94 but he's definitely got some Satriani-level chops going. Even better, he doesn't feel the need to be using them all the time.

And the dude is rich.

Lord of This World · Post by **Lord of This World** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 12:14 pm

PflÃ¶yd wrote:This dude seemed pretty impressed with me and my drummer friend. The guy hasn't played in a band since '94 but he's definitely got some Satriani-level chops going. Even better, he doesn't feel the need to be using them all the time.

restraint is essential to being a great musician

Pfl?yd · Post by **Pfl?yd** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:49 pm

Lord of This World wrote:
PflÃ¶yd wrote:This dude seemed pretty impressed with me and my drummer friend. The guy hasn't played in a band since '94 but he's definitely got some Satriani-level chops going. Even better, he doesn't feel the need to be using them all the time.
restraint is essential to being a great musician

Exactly. Then he hands me this Yamaha 6-string bass and is like "Here, try this!" The neck was wider than my forearm!