Play the Gig, Learn the Lesson: James Eager on Bass, Growth & Opportunity

Play the Gig, Learn the Lesson: James Eager on Bass, Growth & Opportunity

James Eager has built a career that spans West End shows, function bands, jazz clubs, teaching, entrepreneurship and creating one of the world's largest online bass education communities through E Bass Guitar. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, subscribe and share with another bass player. Chapter timings 01:07 Where did your bass journey start? 04:10 When did you realise you could make this work as a living? 09:41 Did you ever get out of your depth on gigs?  12:44 Are you only as good as your last gig? 16:59 How has the industry changed for today's bass players? 21:26 How important is it for musicians to have business skills? 28:02 Are the opportunities still there for younger bass players? 33:49 The importance of authenticty 38:54 What advice would you give your younger self? 43:35 One bass line everyone should learn   In this episode of Now That's Bass, James shares the reality of building a sustainable career in music. From saying yes to every gig in his twenties, to overcoming imposter syndrome, developing resilience, embracing entrepreneurship and finding his authentic voice, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for any bass player trying to make their way in today's music industry. Whether you're an aspiring professional musician, a working bassist, or someone navigating the challenges of a creative career, James offers honest insights into what it really takes to build a long-term life in music. What we talked about: • How James transitioned from guitar to bass • Studying jazz at Trinity College of Music • Building a career through teaching and gigging • Why saying yes to opportunities matters • Imposter syndrome and surviving difficult gigs • Lessons learned from the West End • The changing music industry in 2026 • Why musicians need entrepreneurial skills • Social media, authenticity and finding your voice • Building E Bass Guitar from the ground up • Mental resilience and self-development • Why employability matters more than virtuosity • The importance of entertaining an audience • Advice James would give his younger self • The one bass line every player should learn

Dream Big, Prepare Hard: Vicky Warwick on Building a Global Bass Career

Vicky Warwick has built the kind of bass career many musicians dream about. From London to New York and now Los Angeles, she's toured the world with artists including Charli XCX, Big Time Rush and Maisie Peters, performed on Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Kimmel and The Graham Norton Show, and built a reputation as someone people genuinely want to hire. But this conversation isn't about fame. It's about what actually happens behind the scenes. Chapters 00:00  Start 00:44 Handling the travelling 03:26 Starting her bass journey 06:33 Realising this is a career 08:22 First big break 12:22 First taste of serious touring 15:16 How do you keep getting hired? 20:11 Does it help to play multiple instruments? 22:06 Are BVs essential these days? 25:08 Re-establish a career in different cities 30:11 Biggest lessons you've learned 3 3:50 Coping with the realities of touring 39:05 Most honest piece of advice about music career 40:12 What advice would you give your younger self? 46:38 Bass line everyone should learn and why?   We discuss networking, auditions, mentorship, touring, moving countries, building a reputation, and why being a great bass player is only part of the equation. If you're serious about building a career in music, this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who has done exactly that. In this episode: • How Vicky accidentally discovered the bass • Why a careers advisor told her not to pursue music • The audition that changed everything • Landing the Charli XCX gig • Why networking isn't a dirty word • The real secret to successful auditions • How to build a music career in London, New York and Los Angeles • Why versatility matters more than ever • Learning bass and backing vocals simultaneously • The truth about life on the road • The importance of mentors • Why most music careers are never just one thing • The one bass line every player should learn If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review and share it with another bass player. #BassGuitar #BassPlayer #MusicCareer #CharliXCX #SessionMusician #TouringMusician #BassLessons #NowThatsBass #MusicIndustry #BassCommunity

Make The Music The Thing: Steve Lawson on Art, Audience & Authenticity

Steve Lawson: Building a Music Career Without Chasing Fame What if the goal wasn't more followers, more views, or a bigger platform? What if the real goal was building meaningful music, genuine community, and a sustainable creative life? In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete Roythorne sits down with bassist, educator, writer, technologist and PhD holder Steve Lawson for one of the most thought-provoking conversations on the channel so far. Chapters for easy listening! 00:16 Introduction 02:48 How did you come to playing the bass? 09:11 What was the turning point for you in your bass career? 16:10 What was the catalyst for your evolution into solo bass? 25:31 How did you start to embrace technology to develop your career? 50:02 Is it easy today to push the boundaries of bass? 01:03:36 Why we need to more than chase clicks and algorithms 01:11:56 What's you advice for bass players coming into the industry today? 01:28:33 What bass line should everyone go away and listen to? 01:34:18 How did your PHD influence your attitude to music? Steve shares the lessons he's learned from four decades of bass playing, pioneering solo bass performance, embracing technology before most musicians had even heard of it, and building a career entirely on his own terms. The conversation explores everything from creativity and community to social media, attention spans, music education and what it really means to build a life in music in 2026. Whether you're a bass player, musician, creator or simply interested in how artists navigate the modern world, this episode is packed with insight. In this episode: * Steve's journey from beginner bassist to solo artist * How a broken arm changed his approach to music * Why John Peel was one of his biggest influences * Playing bass in duos and expanding the role of the instrument * The origins of Steve's solo bass career * Lessons learned from Michael Manring, Victor Wooten and Tony Levin * Building an audience before social media existed * How Steve used forums, blogs and online communities to create a sustainable career * Why Bandcamp became the foundation of his business model * The difference between community and audience * The dangers of chasing algorithms and viral success * Why social media rewards performance rather than artistry * Practical career advice for aspiring bass players * Trust, professionalism and reputation in the music industry * The relationship between creativity, audience and meaning * How Steve's PhD changed the way he thinks about music Key Takeaway "Make the music the thing." A powerful conversation about building a career around purpose, community and creativity rather than chasing validation.   #SteveLawson #BassGuitar #BassPlayer #NowThatsBass #MusicCareer #Bandcamp #SoloBass #BassLessons #MusicianLife #IndependentMusician #BassCommunity #BassEducation #VictorWooten #MichaelManring #TonyLevin

Network Like a Demon: Mike Brooks on Bass, Survival & Staying Hireable

Bass player, journalist, reviewer, YouTuber and working musician Mike Brooks joins Now That’s Bass for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to survive as a professional bass player over three decades in the music industry. From discovering bass through Duran Duran and landing his first professional gigs in the ‘90s, to building a long-term career through covers bands, networking, journalism and YouTube, Mike shares the realities most musicians never hear about. This episode dives deep into how the music industry has changed, why communication matters more than chops, the collapse of traditional gig circuits, and the mindset required to build a sustainable life in music in 2026. No fantasy. No gear flexing. Just the reality of the job. In this episode: * How Duran Duran inspired Mike to pick up bass * Turning professional in 1995 * The truth about surviving on covers gigs * How one dep gig changed his entire career * The collapse of traditional live circuits * Why networking matters more than ever * Lessons from Bass Guitar Magazine and The Basist * Why communication gets musicians fired * The importance of versatility and backing vocals * Bernard Edwards and the genius of Good Times Follow Mike Brooks / Brooksy’s Bass Corner * YouTube: Brooksy’s Bass Corner [https://www.youtube.com/@BrooksysBassCorner] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brooksysbasscorner/] #bassplayer #bassguitar #brooksysbasscorner #musicindustry #sessionmusician #basscareer #bernardedwards #chic #basspodcast #nowthatsbass

Right Thing, Right Time: Andrew McKinney on Pulp, JTQ & the Art of Being Hireable

In this episode of Now That’s Bass, Pete talks to Andrew McKinney, current bassist with Pulp and The James Taylor Quartet, course leader for performance at BIMM London, and a player whose career has taken him through TV, theatre, funk, soul, session work, education and major international stages. Quick Links to Chapters 00:31 Introduction 04:15 How did your bass journey start? From Cello to BassTech 07:17 How did your first bits of session work come in? 14:03 How did your first break come about? 15:58 At what point did you think I can make this work? 17:18 How have you managed to sustain your career? 20:23 How do you stand out as a bass player? 23:19 Who's the most important person in a band to connect with? 25:46 How is it playing in bands as diverse as Pulp and JTQ 27:43 Imposter syndrome and the route into Pulp 36:14 Three things people should focus on to get more gigs 42:45 What advice would you give your younger self? 44:28 The bass line everyone should know and why? Andrew talks honestly about how a cello-playing school kid became a professional bass player, why depping has been central to his career, what it really takes to be a “safe pair of hands”, and how he dealt with stepping into very different musical worlds — from the groove-heavy James Taylor Quartet to the textural, creative demands of working with Jarvis Cocker and Pulp. This is a conversation about preparation, taste, confidence, imposter syndrome, musical relationships, and why being hireable is about far more than chops. In this episode: * Andrew’s early journey from cello to bass Studying at BassTech and choosing music over science * How early gigs turned into long-term career opportunities * The importance of depping and supporting other bass players * Why preparation and attitude matter as much as ability * Getting the call for The Richard Blackwood Show * Playing with James Taylor Quartet * Working creatively with Jarvis Cocker * Joining Pulp and touring Australia and New Zealand Imposter syndrome and learning to adapt * What makes a bass player hireable * Why “the right thing at the right time” matters * The bass album Andrew thinks every player should study Subscribe for more honest conversations with working bass players about building a real career in music. #BassPlayer #AndrewMcKinney #Pulp #JamesTaylorQuartet #BassGuitar #NowThatsBass #SessionMusician #BassCareer #JarvisCocker #Bassist