How Bass Players ACTUALLY Build Careers in 2026 | Jenn McCarron (Savage Fridays)

How Bass Players ACTUALLY Build Careers in 2026 | Jenn McCarron (Savage Fridays)

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete Roythorne sits down with bassist, producer, creator and Savage Fridays founder Jenn McCarron to explore what it really means to build a music career in 2026. After years touring with bands, Jenn stepped into the corporate world before making the bold decision to return to music full-time. Today she's built one of the fastest-growing bass channels on YouTube while producing music, creating content and proving that modern musicians don't have to wait for opportunities—they can create them. This isn't just a conversation about bass playing. It's about creativity, resilience, entrepreneurship and finding your own voice in an industry that's changing faster than ever. Whether you're an aspiring professional bassist, a content creator, or simply trying to build a career doing what you love, Jenn shares honest advice, practical lessons and plenty of inspiration from her own journey. In this episode we discuss: * Jenn's unconventional journey into bass guitar * Why she left touring for corporate life—and why she came back * Building a career through YouTube and the creator economy * Why consistency beats perfection * The importance of finding your own musical voice * Touring versus creating content * Learning from criticism instead of fearing it * Why community matters more than follower counts * Balancing creativity with earning a living * Multiple income streams for today's musicians * Why every musician should stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them If you're serious about building a career in music, this is an episode you won't want to miss. 👍 If you enjoy the conversation, please like the video, subscribe to the channel and let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments. About Jenn McCarron Jenn McCarron is a bassist, producer, songwriter and content creator best known for her growing Savage Fridays YouTube channel, where she shares bass demos, music production insights, gear reviews and honest conversations about life as a modern musician. Subscribe for more interviews with great bass players. #bass #bassguitar #bassplayer #musiccareer #musician #creator #youtubecreator #musicindustry #basscommunity #savagefridays

I Almost Didn't Get the Amy Winehouse Gig: Dale Davis on Persistence, Bass & Finding Your Own Sound

Dale Davis is one of the UK's most respected bass players, best known as the bassist and musical director behind the Amy Winehouse Band. Over a career spanning more than four decades, Dale has worked with artists including Paul Young, Tina Turner, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), Freak Power and many more.   Chapters 02:23 Where did your bass journey start? 05:37 Northern soul influence 10:08 Working with Paul Young 13:27 The Amy Wnehouse Gig 17:35 Beats International 19:29 Where the opportunities came from 20:34 The Hofner relationship 27:14 Finding your own sound 30:39 Did you ever have a plan B? 31:54 Where should people focus their attention to get more gigs? 34:16 Advice to the young Dale? 39:11 One bass line to rule them all?   In this episode of Now That's Bass, Dale shares the remarkable story of how a love of Northern Soul, relentless gigging, and trusting his own musical instincts helped shape a career that has taken him from local pubs in Reading to stages around the world. We discuss finding your own voice as a bass player, why playing with people matters more than practising alone, the importance of perseverance, how he landed the Amy Winehouse gig, and why he believes making mistakes is one of the most valuable parts of becoming a musician. Whether you're a beginner, aspiring professional, or simply love hearing how great musicians built their careers, this episode is packed with wisdom and inspiration. In this episode: • How Dale discovered bass after seeing Danny Thompson live • Growing up on Mod, Northern Soul and classic rock • The importance of saying yes to gigs early on • Why playing with people accelerates your development • Building a unique sound instead of copying others • Working with Norman Cook, Freak Power and Paul Young • Getting the Amy Winehouse gig (after initially not getting it!) • The role of perseverance in a music career • Why mistakes can be your greatest teacher • Advice Dale would give to his younger self • Learning by ear versus formal music education • The bass lines and players that shaped his approach If you enjoyed this conversation, don't forget to Like, Subscribe and share it with another bass player. #NowThatsBass #BassPlayer #BassGuitar #AmyWinehouse #DaleDavis #SessionMusician #BassLessons #MusicCareer #BassCommunity #MusiciansLife

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