I am sitting on my back deck, coffee in hand, writing this month’s Editor’s Notes. Today, I want to talk about Preparation.

I have been getting gig calls this summer and most all of them are with major artists that have (at one time) sold multi-platinum. I usually have to show up with NO rehearsals and just be able to play the show with Nashville number system charts. (If you are not familiar with Nashville Number system go watch our video with Dave Pomeroy, who is our Musicians Union President here in Nashville and a GREAT session bassist. He explains this in a way a child can understand it!).

Dave Fowler Editor In Chief Bass Frontiers Magazine

This demands 3 things from me.
1. To be able to follow a road map (chart) and trust it without fail.
2. Have complete confidence in my playing ability.
3. PAY ATTENTION to what is going on around me (musically). These are very important things that we as musicians must discipline ourselves to do when trying to play music with a band we have never played with.

This requires us to dig deep and really show what we are made of in the moment that counts. You absolutely cannot do this without PREPARATION. If you are going to do this for a living, you must prepare for what is ahead.

I love finding quotes from great people and here are two I found from General George Patton that would apply here:

- “There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.”
- “There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.”

I do my best to spend as much time as possible with charts in front of me, bass in hand, and headphones plugged into my OLD trusty Tascam bass trainer, relentlessly listening to live board tapes and studio CD’s to cop what the artist is used to hearing (always adding my own little twists of course). I have to do this without fear (well at least not showing any), but it is common to be a little scared as you are totally exposed when doing this. I always wonder “Is the drummer okay with what I am playing” or “Does the artist like me”?

Fear has no place in this crazy business we have chosen to be in. You simply will have to learn to live by the seat of your pants because you have chosen to be in a business that is NOT for the weak at heart! When you get the call to do the gig you have been wanting then you must step up without reservation and lay it on the line with all you have. You will need to be the player they are seeking and the person that can get along well with others on a tour bus…one will not survive without the other.

The only advice I can give you beyond this is to always keep yourself in check. Don’t give in to vices that will take your attention away from your goals. Most all of you know that Bass Frontiers is an organization run by and founded on Christian beliefs…I will never waver from this as this is the core of who I am.

Please remember always that if you are a bassist and you ever get to the Nashville area, please look us up. I am always available to you guys and gals here dave.fowler@bassfrontiersmag.com

We thank you for visiting us and hope you will come back time and time again!

Keep ‘er between the ditches till next time.

Wishing and wanting all the best for each of you,

Dave Fowler