How To Get An Artist Gig? Nashville Touring Musician 

Love your thorough and truthful advise, and your genuine delivery. Your videos are no different than actually sitting with you in your home. All your suggestions are invaluable. Another "trick" that has worked for people I know: learn how to do guitar and bass or drum or keyboard setups and get on a tour as a guitar,/drum/keyboard tech. Display all the same qualities you mentioned (be reliable, easy going, provide excellent work, etc.) but also learn how to play the material of the band. Musicians on tour get sick (and fired) and if you've proven yourself as a valuable team player who also kills it on the instrument parts, you might just find yourself on stage with the band! Also, good point with "not getting the gig" because of things that are out of your control. Funny you mentioned it happening during you time in L.A. since that's something that actors are faced with on a daily basis, being rejected for not fitting the part for no fault of their own. Rule number one: Don't take rejection personal! Analyze it, learn from it, improve, but don't let it stop you! And as you said:very often the gigs you don't get weren't the right gigs for you anyway. It just means it leaves room for a better fitting opportunity. But it's tough being in limbo when all you want is a gig. There's a reason why Tom Petty said: The waiting is the hardest part. Thanks for your videos, keep 'em coming!

Great Advice. When people asked my why I moved to Nashville, I used to say, "I heard they needed guitar players." But seriously, when I lamented to a friend that there were so many players in town he said, "If you have a car that works and can show up, you are ahead of a lot of them."

Love the sincerity and delivery. You come accross like you really care and you are trying to help people. Totally drew me in!

Guitarist wanted...Non blonde singing bus driver preferred! Good stuff Nicky!!

As a forgotten 80s dude, this form of content is great for my ego .. hehe 🙂

I had an artist once ask me what star sign I was - I didn’t get the gig. Your video is gold. I know nothing about Nashville but your experiences and advice pretty much apply worldwide. The only thing I would add - when ‘bringing it’ during the show, also know when to hang back, become invisible. If it’s an emotional ballad, the artist doesn’t necessarily want you at the front of the stage grabbing attention. Likewise if the artist is doing a guitar solo, they don’t necessarily want you leaning against them, or interacting with them. They might, but you have to figure that out over time. Don’t make the artist feel like you are in transition to bigger things and they are a stepping stone.

Crew guys generally make a whole lot more than the hired musicians.

Im a drummer from PA but your content is still relevant and well put together. The fact you’re humble is apparent even through the camera. Subscribed.

Love it thanks ! Want another request ?? Say you got the big tour gig ….. tell us the way things go operations wise and day to day ….. for example , stadium show is Saturday night ; what time do you guys arrive ? When do you get up and how do you eat ? Rehearsal ? Sound check , down time , and what you guys are doing when the opening acts are playing up until the moment it’s time to go on ….. would be interesting to get insight on that aspect as well !

I clicked on this because thumbnail gave me nostalgia for cliff em all era James Hetfield. I’m glad I stuck around. Great content. ❤

I really appreciate your HONESTY insight ( & interest) to help others in this industry. As an old music veteran ( 63) it's nice to hear & see fellow musicians trying to help others with the struggle rather than being self absorbed & a complete jerk. ... I applaud you my friend for posting these videos ! Keep working towards your goals & keep your strings hot!!

Great point on “be personable”. I’ve worked with Upstaging and that’s a HUGE selling point. Be helpful, polite, positive, clean, but stay out of the way all at the same time. A difficult balance sometimes while touring. But goes a really long way.

Great advice! I needed this in my 20s! Commenting from Chico, CA.

While I'm not looking to get on a bus, I love hearing your thoughts and ideas. I hope you keep it up. Cheers!

Couldn't agree more! Great job Nicky! 🎸🎸🎸🤘🤘🤘

"Good things happen to good people" Amen brother.

I’ve been playing guitar for $$$ for 55 yrs + and always wanted to do this. One small tour didn’t go well as a trio, back in the early 70’s. I never had advice like this or any actually lol. Too old now for that but we still travel every weekend or maybe during the week. It still sounds very intimidating even at my age. Why ? Every word Nicky said is true and honest. It’s a tough, cruel business, I’ve seen it. I was once told ( and it’s true ) the best guitarists in the world are in Nashville and nobody’s even heard of them.

Thanks!

I wish I had someone telling me this when I was younger. This is incredibly SOLID real-world advice for musicians!

That directing the attention as a bass player is a great idea!

All connections if your seasoned enough dont hurt to be able to relief bus driver to. 👍

Great advice. This is stuff for the REAL musicians who are talented and driven. I think some of it is relevant to any job, for example, fitting in and work ethic. But at the lower end of the scale we have the "bar" bands and "weekend warriors" - that's probably a different video. Main points there would be : repotroir, versatility and audience engagement.

Love the content Nick!

I think your videos are very informative and interesting. I grew up in Nashville. I play drums and went to school for The business of music in Miami and anyway thanks for sharing.

Fascinating content!

Your videos are just golden man. I really appreciate your insight, and your delivery is great!

I love this channel and the community. These videos are great Nicky...thank you

Great Info. Thanks For Sharing

Very good information! Thank you

Hey Nicky, love your channel man. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for sharing this kind of content 🎉

Great content love the videos.

Good advice again!! Subscribed!!

Dude your OUTSTANDING! Great info!

Cool stuff. Glad to see your channel growing.

Great info.

Solid advice!

Great video!

Ramble on my man, it's great stuff!

Great video and insight brother!

Love the content bro. Your video last week brought me to your channel, and now I see you’re coming to my town with Shenandoah in August. Will be there for sure 🤘

You're a good Dude brother. Wishing you all the best

Good stuff! You seem like a nice guy… But what you’ve gotta do is go down to the Bluebird, play your best song the best you’ve ever played it and get signed on the spot. Boom. Nashville. Success

Bruh. Inspirational advice. 🇨🇦

Outstanding video as always! Love your content, Nicky. (And remember, Kids: NO "solids" in the bus toilet.) ☝️🙄👌

You’re spot on again my friend. I’ve worked major artists in both LA and Nashville, and while the clicks are different, the same logic applies to how to get Artist gigs. The first one is always the hardest. Keeping the gig is the other part of the equation that can be tricky.

Great to see those subscriber numbers shoot up! Another quality vid!

Great tips. It's so interesting. I worked as a machinist, but I wanted to get in the IT field back in the middle 90s and I had no experience. So I started my own website to show off my skill set. It worked. I got a call from a company and from there I did that until recently and I was able to keep working. I just kept trying to provide value. Hard work and providing value. I think that's the key. I had the chance about 2015 to go on a tour and it was completely by accident, but I didn't want to travel. My 2nd cousin recommended me. He owns a nice studio in / near Chicago. I taught him to play a little when he was very young. So this guy he knows wants to put together a hired bunch of guns for 80s metal and my cousin had him call me. I was shocked and had no idea I would get the recommendation even though that's the exact type of music I play. This guy is wealthy and wanted to do this with the rest of his brothers band because his brother had died in an accident and he wanted someone that even looked similar to his brother as well I found out talking to him. It was going to pay pretty well and he was willing to buy me a set amount of gear and everything. I just couldn't do it because I hate travelling and had family obligations that prevented it.. Sometimes I wonder if I should have. Oh well. 😂.. It goes to your point though of being recommended. I never expected it at all.. Those were great tips man. I played with a couple bands in the 80s and I've always said that what matters most is being able to get along with everyone. The good hang part is very important. You can't be a dick. 😂 Great channel and great videos. Very useful stuff. Oh, btw, I think a stage presence vid would be great. Would love to hear how a pro thinks about it. ❤❤

Fan question: When fans leave gifts, like a crafted item or something, does it actually make it to the artist? Or is there so much stuff like that, so they just don't even see it and it gets donated? Do acts ever have a stage dress code or outfits for the band? Are there any real impromptu occurrences on stage, like a drum solo or something? Do you ever see the vibe of a show change because the crowd is just on their feet and dialed in every minute of the show? Your videos are captivating and top notch.

Talent+work ethic+being a good hang ❤️

Glad to hear of your success!! :) No Serial Killer.

Can you forward this back in time to about…. 95? Yeh.. that’d be great! Solid stuff maestro. As a geezer NEVER considered the instagram could be an EPK. Now all they need is another “great credibility scare of the late 90’s” (S. Earle 😜)

Very helpful brother!! Love videos like this just to reassure myself that although I love the guitar and playing music with my buddies, I know that I couldn’t do gigs like that. I’m to into being “home” and not big into living on a bus or always on a plane, etc.

Great advice Nicky!! Lots of musicians get really bummed when they don’t make things happen in the first three months somewhere. It’s all about getting one friend that can get you introduced to the community!

I don’t know much about country music. But I’ve done national and international tours. I think you’re dropping some really great knowledge on your channel. The part about being a good hang on the bus is so important. You can think about touring like the TV show Survivor. You need to make alliances with everyone the band the crew. You only spent two hours on the stage a day the rest of the time you have to get along with everyone also.

Best way in that I’ve seen is being a utility guy. I’m mainly a guitarist, but there are certain pockets in town that people only know me as a bass player, certain pockets in town that know me best is a great singer. I started doing more keys too and dusted off my sax a few years ago. Everything I say yes to that’s slightly out of my comfort zone has gotten me more work

Hey man, I love your channel. I would just like to add, don’t have a bad word to say about anybody, even if there is a bad word to be said. Leave the gossip for other people. I wish you continued success.

Hey man! Just found your channel and I love the content. Keep it coming. You are answering many questions that I have wondered about. Quick question - What are the chances of finding work as a touring musician if you don't live in a hot spot like Nashville? Does it happen?

As a Nashville bass player I loved the part about drawing attention to the soloing person

Practice standing up is a real thing. I remember the first time I stood up it was a panic attack. I sounded like I just started playing.

what a nice man

Great video Nicky. Do you have any advice on drinking or partying whilst on the road. Do you drink before gigs?

This advice is great for a studio type networking musican but everyone wants to be that jukebox musican but I think you could use some of that advice without it being networking as you could tell I'm not into that maybe most people don't understand real networking how it should relate to some kind of loyalty. Love your channel and your awsome advice 👍

Yea for me this is ticking all the boxes. 🤣🤣🤣

I am a computer engineer for the last 25 years and have been playing guitar since I was a kid. I really enjoy your channel. You have a very laid back demeanor that is infectious. I feel like I have known you for years! I have spent many years in my career leading a team and hiring people. It is interesting how many things you mentioned apply to just being a good team member in any organization. There are lessons for everyone in the tips you gave in this video, Thanks!

As someone actively looking for this type of work every day, this advice is fantastic, thanks! It's rough trying to find work as a hired gun, especially when you can't relocate. Even when you've got the ancillary skills (electronics repair, guitar setups, live sound, studio workflows, etc), even when you're willing to pay your own way until an act sees you're worth putting on payroll, it's STILL impossible to find a gig for a lot of us. I figured I'd get out of the military, go back to playing professionally, and the industry has just changed so much in the last 15 years I can't even see how to go back to playing jazz trio gigs and teaching lessons like I did as a teenager.

That Gibson SG leaning against the chair made me nervous. Cracked the neck on my Epiphone Casino that was leaning against my couch when it fell over onto a rug. Ugh! Anyway, I enjoy your videos a lot.

No idea who you are but watched the entire video, good job

Fascinating. In other words, don’t be an asshole. :) Easy to tell you’ve got the personality and likability required..

Nicky! What’s up man, awesome video. Would love to link up with you sometime!

Video suggestion: Your Look Matters. There are still people who think it doesn’t matter and as you say it obviously does.

informative... I'm a drummer w/ a class A lic. medical card.

*I've always wondered how it's possible to get any quality sleep in those bus bunks?! You're crammed in there, you can hear every single sound, farts, coughs, talking in sleep etc. How is it handled if one person is farting all nite and stinking up the entire bus, how is that handled? I snore like a grizzly bear with sleep apnea. How would that be handled on the bus, when everyone is dead-tired and needs to rest-up for 'BIG Show' coming up the next evening? Thanks, man!*

👏👏👏👏

❤

Can we find you on any Shenandoah videos?

If I’m a better musician and better looking than the rest of the band is it ok to follow the bus in a private limousine?

Is it challenging for a really talented professional musician to tour with an artist whose music is very simple and far below one’s playing abilities and musical sophistication? Or it’s always interesting in some ways and certainly worth it for the career, so that’s enough?

How do you get to be the opening band on tour? And what does the opening band make? I am the lead singer of a Christian rock band!

Rascal Flatts is an exception. guitar player looks great and killer player - the singer - not a looker

How about being a drummer for a tour bus artist

Yea but dude i dont want to be where the circles hang out i want to be where the triangles hang out. Or the rhombuses or the rectangles. 😂😂😂

Okay got it go to some cool bar drink lots of beer and put your name in a hat.👍

Guess the wife somehow never heard of hair dye…

Thata like 50 bucks which is the per diem on a bus gig. 🤣🤣🤣

❤BRILLIANT ❤

I have a medical condition where I am allergic to denim and must shave my face daily. Guess my Nashville dreams will go unfulfilled.

Don't do drugs and don't be an alky!!!