Peter NorthcoteI first met Peter Northcote around about 1982 when I was taking drum lessons at the old “Rock Music” shop in Bankstown. Peter was in the next room teaching guitar. He was always really friendly and stuck in my mind as a great player and a great guy. I recently ran across him at a gig where he was performing at The Basement in Sydney and was reminded what a talented player he was. Peter is a thorough professional doing a great deal of recording work, TV, live work etc. Plenty of people have opinions on what it takes to turn pro but you need to hear it from someone who has actually done it. After checking out his website I came across a great article about what it takes to be a professional player these days. Here is a couple of excerpts to whet your appetite.

“WHAT ARE YA GONNA DO IN 5 YEARS? 5 YEARS WHEN YOU GOT A WIFE & KIDS. WHAT ARE YA GONNA DO THEN… PLAY YA GUITAR?

Someone actually asked me this once. At a gig. At the bar. A very valid question at the time. I was in my early 20′s and working as a salesman and guitar teacher at a suburban music shop. Occasional gigs with a cover band or at the wedding reception would be a bonus … if we got paid at all. The break up of a relationship with the love of my life, Linda, had shattered me but also made me determined. She honestly believed I would end up being a looser. Another broke muso struggling to find the next gig.

Hey, I was that already! I lived with my brother and his girlfriend and he would constantly help me out with rent, cigarettes and food. My best friend and now a wonderful teacher, Frank Burgo, would pick me up in his car on gig nights, help me load in HIS amp and HIS guitar and hang around until the gig was over, or go away and come back when the gig was finished to pick me up. I owe a lot to Frank and Tony”

Simple observations of successful people, companies, organizations will show you what the basics of running a business are. Be on time. Dress appropriately. Learn all the songs on the tape. Note for note. And even if you cant play great yet, make sure you sound good. Have good gear. Be a nice, friendly person to be around. Have a positive enthusiastic attitude. Just be professional.
It’s interesting in hindsight to see that is still all I strive for do today. I played in lots of cover bands in my 20′s. I still do them today. Cover bands are the best training for a session musician. You get to play all styles especially modern top 40 material. Just what’s needed for commercials and albums today. So, I started working in a band led by Clive Harrison. Bass player wiz who played on just about every album and jingle in the 80′s. Artists from Melanie (USA) to Richard Clapton to The Little River Band. Clive introduced me to session work. He recommended me for the gigs Ken Francis (fabulous guitarist doing most of the work around town at the time) couldn’t do. It just grew from there. Mostly word of mouth.”

“The industry in Australia is small, incestuous and has a good memory. One has to remain diligent, humble and honest to be able to make a good living. We have to be very careful of what we say, do and think. What needs to follow is a re-evaluation of our approach to our work/career. We need to establish a more abundant attitude towards ourselves and others. By that I mean…there IS plenty of work out there, (and don’t be fooled by the general consensus) and plenty to share around – to the right people. But we have to also change our views on the way we perform our duties, the way we present ourselves as, not only musicians, but as professionals.”


Head over to Peters site and read the whole article. You will come away with a much better understanding of what it really means to be a professional muso.
[tags]guitar, music[/tags]

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