Matt McJunkins has emerged as one of the most sought-after bassists in American rock music today. A steady stream of touring has kept him increasingly busy over the past few years, with ASHES dIVIDE, 30 Seconds to Mars, Puscifer, A Perfect Circle and Eagles of Death Metal occupying much of his time onstage. Matt has also put the finishing touches to the debut release by The Beta Machine, an electronic-led rock project directed by Matt and drummer Jeff Friedl.
So You Want A Career In Music?
Congratulations! You’re about to embark on a very interesting journey that will (hopefully) take you to places that you never thought you’d go, allow you to meet people who you never thought you’d meet and experience things that so many people only get to dream of. Of course, like any chosen career in the entertainment industry, the path to success is typically unclear. Here’s a little advice should you decide to venture down this long and winding road…
Plan & Adjust
As with any career, knowing what you want is important. You have to set goals and do your best to achieve them. What you want to do may change and you may discover that your strengths lie in different areas than where you initially thought or hoped. If this happens, don’t be discouraged. Ride the wave as best you can and if you hit a brick wall, try to go around it. You’ll find a way if you’re patient and resilient enough.
Don’t Be An Asshole!
Always be humble and try to stay humble. No one likes to deal with an ego. If you’re modest then you’ll be more likely to get work over someone who is boastful or a braggart – even if that other person is slightly more qualified than you.
Save Your Money
The music industry is one of the most unpredictable there is. You never know which way the wind is going to blow. You could get dropped from the label or the label goes under. The tour might get cancelled or the album gets shelved… shit happens and often with little or no notice.
Practice
Contrary to popular belief, being a working musician is not all sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. That happens later (if that’s your thing), but first you must have something to offer. Some call it a ‘gift’ or it could raw talent. Whatever it is, yours better be exceptional. And you must always try to improve. It’s been said that music isn’t a competition and, as an art form, maybe that’s true. Still, if you’re trying to pay your bills then the competitive side is always there. In order to survive, you must stay on top of your game. For more info visit: www.mattmcjunkins.com
