#206: What They DON'T Teach You | Mitch Beer on Bass!

#206 — Mitch Beer on Bass: What They Don’t Teach You Being a great bass player can get you noticed. But **chops alone won’t build you a career.** In this episode of **The Career Musician**, NOMAD sits down with bassist, producer, engineer, studio owner, and music industry lifer **Mitch Beer** for a real-world conversation about the stuff they DON’T teach you in music school — the lessons you usually have to learn on the gig. 🚨 **READY TO GET THE GIG? START HERE:** 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig If your next audition, session, tour call, referral, or opportunity showed up **tomorrow… would you actually be ready?** Don’t wait until the gig is already on the table to figure out the business side of your career. Getting hired is about more than playing the notes — it’s your preparation, relationships, reputation, communication, gear, mindset, and your ability to deliver when somebody puts their trust in you. **Your next opportunity could come sooner than you think. Get ahead of it.** 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig Mitch has built the kind of multidimensional career we talk about constantly at TCM. He’s worked as a bassist and producer on **Lil Uzi Vert’s #1 platinum album **Pink Tape****, contributed to **Tierra Whack’s **World Wide Whack****, toured with **Digable Planets** and **The Bacon Brothers**, and has worked as a studio bassist for nine-time GRAMMY-winning producer **Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo**. But Mitch’s career doesn’t stop when he puts the bass down. He’s also a producer, recording engineer, educator, content creator, podcast host, and owner/operator of **Retro City B Room** — making him the perfect person to talk about what a sustainable music career actually looks like in the real world. Because being a Career Musician isn’t just about mastering your instrument. It’s about becoming the person people want to **hire again.** NOMAD and Mitch get into the real-world lessons behind becoming — and remaining — a working professional musician: 🎯 Why being an incredible player is only the beginning 🎸 The things music lessons and music school can’t fully prepare you for 🤝 Why relationships, reputation, and being a good hang matter 🎧 Understanding the session from more than just the player’s perspective 💼 Thinking like a professional instead of waiting to be “discovered” 🔥 Showing up prepared when opportunity finally calls 🧠 Developing the mindset required for longevity in the music business 🎛 Why learning production, recording, and the technology around your instrument makes you more valuable 🚀 Building a career that extends beyond one artist, one tour, or one gig ❤️ And how to stay in love with music while treating it like a profession This one is for **bass players, session musicians, touring musicians, producers, students, and anybody trying to turn musical ability into an actual livelihood.** Because eventually you learn the truth: **Talent may get you into the room.** **What you do once you’re there determines whether you get called back.** **Don’t just practice your instrument. Practice being the musician people can depend on.** Preparation. Communication. Awareness. Adaptability. Relationships. Those are chops too. And remember… **EVERYTHING YOU DO IS AN AUDITION.** Website: https://mitchbeerbass.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchbeerbass/ Asses in Seats Podcast: https://mitchbeerbass.com/podcast Ready to turn your musical skills into more real-world opportunities? Start here: 👉 https://www.thecareermusician.com/get-the-gig L.A. musicians: Get **20% OFF** your next booking. Use code: **NOMAD** 👉 https://parehearsalstudios.com/ Sharpen your skills, expand your vocabulary, and stay inspired. Free Trial — Use code: **NOMAD** 👉 https://jamplay.com/get-free-access?code=NOMAD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareermusician/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCareerMusician/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thecareermusician TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecareermusician Podcast Hub: https://www.thecareermusician.com/podcast Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/TCM-Apple Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/TCM-Spotify 📚 Online Courses https://www.thecareermusician.com/store 💼 Expert Career Coaching https://www.thecareermusician.com/coaching 🔖 TCM Blog https://www.thecareermusician.com/blog/ **The Career Musician** exists to empower musicians with strategies for building a sustainable career in music. 🎯 Get the Gig. 🔥 Keep the Gig. 🚀 Go Beyond the Gig. 💼 Make Music Your Business. #TheCareerMusician #MitchBeer #BassPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices