How to Be an Employable Musician

By Dr. Richard Niles

This handbook from acclaimed composer/arranger/producer Richard Niles tells you everything you need to become an employable musician. Richard delivers the real deal from his 45 years in studios and on stages with some of the most iconic names in music – Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown, Cher, Tina Turner and many more.

Niles discusses Skill Level, Reading, Time Management, the Workplace, Touring, Developing a Style, Appearance, Money, Attitude, Relationships with Artistes, Producers, Arrangers and other musicians.

If you want to up your game, and your income, read on!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr. Richard Niles
• Release date: Nov 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463723067

Dr. Richard Niles

DR. RICHARD NILES’ career spans TV & film, pop, R&B, rock and jazz as a composer, producer, songwriter/lyricist, arranger, conductor, broadcaster, recording artist, guitarist, author and educator. He has contributed to over 40 pop hits.Pop credits include: Paul McCartney, Ray Charles, James Brown, Tina Turner, Lulu, Cat Stevens, Mariah Carey, Pet Shop Boys, Dusty Springfield, Grace Jones, Joe Cocker, Kylie Minogue, Swing Out Sister, Michael McDonald, Sarah Brightman, Tears For Fears. Jazz credits include: Pat Metheny, Randy Brecker, Bob James, John Patitucci, Jane Monheit, Jim Mullen, Blake Aaron, Danny Gottlieb, Mark Egan, Gary Husband, Chris Hunter, Nigel Hitchcock and Bob Mintzer. Conductor for BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Big Band and Musical Director for TV series Don’t Mis Wax, David Essex, Leo Sayer and Michael Ball.CDs as composer/guitarist/leader include Hi-Tek, Santa Rita and Club Deranged. He has led his jazz orchestra, BANDZILLA since 1986 and has released two CDs, BLUE MOVIES and BANDZILLA RISES!!! and performed with Paul McCartney, Pet Shop Boys, Leo Sayer and Randy Brecker. (www.bandzilla.net). Niles has also worked with Don Peake and The Wrecking Crew All Stars.Niles’ music for TV & film includes Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, A Christmas Carol and numerous TV commercials (including McDonalds, Max Factor and Kellogg’s). His score for The Strike, (C4/Comic Strip Films) won The Golden Rose Of Montreux, Honorable Mention for Music.Niles’ songs have been recorded by Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Leo Sayer, Randy Brecker, Clive Griffin,Silje Nergaard, Hue & Cry, Deniece Williams, Kid Creole, Bobby Womack and Spike Milligan.Niles wrote, produced and hosted many music documentaries for BBC radio including his long running series New Jazz Standards (1994—2012), The Arrangers and Pat Metheny – Bright Size Life. His books include The Pat Metheny Interviews (2009) Polymetrics – 2011 (with Gary O’Toole), The Invisible Artist - Arrangers in Popular Music (2014), From Dreaming To Gigging – Jazz Guitar in 6 Months (2015), The Bandzilla Songbook (2017) and Songwriting –The 11 Point Plan (2017)Degrees: Berklee College of Music (B.Mus. 1975) and Brunel University (PhD 2009). Teaching: Consultant to the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music helping create their international courses. Lectures & masterclasses at The Academy of Contemporary Music, Vocal Tech, Brunel University, Leeds College of Music, Royal Northern College of Music and Rose Buford College, Musician’s Institute, USC, UCLA, CalState (Northridge), Orange County School of Arts, Saddleback College, The Berklee College of Music.

Book preview

How to be an EMPLOYABLE MUSICIAN

By Dr. Richard Niles

A Radio Richard Special Publication

Copyright ©2021 Niles Smiles Music

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer wishing to quote brief passages in a review.

Published in 2021 by Niles Smiles Music, an imprint of Niles Smiles Music (BMI)

Printed in the United States of America

All photographs are from the private collection of the author, or from public domain sources.

Cover design by Lisa Hayden Miller

Special thanks to all the studio musicians I have been lucky enough to work with since 1975.

They have brought my arrangements to life, made my productions sparkle and made my face smile.

Special thanks to Hugo Daniel Caro, indispensable to the Radio Richard YouTube channel, the Podcast, this eBook …and to me!

Special thanks to Aylin Niles and Alexander Niles without whom life would not be worth living.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hey! It’s a short book. But you get a lot of useful advice about…

HOW TO BE AN EMPLOYABLE MUSICIAN

SKILL LEVEL

READING

ELEMENTS of STYLE

TIME MANAGEMENT

THE WORKPLACE

LOCATION

DRESS CODE & CONDUCT

TOURING

THE STUDIO & CO-WORKERS

A&R

THE PRODUCER

THE RECORDING ENGINEER

MUSICIANS

THE MONEY

DEVELOPING A PERSONAL STYLE

ART, ARTIFICE & SIMPLICITY

ATTITUDE VERSUS ALTITUDE

CONCLUSION

RICHARD NILES’ career spans film, TV, theatre, pop, rock and jazz. Records featuring his work have sold over 250 million copies. He has written music for Film, TV and Theatre and composed and produced music for over 100 TV commercials. Niles also wrote and presented many music documentary series for the BBC (1992 – 2012) He has taught his own courses and presented masterclasses and workshops in the US, UK Europe and Japan, based on his acclaimed books, albums as guitarist and leader of jazz orchestra BANDZILLA.

Niles’ YouTube channel/Podcast, RADIO RICHARD features rare interviews with musical icons. https://www.youtube.com/user/DRRICHARDNILES

For more information, visit https://richardniles.com/

HOW TO BE AN EMPLOYABLE MUSICIAN

Music is Magic - isn’t it? Fascinating, challenging, and so much fun to play!

But it’s not so much fun to be a musician if, as well as practicing and performing, you’re having to spend 10 hours every day driving a taxi or waiting tables. So, the real question is: How can you make a living doing what you love?

I’ve been a professional musician since 1975 – as a composer, arranger, conductor, guitarist and voice artist. I’ve employed (or caused to be employed) many thousands of musicians. My many years of experience working in recording studios, clubs and concert halls will help you become an employable musician - the kind of musician who producers, arrangers, artists and managers want to employ and are willing to pay top money for.

This is not easy.

There. I’ve said it.

It takes time and dedication, and frankly, it’s not for everyone. Too much work! The ‘something for nothing’ advertising we have been pummeled with since the 1950s has led to a lot of laziness. That’s why there are so few working musicians. But if you have a good work ethic and a fabulous attitude, read this short guide to financial solvency! (If you see any names you don’t recognize, look them up! Be informed!)