Interview with Charlie Barnes, multi-instrumentalist (Live touring musician for Bastille).
Briefly explain your role.
I’m a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none. That’s probably my job title. Currently I’m playing guitar, bass, keys, percussion and singing backing vocals for Bastille.
What steps would you recommend students take to try and become a paid session musician?
Say yes to everything until you’re too busy to do so. Nothing is below you, not even playing for free. Every time you say no, there will be a queue of people behind you, clawing away at that door you’re leaving open. As annoying as it may be to hear, this is indeed an industry based on being in the right place at the right time.
In my case, it wasn’t that I was in the right place, but that I had done an extremely good job for somebody else the previous year, and they were there at the right time for me, passing my name along to somebody on the lookout for a multi-instrumentalist and backing singer. I’ve been playing in pubs and cafés since my early teens, and this only happened when I was 25. Stick at it.
What five tips would you give to someone for working in such a professional environment?
- Mind your p’s and q’s
- Be on time
- Don’t be a diva
- Learn the material inside out and back to front
- Carry your own bottle of hot sauce
How proficient/flexible on your instrument do you need to be?
You need to stand out from the crowd when you audition (or whenever it may be that you’re being noticed by somebody searching for a musician to do your particular role). That doesn’t necessarily mean you need the utmost technical proficiency (Don’t ask me to play a guitar solo, I’m terrible at them).
In a role such as mine (i.e. the guy at the back) people aren’t looking for a star of the show, they’re looking for somebody to play their parts solidly and reliably every night.
How important is networking?
It is a very, very small industry. Networking is of the utmost importance. Wherever you are, talk to people. You never know who you’re going to end up chatting to, and what doors they might be able to open for you. Be polite, be respectful, and gather e-mail addresses. Follow things up. If you land a job like mine you’ll probably end up meeting a bunch of your heroes too… be cool.
Briefly describe what touring life is like?
It’s a difficult thing to sum up briefly. I’ve toured in many different manners; from lugging my gear on trains or in the back of a friend’s hatchback, to splitter vans, to Nightliner tour buses and charter jets.
It’s as fun as the people you’re with, and, judging by my experience, that means it’s always a lot of fun! It can be hard work, but it beats taking soup to people in cafés or sitting down in an office all day.
Is this something you can make a living from?
100% yes. Don’t however expect that right from the offset.
How do you stay healthy (both physically and mentally) while on tour?
Getting out of the dressing room/venue is very important. My favourite band described the touring life as ‘Travelling the world and seeing all of it’; tongue-in-cheek, yes, but it does ring true to a lot of my experience.
If you have the time to explore (or, if you’re healthier than I am, do some exercise) then do it. Otherwise it can all become a bit of a blur. Even just grabbing a coffee from somewhere around the corner from the venue rather than just going to catering will add a bit of variety to your day. This can also be a way to get a bit of quiet time. I like to read and listen to podcasts a lot while I’m away, so cafés tend to be good spots to get away from the venue for a while for some peace.
When you’re playing live most nights (and especially if you’re singing) you need to stay physically healthy, probably even more so than when you are at home. Eat well, make sure you get plenty of vitamins etc. Catering and riders are always full of tempting things. Don’t give in every day, and instead give yourself treat days. You’ll value it more that way too.
Charlie Barnes,
Multi-instrumentalist (Live touring musician for Bastille)
