What is a Studio Musician

Life as a studio musician is a long term commitment to a wonderful life... While the fame and fortune of pop stars is frequently short-lived, studio musician or session musicians can carve out a career lasting many years, making a living through sheer ability and professionalism. During the 1920s and 1930s most record companies had their own prolific "studio bands" turning out records of the latest pop hits. These were often made up by jazz and dance band musicians who were at the same time members of regular working bands and who divided their time between studio work (recordings as well as broadcasting) during the day and live performances in the evenings. 

Today, session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right. The term is applied not only to those working in contemporary musical styles such as rock, jazz, country, and pop but also classical music. Versatility is one of the most important skills of the session musician as they may have to perform in a range of different settings. Guitarist Greg Howe stated in an interview that, "If musicians are the athletes, the session cats are the Olympic hopefuls".

Session musicians are used in any situation where musical skills are needed on a short-term basis. Typically session musicians are used by recording studios to provide backing tracks for other musicians in recording studios and live performances, also for advertising, film, television music and theatrical productions. Session musicians are also expected to learn parts rapidly and to be skilled in sight reading. 

A Studio musician works in a recording studio environment, usually for record labels and sometimes for a single studio or record company, and will often perform with associated artistes in live shows.  Being a session player means turning up to a centrally-located studio with all your equipment before the 10am call. No allowances are made for traffic gridlock or parking problems -- you're not paid to make excuses, you're paid to be ready to play exactly what's required, first time, regardless how off-color you feel or how late last night's gig finished.

You have to be really fantastic on your chosen instrument, and you have to be able to play what you're asked to, even when it's by a drugged-up idiot who knows nothing about music.  Now, you know...go forth and enjoy your life as a studio musician.