507 – How to become an in-demand sideman/woman with Mel Brown

This episode originally aired on May 1, 2014
In this podcast I talked to the legendary bass player Mel Brown, known for his work with Marc Anthony, Gladys Knight, Shiela E. and his book From Zero to Sideman, Mel dives deep into his revolutionary approach in getting to work with “A-listers.” From the moment you hear Mel’s enthusiasm and tenacity, know that he’s the real deal.  Listen in as Mel unlocks the secrets of going from Zero to Sideman!

“In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree

In this session, Mel Brown talks about:

• How Mel got into playing
• The moves that he made to get gigs in his hometown
• Specifics of how he made a name for himself
• How to create opportunities
• The importance of preparation and how to be prepared
• How he scored a chance to sit in on the Arsenio Hall  show
• Much Much Much More

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Mel’s Website
• Zero to Sideman YouTube
• Mel’s Video Reel (with Arsenio Hall Appearance)