Welcome to Music Business Survival, a series of regular columns by Sean O'Bryan Smith. Here you'll learn the skills necessary to succeed as a working bassist. So, "who is this bald guy?" you ask. Well, allow us to tell you:

Sean O'Bryan Smith Sean has packed a lot into his two decades of bass playing. Working out of Nashville since 1999, he's played with a phone book worth of stars in Jazz, Country, Rock and more. He is now one of the most sought-after bassists in town. This year (2007) will see the release of Sean's solo CD Tapestry on Black Rose Records, as well as a corresponding tour. The CD is a highly ambitious offering of instrumental music featuring some of the top sidemen and players in the industry including legendary guitar player Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Jerry Marotta (Peter Gabriel, Sarah McLachlan), Ken Rarick (Cher, Madonna), Rich Eckhardt (Toby Keith), Mel Watts (Wilson Pickett, Garth Brooks), Johnny Barranco (Barry Manilow), Monty Powell (Keith Urban, Rascall Flatts) and Teddy Andreadis (Alice Cooper, Guns 'n Roses). Sean will be filling all of the bass roles playing fretted, fretless, muti-string, electric upright, and tenor basses as well as rhythm guitar and some keyboards.

Each month, we'll offer more of Sean's wisdom. Click on the links below to read the articles.

Sean's Eden Blog | Sean's Bio
Sean's MySpace | Sean Discusses His Rig Here.

  1. Be "One" with the Root / Five
  2. Big Ears
  3. Bass Yoga (Harmonious Bassdom for All)
  4. "The Groove Alliance" (part 1)
  5. "The Groove Alliance" (part 2)
  6. All or Nothing
  7. Follow That Vocalist!
  8. Set the Stage
  9. When do We Play?
  10. To Groove or Not to Groove
  11. Protect and Serve
  12. Is There a Groove in the House?
  13. Keeping Tradition Alive
  14. Return of the Groove Alliance (Feelings)
  15. Groove Etiquette
  16. Groove Impulse