“Nobody Cares About Your Degree” | Philip Mann on What Actually Gets Bass Players Hired
Now That’s BassShow Notes
What actually gets a bass player hired — qualifications, chops, contacts, versatility… or something else entirely?
Philip Mann has spent nearly 30 years building a career across performance, education and publishing. He studied with Jeff Berlin, has worked with artists including Van Morrison, Leo Sayer and Billy Bragg, performed in West End shows, written extensively for the bass press and developed his own With Bass In Mind educational platform.
But in this conversation, Philip is refreshingly candid about what he believes actually matters if you want to make a living from music.
We talk about why collecting qualifications doesn't automatically make you employable, how studying with Jeff Berlin completely changed Philip's approach to the instrument, and why bass players can spend 90% of their practice time working on the 10% they'll rarely use professionally.
Philip also explains why getting older doesn't necessarily mean fewer opportunities — but it may mean understanding where you now fit in the industry — and why a sustainable music career increasingly means developing multiple income streams.
We get into the reality of competition for professional gigs, networking without manipulation, using social media strategically, the importance of investing in the right skills, and why relationships matter more than many musicians realise.
And to finish, Philip makes the case for one of Britain's most underrated bass players: Queen's John Deacon — and explains why every bassist should take a closer look at "Killer Queen."
In this episode:
• Why Philip originally picked up the bass out of "100% jealousy"
• Studying with Jeff Berlin and why it transformed his career
• Why qualifications alone won't get you hired
• Practising the 90% you're actually going to use
• Why professional bass playing is about serving the song
• Building relationships and putting yourself in the right rooms
• Getting older — and finding the gigs that fit you now
• Why musicians need a portfolio career
• Is there really less work, or simply more competition?
• Using social media to show people what you can do
• The career decisions Philip would change if he were 20 again
• Why maintaining relationships matters
• John Deacon, "Killer Queen" and playing the right notes at the right time
If you're trying to become a better bass player — or work out how to build a career around playing music — there's a huge amount to take away from this conversation.
Let me know in the comments: what's the biggest lesson you've learned about getting — and keeping — gigs?
#BassGuitar #BassPlayer #PhilipMann #MusicCareer #ProfessionalMusician #BassLessons #NowThatsBass
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