Network Like a Demon: Mike Brooks on Bass, Survival & Staying Hireable

Bass player, journalist, reviewer, YouTuber and working musician Mike Brooks joins Now That’s Bass for a brutally honest conversation about what it really takes to survive as a professional bass player over three decades in the music industry.

From discovering bass through Duran Duran and landing his first professional gigs in the ‘90s, to building a long-term career through covers bands, networking, journalism and YouTube, Mike shares the realities most musicians never hear about.

This episode dives deep into how the music industry has changed, why communication matters more than chops, the collapse of traditional gig circuits, and the mindset required to build a sustainable life in music in 2026.

No fantasy. No gear flexing. Just the reality of the job.

In this episode:

• How Duran Duran inspired Mike to pick up bass
• Turning professional in 1995
• The truth about surviving on covers gigs
• How one dep gig changed his entire career
• The collapse of traditional live circuits
• Why networking matters more than ever
• Lessons from Bass Guitar Magazine and The Basist
• Why communication gets musicians fired
• The importance of versatility and backing vocals
• Bernard Edwards and the genius of Good Times

Follow Mike Brooks / Brooksy’s Bass Corner

• YouTube: Brooksy’s Bass Corner
• Instagram

#bassplayer #bassguitar #brooksysbasscorner #musicindustry #sessionmusician #basscareer #bernardedwards #chic #basspodcast #nowthatsbass