Episode 423: How Eric Baines Went from Wedding Bands & Disneyland to Playing Bass for Chicago

What does it actually take to land a gig with a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band? Eric Baines — multi-instrumentalist, producer, touring musician, and podcaster — breaks it all down on this episode of Cover Band Confidential.Eric is currently the bass player for the legendary band Chicago, but the road to that stage ran through Berklee College of Music, the chaotic LA wedding circuit, celebrity gigs with David Foster and Babyface, and — yes — Disneyland's Mad Tea Party show. This is a masterclass in what it really looks like to build a professional music career from the ground up.We dig into the wild realities of LA wedding band life, how playing 200+ nights a year sharpens your musicianship, what working inside the Disney machine teaches you about performance energy, and how word-of-mouth networking (and never burning bridges) ultimately led Eric to Dwight Yoakam and then to Chicago. He also gets real about what it felt like to get "the call," the decision-making process when you already have a steady gig and a new baby at home, and what his first night on stage with Chicago was actually like.If you're a working musician, a touring artist, or anyone trying to build a sustainable career in music, this episode is packed with honest, practical wisdom.📲 Follow Eric Baines:https://www.tiktok.com/@divebarrockstarhttps://www.instagram.com/ericbainesbass/https://open.spotify.com/artist/329oY3JiCqEB7VQnre7HUY?si=9_CahKViQL-4GWTmTuThgQ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with professional musicians, touring artists, and the unsung heroes of the live music world.And for more info check out www.coverbandconfidential.com/links 🎙️ **Cover Band Confidential** is the podcast for professional musicians — real talk about the gigs, the grind, the hustle, and the highlights of life as a working artist.#EricBaines #ChicagoBand #CoverBandConfidential #MusicianLife #BassPlayer #TouringMusician #MusicCareer #SessionMusician #WeddingBand #LAMusicScene #BerkleeCollegeOfMusic #Disneyland #RockBand #MusicIndustry #HowToBeAMusician #WorkingMusician #MusicPodcast #BehindTheMusic