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How to Make It as a Touring Musician: Jackson Mauldin’s Road to Success

  • Anthony Bonnette
  • Mar 16
  • 6 min read

The Road, the Studio, and Everything In Between

There’s a saying in the music business: “Talent gets you the gig, but attitude keeps you on the road.”

Nobody embodies that truth more than Jackson Mauldin, a bass player who’s carved out his place in the Texas music scene by doing more than just playing the right notes. He’s played his cards right—knowing when to step up, when to step back, and how to navigate the endless miles between dive bars and sold-out venues.

At a young age, Mauldin has already done what many musicians spend decades trying to achieve: he’s built a career on the road without burning out. He’s the bass player for the Jacob Stelly band, walked onto the stage at the legendary Gruene Hall to a sold-out crowd, and honed his chops in the studio, where precision matters more than showmanship.

The life of a touring musician ain’t all glitz and glamour. There’s no private jet waiting outside the honky-tonk, no five-star hotels lined up across state lines. For most, it’s long hours in a van, cheap motel coffee, and hoping everyone actually showed up prepared. But if you do it right, if you play the game the way Jackson Mauldin has, you can carve out a career that’s as fulfilling as it is exhausting.

In this episode of Come And Pick It, we sit down with Jackson to talk about how to make it as a touring musician—the real way, no shortcuts, no fluff. From selling out Gruene Hall to balancing the studio with the road, Jackson has done it all. And today, he’s breaking it down.



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Who Is Jackson Mauldin?

If you don’t know the name Jackson Mauldin, chances are you’ve heard his bass lines. The man has been on the move, playing with Jacob Stelly and keeping rhythm for some of the most dynamic players in the Texas music scene.

Music is in his blood—his grandfather Art Mauldin and his father Chad Mauldin both paved the way in their own right. But Jackson ain’t riding coattails. He’s put in the work, learning firsthand how to stay in demand as a musician, how to make life on the road sustainable, and how to adapt in the studio without losing the heart of the song.


The Gruene Hall Moment

For any Texas musician, playing Gruene Hall is a milestone. Headlining it? That’s a whole different beast.

Jackson and his bandmates with Jacob Stelly weren’t sure what to expect when they booked their first headline show at the legendary venue. “I was excited,” he admits, “but I didn’t expect we’d sell it out.”

They did.

A packed house. A stage where Texas legends have stood before them. It was one of those nights where you realize that maybe, just maybe, you’re onto something bigger than you thought.


Studio Life vs. The Road: Two Different Worlds

One of the biggest shifts Mauldin had to navigate was balancing the energy of live performance with the precision of studio work.

"In the studio, you're not thinking about what you want—you’re trying to make what the artist and producer want happen. On stage, it's about playing your part, locking in with the band, and keeping the momentum."

A perfect performance in a studio might sound robotic in a live setting. Likewise, the loose, groove-heavy magic of a live show doesn’t always translate to a record.

That’s why the best musicians, the ones who last, know how to switch gears when they need to.


The Truth About Making It in Music

If you think making it as a musician is about viral TikTok hits and Spotify streams, think again. The grind is still very real. The gigs, the miles, the unpredictability of it all—it’s not for the faint of heart.

When I sat down with Jackson Mauldin for Come And Pick It, hosted by Anthony Bonnette, he made one thing clear: if you want to make a living playing music, you’d better be someone people actually want to be around.

“The easiest way to lose a gig on the road,” he says, “is if people don’t want to be around you.”

It sounds simple. But ask any musician who’s lived out of a van for weeks on end, and they’ll tell you: a bad attitude will get you sent home faster than a missed note ever will.


Recommended Episodes

Want to hear more stories from the Mauldin family? Check out these episodes featuring Jackson’s grandfather and father:


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What Bands Actually Look for in a Touring Musician

So, what does it really take to land a touring gig?

It’s not just about raw talent. The industry is filled with incredible players—some of whom never leave their hometowns. The ones who actually get the call are the ones who make life easier for the band.

“That means showing up prepared, knowing your parts, and not being a pain be around,” Mauldin says. “A lot of musicians mess that up.”

It’s why some of the best players out there never seem to catch a break. They might have all the talent in the world, but if they’re impossible to work with, nobody wants to share a van with them for two weeks straight.


The Gig That Went Wrong

Even the most seasoned musicians have their war stories. For Jackson, the one that stings the most was an audition that he walked into completely unprepared.

“I thought, ‘It’s a blues gig, how hard could it be?’” he recalls. “Turns out, it was a pretty complicated arrangement. And I was not ready.”

The gig went to someone else. He never got a callback. But the lesson stuck: never walk into a room thinking you can wing it.


What’s Next for Jackson Mauldin?

Most musicians dream of the limelight, but Jackson’s ambitions lie somewhere deeper. He’s expanding his work in the studio, helping other artists shape their sound, and even exploring his own original music project, Strange Help.

“I’m not a singer,” he admits, “but I love writing songs. So I started recording my music and bringing in guest vocalists to sing them.”

It’s a project fueled purely by creativity—no charts, no trends, just music that feels good.

As for the road? He’s not getting off anytime soon.


🎙 Episode Timestamps

(00:00) Introduction

(01:39) Meet Jackson Mauldin: A Music Legacy in the Making

(04:21) Playing Bass for Jacob Stelly: Touring and Growth

(04:47) Selling Out Gruene Hall: A Big Moment for the Band

(06:11) What Defines ‘Country’ Music Today?

(06:15) Balancing Touring and Songwriting: How It Works

(07:44) The Studio vs. The Road: Two Different Worlds

(12:46) The Fastest Way to Improve as a Musician

(18:52) How to Work with Artists & Producers in the Studio

(28:28) The Physical Toll of Music: Protecting Your Ears & Health

(29:51) How Touring Bands Practice Without Rehearsing Together

(37:05) Must-Have Gear for a Touring Bassist

(38:20) The Key to Getting Gigs: It’s Not Just About Talent

(49:47) Why Live Music Will Always Matter


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Want more insider stories, industry insights, and unfiltered conversations with the people shaping music today? Make sure you subscribe to Come And Pick It on your favorite platform:


Final Thoughts: The Realities of Life on the Road

The road isn’t easy. The pay isn’t great. The lifestyle isn’t for everyone. But for those who can handle the grind, for the musicians who know how to navigate the chaos, it’s still one of the most rewarding things in the world.

Jackson Mauldin gets it.

If you’re looking to make a career in music, take notes. Show up on time, know your parts, keep your ego in check, and be someone people want around. That’s the real secret to making it.


Disclaimer

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