subject: How To Increase Your Income As A Musician [print this page] There is one thing all creative artists have in common: learning to live with financial insecurity. While even just the thought of working a 9 to 5 job for a living may suck the life out your average musician, the upside of the white and blue color professions is that they provide a regular pay check, benefits and two weeks paid vacation. Musicians may have more personal and creative freedom but often have to scramble to make ends meet. Some get part-time jobs flexible enough so that they can go on auditions or take off for a gig. Others look for ways to increase their income as a musician while waiting for that career-launching record deal or an invitation from the local philharmonic. Here are some tips on making your talent more profitable.
Hone your skills as a street performer. Performing for the public is a time honored tradition. Street fairs, tourist areas and downtown areas at lunch hour are all tried and true locations for street performing.
Make sure your music matches the surroundings. The lunch crowd may not want to hear your Jimi Hendrix medley; likewise, the festive street fair crowd may respond better to popular, upbeat songs. If you have a demo, make CDs to sell at your street performances. The more professional you present yourself, the more seriously the crowd will take you.
Seek out studio musician jobs. Offer your services to other bands or advertise at local recording studios.
Check out local coffee houses and hotels and offer your services. Many high end hotels provide entertainment during cocktail hours, as do coffee houses. Even if theres no work now, there may be in the future so make sure to have a business card to hand out so they know how to contact you.
Build a reputation. Regardless of your career, professional reputation matters and can be lucrative. Every job you take can lead to more work if you leave happy customers behind. So be prompt, be courteous, and let it be known youd appreciate being recommended to other people or establishments. Taking the time to build a reputation, and promote it, can significantly increase your musical income in the long run.
