Making Money As a Musician
Want to earn some money for your musical talents? The music industry is a tough place to make a name for yourself, but there are many ways that you can earn a few bucks for doing what you love. Here are just a few ways to make money out of being a musician.
Start playing live
The easiest way to make money is to start performing live. You could start by busking on a street corner or you could try performing at a local bar. Network with other musicians that may be able to find you support slots, as well as introducing you to new venues. The likes of sites such as Reverb Nation are great for finding gigs. At first you won’t be paid much to perform live, especially if you’re in a band, however as you make name for yourself you’ll be able to play larger venues. You can also use such gigs as an opportunity to sell CDs and merch, which leads onto the next method of making money from music.
Sell your own music
In this age of digital downloading and streaming, this is by far the hardest way to make money from music, but nonetheless shouldn’t be ignored. Companies such as Nationwide allow you to produce your own CDs and create your own merch that can then be sold at live events or put up for sale on your website. It’s worth getting your music on iTunes and Spotify, although don’t expect massive returns from these mediums if you’re just starting out. Make sure that you’re marketing your music so that people come across it more easily. Often using free mediums such as Soundcloud and Youtube can be a great way of helping you gain exposure.
Become a session musician
Other musicians may be looking for a drummer or a backing vocalist either to help record a track or play a live gig with. You can make a fair bit of money by taking up these odd jobs. The bigger your profile, the more you’ll be able to charge people for your services. You can specialise in one genre or try your hand at all manner of styles if you feel you’re proficient enough. The likes of Fiverr and Gumtree are great places to advertise yourself. Also look out for ads on job sites and music forums.
Teach others
If you’re adept enough at your chosen instrument, the next step could be teaching others. You could teach an instrument at a school, do private lessons or do a combination of the two to increase your income. In some cases you may need a degree or you may have to be a certain grade in an instrument. In other cases qualifications and grades may not be necessary, especially if you’re teaching rock or pop. Some people have even made money through giving online lessons and tutorials, either via Youtube videos or lessons via Skype.
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