Learn How to Make Money as a Musician

Learn How to Make Money as a MusicianLearn How to Make Money as a MusicianIf youre going to go full-time as a musician, youre going to need to make some cash. You might love what youre doing, but its hard to pay the rent or buy groceries if you dont have some source of music industry income. So how can you make money as a musician without resorting to heading back to your day job? It can take a little creativity as you are getting your music career off the ground. These ideas will get you started. Learning to Make Money as a Musician Most of these ideas arent groundbreaking, and you probably already have thought of at least some. But the key to surviving as a paid musician is to put them all together. Heres how Play Live Playing live is an obvious choice when it comes to making money as a musician. You can make money through show guarantees, door split deals, or even by passing around a tip jar. Of course, if you dont have much of a proven track record when it comes to pullin g in an audience, youre not in a great position to demand large fees. Building up to this will take time. Every little bit helps, though, and even if you go home with $15, take the long-term view and treat each low-paying gig as a step towards increasing your earnings potential. Sell Your Music Well, duh, you think. Of course, you should sell your music, but the trick here is to make sure your fans dont have to look far to find it. Digital distribution is a must, whether you go through an aggregator that places your music all over the net for you or if you approach services on your own, one by one. Selling music at shows is also important. You can sell CD-Rs at shows, as long as you price them accordingly and make it clear that they are CD-Rs when you sell them. If youre pressing physical copies, check out your local record shops to get them in on consignment (some shops also accept CD-Rs). Sell Merchandise Diversifying what you have to sell will boost your earning potential . It doesnt mean get 5,000 t-shirts made at some price that will make your credit card weep. Make your own t-shirts, buttons and badges, stickers, and other merch, and sell them at your shows and on your website. Merchandise does especially well at shows after your fans have just seen you play and are all caught up in the spirit. As long as you keep your overhead down, merchandise can give your income a nice little boost. Play Other Peoples Music The musical talents you hope will form your career can help you make ends meet until the day you get to play your own songs exclusively. Session musician work for other musicians can help you bridge the financial gap and make some extra money. As a bonus, youll be honing your own skills and meeting people who can create opportunities for you. Perform Musical Odd Jobs Okay, so the point here is to move away from your day job however, if you need to make some extra money, doing something music related - even if it doesnt specifically involve your music- is a good choice. Much like working as a session musician, the idea here is to use your knowledge and talents to help other musicians (and get paid for it). Are you a great producer? Get some studio work. Are you a pro at booking shows? Do it for other musicians. Got design skills? Do cover art or websites for musicians or music-related businesses. Tap into your music skills to put some extra money in your pocket. More Ideas to Earn Money as a Musician Combine the following suggestions with the ideas above for a plan that really can help you earn enough money to quit your day job. Promotion, Promotion, Promotion Your ability to make a living as a musician depends a lot on your ability to promote your music. You must make sure people know about your music, where they can get it, when you are playing, and so on. How to Use Twitter for Music PromotionReverb Nation Protect Your Assets Its pretty easy to get taken for a ride in the music industry so, it s always a good idea to get things in writing. If you dont understand a particular deal, seek advice before putting pen to paper. Putting things in writing doesnt have to involve huge lawyer bills. Before You Sign a Music Promoter ContractIndie Label ContractsBefore You Sign a Music Manager ContractDo We Need a Band Contract? Learn More About Going Full-Time as a Musician Everyones situation and goals are different, and ultimately, the only one who can decide if it is time to go full-time as a musician is you. These articles will help you weigh up your options Self-Releasing Albums Pros and ConsBefore You Start a Record Label