Music Video Lesson: How to Get Jobs Playing Music

Welcome to livingpianos.com and virtualsheetmusic.com. I'm your host, Robert Estrin, and today's question is, how to get jobs playing music. Boy, this is a very big subject I'm gonna try to tackle and give you some pointers. Well, there is no one-size-fits-all here, but there are some general things that are essential. You know, the music business is a business and a lot of times, people get a false sense of complacency about the business end of it. For example, music students who work so hard in conservatories, practicing hours and hours a day, sometimes get the feeling or the impression that if they're just good enough, they will be discovered. Sadly, this is not the case for a number of reasons. First of all, there are far more qualified musicians than there are positions available. And secondly, you've gotta network with people or nobody will know you even exist! So the number one is getting yourself out there. You must find other musicians to play with, to talk with. Now, you have to also be one who can start things because, you know, everybody is looking for that person who's got the gigs, you know? Who's the person who's hiring? If you can be that person...that's right. Believe it or not, it's easier to form your own thing than to find others to hire you. In this world today, jobs have become scarce in every field and most people who are successful these days are entrepreneurial types who find their own, carve their own way. It's especially true in music. So if you can network with people... For example, you could specialize in almost anything. Maybe it's events like weddings. Try to use social media. Go to your local wedding planner or florist or wedding photographer, talk to them and maybe you can give them your card and recommend them to people and they might be very receptive if you tell them that you might have potential of giving them work. Then they'll think of you when somebody asks for a musician.

So that's just one idea. You must be business-like, entrepreneurial. You can go to different functions, music groups, for example, whether it's virtual, online groups or in-person groups. All of these are valuable. Also, any opportunities for fundraising concerts where you can offer your services. People will then see you as somebody important in the community. And if you can get others involved and once again, network and people find out how good you are, that's the secret. So get yourself out there. Be creative. Find something that brings the spark of energy that you can wake up in the morning and want to make some phone calls and send out some emails because otherwise you can be the greatest musician in the world and remain undiscovered. So don't be afraid to spread the word and talk to people and see what you can make happen in your life, and you might enrich other people's lives at the same time. Thanks so much for joining me, Robert Estrin, at livingpianos.com and virtualsheetmusic.com.

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