Lots of money can be earned in your city if you have the ability and knowledge. Playing a musical instrument is a valuable skill that took time to learn. Why not let all the time you put into it count? These tips will help you get started and get enough gigs to really get started.
1. Know your instrument like the back of your hand
Obviously this is the most important step, I hope most of you reading this are already at that level. It is very important to master your instrument so that you can play new things without practicing. Improvisation and picking up riffs on the spot is very important for when you and your band are taking requests at a party or starting to play with some guys you don’t play with regularly. That brings me to my next point.
2. Connect with musicians around you
You should take every opportunity you get to play with other musicians. Don’t worry about how much, if anything, you get paid. I work in a restaurant and after work I used to jam for hours with the waiters and chefs. In the attic of the restaurant we had drums, bass and guitar ready to play anything. I’m a saxophonist, so every once in a while I’d bring my saxophone to improvise and just have fun, but when they didn’t have anyone to play bass or drums, I’d step in on any show. By playing with everyone, you can make connections for future gigs. If any of the guys I used to play with at the diner needed someone to sit and play sax overnight at a bar, they’d know who to call. Plus, when you need another player to play for the night, you’ll have a long list of contacts who would love to play with you.
3. Take any gig, even if you think it doesn’t pay well enough
This is an important tip when you are first starting out. A low-paying job can be frustrating at first, but it’s an opportunity to meet people and get other jobs. If you have a business card ready to hand out when people come up and ask about your band, you can give your name. When people need a band to play at their party, they’ll know who to call.
4. Be versatile
The more styles of music you can play, the more gigs you will get. If you play with a blues band and love playing restaurants, bars, clubs, and coffee shops, you may want to branch out and play places you wouldn’t normally be. I’ve played everywhere from weddings to coffee shops and while it’s a big difference, weddings are usually a much better way to make money than restaurants and bars.
5. Improve your credibility
One trick my mom taught me was to make sure managers know their customers like you at restaurants and bars. If people keep coming up to you and saying how great you are, just tell them to let the manager know. When the manager hears all the praise people are giving the band that night, he’ll surely hire him again.
If you follow this advice, you will play more often, you will have fun and you will definitely win money. If you have any other tips that you would like to share with other musicians, post them in the comments section.