By Emma Grace Brown
Making It As a Musician: How To Turn Your Talent Into Extra Income
Music is a critical part of the human experience. Not only is music a form of entertainment, but it can be therapeutic. When you write, perform or play music regularly, you may be looking for ways to keep a steady income while enjoying life as a musician. You can explore your talent without losing money. Here are some tips from Colorado School of Music for turning your musical talent into money.
Optimize Your Home
The path to success as a musician can be challenging, so it’s important to have a supportive, healthy home environment. You’re likely to be working long hours, so minimizing stress is critical. Ensure that you’re eating healthy and drinking plenty of water. It can also be helpful to set up a quiet space for solitude and meditation. It can even double as your recording space.
Share Your Gift With Others
One of the most ideal ways for musicians to make money is through performance. To play in front of an audience, you must find the right venue. Look for venues with a history of performances from the same genre you play. Think about the musicians who play a similar style, with similar talent and fanbase, and look into their former venues. Check out local venues seeking out new performers. Check online and offline to find a place to perform. It can help to look at venues to get a feel for them.
Another way to share your talent is through social media. Consider creating a YouTube channel or bringing your music to different social media platforms to gain a following. When you bring your skills to social media, you increase your chances of making extra money while also doing something you love. If you have children who love music as much as you do, consider enrolling them in music lessons at Colorado School of Music to help them master an instrument of their own.
Obtain a Side-Hustle
If you want extra money, consider a side hustle. Side hustles can include using music to make extra money on the side. For example, teach music lessons online or in person. You could also find a gig as a DJ at private parties and clubs.
Other side hustles that do not involve music include:
- Delivering groceries
- Blogging
- Tutoring
- Virtual assisting
Many side hustles allow you to work for yourself or contract with businesses as a freelancer. You can use your tools to create a steady income. For example, for grocery delivery, you only need your vehicle.
When accepting work as a freelancer, make sure you avoid any scams. Scammers sometimes target independent contractors and those who want to work remotely. Do research about every job listing you consider. No legitimate employer will ask you to pay to work for him or her. Legit companies also do not send checks and ask you to buy gift cards or send part of the money back.
When your time is heavily constrained by pursuing music and working at your side gig, caring for some things around the house, like window washing, can get left behind. Fortunately, you can search for ‘washers near me’ and easily find a number of professionals that can help you out. You’ll find plenty of reviews and other information to help you find the service right for you.
Build Your Own Business
If you want to make music a full-time business, you might want to build your own. According to the experts, you need a business plan if you want your company to succeed. A business plan guides you through managing your own company and is a roadmap to success. A detailed business plan should detail how you plan to sell your services, your company’s mission, how to structure it, and how you plan to obtain funding. You should also include any financial projections. Do market research in advance, so you understand the industry and your target market.
If music is a significant part of your life, you can find ways to generate income using your talent. When it comes to building a business or finding a side hustle, make sure you avoid scammers and have a plan in place to succeed. Without a blueprint, your business may fail.
