Insider Tips for a Thriving Music Career
If you are considering a career in music, this interview is for you. We cover a wide range of topics from putting bands together, getting gigs, and performing concerts, to working with booking agents, touring, teaching, and running the business side of being a musician. There are numerous ways to earn a living as a musician, and as I mention in the interview, my path has worked well for me, but it is by no means the only way to achieve success. That being said, I hope this interview provides you with some ideas on what is involved in being a working musician.
Please feel free to leave a comment to add any of your own ideas or if you have any questions.
Interview by Tyson Fok - host of What The Hell Is Water Podcast - https://www.thatwaterpodcast.com
If you enjoy the interview, please subscribe to my YouTube channel. You can learn more about me at http://dannygreen.net.
0:00 - Intro
2:16 - College and picking music as a career path
10:07 - First gigs post college
14:25 - Forming a band and playing with musicians above your level
16:27 - Getting restaurant gigs
18:22 - Getting corporate event gigs
22:02 - Concertizing
27:27 - Working with booking agents
32:44 - Agents vs. Managers
34:52 - Handling the transactional side of being a working musician
37:27 - External costs
38:08 - Booking conferences and showcases
39:12 - Music Union
40:26 - Other expenses
42:28 - Software tools for running the business
49:01 - Teaching music
58:11 - Recording albums
1:01:55 - Press and radio campaigns
1:08:56 - Finding a recording studio and audio engineer
1:10:36 - Working with record labels
1:14:22 - How to avoid feeling overwhelmed
1:18:09 - Music arranging
1:22:13 - Marketing
1:24:51 - Building a website
1:27:53 - Work / life balance
1:30:23 - Final thoughts