Employment for Music Professionals Basics

Seek music industry employment by presenting yourself as a professional with the needed qualifications
By A Antonow Music employment is an umbrella term, describing any of the jobs open to musicians, composers and other musical professionals. These job opportunities can range from musical gigs for private parties to employment as a composer for a city's orchestra. Employment for musicians is one way to turn a passion for music into a lucrative career. It can be a rewarding form of employment and it can also, contrary to popular belief, yield a steady pay check as well.

If you are seeking employment for music professionals, one of the difficult employment for music professionals basics you quickly will learn is that much employment in music seems aimed at young, amateur acts. Jobs for composers and other true music professionals is available, but it often requires some entrepreneurial skills and some unusual routes to employment. If you want a job in this industry, consider:

1. Seek classes or degree programs to get the expertise and proven credentials you need for jobs.
2. Learn about the requirements you need right now for musical employment.
3. Make contact with agents who can put you in touch with the hidden job market.

Get training for the music employment of your choice

Many musicians assume that hours of practice and a talent for music are all that is needed for musical employment. While this is true in some cases, getting formal music education can only help your chances of landing a good music job. Classes help you hone your skills and technical music abilities, enable you to network with people looking for musicians and give you a tangible experience that you can place on your resume to show prospective employers that you take music seriously.
Try:  The University of Puget Sound has an esteemed music program. The university's music program page even includes a handy career guide. The Carnegie Mellon School of Music is one of the most prestigious music schools in the country and offers helpful information about the benefits of education for professional musicians.

Browse online music job openings to learn current job requirements

While many websites offer general lists of music job requirements, such lists are often outdated and not site-specific. A better option is to browse music employment listings and find out what employers in your area are seeking. If you want a job as a composer, for example, but notice that all the employers offering such jobs are in another city, that can impact your job search.
Try:  Daily Puppy has a useful guide to using sites such as Craigslist to find individual music gigs. Isnare.com offers a useful guide on finding music jobs online and through other job-search sources.

Hire a booking agent to find steady musician employment

A booking agent or music talent agent is a professional who acts as a link between employers looking to hire musicians and the talent looking for gigs and jobs. Hiring an agent can give you access to shows and opportunities that are not listed in classified ads or music job listings.
Try:  HowStuffWorks provides a guide to booking agents that explains exactly what these professionals are and how to secure an agent. MusicBizAcademy.com has a list of booking agents to query and helpful articles about working with booking agents.

• One of the employment for music professionals basics that many job seekers overlook is the importance of the sample. You need to be able to present prospective employees with a sample of your music or your sound in order to land most jobs. Go to a recording studio and record yourself on CD and digital files so that you can present these samples when applying for music jobs.