When trying to earn a living as a musician, it’s common to have side gigs to supplement your income, especially in the early stages of your music career when consistent income from music alone may be challenging. Here are some side gigs that can complement a musician’s income:
- Teaching Music Lessons: If you’re proficient in your instrument or have a strong understanding of music theory, you can offer private music lessons. This can be a reliable source of income and also helps you improve your own skills.
- Session Musician: Offer your services as a session musician, playing instruments or providing vocals for other musicians’ recordings or live performances. This can be a good way to network and gain experience.
- Gigging with Cover Bands: Joining or forming a cover band can be a lucrative way to perform regularly at weddings, corporate events, and parties. Cover bands often get paid well for their performances.
- Live Sound Engineer or Technician: If you have a good understanding of sound equipment and live sound mixing, you can work as a sound engineer for live events and concerts.
- Music Production: Offer your skills as a music producer or audio engineer. Many artists and bands need help recording, mixing, and mastering their music.
- Music Composition: Consider composing music for commercials, films, video games, or even jingles. This can provide a steady income stream and expand your creative horizons.
- Music Therapy: If you have a background in psychology or counseling, you can become a music therapist, using music to help individuals with various needs, including emotional and developmental issues.
- Session Singing: If you’re a vocalist, you can offer your services as a session singer for other musicians’ projects. Many artists need backing vocals or lead vocals for their recordings.
- Merchandising and Branding: Create and sell merchandise like T-shirts, posters, and other items related to your music brand. This can be a good source of passive income.
- Streaming and YouTube: While it may take time to build a substantial income through streaming and YouTube, it’s possible to generate revenue through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales once you have a significant following.
- Music Journalism or Blogging: If you have a passion for writing, you can start a music blog or write articles for music publications. This can help you stay connected with the industry while earning income.
- DJing: If you have DJing skills, you can perform at events, clubs, and parties. This can be a fun and profitable way to share your music taste and skills.
Remember that balancing these side gigs with your music career can be challenging, so it’s essential to prioritize your music and ensure that these side gigs don’t consume all your time and energy. The goal should be to support your music career while still allowing time for practice, songwriting, and performances.
