Thinking outside of the box can reveal an array of music jobs and gig opportunities
Music is an art form that is very much embedded in practically every culture throughout the world, so musicians and music bands are a staple ingredient to this backdrop. Bands and solo music artists performing at concerts or local gigs are seen as the most obvious vehicles driving musician and band employment. But clear thinking and a determined approach can turn up unforeseen opportunities for musicians and bands to apply their musical talents in ways they can get compensated for.
Quite often it can be easier to get music and/or band gigs by searching outside of the traditional venue scene. There are always plenty of theatrical stage productions, community or charity events, store openings, and company parties that are looking for great live music. These markets can be much less saturated than traditional venues but might require a musician or band to perform in a more prescribed way to accommodate a themed event or occasion.
Music producers and record labels will also need session players or backing musicians to take part in a recording session. A solo singer/songwriter may need to use musicians or bands who back their music showcase or studio recording session without being included as part of the collaboration to write the original music to be performed.
To find professional backing musicians, artists, producers, or managers can turn to free classifieds like Craigslist, or dedicated music industry platforms like SoundBetter, which offers a directory of professionals available for hire. This webpage will focus on the musical artists' quest to secure work, as well as music band (or orchestra) bookings. Readers can also expect to come across opportunities for non-instrument-playing music professionals, such as studio mixers or music producers.
With the expansion of the gig and freelance economy, numerous opportunities for session players or backing musicians to find musical gigs are possible through freelancer platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, which have expanded beyond traditional services like administrative, legal, graphic design, technical, or skilled handyman work to include music-related services.
American Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM/AFofM) remains one of the world's largest organizations representing professional musicians. They continue to negotiate fair agreements, protect ownership of recorded music, secure benefits such as healthcare and pension, and lobby legislators. In the US, it is the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and in Canada, it is the Canadian Federation of Musicians/Fédération Canadienne des Musiciens (CFM/FCM).
Similar to how the movie, television, and theater industry has the SAG-AFTRA and Equity unions that provide their artist members with directories of "franchised" agents, the American Federation of Musicians offers its member musicians a directory of AFM-Franchised Booking Agents. These agents are signatories to the AFM's Booking Agents Agreement.
AFM-Franchised Booking Agents play a crucial role in marketing and placing AFM members in the US and Canada. They provide legitimate agreements to purchasers, ensure the protection of member earnings, and earn commissions for their sales. These comprehensive contracts bind all parties to the agreed-upon terms.
Scan for solo and band jobs and opportunities from organizations in this Music News feed
