What are other ways musicians can make money?

[oniman7]

As many people as are on talkbass, I am floored by the number of people who think that playing in bands or as a studio bassist are the only two ways to make money. So I figured I'd start a thread talking about different ways for musicians to make a living. Perhaps this will help people who think they have to make it in an original rock band or play wedding gigs their whole life (although those are both viable options).

Here are a couple off the top of my head:

1. Performance - Original or cover band gigs can be at bars, parties, weddings, corporate events, etc. There are also jobs doing orchestral work or something like a play. I suppose busking could be considered as well.

2. Session work - Somebody pays you to go in and lay down bass tracks. I would also consider substituting gigs to be session work.

3. Education - can range from private lessons to public schooling, classical to rock guitar.

4. Composing - I am into video game composing and working on a mobile project right now. What made me start this thread was all the musicians that are on the same game development forum as me and how I have never heard anybody mention it as a legitimate pursuit on Talkbass. Of course, in addition to video game there is also composing for TV, Movies, radio, advertisements, just about anything with speakers.

5. Orchestrating/Conducting/Arranging - an art that I wish I knew more about. Somebody feel free to correct me or add info on this. This would be somebody who takes the songs, arranges them to the format desired for the specific gig, creates and distributes the material, and may also be tasked with organizing the members.

This is assuming direct involvement with creating the music on paper, computer, or instrument. For now I am leaving out technical arts such as live sound, recording, luthiery/repair, etc.

If anybody can contribute any or help give ideas of jobs within any of the above categories, please feel free to contribute. I have done a couple to get things going, but am by no means an expert.

[Stumbo]

Solo Bassist

[Jazz Ad]

You forgot the 2 main sources of income for the gigging musician.
Mc Donald's and Domino's Pizza.

Not sure if you realize that orchestration is an art of its own that takes years of study and experience to even become decent. If you master it you don't really bother with bass playing gigs anymore.

[JimmyM]

The future is in whatever you want it to be. Learn as much as you can about all facets of music from PA to production, be proactive about networking with others, be able to deliver the goods, but the biggest skill to have is being able to sell yourself to people who will hire you. That's the one skill I don't have, wouldn't you know it?

[Egbert89]

If you're a drummer you can deliver pizzas!!!!

[JehuJava]

Originally Posted by Egbert89

If you're a drummer you can deliver pizzas!!!!

Hahahahahahahahaha!

[D.A.R.K.]

Definitely consider audio engineering, both in live and studio situations. Not only can it provide additional avenues of income, it can also give you invaluable experience and insight when it comes to your own recording or performance, from a point of view you cannot get from the stage or playing side of the studio.
You can also sell drugs or your body, but I don't recommend those things as you either end up in jail or get std's.

[Darren Low]

Lumberjack?

I mean, what else are axes used for?

[Kmonk]

I've been a technical advisor for shows, done music for a television series, several movies, corporate videos, websites and for radio and televison advertising. I've also run sound for bands.

[Pacman]

Teaching.

[pklima]

Things people I know personally actually do:

Running live sound
DJing
Live acts with DJs (though bass is probably the least useful instrument for this - you either want drums or something higher-pitched like violin or sax)
Teaching
Managing a troupe of bodypainted dancers
Touring with a circus

[wrench45us]

touring with a circus

I sat near the circus band on a recent tour and those pl;ayers were first rate -- they could play with anybody.

don't forget the dreaded cruise ship gigs

[derrico1]

play in a military band.

work for a booking agency.

[michael_atw]

Over here, many musicians tend to gravitate towards a 7-11 for all their consumption as well as employment needs.

[Russell L]

Sheet music transcription (writing parts, basically, or even scores by hand), if you have a good hand at calligraphy. I've made a little doing it, but it is tedious work.

Music store clerk, if ya can find a job.

I also did private lessons for awhile. A real PITA, IMO.

Or, just get any day job. Then, supplement it with weekend gigs. That's what most of us do. Or join the local union and hope you get calls for whatever.

[pklima]

Originally Posted by Russell L

Sheet music transcription (writing parts, basically, or even scores by hand), if you have a good hand at calligraphy. I've made a little doing it, but it is tedious work.

In Poland this is a more common service than in most countries. Nice-looking charts in standard notation are required to copyright a song here, so the main customers are probably bands without the musical literacy, calligraphy or notation software skills to produce an acceptable chart - vocal line plus piano reduction plus lyrics is the minimum. The keyboardist of an originals band I used to play in struggled through this in Sibelius with some help from me, but it took him a couple of weeks and annoyed him to no end. So, yeah, I can see this being very tedious.

[Ric5]

What are other ways musicians can make money?

------------------------------------------------------

A DAY JOB!!!!

When it became obvious to me as a young man that most musicians don't get rich playing music. I pursued a college degree and a professional career and kept playing music for fun.

[MatticusMania]

I hear there's a bountiful reward for bringing in the headstock of the fabled Mothman bass.

[eddododo]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

I hear there's a bountiful reward for bringing in the headstock of the fabled Mothman bass.

Alive or dead.
Its revered.by alchemists for its best-for-metal properties

[bassbully]

Sell drugs to people at the gigs...not me seen it before thou.