Can You Make As Much Money Performing Live Music As You Can In An Office Job?
In 2016, the challenges facing those currently working in the Music Industry seem to be ever increasing, but having a career as a performer is still viable for many. A number of historic venues are closing down, many recording studios report they are struggling and we are being forever told that no one is buying albums anymore.
A lot of this has been blamed on the effect of the Internet, and many articles say it has changed the nature of the Music Industry forever. This leads to some people writing off a career playing music (even though it may be something they love to do) because they don’t consider it a viable way to make a living.
While many musicians do face real financial struggles (The Musicians Union report “The Working Musician” states 56% of musicians earn under 20K per year), the reality is that the modern-day musician can also make the Internet work for them.
One thing the Internet does show is that live music for private events is still very much in demand.
People are still booking bands for weddings, corporate events, functions, birthday parties and just about any other event you can think of!
Online agencies and websites are making it easier than ever to connect clients with the types of entertainment they want (although these usually charge a commission).
“The key to finding affordable but bespoke musicians when you have around two days’ notice is a website like LastMinuteMusicians.com – you choose the musical genre you fancy, find a band photo that looks good, listen to a few audio examples of your shortlistees, click “book” and they will appear at the right moment, in the right outfit, playing the right music. As if supplied by god.” – Emma Freud, The Guardian
In the last 12 months alone, over 30,000 enquiries were sent through LastMinuteMusicians.com. Typical fees for these engagements can be anywhere from around £150 to £250 per musician and sometimes even more, with premium high–end function acts charging as much as £6000 per performance.
According to the Office for National Statistics, last year the gross median weekly earnings for full – time employees in the UK stood at £528.
This means a musician with three reasonable engagements in a week has the potential to earn a similar wage, if not better (not to mention leaving them time to work in other roles like giving Instrument lessons, composition and recording studio sessions). This also doesn’t take into account other salaried job roles, like working in an orchestra or as part of a cruise ship band.
While this is obviously subject to several different factors and a career in music is by no means easy, it’s worth remembering that if you really love playing music it is still possible to turn your passion into a career.
Source: Last Minute Musicians
