6 Steps to Transforming Your Musical Hobby Into a Business
You love music, and you hope to make a living as a musician one day, but how can you take your musical hobby from a part-time side hustle to a full-time source of income? There’s a lot to consider. Fortunately, these tips from guest blogger Courtney Rosenfeld of Gigspark.biz will help you choose a business structure, create merchandise, set up an ecommerce website, and more.
Use YouTube
Uploading your music to YouTube and monetizing your channel can be an effective first step towards capitalizing on your talent. This platform allows you to reach a global audience, generate revenue through ads, and potentially gain recognition in the music industry. However, it's crucial to protect yourself and your creative work. Forming a limited liability company (LLC) can provide personal liability protection, separating your business assets from your personal assets. This can be particularly important if legal issues arise related to your music or copyright infringement.
Boost Your Business Savvy
Going back to school for a business degree can significantly sharpen your business savvy, enhancing your music career. Whether you choose to focus on accounting, business, communications, or management, the skills you learn can help you navigate the complexities of the music industry and thrive. Online degree programs offer the flexibility needed to balance your educational goals with your music aspirations, allowing you to pursue both simultaneously. If you're considering how to best manage your career growth while advancing your education, give this a view.
Design Merchandise
Selling physical merchandise is a great way to bring in more income as a musician. This could include stickers, t-shirts, CDS, vinyl records, posters, or even notebooks. You may want to come up with designs on your own, or hire a graphic designer to help! To drive higher merch sales, Splice recommends choosing your materials carefully so that your products are durable.
Have a Place to Practice
If your current apartment doesn't provide an ideal environment for music practice, renting a house can be a great alternative. By checking online listings, you can explore rental options that offer more space and acoustic privacy for your music sessions. Renting a house gives you the freedom to set up a dedicated practice area, where you can freely play your instruments without disturbing neighbors or worrying about noise complaints.
Additionally, houses often provide more flexibility in terms of soundproofing and setting up recording equipment. So, if your apartment is not conducive to music practice, consider renting a house to create a space where you can fully immerse yourself in your musical journey.
Start Networking
If you’re new to performing in your area, networking is the key to landing more gigs. Putting yourself out there can feel nerve-wracking, but over time, you’ll get more comfortable with introducing yourself to new people in your industry.
To network effectively and make a good impression on your industry peers, Bandzoogle recommends being kind and professional towards other musicians and venue workers in every interaction — displaying a positive attitude is the best way to make your mark! Remember, the more time you spend performing, the more your stage presence will improve, so getting on to as many stages as you can is essential, especially if you’re early in your career.
Content Marketing
Content marketing can be a powerful tool for promoting your music. By creating engaging and relevant content, you can build a strong online presence and foster a deeper connection with your audience. This could involve sharing behind-the-scenes videos of your songwriting or recording process, writing blog posts about your musical inspirations, or posting snippets of new songs on social media. Additionally, you could host live Q&A sessions or virtual concerts to interact directly with fans. Each piece of content gives your audience a glimpse into your world as an artist, helping to build anticipation for new releases and grow your fan base.
With the right strategy, it’s possible to make a living as a musician. You don’t have to become famous worldwide to support yourself through your music! By establishing an LLC, consistently practicing, marketing your music, and growing your network, you can set yourself up for success.
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