If you’re trying to build a music career while working a day job, it’s important to balance your time. You can make a successful transition by prioritizing your music, networking with other musicians, being realistic & focused, and never letting your creativity fade away in the chaos.
You need to be honest with yourself while selecting one of the best-suited careers in music industry and decide what your goals are with your music. Are you trying to gain new fans, build your portfolio, write and release more songs or start a band?
Choosing your goals will help you decide what tasks to prioritize and how to schedule them. Get in touch with some experienced musicians and music event organizers to know more about the best day jobs for musicians and how to get the best promotors, instruments, systems, and live music venues for your gig.
It’s important to remember that if you want to become a successful music producer or musician, you have to work hard at it and don’t give up. Keeping up with the latest trends in music can be difficult, and this is where you can help your clients by offering advice on how to market their products and services.
Below discussed are three effective ways to balance your music career with your day job:
1. Prioritize Your Music with a Schedule
Getting your music career off the ground can be an incredibly challenging task. But if you know where to focus your time, you can start working on your project without losing track of everything else that needs to get done. It’s also a great idea to set deadlines for different tasks. This helps you stay on track and motivates you to complete the most important projects. You can even set short deadlines for a few things throughout the week, which will help you progress on your goals.
This is especially important for musicians trying to balance a day job with their uncertain careers in music industry. It’s easy to let work and music take over your schedule, but it’s crucial to keep them separate. If you’re juggling music, business, or jobs, you need to make a schedule. Whether you want to work on a full-length album or just start a side hustle, making a plan will keep you on track and encourage you when you feel like giving up.
When you’re deciding what to put on your schedule, think about the big goals you have for your music careers. Those may include recording sessions, working with producers, or writing songs for live shows. Identify those tasks and jot them down, then write out the time you need to complete them. Hiring a music agency, manager, or event managing company is highly advisable if you want to get the best results from your busy schedule.
2. Be Realistic & Flexible
When you need to switch between multiple careers in music industry along with trying to balance it with your day job, it’s important to be realistic about how much time and energy you can commit to both sides of your career. That’s why it’s vital to make a plan and set goals. These goals will keep you on track and motivate you to work hard. It also makes it easier to admit when you’re not meeting your objectives and can even help you take action.
Similarly, being realistic about how much you can afford to invest in your music will help you determine whether it’s worth it. For example, you may want to hire a PR expert, booking agent, or an event management agency to handle your shows or a marketing firm to create and manage your website. Often, it’s hard to find time to devote to your music career when you have a full-time job. However, it doesn’t have to be that way!
Another way to make the best of your music careers is by scheduling chunks of time each week that you can dedicate to it. It takes a bit of forethought, preparation, and organization, but it can be extremely productive. Another option is to hire someone who can do some of your music-related tasks for you, like getting collaborators or negotiating with the trending live music venues. This can help you spend valuable time performing, connecting with fans, and writing music rather than doing it all yourself.
3. Be Creative & Focused
If you’re a creative person, the chances are that you have at least some idea of what you want to achieve with your music. Having a clear vision of whether you wish to go for a performing or non-performing careers in music industry is essential. Eventually, what you want to achieve will help you keep your work focused and on track. One of the most important things you can do when it comes to your music career is to be creative in how you prioritize and schedule time for your music.
Achieving a between your day job and music passion requires efficient time management, commitment, and discipline, but don’t let the creativity in you fade away by managing all on your own. This may mean waking up earlier and dedicating that hour to practicing, writing, or recording your music before starting your day job. Or it could mean hiring a virtual assistant or local student to handle some of your music-related tasks. This way, you can balance your music business with job.
While some musicians find it easy to maintain their music schedules, others struggle to make time for practice. If you’re one of those people, be patient and find ways to fit music into your day-to-day schedule in small chunks. If you are a guitarist or bassist or pursuing any of the performing music careers, ensure that you are practicing the right things. It can be tempting to practice things you already know, but this will be a waste of your time and energy.
The Best Day Jobs for Musicians
Until you have your big break as a musician, you’ll need to find a day job that helps you make a living. Fortunately, plenty of options don’t take up too much time from your music career or your family. If you’re a singer, songwriter, or instrumentalist, you can earn extra cash by working in a record store that sells a wide range of music. This is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience with music equipment and learn more about the industry.
Performing at venues and weddings is another great way to pay the bills for musicians who are a bit more established but not quite ready to take their music careers to the next level. You can even work as a studio engineer and help people record their songs. It’s not a glamorous option, but it can be quite fulfilling, and you’ll start to build your reputation as an expert in music technology. It’s important to remember that if you want to be successful in this career, you have to work hard at it and never give up.
Getting the right day job is essential for achieving this goal, as it will provide you with the financial security and flexibility to continue rehearsing, writing, performing, and touring. The key to success in this position is to have a solid understanding of the business side of the music industry. This includes knowing how to book tours and negotiate fees with promoters, talent buyers, etc. You can even join a music event management agency to get some experience working at live music venues.
Key Takeaways
Musicians with a day job can face a tough challenge when it comes to balancing their music careers. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your work life does not interfere with your music career. Be it money, time, or resources, if you have a full-time day job, it is important to be realistic with how much you can afford to spend on your music projects. Moreover, it is important to keep your health in tip-top shape so that you can focus on your music projects. Good Luck!
