Getting a job in music is Freakin' Hard

• 8th Apr 2008

I know, I know. You already know.

Getting anywhere as a musician, promoter, event organiser, composer, journalist, A&R etc etc is almost impossible. The opportunities are few and far between, no one wants to employ anyone, and when they do, they want to employ their friends or family members.

You know, the ones who have no interest in music, and are doing it for 'work experience' while the rest of us would literally sacrifice animals and small children for such an opportunity.

I myself am in such a dire situation. For 6 months I have trying to do anything in music. As a musician, actually playing and creating the music seems like an obvious choice, but it is by far the hardest path. Then there's setting up gigs for other musicians to play at. Which I enjoy, but unfortunately gaining any remuneration is impossible, and I feel guilty taking money when bands are so often underpaid. I enjoy writing (that's why I'm here) but again getting paid is difficult. But all of this does count towards experience for later roles.

Thankfully there are many other ways in which we as music industry wannabes can get involved. Music is starting to be considered more important at a grass-roots level in smaller communities. Agencies are being created within county councils, theatre and music schools are popping up here and there, and getting involved with these types of organisation is great CV fodder for that dream job at Sony BMG or Warner Bros.

And of course, sites like this also give journalists a chance to prove themselves, and sites like mySpace are giving musicians a fighting chance at getting that ever elusive record deal.

So if you ever feel down about being an unemployed music aficionado, think about the less obvious musical opportunities available to you, and maybe, just maybe, those opportunities will get you the ultimate chance and all encompassing musical stardom.

Getting paid for what you love is damn hard.

[I know the picture has nothing to do with this, but its damn amusing, no?]