- Look for part-time over full-time work. We are seeing part-time job openings double as the workplace has been more flexible with people’s desires for freelance or gig work.
- Be comfortable piecing multiple jobs together. Once you grab one part-time job, investigate other creative ways to add to that income like babysitting, catering, or even seasonal gigs.
- Look for hybrid. It may seem different than what you are used to but a lot of workplaces are going into an office a few days a week while the rest of the week you would work from home, so get that home desk set up looking cute.
- Be open to joining the growing Marketing field. A job in marketing could mean a lot of things, don’t let a job title discourage you, keep reading the whole job description and see what skills you can develop in a role.
- Don’t worry about your major. Just because you majored in philosophy or politics doesn’t mean your skills can’t transfer to a career in live entertainment. Spend time thinking about your skills and where you want to be. It’s okay to pivot as your knowledge and interests expand.
- Stay in the coordinator/assistant job searches. When entering the workforce, a great place to start is searching for job titles like “coordinator” and “assistant”. They might seem a little out of the action, but they are a great place to start. We all had to start somewhere on our journey to our dream job.
- One of the fastest growing job categories in America are “Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers”* and those roles are awesome ways to get started in the live music space. You get to see a lot of great shows, make friends, start building your professional reputation, and have consistent work hours.
- Bulk up your LinkedIn (bonus points for a website) to showcase your work. Don’t stop at simply adding a photo and a job to your LinkedIn. Try writing a blog post, commenting on articles, joining professional groups, and sharing other cool events. If you have a little extra time, try building a quick landing page or website to showcase more of your own story and personality. Make sure you add the weblink to your LinkedIn when it’s ready.
- Don’t be afraid to show your personality. In the age of AI and Chat GPT, it’s more important than ever to personalize your cover letters and emails. Use opening sentences to let people get to know you and your passion for the industry. When sliding into recruiters’ DMs, be specific and personal.
- Join a club, social group, or membership organization. Below are a few suggestions but also encourage people to go as local as possible when building a network. It’s cool to be part of a national organization but it’s even more meaningful to meet other like-minded people in your own community. Don’t be shy, you will be surprised to find there are more people out there like you.
Top 10 Job Boards for Music Careers
Music Industry Jobs – Music Business Worldwide
The Latest Music Industry Jobs | Digital Music News
Work at LN – Live Nation Entertainment
She Is The Music Discussions Archive – She Is The Music
Internships | Amplify Her Voice
Find the Best Music Industry Jobs – MusicCareers
Music Industry Job Board – American Association of Independent Music (a2im.org)
Musicians
Music Mixing, Mastering & Production Jobs | SoundBetter
Jammcard | Hire The Best Music Professionals
Orchestra Jobs | Orchestra Auditions | Classical Music Jobs (musicalchairs.info)