There is a misconception among musicians and artists in general that prevents them from advancing towards new horizons, believing wrong things about how to generate income of more than $1000 while continuing in music.
There are several options to generate additional income and reach a specific financial goal, but before listing them, I invite you to read this blog with an open mind without prejudices while seeing the countless possibilities that can be found in our career. That said, here are some ideas:
1. Freelance Jobs
I can already hear you from here... "Ah... that?... that's not for me." That's why I warned you from the beginning. An artist per se is an entrepreneur from their foundations and must be in constant preparation with their work in music, whatever the area they develop.
So if, in addition to music, you have skills in areas such as writing, graphic design, programming, digital marketing, translation, among others, you can offer your services as a freelancer and work with clients from all over the world, monetize and turn the money around by reinvesting it in better equipment, instruments, technology, better internet connection, and above all things, buying TIME. This is an asset that we all require in this guild.
2. Digital Products Selling
If you have knowledge in a particular subject, you can create digital products such as ebooks, online courses, webinars, tutorial videos, among others, and sell them on platforms like Udemy or Teachable.
While this option takes more time, once created, it will remain generating profits for life without the need to be present. But be careful because this goes hand in hand with a good personal brand design, a conscious work on your social networks from your own values, and with that, growing your own community that will buy from you.
3. Part-Time Jobs
You can look for part-time jobs in areas such as customer service, sales, childcare, food delivery, among others. Working either full or part-time has been what I have been doing for almost 15 years to date, but honestly, this is a point that needs to be discussed.
If you have to work 8 hours a day until you are exhausted, with what time are you going to dedicate yourself to the musical aspect that already demands a lot of time? What is your branch in music? (performance, music production, sound engineering, composition...) How much time will it take to generate this second income, and how much will it affect your current projects?
I consider that for aspects of increasing your capital in a specific period, paying some pending debts, or generating more money to start building your recording studio or another project in mind (travel, attend a festival, obtain a scholarship, etc.), this is an excellent option in which you can leverage yourself without the need to quote too many hours in music to achieve it.
4. Physical Products Selling
You can sell physical products online, either through your own online store or using platforms like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, among others. It all starts with a good engagement plan and creating your own community on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. That's what I'm doing, for example.
Without this, it is impossible to get other people to trust you and buy what you have. So set a goal, define the amount of time this will take, and when you launch your virtual store of musical instruments, recording studio implements, wiring, or composition creation, it will be more affordable for them to bet on you and buy from you before the rest.
5. Delivery Services
I know many colleagues who dedicate part of their time to running errands, especially musicians and producers who have families, which I personally admire because they are super warriors.
So you can offer delivery services for food, shopping, packages, among others, using apps like UberEats, Rappi, Didi, among others.
6. Temporary Jobs
This particular point I love compared to others I have mentioned before. The reason is the tremendous opportunity to network and increase your level of reputation on social media and in your brand, which I explain in detail in this blog.
If you have the possibility of partnering with an event company in logistics aspects such as ticket sales, setting up chairs, assisting visitors and even being an opening act for a national artist (the sky's the limit), you can look for temporary jobs at events, festivals, fairs, among others, that allow you to earn extra money in short periods of time.
7. Consulting Services
What better way to charge what you deserve and provide your expertise in the field you master than being a consultant, coach, or advisor for others who want to venture into the same field as you?
If you have experience in areas such as music production, mixing, sound engineering, music business, voiceover, podcasting, among others, you can offer consulting services to companies, entrepreneurs, or other professionals specializing in these areas.
It is very important to remember that each option may require different skills and resources, so it is important to choose the option that fits your skills and financial needs. In your case, which one would you choose? Is there another alternative that I have not mentioned? Share it in the comments below this blog and make yourself known to the entire community ;)
About the Author
Jero Coto (singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur) is a music lover and audiophile who is always up-to-date on everything happening in the world of music. If you want to learn more about the available options for advancing your music ventures, click on this link.
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