Seven Music Related Jobs In UK Business
Music is so important to all of us, it's not surprising that there are a number of careers which are based solely on music. In UK business, there are quite a few careers which centre around music and the entertainment industry. This article will take you through the basics of each job, including the typical work they do, any qualifications they may need and where to find out more information.
1. Musician
"There are more musicians in the UK than ever before, but sadly many of them struggle to earn a decent living. Most musicians need to earn at least £15-20,000 a year to cover the cost of their recording equipment and the associated costs of rehearsing and performing live. Not everyone can give up their day job, so many musicians make extra money by tutoring. In order to share their craft with others, they may also provide mentoring or audition coaching services through websites such as Rehearsal Space."
Underpinning The UK Economy: Music
Music: Careers in Music - The Complete Guide
This page is dedicated to those who play instruments, sing and write songs. There are many, many careers to be considered here - the musician has a lot of options when it comes to picking the right career path. We'll start by discussing some general advice and information which will apply equally to most musical careers:
You need to love music - this is a biggie. If you don't love music, why would anyone pay you for what you do? It's all very well playing/singing at home for your friends and family, but if you are going to give up your evenings and weekends as well as all that holiday time, then it has got to be worth it.
The payoff usually isn't in money - even the most successful musicians have day jobs, so don't expect lots of cash. The biggest payoff is in the pleasure you get from playing, performing or writing music. It is also likely that your day job will pay more than just gigging (if you're lucky you might even be paid to do that!).
The age of the professional musician has changed - Once upon a time it was possible to be a pro musician and earn a living from gigs, call-ins and session work. The reality for most musicians today is that this isn't enough - you need to have some kind of backup plan.
You are your own best advocate - unless you can get an agent or manager to do this for you, it's vital that you have some kind of presence online as well as offline. Soundcloud and Facebook are essential. It's all very well having a top-notch demo - if no one can find you, you're not going to get the gigs.
Networking is king - most musicians today use the internet to promote themselves and build a network of contacts. You will also need to keep in touch with people who might be able to help you out with gigs, writing projects or for auditions, so try to make sure that your social media accounts are up-to-date and regularly updated.
File sharing is important - there are all kinds of music jobs out there which are only available through word of mouth. You need to make sure that you keep in touch with people who might be able to recommend you, or maybe even use your music for some kind of project.
Take the family with you - many musicians find that their day job helps them financially, but it also helps them to develop their musical and performing abilities. They may be able to help support their family through gigs, recording and performance opportunities. Musicians who have day jobs often grow up around music - either they were raised as musicians, or they acquired a taste for it through attending gigs as a child.
You need to know your craft - when I say this I am not just talking about technical skills such as guitar playing ability and singing voice (although both are important). You also need to know what you like and dislike, what your strengths are and your weaknesses. This is important because if you don't, then you will never be in a position where people want to work with you - they won't even know enough about your work to want to book gigs.
2. Musical Director
"The musical director's role is much more broad than that of the musician. He or she will ensure that all aspects of the musical performance are up-to-date, including everything from the music arrangements to conducting rehearsals. In addition, directors are responsible for overseeing the details of live performances, such as hiring the venues, arranging lighting and sound equipment, choosing appropriate entertainment acts, marketing their events and so on. The duties of a musical director may vary depending on whether they work independently or for an agency, school, company or private venue."
How To Become A Musical Director
If you want to become a musical director, there are quite a few choices to make. You could start by looking into the different types of musical directors and decide which suits your career - this page on the London College of Music website offers some useful information. Here are the options:
· Arranger/orchestrator - you would work with a composer to turn his score into something which sounds like an orchestra. This often requires a background in composition as well as arranging and composing skills.
· Choreographer - this musical director is responsible for the dance routines which go with the music.
· Conductor - a conductor's job is to conduct the orchestra, choir or band and make sure that they play in time, stay together, and that the music sounds good. Conductors are also responsible for dealing with any unforeseen circumstances which may befall their concert.
· Session musician - a session musician plays in sessions (duh!) and not always live ones. Often they will work with a producer to come up with the appropriate backing track for an act.
· Session singer - in the same vein as a session musician, a session singer will work with a producer to produce backing tracks for recording.
· Musical director for film and television - this job is all about working with an orchestra or band (or a combination of both) to create music for TV or film scores. There are many famous composers out there who have also worked as musical directors in television and film.
Well, that reveals that there are different types of musical direction. What I have done is show you options which require different levels of skill and different amounts of experience - some people get into the business by learning on the job, whereas others need to study music beforehand (as I did).
3. Music Therapist
A music therapist helps people who are suffering from mental and physical problems with their music. As a music therapist your job is to help people to form relationships with the world of sound and use it to find more meaning in their lives.
Conclusion
If you are looking to break into the music industry then these three career options will give you a good grounding in some of the most popular areas. You don't need to specialize immediately; take your time, learn the skills necessary and then explore other fields before deciding upon one that's suited to your own talents.
By knowing what it is that you would like to do, you are also able to make better decisions about who to work with and how to go about doing it - if someone expresses an interest in hiring you, then great! If not, there are always other ways you can be involved with music in your own way - for instance, I used programming when trying out my skills at composing and arranging.