Turn Your Love Of Music Into An Income Stream

Regular readers of my blog will know how much I love music - and I’m sure plenty of you out there do, too. And if you can sing a note or two, or play a chord on the guitar or piano, what’s stopping you from turning your hobby into something a little more interesting? After all, it’s not necessary for artists to starve, right?

It’s much easier than you think these days, thanks to the vast array of technology that we can use to create music at home, for relatively little money. And if you have the confidence to get up and strut your stuff on stage, why not go for it?

Here are some suggestions you can use to turn your musical hobby into a possible income stream.

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The reality

Before we begin, however, it’s important to remember that we aren’t talking becoming a rock legend, hip-hop royalty, or a country and western god. The music industry is notoriously difficult to get into and make serious cash, and you have to be supremely talented - and very lucky, too. But while you might not earn megabucks, it is possible to make some cash on the side - and even take your musicianship to a professional level.

The album

OK, so the first step is to make an album, EP, or single. The chances are that your home-based music software isn’t going to be enough to produce something razor sharp regarding sound quality so you might want to consider sending it to a mastering service before burning your CDs. Packaging is also an essential part of the final product, so make sure you have one eye on design.

Streaming

You can also sign up your music to all the digital streaming services like Spotify. You’ll get paid every time someone plays your music, and although you won’t earn a fortune, if people like what they do, it’s the perfect place to attract their interest and develop a fanbase.

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Live appearances

Once you have some sort of following, get out there and perform live. Local bars, clubs, and music venues are always looking for acts to create a good time vibe, so look around your local area and see what you can find. Gigs and concerts are also a great way to sell some CDs and merchandise, and even start developing contacts with other local musicians and acts. Networking is critical at all levels of the music industry, so get used to talking to people and making lots of contacts.

Teach in the community

If you are good with people, why not start teaching others how to play your instrument of choice? Schools, colleges, community centers and even private clients all need music teachers, and if you are good enough, you’ll soon make a name for yourself. Teaching anything can give you a massive sense of satisfaction, and who knows? Perhaps you will show the next big rock star their very first chords on the guitar?

Good luck with the musical money making - why not let everyone know your plans?