Some Thoughts about Starting and Growing a Freelance Career in Music

I.                   Musical Concerns

Auditioning well is the fastest way to get started. Most of my opportunities have resulted from doing well at auditions, either directly or indirectly.
 

That said, there is no substitute for excellent ensemble skills. Over the long term, excellent ensemble skills will help you build a freelance career even if you have difficulty auditioning as well as you are capable of playing. No matter how well you audition, you will not get more calls if you do not:

o   Listen and blend well.

o   Play with intonation that is both independently strong and flexible.

o   Play with rhythm that is both independently strong and flexible.

o   Catch on quickly to play with a style that is appropriate to the repertoire and ensemble.

o   Play with a flexible palette of tone color.

§  Hint: focus is always more important than size of sound.

Know your role in the ensemble. If you are hired to play a principal chair, be a clear, respectful leader and pay close attention to the other principals. If you are hired to play in a section, always defer to the principal, even if you think you are a stronger player. If there’s a clear moment for you to shine, go for it 150%; the rest of the time it is your job to make everybody else sound good and feel comfortable.

My overall advice is to play chamber music, play chamber music, and then play more chamber music. Form a standing group and go for it, rehearsing a lot, performing as often as you can, going to chamber music competitions, etc. You learn so much about ensemble playing from this, but also about interpersonal relations – how to talk to each other, how to give criticism without hurting feelings, etc. These skills are essential to every musician.

II.                Extra-Musical Concerns

Make it a habit now to keep an accurate calendar. Keep everything about your schedule in it, as far into the future as you know. Have it with you 100% of the time. Double-booking yourself IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Make it a habit now to respond to phone messages, texts, and especially emails in a timely manner. 24 hours is the absolute longest anybody should have to wait for you to respond to an email, and that timeframe is shrinking all the time.

Make it a habit now to smile and greet people, even – especially – janitors, waitstaff, and other people who can’t advance your career. Strive to be a genuinely friendly person. If you tend to be shy and this doesn’t come naturally to you, then you will have to work a little harder at it, but don’t go so far that it feels insincere. Insincerity is always obvious.