Category: Career
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Calculating gig fees
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in CareerIt took a while in my freelancing career to get a handle on how to respond when people ask what I charge for my services as a performer. I live in a remote, rural area (where my university day job is located) and there isn’t a musicians’ union presence, so I’m on my own in …
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Does woodwind doubling prevent you from being the “best?”
My recent post about woodwind doubling has been cited lately on various social media sites to fuel discussions over whether doubling is a good or acceptable pursuit. Many of those arguing that woodwind doubling is a bad idea raise the issue that the “best” players of such-and-such instrument don’t double, and you can’t be the …
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What should be on your musician website
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in CareerIt’s cheap and easy to create a website. Any serious freelance musician (or aspiring musician) should have one. This should be a website about you, an individual musician. It should be separate from your ensemble’s website or your academic institution’s website. It should exist long-term, and serve as a sort of permanent address for finding …
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Clarifying woodwind doubling goals
Should you be a woodwind doubler? I think it’s worth considering exactly what you mean.
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Frequently-asked questions about woodwind doubling, and their unpopular answers
Q. Should I be a woodwind doubler? A. In most cases, no. If you already feel driven to do it, and have the time and resources to devote to it, then maybe. Q. What’s the trick to getting in enough practice time on all these instruments? A. Figure out what to de-prioritize in your life …
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Students and gig pay
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in CareerOver a year ago I wrote about responding to free or underpaid gig “offers.” A commenter asked a fair question, which has haunted me since: I was wondering how much of this still applies when taking on gigs as a student. I’ve wrestled with this a bit and I’m not sure I have a real answer, …
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Interview: bassoonist and inventor Trent Jacobs
Last summer I finally got myself a Little-Jake setup so I could experiment with some electric bassoon playing. The inventor of the Little-Jake, Trent Jacobs, is a performer, educator, and reedmaker, and I’ve linked to his blog posts on a number of occasions. Trent was kind enough to answer a few questions about himself and …
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Some useful phrases for gig calls
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in CareerHere are some phrases that have been useful to me when somebody calls about a gig. When dealing with other professionals (or working through the musicians’ union) mostly these aren’t necessary—the caller should give the needed info unprompted. But many of the gigs in my rural area are one-offs for weddings or school or business events, …
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Interview: flutist Tammy Evans Yonce
Flutist Tammy Evans Yonce is an active recitalist, writer, clinician, speaker, contributor to various conferences and professional organizations, and professor at South Dakota State University (plus: she is my former classmate). Her thoughtful blog is a favorite of mine and my regular readers will recall that I have featured her posts on a number of occasions. …
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Endorsement deals
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in CareerFirst, let’s be clear about this: in an endorsement deal, the artist endorses the product or brand. The product or brand doesn’t endorse the artist. If an artist claims to be “endorsed by” a company, that is incorrect word usage. An endorsement deal means that an artist agrees to be publicly associated with a product …