If you’re a musician who’s looking to start a career in the music industry, there are plenty of great resources out there that can help you get your feet wet and start acquiring some experience.
There is a huge range of useful instruments and services available for both free and at a small cost. Enough information has been given to cover all stages of the music business.
From platforms for building an audience, creating a fan base, distributing content, networking and marketing through to selling music on the web. Most of these platforms are online-based and some can also be used on a mobile device.
Music is a seriously competitive industry and the key to success is finding a niche, selling your talent and working at it. These platforms could be the difference between not being heard or having your dream come true!
The days of a garage band are long gone. Today, the internet is your best friend if you want to break into the music industry. The internet gives you everything you might need to grow your career from startups to partnerships and collaborations.
The only thing left for you to do is take that first step, pick a platform and create something epic!
We’ve rounded up a list of 17 online platforms that will help you connect with people for networking, e-learning, finding gigs, and getting feedback on your recordings. Let’s dive in!
START YOUR INDEPENDENT ARTISTIC CAREER
We think the best option is to go ahead and first, invest in your very own website. We won’t go into all the details of how to set one up in a separate post. But if you’ve got a website, you could get paid gigs coming in. From there, all it takes is time and effort to keep those gigs coming in. The more gigs you get, the more you can use those as marketing tools to land even more gigs. And with these new sources of income flowing into your life, maybe it’s time for that next project or upgrade after all.
1. ReverbNation
ReverbNation is a popular social network for musicians, former musicians, and anyone thinking of becoming a musician. The site is used by some acts as a secondary artist page or EPK, but there are a few other features as well. To try and book shows, you can choose between a free and a paid plan. Whether or not they are effective remains to be seen.
2. Thumbtack
Music is not available on Thumbtack. The platform lets you hire professionals in your local area to do random tasks. The services may include lawn care, massage therapy, house cleaning, and moving. Musicians can also benefit from this service! Thumbtack allows musicians to post a free profile and wait for customers to contact them. Unlike what you might expect, Thumbtack’s platform is structured differently. Essentially, it’s a lead generation service. To gain customer leads, you need to pay a set amount each week. You are responsible for closing the deal and getting the gig once you are contacted.
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3. GigMit
GigMit is where you can become part of the digital artist discovery and booking platform for the music industry. Showcase yourself to promoters and A&Rs with a professional artist profile and get bookings! Gigs for all music genres. Gigs all over Europe. Services: Professional gigs, It has a higher reach.
4. GigSalad
My search for live entertainment in a particular area led me to GigSalad, which has a large database of live acts. It was one of the sites that popped up in my search results. I followed the link to the company’s website, where you can create a free profile and automatically receive job offers from the company. My account was created on the site a long time ago and I maintain it to this day. Through this platform, entertainment service providers (independent artists) can connect with people who are searching for entertainment.
MW3.biz is a nonprofit media production company based in the United Kingdom. It’s an educational platform for young artists, musicians, singers, dancers, bloggers, and gamers. Their members have the opportunity to earn Cash Prizes as a society lottery. Their headquarters are in the UK, but they operate globally. Prizes can only be won if you’re a member of the community which helps you develop your artistic career as a proper business. There is a community of people who work together to promote one another via social media. The organization is deeply committed to socio-constructive projects and provides an opportunity for young, vulnerable, and disabled people to gain professional experience.
One of the best websites to book gigs for independent musicians is Indie on the Move. There are a few paid plans available, but there is still quite a lot you can do for free. Their section on Availabilities has a couple of useful tools. You can search and reply to open show listings with their Show Availabilities feature. Venues and touring bands usually work together to fill open slots during these events. Since you will be bringing the crowd for them, you will need to have a guaranteed draw, as they are looking for you to draw people. Use the Band Availabilities feature if you’re wishing to fill specific dates in a given city, and wait for venues to reply to your listing.
7. Doodeo
Located in Los Angeles, California, Doodeo connects performing artists and artists-seekers with job opportunities online. Create a page on Doodeo to connect with other artists and artist seekers. As well as for analytics, they offer reports on popular content, audience engagement, and monthly statistics. Potential artists can also use Doodeo to search through vetted artists without having to trawl through endless pages on social media.
8. ShowSlinger
ShowSlinger is a 3rd-party booking site that was developed by an Atlanta-based musician. By creating a free Artist Account, ShowSlinger might send you to show offers, which you can accept or decline by replying. You are compensated the next day via PayPal after finishing a gig with Showslinger. You can’t get simpler than that. ShowSlinger’s success can be attested to by the positive feedback we receive from artists that use it.
9. SonicBids
It is probably SonicBids that has been around the longest when it comes to gig booking websites. The company is also known for its infamous reputation. Anyone can hop on their site and look at a list of possible show opportunities using the site’s ‘Find gigs’ feature, but that’s about it for free. It costs something to apply to any of these shows with their Gig Seeker Pro plan, which you can access via their website.
10. Gigride
Gigride is a listing platform for live events, but it has a lot more heart and soul. One downside is that only a few countries in Europe are currently offered. It seems pretty cool, so if you live in the UK, Spain, or Italy, you should check it out. Setting up a free account takes less than 5 minutes. The company also offers artists the opportunity to invest and get access to more features each month by investing a certain amount. Furthermore, the gigs seem legitimate and the interface is easy to use.
11. Festival Net
It is possible to use Festival Net to find any festival anywhere in the U.S. if you’re hoping to get on the festival circuit. It lists countless festivals. Also available on the site is an advanced search tool where you can look for specific festivals and music series events. In addition to compensation, the type of music presented and others can be considered when searching. In the free version, contact information is not provided.
12. Gigmor
Show opportunities can be found on the Gigmor online listing board. It is not possible to apply for gigs without a paid plan. They have two plans: their Premium Plan, which will allow you to apply to 5 gigs per month for $9.99, and their Pro Plan, which will allow you to apply to an unlimited number of gigs for $19.99. The fact that this site allows you to scan a list of opportunities and apply to gigs with just a click is great, but we do not believe you should have to pay to do so.
13. The Bash
A platform specifically designed for booking entertainment, The Bash was previously known as GigMasters. With roots in both the U.S. and Canada, GigMasters has been operating since 1997. They have been in the business for over 20 years. The system will automatically send you gig leads when you set up a profile. They have a very simple and easy to use platform. They charge a fee for Bash. Listing on their site costs an annual subscription fee. Additionally, every gig you book comes with a percentage booking fee.
Another third-party booking agency makes it easy for people to find musicians for their events, such as parties, weddings, corporate functions, etc. Event planners and music acts can sign up for the site, which is similar to a dating website. Members of the musician network can sign-up for free, while event planners submit requests for certain types of acts. ACE agents then contact artists in their network who match the event’s requirements, allowing them to apply for the gig.
15. Do DIY
This website hosts DIY shows hosted by like-minded artists such as radio stations, homes, record stores, etc. Each space has a country and state listed. By clicking on the various locations on the site, you can find contact information for each location. From there, you can send a message. If you have trouble finding what you want, someone in our community may be able to assist you.
16. Craigslist
When it comes to buying and selling used products, most of us are familiar with Craigslist. However, you can also use it to book gigs. There are times when people post-gig opportunities there, the trick is locating them. In the Community section, under the Musicians section, you can find the best place to look. The musicians in this section usually want to meet other musicians, but they may also find gig opportunities here. Additionally, you can search under Creative, Event, and Talent under the Gigs section, under Art/Media/Design, etc./misc., and TV/Film/Video under the Jobs section. Although it will still take some time to weed through other material, you might find something interesting. It is also possible to create your advertisement for a ‘musician to hire for your next event and see if anyone responds to your posting. Perhaps someone will be looking for live entertainment for their event. In addition, it can be useful for filling open dates on a tour.
The takeaway here is that you shouldn’t be afraid of going online. These days, everyone has a website; social media has become an essential part of brand identity for musicians. And if you want your music to reach a wide audience, that’s where you need to be seen—and heard.
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