Accompanist career?

Accompanist · 09-01-2020, 04:58 PM

Hi! Sorry, I know this is a long shot - does anyone know how to get their hands on data regarding largely self-employed careers in music? I'm talking chance of success, income, how to find actual positions if they exist beyond existing connections. I'm a piano undergrad in Canada and I'd love to be a professional accompanist/collaborative pianist but I'm having a really hard time finding info on how bad of an idea that would be financially, or if it's even possible a separate career and not something done in addition to teaching. Thanks very much!

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 09-02-2020, 05:51 PM

I have known a couple people who managed to make an OK living as a self-employed musician - not great, but OK. You need to be a music teacher and also get whatever gigs you can. But to do that you need to spend a lot of time looking for students to teach, and looking for gigs. It's not for everyone, and I would think you'd need to be really good at promoting yourself.

Have no idea about being an accompanist/collaborative musician, per se. The people I've known have been teachers and gig musicians. They've also sold their music but that's mostly for promotional stuff, you don't make much $$ that way.

09-01-2020, 04:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
Accompanist Groupie Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 1	Accompanist career? Hi! Sorry, I know this is a long shot - does anyone know how to get their hands on data regarding largely self-employed careers in music? I'm talking chance of success, income, how to find actual positions if they exist beyond existing connections. I'm a piano undergrad in Canada and I'd love to be a professional accompanist/collaborative pianist but I'm having a really hard time finding info on how bad of an idea that would be financially, or if it's even possible a separate career and not something done in addition to teaching. Thanks very much!

09-02-2020, 05:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,158	I have known a couple people who managed to make an OK living as a self-employed musician - not great, but OK. You need to be a music teacher and also get whatever gigs you can. But to do that you need to spend a lot of time looking for students to teach, and looking for gigs. It's not for everyone, and I would think you'd need to be really good at promoting yourself. Have no idea about being an accompanist/collaborative musician, per se. The people I've known have been teachers and gig musicians. They've also sold their music but that's mostly for promotional stuff, you don't make much $$ that way. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here