I’m always discussing ways musicians can make more money as artists or as a complete band but I’ve come to realize that I very rarely, if ever, dip into how a musician can make a living as a session player or a fill in member for other bands…

Not that I’ve ever been a session player myself, but let’s think about it for a moment. The more instruments you can play and the more styles of music that you can wrap your head (and fingers) around, the more valuable you become in the music industry. Think of it like owning your very own money printer. The jobs you can get musically involved with expand by a multiple of anywhere from say… 2 paid outings per week to as high as 10 or more….

Session players are a very important part of the music recording industry and there have also been countless times when I’ve witnessed bands that were in dire need of a bass or guitar fill-in. Not being able to play one gig could mean a loss of some coin for them but with a fill-in… well that could mean some money in the bank for you and it doesn’t end there.

Song-writers are abundant and can also be on the lookout for musicians that play various instruments to help them get their latest masterpiece recorded and out into the world. This is an area of the music industry that can really help musicians make some bill payments when necessary. Some session specialists have been known to make a very good living in this area of the music business. If you’ve got the skills, why not look into it? You might even consider offering your services online for music collaborations at an hourly rate. Food for thought…

Of course if you don’t have the skills, what’s holding you back from improving? This is your career and if you’ve really put your heart fully into it then why not expand your musicianship and turn those skills into some bank. Sure it’s nice to be the creative genius but that won’t pay the bills will it? Put your talents to work for you and make your life a little easier at times. Money always makes the wheels of life spin a little smoother and if your music can do it for you, hey take advantage while you can.

I guess my point is that it’s not always just about moving products like mp3’s and CDs or t-shirts. If your musicianship is on point and you can play many different instruments, there’s a chance you can supplement your income by dipping into the musician-for-hire workforce and tap into a lucrative field. It could mean the difference between paying that light bill for the month for the starving artist with a salable set of skills.

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