Most people working in the music industry will have self-employed (freelance) status at some time in their career. Apart from a few large companies, the music industry consists of small companies with many self-employed people working as musicians, producers, songwriters, administrators and a host of other professions. The skills needed to work as a freelance are common to all these areas, and are vital not only to creative and commercial success but also to survival as a freelance practitioner.
In the twenty first century it is not uncommon for musicians to have portfolio careers where ,instead of working a traditional full-time job, they work multiple part-time jobs with different employers. This unit has been written to give learners an understanding of the freelance way of life within the performing arts industry. The unit covers the areas that will be of most concern to those supporting themselves in such an environment. It does not provide everything learners will need but does introduce them to the basic approach and provides the framework for working freelance. It also introduces the importance of finance to someone who is working in the performing arts industries.
No matter how much we create or how many good business ideas we have, we will not be successful unless we are able to let other people know about them. This unit gives learners an awareness of the importance of marketing and image. It emphasises the importance of continual self-development and how essential it is to communicate clearly. Taking a professional approach to working in the industry is as essential as having a good product to market, and the unit outlines what qualities industry professionals expect of people working with them.
BTEC Unit Specification
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 Know the financial and management issues of self-employment
2 Know the skills and knowledge required for self development as a freelancer
3 Know professional approaches to employment
4 Know about entrepreneurial approaches to image, market and opportunity
TASK 1
In this task you need to write about the financial side of being a freelance worker in the music industry. You will need to talk about the basics of managing your own tax and using an accountant. What are all the possible ways of getting income in your chosen area? What outgoing costs are you likely to have? You will need to display an understanding of royalties (PRS, MCPS & PPL) and talk about the importance of registering your works.
P1 - Describe financial and self management considerations needed for freelance work in the music industry
M1 - Explain financial and self management considerations needed for freelance work in the music industry
D1 - Comment critically on financial and self-management considerations needed for freelance work in the music industry
Freelance - to be able to complete this task you need to understand and be able to explain what it means to be a freelance worker. Search on Google for information about Freelance working. Essentially what it means is that you are your own boss, you don't work for someone else or have a permanent contract with someone else's business. You have to find your own work (or have people come to you). Outside of music jobs that are freelance include electricians, plumbers etc. Someone who has a contract may be a teacher or work in a bank etc.
Pros - most creative roles/jobs that aren't mundane are freelance. You get to choose when you want to work and when you don't. You get to work with different people in different places, where as most contracted work is in the same place with the same people each week. Creative freedom. Your role / skill set can be adapted if you want to change your focus. Develop other skills such as management, promotion etc.
Cons - you don't have a regular monthly wage or job security. You have to pay your own tax, which gets done once a year (the financial year runs beginning of April to the end of March the following year). You can either do your own accounts or pay an accountant to do it for you. No sick pay, paid holidays, or maternity pay. Job security is the main con, it can be harder to get a mortgage and in moments of a crisis (like right now with the corona virus) it's the self employed people who are in a worse position than those with a contract.
Here are some of the freelance roles in the Music Industry
Songwriter - some songwriters aren't performers and write for other people. Songwriters may or may not also be lyric writers. Some songwriters will also be performers themselves and perform their own material. Money can be earned buy selling songs and people also buying the publishing, however most songwriters like to retain all or some of the publishing so that when the song generates royalties (PRS, MCPS) they earn money when the song is played (live or recorded) in public.
Artist/performer - may or may not also be a songwriter. They will generally make money from live performances, music sales and royalties. If they are in a group they normally split money evenly, so it can be less lucrative the more members of the band there are, compared to a solo performer. If an artists signs a record deal they can sometimes get an advance payment (major labels tend to give bigger advances than independent labels). For most successful artists they will also have a manager who helps organise and promote their career, managers normally take around 15% of everything the artist makes. Some artists may not be on a label or have a manager but may have a booking agent to help manage their live performance bookings.
Session Musician - specialist instrument players. You have to be highly skilled on your instrument, be able to read music and follow instructions. Good understanding of musical terminology and good at communicating. Most session musicians have to build up a reputation to get work, or possibly have an agency to find them work, the agency will take a cut of the work.
Producer - in the traditional sense of the word a producer works with artists/bands to help them develop their material and create the best recording. In the modern sense of the word a producer is actually an individual who makes their own music quite often composing and working with technology to make and mix tracks. Producers may have record deals but it is more likely that they producer for other artists who are on labels. So a producer may have multiple different agreements with different employers.
There are many other roles in the music industry for freelance workers, above are some of the main ones, but feel free to research into other roes.
Evidence - Written post in Google Drive - in 'Unit 38 Music Freelance World' folder (approx 700 words).
TASK 2
Choose one (or 2) job roles within the music industry that most suits your skills.
Create a self-development plan with 1 year, 5 year and 10 year headings.
You should include information about all aspects; performing, finance, promotion, skills & experience.
1 year plan - what do you hope to be able to do that you can't do now by the end of the course.
5 year plan - try to imagine what skills and experiences you would poses in 5 years time, halfway towards being a professional.
10 year plan - now in your mid 20s you are a professions, what skills do you poses?
Evidence - Written post in Google Drive - in 'Unit 38 Music Freelance World' folder (approx 500 words)
P2- Describe self-development requirements within the music industry
M2 - Explain self-development requirements within the music industry
D2 - Comment critically on self development requirements within the music industry
TASK 3
a) Create a written task about the what makes a professional in your chosen area. What are the key skills for being a professional? What do you need to develop to become more professional?
Professional Skills are likely to include:
- Time Management
- Creativity
- Innovation
- Instrumental techniques
- Reading music / sight reading
- Promotion
- Social Media Communication
- Communicating with other professional
- Using appropriate termanology
- Networking
- Using technology
- Knowing how to use a studio
- Collaborating with other musicians, engineers and producers
- Managing their image / persona
You can take any of these that are appropriate for your chosen role. You can then think about including them in your task 2 (self development plans) too.
b) Choose a professional who's career you aspire to and write about the skills they possess(ed). So if you are being a songwriter you could look at Burt Bacharach or Kurt Cobain.
Evidence - Written post in Google Drive - in 'Unit 38 Music Freelance World' folder (approx 500 words).
P3 - Describe the importance of a professional approach to being freelance
M3 - Explain the importance of a professional approach to being freelance
D3 - Comment critically on the importance of a professional approach to being freelance
TASK 4
Create a detailed CV for yourself that is focused towards your chosen area within the music industry. You should create a separate document that outlines rationale as to why your CV matches the required skills, knowledge and experience for that area. You need to display a good understanding of the area of the music industry. Needs to be 2 sides of A4.
Things to consider on your CV:
- Qualifications
- Relevant experience (including your time at college, rehearsals, performances etc)
- Personal skills
- Employment & info about transferable skills
here's a basic guide to writing a CV - https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/how-to-write-a-cv/
Main areas
- Personal details
- Personal statement
- Work experience
- Achievements
- Education
- Hobbies & Interests
P4 - Identify successful personal marketing and image materials.
M4 - Describe successful personal marketing and image materials.
D4 - Justify successful personal marketing and image materials.