So You Want To Be A Freelancer

trumpettrax · 06-07-2006, 04:26 PM

I thought I would post this here because Mr. Wise is a freelancer (based on your bio).

A friend of mine was asking me what you do to get started if you want to be a freelancer (trumpet of course!)? My reply was that it's like any business. You have to do some marketing (let people know you are out there) and I guess that works by word of mouth also. Get your first gig (and you better be good!) then others will hire you based on word of mouth alone.

So, is that pretty close? I mean it is a business and you have to promote your business to get work.

Thoughts?

wiseone2 · 06-07-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpettrax

I thought I would post this here because Mr. Wise is a freelancer (based on your bio).

A friend of mine was asking me what you do to get started if you want to be a freelancer (trumpet of course!)? My reply was that it's like any business. You have to do some marketing (let people know you are out there) and I guess that works by word of mouth also. Get your first gig (and you better be good!) then others will hire you based on word of mouth alone.

So, is that pretty close? I mean it is a business and you have to promote your business to get work.

Thoughts?

Getting a foot in the door is very difficult.
Everything you said is correct, but "good" does not get hired in NYC. Amazing is now the standard. Be prepared to wait for a chance, don't make enemies and if the opportunity presents itself, knock them dead.
Wilmer

trumpettrax · 06-07-2006, 06:04 PM

Mr. Wise,

As a freelancer, is there a certain style of music you play or prefer to play. Do you only take certain types of jobs or any that come along?

thanks!

wiseone2 · 06-07-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trumpettrax

Mr. Wise,

As a freelancer, is there a certain style of music you play or prefer to play. Do you only take certain types of jobs or any that come along?

thanks!

I am motivated by music. I love to play good music. I have played in Symphonies, Broadway shows and in recording studios.
Over the years I have been blessed to play with some of Music's legends. I have been honored to play for Bernstein, Casals, Ormandy, Boulez, Serkin, Ellington and so many other great musicians.
From a very early age I knew my direction. I studied the music and the musicians. I grew up in Philadelphia. I had the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Heaths. I had Sam Krauss and Johnny Coles.
I had the best of all possible worlds growing up.
I have prided myself on being a musician that could fit almost anywhere.
That is the essence of freelancing.....Adaptability.
Wilmer

lonelyangel · 06-07-2006, 10:21 PM

The best advice I got about starting out in the profession was on my first day at the Guildhall School of Music from my General Musicianship teacher and class mentor, Anthony Greening. He said there were three things he wanted us to do. 1) Buy a good alarm clock 2) always carry a soft black pencil, a pencil sharpener and a rubber (that's an eraser in the UK :) ) and 3) say "YES" to every single piece of work we were offered until we were aged 25 - whether you felt equiped to do the job or not.

You are absolutely rtight about making sure you play a good gig when you get the chance to show what you have got. However I wou;ld add that you need to aim to play at the top of your game every time you play. When you start out you may do some fairly cheesy function gigs, or rehearsal bands or sit in at a jam session or go and fill in for somebody at a community band - whatever. The thing is that you won't know who is sitting next to you or down the line or in another section, or even listening at the bar - there may be a great player in the band who might be your lucky break. People always notice when a good young player is new on the scene and you need to take every gig seriously, every time you play its like a potential audition - act like a pro and you are half way to becoming one.

All the best. Noel.

trpt2345 · 06-07-2006, 10:24 PM

Flexibility absolutely. The more different kind of stuff you can do the more opportunities you have to get hired. The ability both to read well and play by ear can make a difference. I've played classical music, jazz, blues, funk, klezmer, show music, rock, jingles whatever. Sometimes my favorite gigs are those in which there is no written music at all.

Michael McLaughlin

"Sir, your book is both good and original. The problem is the good parts are not original and the original parts are not good." Samuel Johnson

trumpettrax · 06-09-2006, 04:39 PM

My teacher is a freelancer in Houston. His philosophy (hope he doesn't mind me talking for him) is that we are first and foremost TRUMPET players! We play music. So, I will be learning all genres! He said the more you can play the more gigs you can get called for. He plays it all, classical, jazz, salsa etc.

I like it!

NickD · 06-09-2006, 04:58 PM

http://www.brass-forum.co.uk/Article...heTrenches.htm

This is an article I wrote for the UK Brass Forum on the subject. FWIIW coming from me!

Great thoughts, so far! There are far more successful people than I posting here. I hope my ideas help a bit.

Nick

06-07-2006, 04:26 PM	#1
trumpettrax Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 170	So You Want To Be A Freelancer I thought I would post this here because Mr. Wise is a freelancer (based on your bio). A friend of mine was asking me what you do to get started if you want to be a freelancer (trumpet of course!)? My reply was that it's like any business. You have to do some marketing (let people know you are out there) and I guess that works by word of mouth also. Get your first gig (and you better be good!) then others will hire you based on word of mouth alone. So, is that pretty close? I mean it is a business and you have to promote your business to get work. Thoughts?

06-07-2006, 10:21 PM	#5
lonelyangel Pianissimo User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: London Posts: 196	The best advice I got about starting out in the profession was on my first day at the Guildhall School of Music from my General Musicianship teacher and class mentor, Anthony Greening. He said there were three things he wanted us to do. 1) Buy a good alarm clock 2) always carry a soft black pencil, a pencil sharpener and a rubber (that's an eraser in the UK :) ) and 3) say "YES" to every single piece of work we were offered until we were aged 25 - whether you felt equiped to do the job or not. You are absolutely rtight about making sure you play a good gig when you get the chance to show what you have got. However I wou;ld add that you need to aim to play at the top of your game every time you play. When you start out you may do some fairly cheesy function gigs, or rehearsal bands or sit in at a jam session or go and fill in for somebody at a community band - whatever. The thing is that you won't know who is sitting next to you or down the line or in another section, or even listening at the bar - there may be a great player in the band who might be your lucky break. People always notice when a good young player is new on the scene and you need to take every gig seriously, every time you play its like a potential audition - act like a pro and you are half way to becoming one. All the best. Noel. __________________ Noel Langley - Eclipse Artist noel@eclipsetrumpets.com Eclipse Medium Yellow, scratch gold Eclipse Medium Heavy Red, custom 'Diamond Back' in 24ct gold Eclipse Red Brass Flugel Custom Scherzer piccolo with copper Wedgewood bell, finished in scratch gold Giardinelli 6S, 6M, 6FL Bach 3CW

06-07-2006, 10:24 PM	#6
trpt2345 Mezzo Forte User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Chicago Posts: 806	Flexibility absolutely. The more different kind of stuff you can do the more opportunities you have to get hired. The ability both to read well and play by ear can make a difference. I've played classical music, jazz, blues, funk, klezmer, show music, rock, jingles whatever. Sometimes my favorite gigs are those in which there is no written music at all. Michael McLaughlin "Sir, your book is both good and original. The problem is the good parts are not original and the original parts are not good." Samuel Johnson __________________ Chicago MM

06-09-2006, 04:58 PM	#8
NickD Forte User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago northern suburbs Posts: 1,049	FWIIW... http://www.brass-forum.co.uk/Article...heTrenches.htm This is an article I wrote for the UK Brass Forum on the subject. FWIIW coming from me! Great thoughts, so far! There are far more successful people than I posting here. I hope my ideas help a bit. Nick __________________ NickD "Live Webcam Lessons Now Available with NickD" http://www.nickdrozdoff.com http://www.newyorktrumpetcompany.com http://www.myspace.com/nickdrozdoff

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-07-2006, 06:04 PM	#3
trumpettrax Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 170	Mr. Wise, As a freelancer, is there a certain style of music you play or prefer to play. Do you only take certain types of jobs or any that come along? thanks!

06-09-2006, 04:39 PM	#7
trumpettrax Pianissimo User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 170	My teacher is a freelancer in Houston. His philosophy (hope he doesn't mind me talking for him) is that we are first and foremost TRUMPET players! We play music. So, I will be learning all genres! He said the more you can play the more gigs you can get called for. He plays it all, classical, jazz, salsa etc. I like it!

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Unleash Your Anger
Copyright 2006 TrumpetMaster.com	All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:22 PM. Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v2.2.0/Links 1.01 Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2 Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0