General business musicians are musical chameleons who are hired to play for private events, adopting a style to suit the occasion.

What Does a General Business Musician (Freelance Musician) Do?

General business musicians are professional musicians who specialize in performing "general business" gigs: private events such as conferences, weddings, religious events, birthday parties, dances, and corporate functions. To do so, they must cultivate a wide repertoire of recognizable popular music in a variety of musical genres, and alter their style and playlist to suit their audience. This could mean playing peppy oldies for a middle-aged wedding reception one night and mellow jazz for a lounge setting the next.

General business musicians must understand that they aren’t the stars of the show—their job is to support the event and make sure everyone has a good time, not to push their own art. 

Some general business musicians are solo performers, but more commonly they perform with a band, often called a floor or show band. They might also play with a cover band. While performing is their primary job, being a freelance musician also means being—and running—a business. Marketing the band, booking gigs, meeting with clients to discuss needs, updating social media, and networking to develop a consistent client base all come with the territory. General business musicians who lead their own show bands must also select playlists, craft arrangements, and schedule and lead rehearsals.

Work Life Balance

Most general business musicians are freelancers who travel to play gigs, which often last from late afternoon to late evening. As such, it's best when paired with some kind of day job.

Community

General business musicians are skilled performers with excellent people skills. They must understand that they aren’t the stars of the show—their job is to support the event and make sure everyone has a good time, not to push their own art. Charisma, sensitivity, and public speaking skills all help in that regard. Additionally, leaders of show bands must be excellent organizers, negotiators, and networkers.

Finding Work

While many find their first general business gigs by doing favors for friends who need a band to play their nephew's bar mitzvah or their company's holiday mixer, this isn't a sustainable model for finding work. If one is interested in a long-term career in this field, finding a booking agency or events planning company to partner with is the first step—but be advised that they may take a cut. It's also beneficial to seek out professional partnerships with wedding planners and party planners, as well as recurring gigs at restaurants, clubs, and bars.

Professional Skills

• Excellent instrumental proficiency
• Wide musical repertoire
• Live performance
• Arranging
• Public speaking
• Flexibility

Interpersonal Skills

General business musicians are skilled performers with excellent people skills. They must understand that they aren’t the stars of the show—their job is to support the event and make sure everyone has a good time, not to push their own art. Charisma, sensitivity, and public speaking skills all help in that regard. Additionally, leaders of show bands must be excellent organizers, negotiators, and networkers.

Industries

• Film, Video, and Television
• Technology
• Video Games
• Advertising
• Artist Services
• Music and Audio Tools
• Radio and Streaming Music
• Recording Industry
• Health and Wellness
• Theater
• Live Music
• Opera
• Dance
• Orchestra, Chorus, and Band
• Education
• Arts Administration
• Journalism
• Church and Worship

Top US Cities for This Role

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco Bay Area
• New York City
• Boston
• Nashville