Making money in music

As a student I have only experienced the more temporary jobs available to a musician but hopefully I can give you some insights into the various ways you can earn money by playing music.

1. Weddings!
This is probably the most lucrative occupation for harpists anyway and also piano players or keyboard players accompanying a singer. Once your name gets out there is no end to the amount of bookings you can get so long as you are willing to travel. This may not be an issue for people in cities but in my case I usually have to travel around the province if I want to earn money.

• Once you have a wedding repertoire built up and practiced there is very little time commitment involved apart from meeting with the bride and perhaps attending the rehearsal. Considering the amount of time you put into the event (usually about 4 hours max.) the money is VERY good.

I charge €150 for the wedding ceremony basic but I add on a bit for petrol if it is a long journey.

• To build up a reputation you need to circulate your name. Tell your family and friends to reccommend you and it might be a good idea to play for normal religious ceremonies in local churches so people get a chance to hear you.

You can also give your contact details to hotels and other reception venues. Brides often ask the hotel for musician's contact details.

I can't say I have ever played at the reception of a wedding although I have been booked to do one during the summer. For a harpist this just means sitting in the entrance room and playing gentle background music while the guests arrive from the church.

2. Functions!
Every year I am asked to play at the reception of a charity black tie event in town. I do this for free because it is for charity but commercial black-tie events will pay to have musicians playing in the reception area as guests arrive. Last year I had to turn down a booking for a Summer Ball in the local sailing club but I know they pay almost as well as, if not better than, weddings.
Playing background music is great for people just starting out as performers because if you make a mistake no one will notice and you can play almost anything you like.

3. Live Bar Music!
Last summer I was in a band and we made money by playing for 2 to 3 hours in various pubs around the county. It was fun at the beginning but I got bored quickly. As a classical musician it was hard for me to sing and play in front of a bunch of drunk people who weren't really listening. They always requested the same tunes over and over!

• If you think this is what you want to do then be prepared to learn LOTS and LOTS of lyrics if you are the singer. I was and it is tough to remember them all. I cheated and used a folder.
• If you are a guitarist prepare to play the same 4 chords over and over. So long as you can follow the singer and deal with unexpected mishaps you will be fine.

We charged €200 for the night and there were four of us in the band (guitar, bass, drums, singer) so we divided it up. We used our first three pay cheques to buy a PA system (speakers, microphones, leads etc.) so that we would not have to rent one and also so we could play in pubs that did not have their own sound system.

4. Funerals
No exclamation mark here because let's be honest, funerals are really sad even if you don't know the person. The difference between weddings and funerals is that while weddings are booked waaaay in advance, funerals are very short notice (OBVIOUSLY). Again you need to get your name out there. Also I don't charge as much for funerals. €50 usually. Give your name to any funeral homes in your town and to the undertakers. You could give your details to your local presbytary (priest's house) or parish coordinator.


Aaand that's all I've got for now! Well all that I have had experience with anyway.

My wonderful harp :)



I decided I would post a picture of my harp. As you can see I got mine handcarved along the sound-box and at the front. It just makes it more unique I think.
My harp was made by Paddy Cafferkey who lives near Galway. He makes every harp by hand and creates new designs every year. Mine has removable legs which screw off for ease of transport. This harp cost around €6,000. Thanks Mom and Dad :D. It's a significant investment but I will have it for life so it's worth it.

Side-view

I forgot to mention it's made of walnut wood and it smells delish :).

Well this is definitely a long enough post! Enjoy.

Maeve x