The Thrifty Musician

I’ve been living as a freelance musician in New York City for four years now. Because the cost of living here is so high, I do have to work outside of music to support myself. However, I’ve learned a lot of ways to keep my budget low, so that I have more time for what I love! These days I rarely work more than 15 hours a week outside of music, which gives me so much more time to practice, compose, rehearse, paint, promote, attend performances, and find various work as a singer. Some of my thrifty tips are simple. They’re just little decisions to make when creating a professional image, how to create a somewhat soundproofed rehearsal/recording space at home, and how to get cheap lessons and a self-education. The other budgeting issues are very “big picture,” offering savings in tens of thousands of dollars in higher education and money management.

A lot of my musician peers have serious problems with budgeting and debt, so serious that many of them have had to leave the world of music for other professions altogether. Don’t let that happen to you! I have a lot to offer you in the art of being frugal.

Advice (My Two Cents) from a Freelance Singer

OK, so it’s more like ten or fifteen cents, or that many ways of making cents, or making sense, as a freelance singer.

Hi. My name is Erika Lloyd and I am a freelance singer living in New York City. To achieve a tad of credibility with you, let me quickly tell you a bit about myself: I have a Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance from Indiana University. I currently work in music as; the lead singer/writer/manager of the indie rock band, Little Grey Girlfriend, a paid section leader of a church choir, a member of the traveling Renaissance quartet with lute, The Good Pennyworths, a soprano in the choral ensemble, Choral Chameleon, a choral ringer (sub), an outside soloist, a wedding singer, and sell various recordings mostly through digital distribution. I also work outside of music for; catering companies, tradeshows, parents who need a babysitter, and people happy to commission my paintings, drawings, and logo work. It’s like spinning plates my friend, spinning plates and juggling at the same time, just a thrill, a real hoot!

Obviously, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to be as versatile as possible, and to not let your ultimate goals get in the way of making a living while on your journey. In other words, don’t shoot yourself in the foot by turning down paying or fulfilling work in music, because it wasn’t your main style or passion. When you get offered a job, singing the national anthem at a kids local swim meet, just know this- there’s no room in that parking lot for your high horse! Ho oh! No she didn’t!

Buuuuttttt I bet you’ve heard that advice before, so I’ll try to give you some more unique and specific tips.