Facebook Networking for Musicians

I got my first off-Broadway subbing gig through Facebook. Ok, well that isn’t entirely true but I do credit my utilization of the social networking site as a major factor in procuring that gig. A friend gave me the number of his friend who was the full-time drummer on the show. We met, I went and watched the show, and that was that. I sent him a friend request and we stayed in loose touch for a while. Then, eight months later he sent me a Facebook message: “Let’s talk about you coming and subbing on the show.” Now that I think about it Facebook has been instrumental in my acquisition of lots of great playing opportunities in the mere 16 months that I have lived in New York…

Just Another Networking Tool…?

Here is an industry secret: all of us trying to freelance as musicians know that we will get the best gigs by sending resumes to high-powered music contractors and then waiting by the phone. Right? In reality, the only way a contractor will even look at your resume is if you are referred to them by someone they know and trust. So how do I get referred to someone who will hire me? Through networking. I recently heard Broadway contractor John Miller say that we “are all each other’s contractors.” By establishing a professional and pleasant rapport with other players, you can increase the probability that they will refer you to someone else, who will refer you to someone else, and so on. This is how freelancing works.