Working in music

[GodlikeYeezus]

As this is the busiest thread i thought i'd ask you all on jobs within music. I'm 18 years old and looking for an apprenticeship or other work within music. I don't mean playing music but maybe something like music journalism or working with festivals whether organising or promoting. If anyone knows of any opportunities like this advice would be very helpful, thanks.

Edited August 14, 2014 by GodlikeYeezus

[GodlikeYeezus]

Hi mate. I'm in a similar position to you (couple of years older though)... This site might be of use to you.

Make sure you've got a backup though, as it's something that's hard to get into... I only last night got my olive branch. And I got that from just hanging around near stage doors and talking to bands, road crew, managers, etc.

Whenever you're at a gig or festival, talk to anyone and everyone, and you'll meet some interesting people... In the end, something will come off! (And you may even become acquainted with some of your favourite artists)

http://www.thebigmusicproject.co.uk/

Thank you very much, it's a good first step into the right direction.

[MrZigster]

A great thread and good luck. Absolutely a great place to post it. Damn I wish I'd had The Internet at 18.

[Meatball]

A great thread and good luck. Absolutely a great place to post it. Damn I wish I'd had The Internet at 18.

Instead you had to make do with with a worn copy of razzle

[glasto-worker]

As this is the busiest thread i thought i'd ask you all on jobs within music. I'm 18 years old and looking for an apprenticeship or other work within music. I don't mean playing music but maybe something like music journalism or working with festivals whether organising or promoting. If anyone knows of any opportunities like this advice would be very helpful, thanks.

there is many ways to do it but you have to think out the box as you will run into the old catch 22 even if you are offering your services for free.

from time to time promoters may offer unpaid internships but they can end up with 500+ applicants

many will apply with no relevant experience so likely will not even pass Go.

Although I have been a Volunteer with the WBC for 26 years over that period not all my work involved bars as during that period it was common for the WBC to share staff with the Mean Fiddler Production Department - Mean Fiddler morphed into Festival Republic { who did part of the Production for Glastonbury between 2002 and 2011 }

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_Republic

so indirectly I was dealing with Melvin Benn { who I first met over 20 years ago } and Vince Power and over that period I was doing various duties in the Production office at various events and it would have been dead easy to get a job although in my situation I already had a well paid secure job Teaching at the University of London.

Even if I applied for a job { or internship } with a Promoter I did not know I am sure my previous experience would at least get me a interview.

If I was in your situation - I would get myself some experience by being a volunteer with a Hospital Radio station ' which at least takes you one step up the ladder '

or work your way up though http://www.hotboxevents.com/about/event-jobs-and-event-work/ as they are always on the look out for keen enthusiastic people.

The more experience you gain the more keen Promoters will be.

some of my friends are only in paid work at festivals due to their previous Volunteer experience as they stand out from the crowd.

[viberunner]

Find all the Festival and Event Services companies in your area, apply for jobs. They're always looking for fit young dudes to work long hours erecting marquees and fencing, and from there you can start meeting contacts in the business, or getting tickets for rigging and the likes.

If you want to work as an organiser, find a small festival and volunteer and keep volunteering. Basically, you can have an apprenticeship, but it'll be unpaid. Once you have experience and skills you can start to look for hired work.

[JC-Mo'Fucka]

As this is the busiest thread i thought i'd ask you all on jobs within music. I'm 18 years old and looking for an apprenticeship or other work within music. I don't mean playing music but maybe something like music journalism or working with festivals whether organising or promoting. If anyone knows of any opportunities like this advice would be very helpful, thanks.

Best way to get into music journalism is to set up a tumblr/blogger/wordpress site for yourself, just keep blogging about new songs/albums/live shows/music news whatever you fancy. Develop your style, share it with friends and eventually start sending it around to blogs/sites you wanna get involved in (once you've got a strong portfolio of journo work). I think most sites will consider anyone for a contributor with a relevant portfolio. Do something that pays in the meantime or a course in whatever you fancy, journalism/english/events/music journalism/marketing/pr.

[MrZigster]

Instead you had to make do with with a worn copy of razzle

What a cheap jibe.

Razzle?

I always preferred Escort. Far classier.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I always found the Readers Wives section of Razzle mentally fulfilling. One day, I was painting the airing cupboard in a bathroom when I found a copy tucked down the side. A little odd I thought as it was an all female house ( at this point I need to point out that i wasn't really aware of lesbians). On top of this several of the Readers Wives photos were of one resident in the all female house I was helping to paint. To cut a long story short it turned out that the woman in the house was the girlfriend of Kenny Burnes (who played soccer for Birmingham City). It would be fair to say that I w*nked myself stupid looking at those photos.

[Katster]

Just get yourself out there as much as possible. You will probably have to do a lot for free before you get any paid work and by nature a lot of paid work will be seasonal (if festival based). By volunteering at festivals etc you will inevitably meet someone who knows someone who knows someone looking for someone to do a job. In my experience its generally very hard work (whatever you do) but far more fun than sitting in an office. I like that you are open to the type of work you would do, at your age its about getting out there and figuring out what you reckon you could be happy doing good luck!

[bsolxiv]

A great thread and good luck. Absolutely a great place to post it. Damn I wish I'd had The Internet at 18.

Except now everyone has the internet so no-one has an advantage. Although seeing as you capitalised it did you mean The Internet? If so I'm not sure of the relevance?

[Katster]

Not everyone will use the Internet to their advantage though, so, it does give an advantage.

[bsolxiv]

Not everyone will use the Internet to their advantage though, so, it does give an advantage.

It's all relative though, Mr Zigster's point was that the internet makes it easier to find these people, but back when he was 18 there were other means and ways (with some using these means to their advantage better than others). I would argue the internet has made things more difficult to succeed as it makes people lazy.

Edited August 16, 2014 by bsolxiv

[viberunner]

I always found the Readers Wives section of Razzle mentally fulfilling.

Oh god, yes. Readers Wives and what can only be described as "pre-internet revenge porn".