Freelance Musician Guide

Tips and guidance for self-employed musicians.

Last updated: 03 October 2023

Career tips

A Young Freelancer's Guide

Mental Health and the Music Industry

Find helpful insight and advice as you navigate the industry as a young freelance musician.

The basics

Starting Out as a Freelancer

Learn how to get work and build relationships with the people you want to work with

How to Prioritise Your Freelance Work

Tips on dealing with being provisionally booked for new work

Funding and Financing Your Music and Projects

Latest news and features

Close up exterior shot of the entrance to the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

MU at Liverpool Philharmonic Music Industry Careers Fest

Interested in working in music but don’t know where to start? Come to the Music Industry Careers Fest at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall on 8 March, where you can also meet one of the MU’s North of England Regional Officers.

Published: 17 February 2025

Utako Toyama singing and playing piano to a crowd, in front of a red curtain and flowers.

Utako Toyama for LGBT+ History Month: “Sharing Music from an LGBT+ Perspective Allows Others to Connect”

Utako is a multi-award-winning composer and MU member who promotes diversity, equality, and world peace through her music. In this guest blog, she discusses why visibility and allyship is important not just in the music industry, but for society as a whole.

Published: 17 February 2025

Young woman playing Mandolin at home while writing music.

Funding Applications Open for Young Folk and Traditional Music Performers

The Alan Surtees Trust has opened its 2025 round of funding for folk and traditional music performers aged 16 to 30. The Trust will make four awards of up to £2,000 per person and applications close 30 April.

Published: 10 February 2025

Musician Kat Browning holding a clarinet and smiling.

Katmuss for LGBT+ History Month: “The Community I Didn’t Know I Craved”

Katmuss, the resident bass clarinettist for Folk Clarinet Quartet, The Tradinettes, shares their experience of dealing with mental health issues and rediscovering a sense of community through the MU and its LGBT+ network.

Published: 10 February 2025

Female violin player performing under a spotlight on a dark stage.

MU General Secretary Gives Evidence in Government’s Misogyny in Music Enquiry

Last week MU General Secretary, Naomi Pohl, gave powerful evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee as part of the ongoing Misogyny in Music enquiry.

Published: 03 February 2025

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