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

Top view of an acoustic violin and pernambuco wood bow on a tabletop.

Save Pernambuco Bows: Write to Your MP Today

The MU is calling on members to take urgent action to protect the future of high-quality bow making and the musicians who rely on it, after a proposal to move pernambuco wood from Appendix II to Appendix I.

Published: 10 July 2025

An empty conference stage, lit up multi coloured blocks.

Join the MU at the We Make Music Scotland Conference 2025

The MU will be attending and sponsoring a workshop at this year’s We Make Music Scotland Conference, taking place on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 September at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow.

Published: 02 July 2025

Young man, wearing glasses, at home smiling while taking notes and looking at a laptop.

Mentoring 4 Creatives: Applications Now Open for MU Members in Wales

Cult Cymru’s ‘Mentoring 4 Creatives’ programme is open to freelance or casual creative workers who are MU members living in Wales. The deadline for applications is 17 September.

Published: 23 June 2025

Close up of a woman's hands playing an organ.

The Royal College of Organists Celebrate ‘Play the Organ Year’

Organisations from across the organ and church music world are working together to promote Play the Organ Year 2025, a year-long project to increase the number of people playing the organ and appreciating its music.

Published: 12 June 2025

Annabella Coldrick, Naomi Pohl, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Dave Webster and Tom Kiehl smiling in front of a UK flag.

MU Meets with Minister to Push for Progress on Touring Post-Brexit

Earlier this week, the MU met with Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds to discuss last month’s EU-UK Summit and the next steps for touring artists.

Published: 11 June 2025

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