The Freelance Musician Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hannah Mitchell-Harrison
Led by host Hannah Mitchell-Harrison, also known as South Wales Pianist, this podcast aims to inspire, encourage and support you on your freelance journey as a musician. It combines solo shows covering topics that relate to business, mindset, marketing and much more, alongside interviews with freelance musicians where we chat about their own journeys and the lessons they've learnt along the way.
Social media can be a great marketing tool for your freelance career, but you need to have a strategy in place to make it work for you! This episode is the recording from a mini-training I did in The Freelance Musician Facebook Group, all about using social media to grow your freelance career.
And if you need inspiration for topics that you can talk about, you can download my Social Media Cheat Sheet for free here: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
In this episode, I chat with Gavin Llyr Preece - Gavin is the director of a website design and branding studio based in Newport, South Wales, and specialises in brand creation and WordPress development. He redesigned my website back in 2017 and did an amazing job, and I'm so excited to have him on the podcast as a guest to share his website knowledge.
We chat about the important things you ned to remember when creating your website - this episode is FULL of useful advice, so grab a pen and paper and get ready to take some notes!
CONTACT GAVIN: https://orangedrop.co.uk
FREE RESOURCES: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
In this episode, I share why and how I went from a decade of not having taught piano to resuming my teaching. It was a big decision that I didn't make lightly! But once I'd decided to start teaching piano again, I used four different strategies to gain pupils and the result was growing from 0-40 piano pupils in the space of a term.
These are strategies which you can put into practice too! To read the blog post with each of these strategies laid out, just click here: https://southwalespianist.co.uk/piano-pupils/
And for more free resources to help you grow your freelance career, visit: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
When it comes to my freelance career, I geek out on organisation! Being organised is so important, so in this episode I share 4 tips that will help you to keep on top of all the different income streams that make up your portfolio career.
FREE RESOURCES
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
SOCIAL MEDIA: @thefreelancemusician
In this episode, I chat with Ruth Rosales about her work as a freelance musician, which incorporates performing on the bassoon, teaching, and also working as an animateur. This is an area of work that you may not have considered as an option for your portfolio career, so have a listen and find out what it's all about!
CONNECT WITH RUTH
http://ruthrosalesmusic.com/
Instagram: @ruthrosales_animateur
FREE RESOURES
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
As freelancers, it's easy to just say yes to every bit of paid work that comes along. But could there be a more strategic way of accepting and declining work so that you are building a career portfolio that serves you well? Tune in to this episode to find out!
FREE RESOURCES
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
Facebook: @thefreelancemusician
Instagram: @thefreelancemusician
In this episode, I chat with guitarist, composer and author Richard Storry. We chat about the different types of work that have made up Richard's freelance career, and why and how he ventured from writing music to writing books. It's such an interesting conversation, and I hope it will leave you feeling inspired to explore that creative idea that you've been thinking about but not actually putting into action!
You can connect with Ricard and find out more about his work here:
http://www.richardstorry.com/
https://www.crypticpublications.com
Facebook: @crypticpublications
Instagram: @richardstorry
Twitter: @RichardStorry
For resources on establishing a career as a freelance musician, visit:
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
The COVID pandemic has shown just how important it is to establish a portfolio career as a freelancer. As I've been chatting to other musicians a clear pattern has emerged - it's been those who already had several income streams that have been able to retain some of their work.
But how do you decide which income streams are available to you? In this episode, I share the first part of a 6 step framework that allows you to come up with a potential blueprint for your portfolio career.
To go through the whole framework, you can view the How To Build A Portfolio Career masterclass for free by clicking here
And don't forget, if you leave a review on iTunes, take a picture of the review and send it to me by email or DM, and I'll give you free access to the first module of The Freelance Musician Workshop!
info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Instagram and Facebook: @thefreelancemusician
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
Welcome back to The Freelance Musician Podcast! I have been busy behind the scenes preparing a new set of episodes and cannot wait for you to listen to them.
In today's episode I chat with violinist Jamie Hutchinson - Jamie has a true portfolio career made up of orchestral performing, ensemble work, session playing, teaching and educational outreach. In this episode she spills the beans on how she got started and how her career has grown and developed.
You can connect with Jamie here:
Twitter: @JamieHutch84
Instagram: @jamiehutchinsonviolin
Website: https://www.jamiehutchinson.co.uk
Don't forget to leave a review so you can have FREE access to the first module of The Freelance Musician Workshop! Take a picture of your review and send it to me by email or on social media:
info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Instagram @thefreelancemusician
Facebook @thefreelancemusician
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
In this final episode of 2020, I chat with my husband Matt about our experience as freelance musicians during the COVID pandemic that has dominated this year. We talk about our initial reactions to the loss of work, how we handled the lockdown, the pivots we have made in our freelance careers and the positives we are taking from a year that we'll never forget.
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Overwhelm goes hand in hand with life as a freelancer, and it's something I am still working to manage effectively! Whilst it's still a work in progress, in this episode I share three tips that help to minimise overwhelm so that we can continue to do our best work!
FREE RESOURCES: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
In this episode, I chat to Peter Madan - Peter is a cellist, conductor, pianist, examiner and agent to name just a few! He shares how he has built up a busy, varied career using all his skills as a musician to create a portfolio of work that he loves.
FREE RESOURCES: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
Welcome to Episode 20 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I chat with Josh Mills, and opera singer who is also passionate about all things money. It's often a taboo subject, so we talk about why this is, share our own experiences of saving and negotiating, and look at how we as musicians can establish some level of financial security for ourselves.
The Art Of Money Saving (Josh Mills): linktr.ee/theartofmoneysaving
START YOUR CREATIVE PROJECT CHALLENGE: https://thefreelancemusician.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1052939
Do you have a creative project that you went to get off the ground, but you have no idea where to start? The struggle is real! But I have just the thing to help you - tune in to this episode to find out more!
CHALLENGE DETAILS: https://thefreelancemusician.vipmembervault.com/products/courses/view/1052939
EMAIL: info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Let's connect on social! Find me on Instagram or Facebook @thefreelancemusician
In this episode, I chat with Hannah Fiddy, co-founder of Alternative Classical and creator of Concert Roulette. We talk about where creative ideas come from, what first steps you need to take when setting up your creative project, and the importance of just getting started and trying things out!
Find out more:
www.alternativeclassical.co.uk
www.hannahfiddy.com
Social Media: @alterclassical or @hannahfiddy
SOCIAL MEDIA CHEAT SHEET: www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
When I was in school, my art teacher laughed at my art homework and that set me on the path of thinking that I wasn't a creative person. However my work as a freelance musician has changed my perception of creativity, and in this episode I share that thought process, along with some tips that will help you go about cultivating and bringing to life your creative ideas.
Welcome to Episode 16 of The Freelance Musician Podcast. In this episode I chat with Dan Baker, an electronic engineer turned freelance musician - he has built up a portfolio career that takes full advantage of his entire skill set, and in this conversation he spills the beans on starting a YouTube channel, and the importance of recording for any freelance musician. I hope you can enjoy this conversation as much as I did!
Find Dan on:
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/danbaker74
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/danbakermusician
WEBSITE: http://www.danbaker-music.com/
Join The Freelance Musician Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefreelancemusician
https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
A questions I get asked a lot is how to stay motivated when you're just starting out, in the early days of building your freelance career. In this episode I share my strategies for maintaining motivation not just during the early days, but at any point when your freelance career feels like a struggle.
Let's connect! You can find me on:
INSTAGRAM: @thefreelancemusician
FACEBOOK: @thefreelancemusician
EMAIL: info@southwalespianist.co.uk
THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thefreelancemusician
This episode talks about the document that we know we need to have, but often struggle to figure out how we should go about putting it together, and that is of course a CV! I’m chatting to Abbie Royston, the manager of The Musician’s Answering Service. She joined MAS in 1998 after leaving university and took over the MAS support services from Richard Smith in 2008, offering one to one guidance to both recent graduates and established musicians on self promotion and marketing, CV presentation and working as a freelance musician. Helping musicians with their CV is something Abbie does on a day to day basis, and so she’s the perfect person to tell us all we need to know.
CONTACT ABBIE: abbier@maslink.co.uk
THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN FACEBOOK GROUP: www.facebook.com/groups/thefreelancemusician
It’s September, and almost 6 months to the day since lockdown started - whilst there are signs of things slowly starting to get going again, for us musicians the last 6 months has involved a lot of down time, and I don’t know about you but it’s given me time to reflect on my journey from graduation up to this point. Ithink often when life is busy we are always thinking about the next thing, and don’t have the time to just sit and look back at how far we’ve come. And whilst of course we don’t want to get stuck in the past, there’s a lot to be learnt from reflecting on our journey, the ups and downs, the successes and, not failures but learning curves. I’ve always loved listening to other people’s stories and hearing the things they’ve learnt and wish they could have told their younger selves, so today I am going to do just that, and share with you three things that I would tell my younger self if I could go back in time and talk to the Hannah that was at the start of her career as a freelance musician, and I hope that if you are at that starting point now these three things will be an encouragement to you.
THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN FACEBOOK GROUP: https://www.faebook.com/groups/thefreelancemusician
WEBSITE: https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician
In this episode I’m chatting to Sophia Benton - Sophia is a pianist studying at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and I met her when she took part in my Freelance Musician Workshop in July. I was really impressed by her positive, get up and go attitude towards building a freelance career and when I heard about her story and the challenge she has overcome in her piano playing, I knew I needed to have her on the podcast. As well as sharing her story, Sophia also shares about her experience of taking part in the Workshop and how it’s helped her. I know that you will enjoy this conversation, and come away feeling inspired.
FOLLOW SOPHIA: @sophia.benton
THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN WORKSHOP IS OPEN! https://www.southwalespianist.co.uk/freelance-musician-workshop
Welcome back to The Freelance Musician Podcast! It’s been a little while as I took some time out over August to rest a little bit, get some work done behind the scenes and prepare for the start of a new term. There are some really great episodes lined up for you over the next few weeks - today we are kicking off with a topic that I love to talk about and I think it’s quite a ‘hot topic’ right now, it’s certainly the area that gets a lot of questions in the marketing module of my Freelance Musician Workshop. And that is - social media! So, can social media really be used to grow your freelance career as a musician? Well the answer to this is yes AND no!
Listen to this episode to find out why, and I'm also sharing 6 tips to get you started and point you in the right direction when it comes to using social media for your freelance career.
FREE SOCIAL MEDIA CHEAT SHEET: https://southwalespianist.co.uk/the-freelance-musician/
Let's connect on social media!
INSTAGRAM: @thefreelancemusician
FACEBOOK: @thefreelancemusician
Email: info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Welcome to Episode 10 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I chat to my husband, trombonist Matt Harrison, about how networks and connections have played a valuable part in building his freelance career, alongside making use of all his musical skills.
FREE MINI EMAIL COURSE: bit.ly/thefreelancemusician
Welcome to episode 9 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I’m going to answer a question that I was asked recently and that question was: ‘do you have any advice on how to go about building your portfolio career just after you’ve left music college, because this is when it can feel the most daunting’? Tune in for two top tips that you can put into action straight away.
FREE MINI EMAIL COURSE: bit.ly/thefreelancemusician
INSTAGRAM: @thefreelancemusician
FACEBOOK: @thefreelancemusician
EMAIL: info@southwalespianist.co.uk
Welcome to episode 8 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I’m chatting to horn player Tim Ball. Tim has had a very busy, successful career as a freelance musician and in the last few years he has transferred his skills into other lines of work such as sailing and cheffing, and these now make up a big part of his portfolio career. In this episode we talk about these transferable skills, and Tim shares how every musician can take these skills and apply them to other lines of work.
CONTACT TIM: timjball@mac.com www.bespokesailingholidays.com FB @bespokesailingholidays IG @bespokesailingholidays www.hornblowersailingholidays.com FB @hornblowersailing IG @hornblowersailing www.mountainchefs.net FB @mountainchefs3v IG @mountainchefs3v www.hornblowerproperty.com SIGN UP FOR THE 'HOW TO BUILD A PORTFOLIO CAREER MASTERCLASS' https://thefreelancemusician.webinargeek.com/how-to-build-a-portfolio-career
Welcome to episode 7 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode we’re going to look at 3 reasons why you need to consider building a portfolio career if you want to be a freelance musician. To find out how you can start building your portfolio career, join me for my FREE masterclass, 'How To Build A Portfolio Career'. Just click the link below to select the date and time that works best for you, and you'll receive an email with all the info. I can't wait to see you there!
SIGN UP TO THE MASTERCLASS HERE: https://thefreelancemusician.webinargeek.com/how-to-build-a-portfolio-career
In this episode I’m chatting with Claire Husselbee - Claire is a professional woodwind player, with flute being her principal instrument. She has had a varied career made up of teaching and performing, and is now focusing on her work as a coach, helping musicians gain clarity, set goals and deal with issues such as performance anxiety and imposter syndrome. We discuss Claire’s time spent performing on cruise ships and then talk about imposter syndrome, why it’s such a big issue for so many musicians, and the benefits of working with a coach. This is such a helpful conversation, and if you struggle with imposter syndrome I hope it helps you to realise that you are not alone.
Contact Claire at:
www.composedmusician.com
IG: @claire_husselbee
Fb: @composedmusician
LinkedIn: @clairehusselbee
Freelane Musician Mini Course: bit.ly/thefreelancemusician
Welcome to Episode 5 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I share why stepping out of your comfort zone is one of the best things you can do as a freelancer. This is a topic that I feel super passionate about, because I can trace every step of my progress through my freelance career, back to something I did that pushed me out of my comfort zone. There are way too many examples to cover in one episode, but I’m going to share with you the areas that required the most discomfort, but have achieved the biggest results. And I also share what you can start doing right now so that you're ready to take that step outside your comfort zone - are you up to the challenge?
For more ideas on things you can be doing now to grow your freelance career, sign up for my free mini email course at bit.ly/thefreelancemusician - it’ll land straight into your inbox.
Follow along on social media!
Facebook: @thefreelancemusician
Instagram: @thefreelancemusician
In this episode I chat with professional flautist Clare Childs, all about her transition from music college into pursuing a music career - we talk about her 5 years playing with the Royal Northern Sinfonia, and why she then chose to pursue a freelance career and what that has looked like. Clare is also a mum of twins, so we chat about how she manages to juggle both being a parent and a freelance musician, and we also discuss a recent project that Clare has set up which is now giving help and support to people who are unwell, vulnerable or lonely during lockdown.
To find out more about Clare's project Sing From the Heart, just use the links below:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutgnvGbq9z0FdBDSqoEp4w
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/claresingfromtheheart/
The Freelance Musician Mini Course: bit.ly/thefreelancemusician
Have you ever had a friend or family member say to you ‘so when are you going to get a proper job?’. The concept of being a freelance musician is alien to many people - being a freelance musician has never entered their circle of possibility, they’ve probably never met someone with a freelance career, and the image they have in their head could well be of a broke rock band travelling the country in a battered minibus, living off greasy takeaways. But even amongst musicians there can sometimes be misconceptions around what this kind of career can look like - maybe you want, or already have, a freelance lifestyle and these misconceptions are still lurking at the back of your mind, holding you back from achieving your full potential. Listen to this episode to find out what the top 3 misconceptions are, and why they are absolutely not true!
FREE MINI EMAIL COURSE: bit.ly/freelancemusicianworkshop
Something that I've experienced over the last decade or so is people saying to me so what do you actually do? Like, during the daytime in the week, what are you doing? Have you ever had a friend or even family member say to you ‘so when are you going to get a proper job?’. The title ‘freelance musician’ can sound quite airy fairy, and the concept of being a freelance musician is alien to many people, so these are understandable questions. For many people being a freelance musician has never entered their circle of possibility, they’ve probably never met someone with a freelance career, and the image they have in their head could well be of a broke rock band travelling the country in a battered minibus, living off greasy takeaways. But even amongst musicians there can sometimes be misconceptions around what this kind of career can look like - maybe you want, or already have, a freelance lifestyle and these misconceptions are still lurking at the back of your mind, holding you back from achieving your full potential.
Misconception number 1: It’s not possible to earn a living and support yourself as a freelance musician
I would say without a doubt this is the most common concern that exists when it comes to freelancing. Why? Well probably because in some cases it’s been proven true. As humans we like to focus on the scary stories, the stories that reinforce our fears and concerns and tell us to play it safe. But guess what, if we set out to do something believing it’s not really possible, then all we are going to do is prove ourselves right. Limiting mindset = limited success.
Now I’m not saying you have to constantly be feeling positive and continuously succeeding, because of course there will be days when you struggle, days when you feel disheartened and days when you want to give up. I have them all the time. But if your core belief is ‘I know this IS possible’, then you will be able to overcome those feelings, push through those down times and keep striving towards your goal.
So where does this belief that it IS possible come from? Where do you find that underlying resolve? You look at the evidence! How do I know it’s possible to earn a living and support yourself as a freelance musician? Because I’ve done it! My husband has done it, I have many, many friends and colleagues who have done it. Am I a millionaire with a 10 bed mansion, swimming pool and tennis court? No! Do I drive a fancy sports car? No! (I actually really love my little ford focus!) But I’m not talking about reaching the dizzy heights of fame and fortune, I’m talking about earning enough to make a living and be self-sufficient.
Now let’s just take a moment to establish something that is crucial here - being easy and being possible are two very different things. I’m not saying that earning a living and supporting yourself as a freelancer is EASY, I’m saying it’s POSSIBLE. Because it takes a lot of hard work, a willingness to do the not so fun jobs as well as the exciting ones, self-discipline to put in the hours and manage your own schedule, and a determination to keep going when something doesn’t work out. Because for every idea that works there will be one that doesn’t, and there will be many downs as well as ups. But the evidence suggests that it is possible, so making the decision to freelance does not automatically mean you take a vow of poverty.
And the beauty of freelancing means that you’re not just restricted to doing one thing - you always have the option to diversify, to be creative and use all of your skill set. Which, in uncertain times such as the current coronavirus world pandemic we are going through, is crucial. If part of your freelance portfolio is not music related, because you have another skill that you can develop as an income stream, this does not in any way mean you are not a credible musician, it means you are a smart entrepreneur.
Misconception number 2: Life on the road is exciting, glamorous and insta-worthy.
While some people have the battered minibus, greasy takeaways image as their definition of freelancing, those of us who are dreamers might picture a jet setting lifestyle, visiting glamorous cities, exotic destinations and luxury hotels. Let me be honest with you, since 2012 I have done a lot of travelling as a musician, through performing with my flute and piano duo and working as a music examiner, both abroad and all over the UK. The first performing contract we had as a duo saw us flying out to Tahiti and joining a luxury cruise ship for 10 days. We visited Bora Bora, and then sailed across the International Date Line to New Zealand where we stopped off at several beautiful locations before flying home from Auckland. In many ways this was the trip of a lifetime, BUT I spent the first five days feeling really ill from the jet lag and adjusting to being on a moving ship. And two back to back 13 hour flights is not fun! There was the time we had to do a 36 hour journey home from Punta Arenas at the very bottom of Chile, and I had a massive panic attack before boarding our second flight due to just being completely exhausted. Or more locally, when I spent a couple of weeks working near Belfast in the middle of winter, staying in a really grubby B&B having gone through a break up just a week before, and all I wanted to do was go home! My husband and I regularly have to spend chunks of time away from each other, and this isn’t easy. Neither is having to miss big family occasions of friends’ weddings.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful for every one of my travelling experiences, however near or far they have been, and I would do them all over again, but it is worth having a balanced view of this kind of lifestyle, and knowing that with the glamour and excitement comes the need to make some sacrifices.
Misconception Number 3: The best musicians get the most work
I could almost hear your shocked intake of breath when I said that - ‘what do you mean, of course the best musicians get the most work!!’. Let me explain: if you leave music college with an attitude that says - ‘I know I’m an incredible musician, come on work, come and find me!’ - it’s not going to happen. As a freelancer, work doesn’t come to you, you have to go and find it. You have to put yourself out there, do the networking, send the emails, make the phone calls, put in the hard graft. And when you start to see results, you then have to turn up on time, be reliable, be nice to be around, give your best to the job, so that you'll get booked again. It doesn't matter how great a musician you are, if you are unreliable, disrespectful and shoddy in your work ethic, then no one will want to work with you. Now this isn’t an excuse to not practice, to not keep improving your skills as a musician, because of course being the best musician you can be is always going to play a big part in building up your freelance portfolio. But it’s not the ONLY factor, and I think sometimes these peripheral elements get forgotten about, when in actual fact they are the glue that holds your freelance career together.
So there you have it - the top three misconceptions around being a freelance musician! Have these ever crossed your mind? Has someone told you that a freelance career isn’t possible? Share this post with them and maybe it will open up the door for a helpful discussion.
If you’re keen to know more on how you can establish a successful freelance career, I have a free mini email course which teaches some of the key elements you need in place to do just that. All you need to do is sign up at bit.ly/freelancemusicianworkshop and it will land straight into your inbox.
Dream big, work hard and go share your gifts with the world!
Welcome to episode number 2 of The Freelance Musician Podcast! In this episode I chat to professional violinist and business woman Hazel Ross, who since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music has built a hugely successful portfolio career made up of performing, inclusive of solo, chamber and orchestral work, as well as creating and managing shows that have been performed all over the world. She is also a passionate music educator and consultant. In this interview we chat about what it takes to build a successful career from the ground up, whether there is some snobbery in the classical world when it comes to freelancing, and how she is approaching this uncertain season of COVID-19.
I cannot tell you how excited I am to bring this interview to you - it is full of GOLDEN advice and inspiration for freelancers! If you are thinking about a career as a freelance musician you NEED to listen to this, and even if you’ve been freelancing for a while, there are still things you can learn here.
To find out more about The Freelance Musician Workshop, starting on Monday June 15th 2020, just click here for all the info. There are limited spaces in the workshop and I am currently offering these at a massively discounted rate, so act quickly if you want to reserve your spot!
To contact Hazel about coaching, use the email address: ahmusicmanagement@gmail.com
If you enjoy this episode, share your take away on social media and tag me @thefreelancemusician on Instagram and @southwalespianist on Facebook.
THE FREELANCE MUSICIAN WORKSHOP - bit.ly/freelancemusicianworkshopinfo
EMAIL: info@southwalespianist.co.uk
This episode is an introduction to Hannah's journey into freelancing, and her thoughts on what success as a freelance musician actually looks like. Is there only one definition of success, or do you get to decide this for yourself?