Want to turn your passion for guitar into an income? Beyond becoming a rock star, there are many other career opportunities for those that love the guitar. Below are 10 examples of careers involving guitars that could be worth trying.
Guitar teacher
An obvious career to consider if you’re a guitar player is to become a guitar teacher. You could teach lessons in person or online, and these lessons could be one-on-one or in groups. A career as a guitar teacher can be lucrative if you get enough students, but you need to be able to work quite flexible hours. Getting a job at school could make it easier to get students and all your work will be in school hours. This guide at Music Radar offers more information on how to become a guitar teacher.
Session musician
Session musicians help record music and play live performances for other artists. They are regularly hired by producers and recording studios to help provide backing guitars for singles and albums. They may also help record music for TV shows, movies and commercials. There’s a lot of work out there for session musicians, however it can be quite competitive, and you need to market yourself quite heavily and use a variety of platforms to secure work. Securing partnerships with people in the music industry or using an agency can help.
Guitar trader
Got a good knowledge of different types of guitar? You could become a guitar trader. This involves buying and selling guitars – either online or at a physical store. You could work as a sales employee for an existing guitar store, or you could launch your own guitar store. The latter option is likely to take a lot more effort, but could allow you to earn more and focus on guitars that you are interested in.
Wedding entertainer
Many people hire live musicians to play at their wedding. If you can sing and play guitar and you’re able to play a range of material, a career as a wedding entertainer could be a great option to consider. This does require doing a lot of marketing to get your name out there. There are wedding entertainment agencies that can help you find work. Attending wedding fairs can also help you to meet couples who may be looking for a live musician.
Cruise ship entertainer
It may also be possible to get a gig on a cruise ship. This could involve playing solo or playing in a band several nights per week. You will be away from home for long periods, however if you haven’t got any commitments it could be a dream job – you get to spend your time off seeing the world and using all the cruise ship facilities for free.
Guitar luthier
What is a guitar luthier? This is the title for someone who crafts guitars. Many guitars are still made by hand. In fact, there is a growing market for custom guitars. To become a luthier you will need to learn how to craft guitars. You can find classes at sites like Guitar Craft Academy that can teach you the necessary skills. It’s an ideal career for guitar lovers that are also into crafts like woodwork.
Guitar technician
While the term is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘luthier’, guitar technicians more commonly specialize in maintaining and repairing guitars. They are often hired by bands to maintain guitars on the road – such as tuning them, restringing them, repairing damage and possibly setting up amps and pedals. They also work at guitar shops and repair centers. Taking a guitar tech course could be useful when pursuing this career.
Guitar journalist
This is a very niche job, but one that could be perfect for you if you’re a talented writer and guitar enthusiast. It involves writing articles for guitar-related magazines and websites. Many guitar journalists write for multiple publications. You could even start your own guitar blog and make money through ad revenue and sponsored content.
Songwriter
It may be possible to forge a career writing songs for other artists. You could set up your own recording studio and work with other budding artists to help come up with songs. This could include providing guitar instrumentation or helping write guitar chords and riffs for other artists.
Tribute band member
Is there a specific band you idolize? Can you play all their songs on the guitar? Starting up a tribute band and playing as the guitarist could be a fun career direction to consider. If you look like the guitarist you’re impersonating, that’s a bonus!
