homework song side hustle

30 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2024

Updated: Mar 1, 2024, 8:01pm

Table of Contents

1. freelancing, 2. pet sitting and doggie day care, 3. dog walking, 4. tech setup services, 5. blogging, 6. senior sitting and companion, 7. babysitting and child care, 8. personal assistant, 9. mobile car washing and detailing, 10. local handyman, 11. virtual assistant, 12. sell at local markets and festivals, 13. tutoring and instruction, 14. self-publishing ebooks, 15. online courses and coaching, 16. digital product sales, 17. youtube channel, 18. viral social media creator, 19. influencer marketing, 20. create a podcast, 21. become an e-commerce reseller, 22. take online surveys, 23. test apps and platforms, 24. sell artisan products, 25. sell goods via dropshipping, 26. sell print-on-demand (pod) products, 27. self-publish print-on-demand (pod) books, 28. sell products using retail arbitrage, 29. sell proprietary goods, 30. sell private label products, side hustles to avoid, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Side hustles are a great way to boost your income, plus they let you explore potential business ideas with little upfront costs or major time commitments. There are a variety of successful side hustle opportunities, whether in-person or online, so chances are there is a side hustle that could work for you. To help you find the right side hustle for you, here are 29 side hustle ideas.

Featured Partners

ZenBusiness

$0 + State Fees

Varies By State & Package

On ZenBusiness' Website

On LegalZoom's Website

Northwest Registered Agent

$39 + State Fees

On Northwest Registered Agent's Website

$0 + State Fee

On Formations' Website

Freelancing is a tried-and-true way to earn extra money and deserves a top spot on any list of easy side hustle ideas. Freelancers deliver work on a per-project basis for one or more clients and you can schedule it in your spare time. Freelance graphic designers, writers, editors and website developers are in high demand, and other fields offer freelance opportunities as well. Skilled mechanics, trained bookkeepers, video editors, interior decorators and even licensed real estate agents can find flexible project-based work within their skill sets.

Costs and platforms: Market your freelance skills to your personal network for free via email and social media accounts. You can also reach potential clients using freelancer portals, such as Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer.com, which handles project management and payments for you. Marketing skills on your own website adds professional polish, plus lets you offer convenient online invoicing and payments via Square or another online payment provider.

Learn more: See how to make the most of your side hustle income with the top tax deductions for freelancers .

A pet sitting side hustle is ideal for animal lovers and easy to set up and promote. You can provide in-home care for pets while owners are working or vacationing or keep pets in your home for daytime or long-term care. Some states and municipalities require permits, so research requirements in your area. You can also earn added income by marketing pet insurance to your clients.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for in-home care but initial setup in your own home might require investments in kennels or gates. Find clients and manage gigs using popular pet-sitting apps, such as Rover or Care.com, or set up your own bookings and payment system using Square’s free tools.

Love dogs but don’t have enough free time for pet sitting or space to commit to a doggie daycare setup? A dog-walking service might be the right side hustle for you. This side hustle is easy to fit into a busy schedule and offers the added benefit of getting exercise while making extra cash.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal since owners generally provide leashes, but you might want to invest in a few leashes and waste bags. In urban areas, you can find dog walking gigs using Wag!, TimetoPet and Rover, or manage your own bookings and payments using Square’s free tools.

Are you a tech whiz when it comes to setting up home networks, smart home devices, computers and cell phones? You can easily make extra cash by marketing these skills to your community via social media and handyman apps. You can also seek tech certifications , and provide insurance and bonding to boost your credibility for in-home services.

Costs and platforms: Startup and ongoing costs are minimal, however, you might need to invest in a few tools to help with installations. Find and manage gigs using handyman apps, such as HelloTech and TaskRabbit, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Tech setup is a great side hustle idea for college students .

If you enjoy writing and sharing information with people, consider starting a blog focusing on a niche that interests you, such as travel , food , beauty or fashion. As you attract traffic, you can monetize the blog with ads or affiliate sales. Ads pay per view or per click while affiliate sales pay you to promote a product or service. When someone clicks on an affiliate link, you get paid a commission if they complete a purchase.

Costs and platforms: Expect to spend $50 to $100 per year to run a basic blog. You’ll need to buy a domain and build a blog website using a WordPress hosting service or web builder platform, such as Wix or Squarespace. All offer user-friendly design tools and attractive blog templates so you won’t need to pay a designer or developer.

Learn more: Review the best blogging platforms on the market to find the right fit for your needs.

$17 per month

On Wix's Website

Squarespace

$16 per month

On Squarespace's Website

$15 per month

AI Content Assistant, drag-and-drop editor, premium hosting, live chat

On Hubspot's Website

$1.95 per month

Customizable templates, Easy drag-and-drop technology, SSL certificate

On Web.com's Website

With advances in in-home senior care, more families are keeping aging relatives at home. This opens up side hustle opportunities for anyone looking to make extra cash as a companion or sitter while primary caregivers are away. To add credibility to your services, you can take CPR and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) courses.

Costs and platforms: This is a very low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage clients on care-based apps including Care.com, Sittercity and Papa.com or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Understanding senior care costs and the Medicare savings program is helpful for this side hustle.

Babysitting and in-home child care are in demand, and this side hustle is a great way to earn extra income in your spare time or on a set schedule. While certification isn’t a requirement in most areas, the American Red Cross offers online and in-person babysitting certification courses that cover CPR, first aid and behavior tactics that can bolster your credibility.

Costs and platforms: Babysitting is another low-cost side hustle. You can market your services and manage gigs and payments using apps, such as Care.com, Sittercity and UrbanSitter, or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Busy professionals need help getting day-to-day tasks done, and many prefer to have one person handle it all rather than juggle various service apps. This is an excellent opportunity for a side hustler who loves to check all the boxes on a to-do list, from grocery shopping and dry cleaning pickup to dog walking and getting kids to their destinations.

Costs and platforms: You can launch a personal assistant side hustle with few costs. However, in nonurban areas, you’ll probably need a vehicle. Top gig and payments apps for personal assistant services include Thumbtack.com and TaskRabbit.com, or you can set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Personal assistants often perform executive assistant-type tasks on a contract basis.

Car washing is another low-cost side hustle and an ideal gig for anyone who loves working outdoors. You can offer this service to individuals at their homes, or contract with local businesses that run fleet vehicles or that want to offer weekly car washes as an employee perk.

Costs and platforms: Cleaning tools, a sturdy hose and nozzle and a vehicle are the primary startup costs for this side hustle idea. Top mobile car wash gig and payments apps include MobileWash and Spiffy or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Are you the first one friends call to fix a light switch or hang a ceiling fan? Cash in on your handyman skills in your spare time while helping your neighbors check home improvement tasks off their to-do lists. To protect yourself and your clients and boost your credibility, you can become insured and bonded, but that’s not a requirement in most areas.

Costs and platforms: Costs are minimal for this side hustle, especially if you already have the tools of the trade. Handyman apps, such as Thumbtack.com, TaskRabbit and Angi, help you market and manage gigs and payments or set up your own bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: See how handyman insurance adds protection and professional polish to your side hustle.

Virtual assistants provide personal assistant services in the digital world and handle tasks including appointment scheduling, customer emails, travel bookings, data entry and much more. If you’re organized and tech-savvy, this side hustle is an ideal way to make money from home in your spare time.

Costs and platforms: You’ll need a reliable computer and internet connection, but those are your only costs to this side hustle. Virtual assistant apps including TaskRabbit, ChatterBoss and Upwork help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Manage bookings and payments using Square.

Learn more: Check out more top virtual assistant platforms to help you find clients and gigs.

Many product-focused side hustlers profit by selling goods unique goods that they source or create themselves at local markets and fairs. With travel time to markets and setup, this can be a time-consuming side hustle, but if you love getting out and mixing and mingling with people, it can be the perfect way to make extra money on the side. Plus, you can use these in-person sales to build brand awareness and promote your online store and social media platforms to attract sales between market appearances.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for in-person product sales can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands since you need to stock your booth. You can lower your initial investment by sticking with suppliers that support returns of unsold goods, or by offering custom-order items that don’t require deep stock. Faire is an excellent source of unique resale and private label items and supports returns of unsold stock. You can also open a free Square account to accept in-person card payments, track sales in a sleek mobile POS and integrate with online sales on your own Square e-commerce website.

Learn more: Most top-rated POS systems fully integrate in-person mobile, retail and online sales so you can sell anywhere using one system.

$14.95 per month (plus hardware)

Versatile POS, invoicing, employee management

On Clover's Website

POS built specifically for restaurants, payroll, online ordering, team and inventory management

On Toast's Website

Inventory management, custom reporting, advanced cashier functionality, accounting integrations

On Korona's Website

Do you have academic, musical, fine arts or sports skills? Tutors and personal instructors are always in demand, opening up all sorts of flexible side hustle opportunities. You can market in-person and virtual instruction services to parents looking for convenient sessions for kids, but don’t forget about adult students. Adults love to expand their horizons and can often attend sessions during school hours if that’s better for your side hustle schedule.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs are minimal in most cases, and apps and online platforms, such as Wyzant, Skooli and TakeLessons.com, help you market services and manage gigs and payments. Manage bookings and payments yourself using Square.

Learn more: Tutoring and instruction is another great side hustle idea for college students .

Self-publishing ebooks is another side hustle idea that’s perfect for writers, but you don’t need to be a skilled wordsmith to cash in on this opportunity. If you can craft a creative story or explain how to do something, you can hire ghostwriters and editors to complete and polish your work. Then, you simply publish to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and other ebook platforms, such as Smashwords, Barnes & Noble Press, Lulu and others, and wait for the royalties to roll in.

Costs and platforms: Self-publishing ebooks can be very low-cost if you write your book and develop your own cover art. But most serious authors tap cover design and editing pros for the finishing touches and spend upwards of $100 per title to publish. Ghostwriters can cost $200 or more to develop a complete manuscript, based on book length and topic. Publishing to most ebook platforms is free, but these outlets take a percentage of the sale price, plus marketing adds costs as well.

Learn more: Start your ebook side hustle with a clear publishing and marketing plan .

Do you have an area of expertise? You can cash in on your knowledge by creating and selling online courses and coaching programs in your spare time. Thanks to user-friendly, low-cost online course platforms, this is another side hustle idea that’s easy to launch. Plus, combined with social media marketing, ebooks, YouTube promotion and blogging, online courses and coaching side hustles can grow into a lucrative business.

Costs and platforms: Online course platforms, such as Udemy, Thinkific and Podia, walk you through the course creation process and help you pair courses with personalized coaching. Most have monthly fees or retain a portion of the fee when you sell a course. You can also add online courses and members-only content to website platforms including WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and others to create your own branded platform.

Learn more: Explore top-rated online learning platforms to find the best fit.

Do you have a creative streak? Creating and selling digital products in your free time is another low to no-cost side hustle idea. Digital artwork, logos, music, photography, video and website design templates are a hot market. You can cash in by creating these digitally and selling via download on your own website, social media platforms and myriad digital product marketplaces.

Costs and platforms: You can create digital products using your own graphic, photo, video or music software, or tap free online platforms, such as Canva, PhotoPea and the Garageband app for creation. Monetize your creations on your own website or an Etsy store, and by uploading to creative marketplaces including Canva, Envato Market, Creative Fabrica, Shutterstock, iTunes, SoundCloud and many more.

Learn more: Many top e-commerce platforms support all types of digital product sales.

YouTube side hustles are a great way to make money in your spare time by sharing what you know, discussing current events or providing entertainment. YouTube is free to use, and you can monetize YouTube videos once you’ve reached at least 1,000 subscribers and average over 4,000 video watch hours per year. This can take a while to achieve, but with work, it’s possible to earn many thousands each month. Many dedicated side hustlers have turned their YouTube channel into a highly profitable full-time gig.

Costs and platforms: YouTube is free to join and you can upload unlimited videos for free. You can also create videos for free using a smartphone with a good camera and free video editing apps, such as iMovie, Loom, Canva and AdobeSpark. To grow your YouTube channel, you can tap low-cost YouTube ads and share videos on your blog and social media accounts.

Learn more: Now you can monetize both full-length videos and the new YouTube Shorts format.

Viral social media content takes many forms and you can cash in if you know how to create it. Top platforms, such as Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, have creator programs that let you monetize edgy entertainment shorts, helpful how-tos, commentary videos and more. You need high-volume views to earn money, but it’s a fun and low-cost side hustle idea with big income potential.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle opportunity. Social media platforms are free to join and let you upload unlimited posts and videos. Most platforms provide their own free post and video creation tools, too, so you just need a cell phone with a camera to get started.

Learn more: There are many social media management tools to help you with this side hustle.

Successful influencer marketers build a brand by posting engaging content across multiple platforms, such as an affiliate website and blog, podcast channel, social media accounts and a YouTube channel. Influencers earn money using all types of content, such as product reviews and suggestions, entertaining videos, how-to tips and tricks, edgy social commentary and much more.

You can launch an influencer brand as a side hustle and earn money through affiliate links, ad income and sponsored content and monetize videos when views and followers reach certain levels. For example, earning money on YouTube requires 1,000 channel subscribers and 4,000 hours of views per year while Facebook Reels profiles require 100,000 reel plays within 30 days to pay out.

Costs and platforms: It costs nothing to start an influencer side hustle on social media and YouTube since those accounts are free. You can also launch a free or low-cost website and blog using WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix and other website platforms, then upgrade your storage space and features as you grow.

Learn more: Using the right SEO tools across all channels helps boost your brand’s reach.

Podcasting is another popular low to no-cost side hustle idea that’s easy to launch and build. Podcasts are pre-recorded audio files that you record, edit and upload to podcasting services so listeners can access them at their convenience. Podcasts can be monetized through ads, sponsored content, affiliate links in the podcast descriptions and paid subscriptions.

Costs and platforms: You can record and edit a podcast with audio recording apps built into your smartphone, tablet or computer, then upload them to channels you create on platforms including iTunes, Anchor, Buzzsprout and many more. Some have free plans, and most offer premium paid plans that support earnings via paid listener subscriptions, downloads and ad revenue splits.

Learn more: Launching your podcast is easy with this step-by-step podcast guide .

Many successful side hustles center on classic e-commerce, where you buy, stock and sell a collection of items from multiple vendors yourself. This side hustle does require more upfront investment and time than other side hustle ideas listed here. However, plenty of entrepreneurs grow full-time businesses out of this side hustle. You can also boost income by combining standard e-commerce sales with POD goods, dropship products and affiliate blogging income.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from $500 to $5000 or more, depending on initial stock purchases. However, a top-rated e-commerce platform won’t set you back too much. Starter plans on Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square range from free to just $29 per month.

Learn more: Stay on top of the latest e-commerce trends to spot profitable side hustle categories for e-commerce sales.

Customizable templates, easy grag-and-drop technology, SSL certificate

$23 per month

Many marketing research companies are happy to pay for your opinion on various products, systems and topics. This side hustle idea doesn’t help you build your own business, but it’s an easy way to make extra cash in your spare time. Most survey outfits have you create an online account and connect a PayPal, Venmo or CashApp account for payment. Then, you can search and sign up for surveys that interest you via an app or online dashboard. If selected, you complete the questionnaire or project and typically get paid within a few days. Many surveys pay $2 to $10 for a few minutes of your time, others pay upwards of $100 for in-depth product reviews or questionnaires.

Costs and platforms: This is a no-cost side hustle idea. Legitimate survey groups, such as User Interviews, Survey Junkie and Dscout, have no upfront or monthly fees. However, reviewing and applying for various opportunities can be time-consuming. To avoid wasting time, check survey or project descriptions to ensure you fit their target demographic.

Market research firms, app and game developers and website designers seek users of all technical skill levels to review their platforms and provide user feedback. Like online survey side hustles, testing apps and platforms doesn’t help you build a business. However, with payouts of $10 to $150 or more for a few minutes or hours of your time, it can be quite lucrative.

Costs and platforms: This is another no-cost side hustle idea since it costs you nothing to apply for legitimate testing opportunities. Swagbucks, UserTesting and Enroll are a few of the top app and software platforms to check out.

If you love painting, woodworking, baking, sewing, knitting or crafting other handmade goods, you can cash in on your passion by selling artisan products in your spare time. To earn money with this side hustle idea, sell your ready-made or made-to-order handcrafted goods online and at local fairs and markets.

Costs and platforms: This side hustle idea has upfront costs for supplies and tools, but you can market and sell online with little to no upfront costs using Etsy, your own e-commerce website and social media accounts. If you plan to sell both online and in-person, consider Square or Shopify . Both offer sleek systems with fully integrated online stores, retail POS apps and mobile card readers.

Learn more: You can start selling artisan goods on Etsy in just 9 easy steps .

Dropshipping lets you build a robust e-commerce store without worrying about purchasing, stocking and shipping the items you sell. With dropshipping, you only pay for the items you sell when a customer makes a purchase. The dropship vendors take care of all storage, packing and shipping details, then charges you the item’s wholesale and shipping costs per order. Dropshipping can be a time-consuming side hustle since you manage your own website and customer service, but it’s the cheapest and easiest way to break into e-commerce sales.

Costs and platforms: For this side hustle, you need a good e-commerce platform that integrates with dropshipping vendors, such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. Proven dropshipping suppliers including Doba, AliExpress and Sprocket are the best place to start building your product collection.

Learn more: You can launch a dropshipping side hustle in just 6 simple steps.

Do you like to create fun graphics and sayings or have a talent for illustration or photography? You can turn your creativity into extra cash by adding your creations to various POD products, such as T-shirts, mugs, pillows, wall decor and much more. This side hustle idea is a cousin to dropshipping because the POD vendor takes care of all the details for you. You simply upload your artwork and add it to various items available for print to build a product collection. When ordered, your POD vendor prints, packs and ships the item and charges you the wholesale cost and shipping fee.

Costs and platforms: Like dropshipping, you need an e-commerce platform that integrates with POD vendors, such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and BigCommerce. For POD items, start with proven suppliers including Printful, CustomCat and Printify.

Learn more: Shopify is a user-friendly e-commerce platform that integrates with most top-rated POD vendors.

Are you a writer or illustrator or interested in capitalizing on the latest innovation in self-publishing? Then POD books might be the right side hustle for you. POD books cover the full spectrum of printable books, from novels and nonfiction to notebooks, planners, cookbooks, coloring books, puzzle books and more. You can create books using free or low-cost online tools, then upload the digital files to POD book sales platforms. When a customer purchases your title, the sales platform prints and ships the physical books and pays you a royalty.

Costs and platforms: Several free and low-cost platforms make it easy to create POD book files, including Canva, Reedsy and the BookBolt Studio. It costs nothing to list your titles with top POD bookseller platforms, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Lulu and IngramSpark. Printing and shipping costs are charged when a book is sold, so you have no upfront print fees for this side hustle idea.

Are you a savvy shopper who can sniff out a deal and isn’t afraid to do a little price research? Then retail arbitrage might be the side hustle idea for you. In retail arbitrage, you buy clearance and markdown products from retail stores, then sell them online at a higher price. If you’re willing to check out local sales, compare prices on Amazon, WalMart.com and other online marketplaces, and invest a little money purchasing goods, this side hustle can be a real cash cow.

Costs and platforms: The retail arbitrage side hustle comes with upfront costs in purchasing and shipping products, and some time commitments running to stores and comparing prices. However, free and low-cost price checker apps including Amazon Seller App, Profit Bandit and Scoutly help you make smart buys.

Learn more: Most retail arbitrage side hustlers start by finding discounted items to sell on Amazon .

If you have an idea for a product and don’t mind making an upfront investment, you can contract with factories to create proprietary goods. Many side hustlers simply find a product that already exists, make a few improvements, and produce it at a reasonable cost. You can wholesale these goods under your own brand to retailers, plus sell direct to consumers on your own website, on Amazon and Walmart, and through social media marketplaces. This is another side hustle idea that has launched many successful businesses, but it does take research and work to get it right.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for this side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on your product design needs and factory order, but that’s the primary cost. Searching for factories and custom suppliers on Alibaba.com costs nothing, and e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, WordPress with WooCommerce and Weebly by Square, range from free to just $29 per month.

Learn more: Inventory management software with supply chain and sales management features is key to making this side hustle work.

Many side hustlers create unique branded goods using private label suppliers. These are products that a factory already makes, but will package it using your logo, labels and unique packaging specifications. This supplier method is especially suited to a side hustle since most private label sellers have lower order minimums than ordering proprietary goods direct from a factory.

Private label products let you build a complete grouping of items, such as a cosmetic line, kitchen tool collection or gourmet food brand, without a huge cost investment. Like most other product side hustle ideas in this section, you can wholesale private label goods or sell direct via your own website, social media profiles and marketplaces, such as Amazon and Walmart.

Costs and platforms: Startup costs for a private label side hustle can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on the items you’re purchasing. However, some suppliers offer returns on unsold items and dropshipping, which lowers your investment. Check out private label goods on Faire, Alibaba.com and Mana Products and sell via a low-cost e-commerce website using Shopify, Weebly by Square or WordPress with WooCommerce.

Learn more: Some private label products support dropshipping and help you launch a side hustle with minimal upfront costs.

Some side hustles seem like great money-making opportunities. But in reality, many require hefty investments of time, money or both, and deliver limited returns without a serious commitment. Here are some red flags to watch out for when considering side hustle opportunities and gig work.

Hustles That Require Licensing or Certification

Salon services , real estate sales and certified accounting and tax prep services are often touted as top side hustle ideas. While these fields can be very profitable, you must have the required education and licensing or certification. To get this, you’ll spend anywhere from $500 to $10,000, or more, to complete your initial education, plus pay initial and annual licensing fees in most states.

If you’re hoping to build a career in these fields, this investment can be worthwhile. However, it’s a considerable time and cost commitment with no guarantees if you just want to make extra cash.

Multilevel Marketing (MLM) Schemes

MLM companies are skilled at convincing you of easy money and big profit potential, and there certainly are many who do well in this model. However, you should carefully research any MLM opportunity’s required costs and product investment—which can be hefty—and examine their sales and profit model. In most cases, you’ll only profit if you build a large team of downstream salespeople, and that takes ongoing time and effort.

If high-pressure sales are your thing, an MLM side hustle might work for you. But if not, you might end up with a stack of unsold items that you can’t return, and no profits to speak of.

Side Hustle Coaching Programs

As you explore various side hustle ideas, you’re sure to stumble across coaching programs that tout untold profits and promise to help you quickly succeed. This is another group of skilled marketers who know how to convince you to pay $100s or $1000s for their “foolproof” system. While some coaching programs offer sound techniques and good advice, none are a ticket to quick riches.

Before paying for any coaching program, explore YouTube, Google and Kindle Unlimited to find free videos, how-to articles and e-books for the side hustles ideas that interest you. In most cases, you can find plenty of free information to help launch and grow your side hustle.

Bottom Line

Side hustles are a great way to earn extra income, pursue a passion or launch a new business in your spare time. With so many side hustle opportunities, it’s wise to explore the options to determine which hustles fit your skills, goals, budget and available time. No side hustle is a guaranteed success or get-rich-quick scheme, despite what some clever marketers and coaches claim. Like any business, a side hustle requires attention, commitment and follow-through. But done right, they offer great profit and growth potential, and can even turn into a full-time gig .

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is a part-time job, freelance gig or business that side hustlers do in their spare time, typically in addition to a full-time job. Top side hustle ideas include e-commerce stores, selling handmade crafts on the weekends, offering tutoring services and blogging for affiliate and ad income.

How do I start a side hustle?

To start a side hustle, identify a skill, service or product(s) to offer, then develop a plan to reach potential clients or buyers. This may involve creating a website and social media presence to market your side hustle, or signing up with gig apps that help you connect with potential clients. You’ll also need to find a platform that helps you manage services or orders and accept payments, such as Square, PayPal Zettle, Shopify or WordPress with WooCommerce.

What is the best side hustle job?

The best side hustle for you depends on your unique skills, resources and goals. Freelancing, tutoring, dog walking and handmade crafts sales are flexible, passion-driven hustles while blogging, e-commerce and social influencer marketing work well for tech-savvy hustlers. Once you’ve narrowed down the hustles that match your skills and interests, examine the costs and profit potential to settle on the best fit for you.

What is the best business structure?

The best business structure for your business will depend entirely on what kind of company you form, your industry and what you want to accomplish. But any successful business structure will be one that will help your company set realistic goals and follow through on set tasks.

• Best LLC Services
• Best Registered Agent Services
• Best Trademark Registration Services
• Top LegalZoom Competitors
• Best Business Loans
• Best Business Plan Software
• ZenBusiness Review
• LegalZoom LLC Review
• Northwest Registered Agent Review
• Rocket Lawyer Review
• Inc. Authority Review
• Rocket Lawyer vs. LegalZoom
• Bizee Review (Formerly Incfile)
• Swyft Filings Review
• Harbor Compliance Review
• Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC
• LLC vs. Corporation
• LLC vs. S Corp
• LLP vs. LLC
• DBA vs. LLC
• LegalZoom vs. Incfile
• LegalZoom vs. ZenBusiness
• LegalZoom vs. Rocket Lawyer
• ZenBusiness vs. Incfile
• How To Start A Business
• How to Set Up an LLC
• How to Get a Business License
• LLC Operating Agreement Template
• 501(c)(3) Application Guide
• What is a Business License?
• What is an LLC?
• What is an S Corp?
• What is a C Corp?
• What is a DBA?
• What is a Sole Proprietorship?
• What is a Registered Agent?
• How to Dissolve an LLC
• How to File a DBA
• What Are Articles Of Incorporation?
• Types Of Business Ownership

What Is SNMP? Simple Network Management Protocol Explained

What Is A Single-Member LLC? Definition, Pros And Cons

What Is Penetration Testing? Definition & Best Practices

What Is Network Access Control (NAC)?

What Is Network Segmentation?

How To Start A Business In Louisiana (2024 Guide)

Krista Fabregas is a seasoned eCommerce and online content pro sharing more than 20 years of hands-on know-how with those looking to launch and grow tech-forward businesses. Her expertise includes eCommerce startups and growth, SMB operations and logistics, website platforms, payment systems, side-gig and affiliate income, and multichannel marketing. Krista holds a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and held senior positions at NASA, a Fortune 100 company, and several online startups.

We Got This (Side Hustle Theme Song)

We got this (side hustle theme song) lyrics.

How to Format Lyrics:

• Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus
• Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines
• Use section headers above different song parts like [Verse], [Chorus], etc.
• Use italics ( <i>lyric</i> ) and bold ( <b>lyric</b> ) to distinguish between different vocalists in the same song part
• If you don’t understand a lyric, use [?]

To learn more, check out our transcription guide or visit our transcribers forum

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Genius is the world’s biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge

Nickelodeon

• 1 Personality
• 2 Appearance
• 4.1 Season 1 (25/25)
• 4.2 Season 2 (21/21)

Personality [ ]

Lex is smart, sarcastic, kind and caring.

Appearance [ ]

Lex has dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. In Season 2, her hair is a dark hazelnut brown and shorter.

• " See to me, that's a red flag! " - Lex to Munchy
• " This is why I don't like squezing things! " - Lex to Presley
• " Big cuz, little cuz, and...just cuz! " -Lex to Presley and Ruby
• " Comin' in hot with pretzels, " -Lex to Presley

Appearances [ ]

Season 1 (25/25) [ ].

• Start Hustling
• Vitamin D-isaster
• Trashy Jobs
• Friendiversary
• Milkshake Suckdown
• KidDING! Dongs
• Lunch Boxed In
• Chemistry Hustle
• Phantom of the Mooery
• Karaoke Kickoff
• Dog Wed-DING!
• Uncle Nedward
• Hot Tubby's
• Moo's the Boss?
• Make-A-Mutt
• Rat Busters
• Extra Crunchy
• Mouth Noise
• Love Sensei
• Room For Munchy
• The Presley Slide

Season 2 (21/21) [ ]

• Model Employees
• Wreck-It-Rex
• The Way You Luke Tonight
• Al-Dude-isburg
• Stash the Cash
• A Mouth Noise Christmas
• The Return of Uncle Nedward
• Clownderella
• That Young Warped Danger Hustle
• Flex to the Future
• Thumb and Thumber
• Groomer Has It
• Dinner for Jerks
• Prank You Very Much
• Altoonisburg Al
• We Have a Bingo!
• Fisher has a huge crush on her, much to her annoyance.
• She is a former gymnastic champion.
• Her cousin goes to a science boarding school.
• In Lunch Boxed In, Lex sung a song about her doing her homework. Presley calls it "The Homework Song."
• She used to think there was a magical machine in "Make-A-Mutt".
• Lex has shown to be a good dancer as she can do a backflip at the episode Dance Dance Altoonisburg.

• 2 List of SpongeBob SquarePants characters

21 Side Hustles for Musicians

• Post author: admin
• Post published: October 3, 2020
• Post category: Gigs
• Post comments: 0 Comments

I originally wrote this article with guitar players in mind but realized these are all side hustles for musicians in general. It really doesn’t matter if you play guitar or piano. You have a passion, you have skills, you have a boat load of knowledge. Why not make a few extra bucks?

We all need an extra buck once in a while, right? And why not earn some money while doing something you love and utilizing the skills you already have? Some of the ideas may be obvious while others you probably never heard before. Although obvious, did you ever picture yourself making money in this manner? Maybe you should. 

This one may seem obvious but there are many musicians out there who have never considered their passion may be a money generator. The beauty of the live music side hustle is you can make it happen relatively quickly. You will have to consider who, what and where. 

Who are you going to play with? What are you going to play? And where are you going to play?

The band option is probably the most challenging. Depending on the skills of you and the other players, it could take months to be ready. On the other hand, three seasoned players could put together and night’s worth of blues songs in a few rehearsals. 

Many bars like the idea of live music but without the cost, volume and space. You may prefer to play in the full band setting but think about doing a gig with one other musician and possibly doubling your per gig money. Not only is the money better, the equipment is less. Also, putting together a night worth of music takes a lot less time for two musicians.

Playing solo is a whole new ball game for a guitarist. Your first and more lucrative option is to play and sing. People love hearing a guitarist sing some Tom Petty and Van Morrison songs while sitting at the bar. While you don’t need to be a great singer, you are going to have to be good enough to make it through the whole night without having the patrons toss bottles at you.

Another option is to play instrumentals. Both fingerstyle and jazz standards would work well with this format. A looper pedal could make playing instrumentals a little more accessible for most players. 

Keep in mind, whether playing solo or in a duo, you are often relegated to playing “background music.” That doesn’t mean it is not still enjoyable as a player and don’t be surprised by the random listener who will recognize that rare song you sneak into your set.

Where do you get the gigs? Anywhere and everywhere! For immediate feedback start out at your local bar, particularly if you know they hire bands. Use your personal social network accounts and friends circle to let people know you are looking for gigs. Word of mouth can be a great source for gigs. Find some folks who are playing music similar to yours and see where they are getting work.

If you want to perform live but would prefer a more freelance model than busking(aka Street Performer) may be your hustle. You decide your hours, you decide the repertoire, and you play where you want. This generally works best for a solo performer in a busy downtown or a touristy area. You may want to hook up with a retailer who will let you play in the front of their store. Set up your equipment, put your tip jar in a prominent location and start playing. The downside is you are working for tips and sometimes the local authorities may chase you.

3. Rent Out Your Equipment

Chances are you have some nice equipment but you are not using it every night. Why not let your equipment earn some money for you? Many bands do not have their own PA systems and have to rent one for each performance. Touring bands often do not have the room in their vehicles to carry a sound system. There is also the all too often occurrence of equipment failure right before the gig. Get known by the local musicians and venues as someone who can come through on short notice.

Local festivals and fairs are often in need of PA systems. Even if they are not having live entertainment they will often need to make announcements. Most of these events are run by volunteers who do not want the extra hassle of setting up and running the equipment for the event.

4. Equipment Consultant

Do you know a lot about amps, PA systems or recording equipment? Many people are looking to buy, many for the first time, but don’t have anyone they can ask. Often the only person with any knowledge is the salesperson who is either working for a commission or limited by what brands their company has in stock. As an equipment consultant, you can charge clients a flat rate to give them honest recommendations based on their needs and budget. This side hustle could be done through a website or social media to reach a global market.

5. Guitar Repair

Do you repair your own guitars? If so, maybe you have the skills to repair others. Whether it is cleaning up a dirty guitar and re-soldering the wiring, many people don’t have the skills or patience to do it themselves. Worried you don’t know how to repair every possible issue? Cross that bridge when you come to it. You can either learn as needed, consult a more experienced guitar tech or politely turn down the job. 

Buy a few basketcase guitars at yard sales and get them playable and ready for resale. There are a ton of books on guitar repair and even more tutorials on YouTube. 

Good guitar techs can be hard to find so clients tend to be loyal.

6. Build Guitars

Building guitars would require some pretty serious skills but skills can be learned. Luthier schools are located throughout the country and offer programs from weekend workshops all the way to full time educational programs. 

With the popularity of CNC machines guitar builders do not necessarily have to have the wood working skills of their predecessors. Even with the help of modern equipment, precision cuts and fitting are still expected.

Another type of guitar builder is an assembler. There are companies that sell all of the parts to build a complete guitar. You can also find new and used parts on eBay. Whether assembling the ultimate metal shredder or a retro class from new parts, this could be a rewarding side hustle.

7. Guitar Finisher

You don’t get your car painted by the same shop that fixes the transmission. Therefore the person that repairs a guitar’s wiring may not be equipped with skills or equipment to refinish a guitar.

This gig would require skills, equipment and a location. Because the paints and fumes, you probably don’t want to do this in your basement. However, chances are you will not face a lot of competition. If your skills are up to par, there is no reason you would not be able to get customers from the internet making this a global side hustle.

8. Guitar Flipper

With a keen eye and some basic setup skills, you can find guitars at yard sales, fix them up and sell them on eBay. How many kids buy a guitar only to quit a year later? Eventually dad gets tired of moving that guitar everytime he walks into the garage and out it goes in the spring yard sale. 

A few things to keep in mind. Yard sales bring out the professional flippers. Ever see yard sale signs that say “No early birds?” These are the professionals who come out in their beat up van at dawn looking to get all of the deals before the locals wakeup. So it wouldn’t hurt to get an early start. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle. Some people think anything with six strings is worth 1000 bucks.  

You may find some deals on Facebook marketplace but generally you have to act quickly.

Another source for unwanted guitars is estate sales. Find you local auctioneers for listings of sales. In these cases you will be bidding against experienced flippers but it is worth a shot.

9. Guitar Writer

Content is King! When it comes to blogs, websites and newspapers there is a constant need for content and most of this content is writing. You don’t have to create your own blog, in fact, you will get money much quicker writing for other people’s blogs. Nearly any topic you can think of related to guitars has a blog or two dedicated to it. Contact blog owners directly or use a website like UpWork to find work.

In many areas of the country, the local newspaper doesn’t even have any local writers. That doesn’t mean they won’t publish an article about a local band or music festival. This is where freelancers come in. Find out who the editor is and learn about their publishing process. Writing about the local music scene may also have perks when you are looking for some gigs too!

10. Jingle Writer

Did you know there are 1,000,000 podcasts? Not all of them have bumper music but most of them do and someone has to write, perform and record it.

The ability to connect your guitar to your computer and create some GarageBand tracks may be all you need to get started. Just like any recording process, you can get as complicated as you want but if you’re just selling the product, time is money.  

It’s not just podcasters that need music. So do YouTubers, videographers, radio stations and anyone who makes their own videos. 

11. Podcasting

Speaking of podcasts…this could be your side hustle as well. This may be a slow rider to success but consistency can lead to growth that will pay off.

If you do any home recording, chances are you already have the necessary equipment to record a podcast. The only thing you have to purchase is podcast hosting and maybe some podcast show art.

Income will most likely come from advertising. The cost of advertising will be based on the amount of listeners so choose your topic strategically.

Topics could be the local music scene, lessons, a specific genre of music, product reviews, artist interviews. The possibilities are unlimited. One should focus on how listeners will find you. Organic search and discovery is very slow in podcasting so having an audience or tapping into someone else’s audience can be beneficial.

12. Transcriber

Have a good ear? Can you write tab or standard notation? People will pay for guitar transcriptions. Not everyone can pick up a song by ear or has the time to do it. A service like this can be offered through your own website or a site like Fiverr. 

13. Arranger

Normally we think of highly educated classical musicians when we envision music arrangers. But how about creating fingerstyle solo arrangements for guitar or ukulele? Many guitarists perform solo or want to entertain themselves with solo arrangements. Most sheet music is not written for solo guitar and for many, reading sheet music is not an option. This is where you come in, you create solo guitar transcriptions based on melodic pop songs. Sell your arrangements individually online or even create an ebook on Amazon. If you are going to formally publish you will need to get the rights to use the songs but once it is online you can be making money while you sleep!

14. YouTuber

What is up YouTube!?!? You actually don’t have to start every video on YouTube with this phrase, in fact, please don’t. 

YouTube is an amazing source of information. In fact, it is the second largest search engine on the internet. No matter how small or niche a topic may be you will probably find a video on it. This does not mean there is not room for more videos on any topic. People spend hours on YouTube searching videos.

Just like a podcast, the topics for your videos are endless. Whether you want to teach, rant, or review, YouTube is your place. Two major advantages YouTube has over podcasting: there is already an audience, a HUGE audience on YouTube and your channel can cover different topics more easily than a podcast can. 

Again, income will come from advertising. When your channel meets the threshold of subscribers and hours listened you will have the offer to monetize. YouTube will run ads before your videos and give you a small percentage. 

While you will probably not be quitting your day job because of your YouTube earnings, you can make some money. You also have the ability to recruit for advertisers on your own. Again, you need to have the viewers to make it worthwhile for advertisers.

If your videos are particularly helpful, you can set up a Patreon account and ask viewers to send you a monthly donation. If you get a 1000 people sending you a buck a month, that’s more than some drinking money!

YouTube is free to sign up and you can start with just a smartphone. As you make more videos, you can decide if you want to invest in better equipment.

15. Recording Studio

Today’s modern equipment has drastically reduced the size of the equipment needed to create a decent recording. If you have the equipment, why not make some money recording others? Not everyone wants to buy the equipment or learn the software. You can have musicians come to you or you can go to them. You will be getting paid as much for the convenience as for your product.

16. Guitar Recycler

Maybe you don’t have the skills to build a guitar but you’re crafty. A beat up acoustic destined for the landfill could make a nice bookshelf. How about a mic stand turned in a lamp? You get the point.

Look on Pinterest for inspiration, there is tons to see! Sell your products on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or even set up an Etsy store when you have enough inventory.

17. Guitar Consumer Products

While guitar products would be effect pedals and tuners, guitar consumer products refer to everyday items that could have a guitar theme. A guitar necktie, keychain or t-shirt.

Think of the question, gifts for a dad who plays guitar? There are a lot of them!

There are many different routes you can take. Original artwork for coffee mugs or funny guitar phrases for t-shirts. Another option would be to license famous brands or artists for your products.

While some of the products may require a significant investment and housing of inventory there is also the option to use Amazon’s Print on Demand services. Other companies also offer print on demand.

Sell your products on Amazon, eBay and Etsy as well as at flea markets. If you are ambitious, you can contact retailers and see if they will sell for you.

18. Concert Promoter

People love events. Whether it be a blues festival or Oktoberfest, people like to get out and hear some music. Someone has to put it together and there can be profit there.

You can promote monthly concerts or one yearly event. Another option is to team up with a charity or community organization. You handle the bands and promotion for a fee or a cut of the earnings. Don’t feel bad about earning money at a charity event, chances are the beer guy is getting paid too.

This side hustle could be risky. The bands may not show up, the crowd may not show up or an outdoor event could get rained out. It is best to make contingencies for potential problems. If you are hiring bands, talk to one in advance to cover if someone doesn’t make it. Pre-sell tickets so you know if there is interest. Rent tents in case of rain. Also, get sponsors to cover your expenses and give you a greater cut of the ticket price.

R ead: Creating Gigs for Musicians

19. Social Media Manager

A social manager runs the social media accounts for a musical act. While many acts may have no problem running their own Instagram account, others could use some help.

You can also offer web design, online promotion, ad design and consulting. Social media platforms make their money on advertising which sometimes means limiting organic traffic. A good social media manager can help their client make the most of their advertising budget and increase organic or free traffic.

20. Guitar Importer

Have you ever seen Alibaba? Beautiful guitars for low prices but you need to buy 100 of them. 

While there is a great deal of negativity about guitars made in China, the truth is many people cannot afford to buy American made guitars from the big brands. Sometimes you just want a cool looking guitar in the collection and don’t really care about the brand.

There are challenges for sure. Obviously, there is a language barrier but most of the Chinese manufacturers have representatives who speak English. As with many physical products, you have to invest in your inventory. There is also the quality issue. Some manufacturers make really nice guitars, some are just sloppy. One huge expense is shipping. China is far away and guitars are heavy and bulky.

Importing guitars can be profitable. Sell your instruments on Amazon and directly to retailers. If you are lucky, maybe you can get in with one of the big guitars retailers.

Tip: import something you don’t often see. An eight string guitar, a sparkle bass, electric ukuleles. This could give you a decent amount of word of mouth curiosity.

21. Guitar Teacher

This may be the second most obvious side hustle for guitarists behind performing. 

How good do you have to be? Well, generally better than your students. At least offer them something they can’t get on their own. The key with instrument lessons is often accountability. Nobody wants to come in for their weekly lesson and stumble through what they were supposed to practice. 

Teaching can be very rewarding. Everyone remembers their first guitar teacher. Also, everytime you teach a student you learn something. Your playing and your understanding of the instrument will improve.

Some things to consider. Make sure you are teaching correct techniques, whether it be holding the pick, picking the strings or even attitude toward theory. You want your students learning good habits and love for playing. Also, be patient. Watching a new guitarist struggle with a chord can make you want to grab the guitar and just play it for him. Don’t do that! Just sit and encourage your student.

We hope these side hustles give you ideas on how to make some money with your skills, equipment and passion. All could lead to full time work or just be some extra income. All of these side hustles can be combined and altered. You can teach and have a YouTube channel. You can do repairs and have a podcast.

Looking for more side hustles for guitar players or anyone? There are two great podcasts available: Side Hustle Nation by Nick Loper and Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. Both websites have lots of great information and descriptions of the podcast episodes.

The possibilities are endless!

You Might Also Like

The worst gig i ever had and what i learned from it.

Creating Gigs for Musicians

The Six Best Second Instruments for a Guitarist

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Lex is the main protagonist of Side Hustle . She is longtime best friends with Presley and Munchy .

She is portrayed by Jules LeBlanc .

• 1 Personality
• 2 Appearance
• 4.1 Season 1 (26/26)
• 4.2 Season 2 (20/20)

Personality

Lex is smart, sarcastic, kind and caring.

Lex has dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. In Season 2, her hair is a dark hazelnut brown and shorter.

• " See to me, that's a red flag! " - Lex to Munchy.
• " This is why I don't like squezing things! " - Lex to Presley.
• " Big cuz, little cuz, and...just cuz! " -Lex to Presley and Ruby.
• " Comin' in hot with pretzels, " -Lex to Presley.

Appearances

Season 1 (26/26).

• Start Hustling
• Vitamin D-isaster
• Trashy Jobs
• Friendiversary
• Milkshake Suckdown
• KidDING! Dongs
• Lunch Boxed In
• Chemistry Hustle
• Phantom of the Mooery
• Karaoke Kickoff
• Dog Wed-DING!
• Uncle Nedward
• Hot Tubby's
• Moo's the Boss?
• Make-A-Mutt
• Rat Busters
• Extra Crunchy
• Mouth Noise
• Love Sensei
• Room For Munchy
• The Presley Slide

Season 2 (20/20)

• Model Employees
• Wreck-It Rex
• The Way You Luke Tonight
• Al-Dude-isburg
• Stash the Cash
• A Mouth Noise Christmas
• The Return of Uncle Nedward
• Clownderella
• That Young Warped Danger Hustle
• Flex to the Future
• Thumb and Thumber
• Groomer Has It
• Dinner For Jerks
• Prank You Very Much
• Altoonisburg Al
• We Have a Bingo!
• Fisher has a huge crush on her, much to her annoyance.
• She is a former gymnastic champion.
• Her cousin goes to a science boarding school.
• In Lunch Boxed In , Lex sung a song about her doing her homework. Presley calls it " The Homework Song ."
• She used to think there was a magical machine in "Make-A-Mutt".
• Lex has shown to be a good dancer as she can do a backflip at the episode Dance Dance Altoonisburg .
• She has a crush on Luke.

• • d

Main Characters • • • • • • • • Romayo • • Felipe Castillo • • Jessica • Laura • • Cornish • • • Casey • Briles • • Gary • Zack Camacho • Stump • • • Mr. Grievs • • • Kelsey • DJ Helium • • Hasty Delaney • Penelope Peterson • Jaime Bullock • Sapphire • Parker • Rowan Van Doran • Christine • Mark • • • Crash • Zeke • Sasha • Referee • • Tubby • Lil' Tubby • Patsy Tubby • Price • Harriet • • • Chris • Nicholas • Katie • Ann • • Topher • • Marilyn • Penny • • Lyonne • • Don Kuko • Shucker • Gish • Alvin • Emmi • Morgan • Prescott Dilger • Ron • Agent T • • Faraone • • Glenn • Clint Kickwood • • Chaz Powers • C.J. • • Bailiff • Judge Stone • Stenographer • Morgan • Holly • Jerome • Pete • • • • • Mallory • Dude Calzone • Sue Calzone • Sholly • Earl • • Chuck • Ima Williams • • Bungo • Chuffa • Lucy • Frankini • • • Young Dylan • Milo • • Mike Macklin / ShoutOut • Miles Macklin / AWOL • Bose O'Brian / Brainstorm • Chapa De Silva / Volt • Security Guard • Gerald • Bruno Bicep • Rago • GreenThumb • ThumbleBee • Hitchhiker • Rago's Mom • Dutch Jerkelvoss • • Mildred • Ronald • Reuben • Gladys • Ethel • Security Guard • Cash • Lulu • Poochie Boy • Swayde • Cashmere Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar Skip to footer Side Hustles Side Hustles For All Home Side Hustle Basics How to Make Money with Music: 29 Best Music Side Hustles How to Make Money with Music: 29 Best Music Side Hustles May 21, 2024 Experts in this article: David Andrew Wiebe David is a musician who's built a career as a professional composer, music teacher, writer, and artist coach. With 20+ years of... Written by: Yi-Jane Lee Yi-Jane is a writer for SideHustles.com. In addition to her writing and reporting work, she also has 3+ years of experience as... Editor’s choice Highest Paying Like many people, you may have been creating, playing, and listening to music your whole life. Maybe you’ve even thought of turning your love for music into a job. But how do musicians make money anyway? It may seem too good to be true in today’s world, where it feels like full-time artists are few and far between and dream jobs are always just out of reach—but thankfully, that’s not the case. We’ll outline the most realistic ways to make money as a musician or music lover. 01. Earn royalties from streams Streaming is one of the best ways to make money online as a musician. In fact, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reported that streaming was the largest revenue stream of the music industry in 2022, reaching a record high of 84%. 1 But how do artists make money from music streaming? To earn royalties, you need to upload your music to a streaming platform, such as Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, or Amazon Music. Many streaming platforms don’t currently allow artists to upload their music on their own—instead, you’ll have to get a music distributor to do this for you. This may seem like a drawback, but it’s actually a blessing. This way, it’ll be much easier to get your music out across a range of platforms where it can earn you money. Choosing a music distributor Music distributors have different pricing models and contract types. They may charge one-time fees, subscription fees, or keep a portion of your streaming revenue. The most cost-effective option for you will depend on how much music you plan to release on streaming platforms. In any case, some music distributors are incredibly affordable. For example, David Andrew Wiebe, a professional in the music industry, pointed to options like CD Baby (only $9.99 for the lifetime distribution of a single or an album across 150+ global platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music) and DistroKid ($22.99 yearly subscription fee to upload as much music as you want). When thinking about which streaming platforms to focus on, Wiebe advised looking beyond big names. “There are plenty of visible marketers pushing the idea that Spotify is a godsend for musicians, but Spotify is the worst paying of all streaming services,” he said. “Yes, it may be a necessary evil for marketing purposes, but most musicians will be better served building other streams of revenue.” How much you can earn from streaming royalties Streaming platforms generally don’t advertise their royalty rates. But to give you an idea of your earning potential from music streaming, most platforms only pay a fraction of a cent to mere pennies for each stream. As an example, Apple Music claimed that their average rate per play was $0.01 in 2021. 2 In some cases, you won’t earn anything until you reach a certain play threshold. For instance, Spotify’s new royalty policy starting early 2024 requires you to reach 1,000+ streams per year to qualify for any royalties at all. All this shows you won’t be able to get rich from streams unless your music is a rare hit. Nevertheless, royalties can still accumulate over time, and you may gain exposure on those platforms. 02. Sell your own CDs and merchandise If you have even just a few fans out there, then it’s worth creating and selling merchandise. With the rapid growth of the print-on-demand industry, it’s possible to get sell wearables (like band T-shirts, hats, and hoodies) and branded products with minimal upfront costs. In addition to these branded products, don’t overlook the value of good-old-fashioned CDs of your music, which Wiebe says a niche group of people actively seek out. “People often come looking for them at live shows,” he said. While this target population may be small, their demand is strong. If your goal is to make it big in the music industry , then selling CDs is a good move since you’ll earn money and gain exposure at the same time. Wiebe’s advice is to bring your CDs with you to any place where you’re going to be making an appearance and show them to everyone. “Place your CDs in their hands (this can help your CDs sell all on their own). Drop your discs off at independent, college, and community radio stations. Drop them off at local businesses, especially if you know people who work at the stores. Drop them off at local instrument stores and lesson studios. Opportunities could be waiting for you at every corner, but you’ve got to put yourself out there,” he said. Busking, or street performance, involves playing music in a public space and waiting for passersby to give you money. Busking is by far the fastest way to earn money with music. Theoretically, you could have a hold of physical cash within minutes of deciding to start busking. With the rise of contactless payment, it’s worth putting your PayPal, Venmo, and/or Cash App QR codes on your busking sign. Before you take your talents to the streets, remember to check if your city has any regulations for busking. While it won’t be lucrative for everyone, it’s definitely possible to make good money from busking. You’ll also build confidence and get your name out there. Many household names actually started out busking, including Ed Sheeran, Tracy Chapman, and Passenger! Tips for choosing a good busking location For best results, pick a busy location with a lot of foot traffic, such as tourist destinations or local farmer’s markets. When you perform, place your instrument’s case or a tip jar in front of you for people to drop change inside it. Consider also setting up a sign with your name, social media accounts, and ways to tip you. Wiebe recommends avoiding “shady” neighborhoods. “Your money can get stolen,” he said. “It has happened to me.” As long as you follow these basic rules, it’s pretty easy to make money busking. “Follow the rules, play a good mix of covers and originals, and most importantly, have fun,” Wiebe added. 04. Play live gigs Playing gigs is one of the most enjoyable ways to make money as an artist. When you’re just starting out, you’ll have to put in the work to actively find gigs instead of sitting back and waiting for someone to book you. Start local by researching local establishments that hire musicians. These could include bars, cafes, wedding venues, and much more. “Find a database of every place you can possibly play within a distance of 300 to 400 miles,” Wiebe suggested. “If you can’t find one, make your own. Include churches, community centers, coffeehouses, theatres, casinos, bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants, and anything else you can think of.” Try to pinpoint the venues that most match your musical style. Once you’ve come up with a list of potential options, systematically work your way down the list, contacting each one by phone, by email, or in person to see what performance opportunities they have. Websites for finding live gigs To expand your search, try signing up for online platforms and gig sites like the ones below: Sonicbids : Get booked to play at live music venues, hotels, bars, restaurants, music events, and more. gigmit : Book DJ, concert, and festival gigs. Indie on the Move : Find live gig opportunities at various establishments, including cafes, bars, and music venues. ShowSlinger : Browse through over 50,000 venues advertising opportunities to play live music gigs. FestivalNet : Play live shows at festivals. Doodeo : Get virtual DJ gigs. For many of these sites, you’ll need to create an artist profile and upload an electronic press kit (EPK), which is a kind of digital resume for musicians. You’ll then either bid for gigs, submit applications, or get contacted by people who think you’re a good fit for a particular show. 05. Land sync placements A sync placement, or synchronization placement, is when your music is used in visual media, such as a movie, video game, or TV show. Anyone who wants to use your music for their project has to pay for the following two licenses: Master use license: This allows people to use a particular recording of your song in their projects. It’s paid to whoever owns the master version, typically the artist or the label. Sync license: Music users need this license to use a copyrighted composition. The fee may be paid to the composer or their music publisher, depending on who’s the copyright holder of the composition. How much much musicians make from a single sync placement varies from project to project, but anecdotal reports online suggest it’s possible to earn $5,000–$10,000 per placement . Various factors come into play when negotiating fees, including the type of visual media and how your music is being used. Music supervisors typically find music for a specific project and then reach out to the artist or the sync licensing agency that represents them. By getting sync licenses for your own music, you’re essentially acting as your own sync agent. On that note, you can also start your own musical sync agent side hustle where you’ll help other musicians get their compositions selected for TV shows, movies, commercials, and more. Just beware that there’s a lot of competition over sync placements. Your chances will be much better if you have an inside connection or you’re signed with a record label that can pitch tracks for you. Nevertheless, Wiebe says sync placements are the best money-making option for dedicated musicians. 06. Become a music supervisor A music supervisor is responsible for finding the right songs for films, TV shows, commercials, or video games and securing the necessary music licenses. In some cases, a music supervisor may hire a composer to write new songs for a project altogether. You don’t need a music degree to become a music supervisor, but you should have sufficient music knowledge to be able to spot the right songs and work with composers. Knowing the ins and outs of how music licensing works is also crucial to this job. Although most music supervisors work as freelancers, some are employed by production companies. Consider doing an internship with a music publisher or label to jumpstart your career. A good way to network and get job opportunities is to join the Guild of Music Supervisors , which is a nonprofit organization that offers resources to music supervisors and professionals who work in related fields. 07. Self-publish books about music If you have extensive knowledge about the music industry or a particular musical instrument, genre, or other niche, you could publish a print book or ebook to make money by selling your music expertise. One way to become a published book author is to get a contract with a publisher. However, high levels of competition make this tricky to achieve, unless you’re a famous musician. The other route is self-publishing, which is more flexible and open to anyone. This is exactly what Wiebe did, and at the time he published his first book, it became his best-selling product and event went on to become an Amazon and Kobo bestseller. Here’s Wiebe’s advice for self-publishing your own book on music: Study other music books: “If you want to write your own books, then it’s crucial that you study other great books. Look at their design, layout, format, everything. Reading them will also help, as reading can make you a better writer.” Outline your book: “Crafting an outline before beginning is a wise idea. The first goal at this point is to get the first draft written, no matter how horrible it is. Going back through it and self-editing (multiple times) is par for the course.” Find an editor: “It’s a good idea to hand the book off to a capable editor or two, or at least a few friends who are willing to offer constructive feedback. A great book usually comes together during the editing phase.” Get reviews: “While developing your final draft, reach out to friends and industry people for blurbs. Quotes, reviews, and testimonials can make or break your sales, and generally, the more you have, the better.” Decide on a format: “There are many ways to sell your book, and it’s good to be aware of every path available. That said, if you are setting up your book within Amazon KDP, you will need to supply your title, subtitle, description, category, keywords, manuscript, and book cover.” Develop your interior layout: “If you don’t know how to use Photoshop or Illustrator, then you’ll probably want to hire a designer on Fiverr, Freelancer, or Upwork. Keep in mind that if you plan to release Kindle, paperback, and hardcover versions, you will need three separate cover graphics with differing dimensions.” Publicize your book: “In launching a book, it certainly helps to have a bit of a following. An email list, some in-person appearances (book launch party, book signing, etc.), and interviews can go a long way.” Self-publishing a book is a good way to make money as a musician if you’re not set on making music. It’s also a great source of passive income for musicians. 08. Do live streaming In addition to doing live concerts, many musicians also offer online shows on live streaming platforms. Just like with in-person performances, you sell tickets for live stream events to your fans—the main difference is that you have to send them a link to tune in. Just be aware that live streaming is a lot less certain to earn you money than many of the other options on this list. In fact, Wiebe told us that for every musician who succeeds with live streaming, there are “hundreds of thousands of incredibly gifted musicians streaming every single day to audiences of one or none.” If you want to succeed at live streaming, Wiebe says you’ve got to play the long game. Even just getting comfortable in front of a camera can take a long time, not to mention planning your shows. “If your product is misaligned with your potential audience on any level, it probably won’t find resonance,” Wiebe said. You’ll need to experiment with various show formats to create the type of content people will want to watch. Live streaming platforms and tools Here are some of the best live stream platforms for musicians: X (Twitter) Twitch Music Some live streaming platforms let eligible account holders earn tips, which can come in various forms. For instance, plenty of people make money on TikTok by accepting LIVE Gifts from fans. You just have to be at least 18 years old and live in a covered region. 4 To optimize your efficiency with a music live streaming side hustle, Wiebe recommends using a multi-streaming tool like StreamYard , which allows you to simultaneously live stream to several platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, X (Twitter), and Twitch. This way, you’ll easily reach a larger audience. 09. Monetize your artist social media accounts Social media platforms are a great place for musicians to promote their music, connect with their fans, and attract new listeners. Even better, there are several ways to generate money on these platforms: Land sponsorship deals: Many companies will compensate you for promoting their products or services on your social media account, especially if you have a large following. Do affiliate marketing: Affiliate marketing programs will assign you a personalized affiliate link to add to your content, and you’ll earn a commission each time someone makes an eligible purchase through that link. Wiebe says affiliate marketing is the best way to earn a passive income from music. Organize meet and greets: Selling tickets for in-person or online meet and greets is a common practice among musicians. Sell merchandise: Post your latest merchandise and where to buy it on your social media accounts so that your fans can make purchases if they like. Run a crowdfunding campaign: This strategy can help you fund a specific music project, although it won’t work as a typical income stream. To crowd fund, you need to let your fans know about the details of your plan and see it through as promised. Offer paid subscriptions: Fans may be willing to pay a monthly subscription fee to your account in exchange for exclusive content or discounted deals. Enable video monetization: Often, you can monetize content on video-centric social media platforms once your account meets certain requirements, such as hitting a certain number of subscribers and/or views. Good social media platforms for musicians include Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and Tumblr. But any social media account that gains traction among the public has monetization potential. With that said, Wiebe warns against focusing too much on monetizing your social media accounts. “Social media is where people gather to be social. Selling can sometimes come across as inauthentic, incongruent, or pushy,” he said. Instead, focus on getting people onto your website and later onto your mailing list, and then nurture that audience. “If they’re on your list, there’s a much better chance they’ll be interested in what you’re selling,” Wiebe added. 10. Write songs for other artists Some artists are great performers but simply don’t have a knack for writing good songs. If you have a gift for songwriting and making music, and you’re willing to let someone else perform your work, this is one way you can shine. Undeniably, it’s pretty tough to get your music to major artists if you’re new to the industry. The trick, according to Wiebe, is finding the right niche. “Even less established songwriters can find an open door if they go looking in the right niches,” he told us. “I had one completely unknown student with brain complications writing for major country artists.” A good place to start is by making music for smaller artists and gradually building up your reputation. Meanwhile, continue to network and hone your songwriting skills by practicing and taking in feedback whenever possible. Making connections in the industry and being skilled at your craft are key to landing consistent gigs. 11. Sell your beats and tunes One way to monetize music is to sell pieces you’ve written. Unless you’re writing for artists, you generally won’t sell full songs. However, there are other types of music you can sell online to companies and even musicians: Sound effects Video game sounds Think about what you have to offer and do some research online on your target audience and the best places to sell music you’ve created. For instance, aside from your own website, BeatStars , Traktrain , and Airbit are some good places to sell beats online. 12. Become a music teacher Music teachers are always in demand. As long as you have something valuable to pass on, there’s someone out there who’s willing to pay to learn from you. You may have never considered teaching as an option if you don’t have any teaching credentials, but the good news is that you can become a music teacher without a degree . While you won’t be able to teach music in a school, you can still give one-on-one or group lessons. You can offer private lessons in person or teach music online. Teaching music is a great first step into a music career, and it was Wiebe’s first ever music-related job. He was hired as a guitar instructor in the early 2000s. At the time, he’d only been playing the guitar for about 1.5–2 years. “My guitar teacher recommended me for the position. I was paid $7 per lesson or $14 per hour,” he said. 13. Sell online music courses Unlike standard music teaching, selling online music courses lets you generate a passive income. It also allows you to establish a larger and broader client base. Students who like to learn at their own pace may prefer this teaching method over in-person lessons. One option is to sell your courses on your own website. This allows you to keep all the revenue from your courses, although it takes work to attract students. Alternatively, you can sell courses on an online learning platform, such as Skillshare , Udemy , or Soundslice . These sites have a built-in user base you can tap into. To ensure optimal video and audio quality, you could consider buying or renting out professional recording equipment. However, Wiebe says quality isn’t the most important factor to consider when it comes to selling music courses. “A pre-recorded Zoom webinar can work just as well,” he said. “The selling process is far more important than the content.” Expert tips for marketing your online music courses To make your course marketable, think about format. For instance, in addition to selling single courses that stand alone, you can also create a series of courses and sell them as a package. Other potential products to sell include sheet music and gift certificates for your courses. One piece of advice that Wiebe has for optimizing your efficiency is to repurpose video content you already have. This could be from another music side hustle or project you’ve done. Making use of the material you already have at hand will minimize the amount of work you need to do and help you earn easy money with music. “Live stream a web class and field questions that come your way. Leave the web class up for a week while turning it into a course. Remove access to your web class, and lock it behind a paygate,” Wiebe suggested. “This is the best way to share your material, get feedback and questions, and monetize your knowledge without putting a lot of extra work into creating and promoting a course from scratch.” 14. Apply for music grants Although scarce in number and in size, there are music grants on offer in the US for different types of projects. This is one promising way to get paid to make music. Do research on them and make a list of the ones you qualify for. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, begin putting together relevant materials for your application. In addition to basic information like your artist bio and project proposal, you’ll likely have to present a thorough marketing plan. Start preparing your application early so you don’t miss the deadline! 15. Sell digital downloads of your music Selling music online is easy with online marketplaces, e-commerce websites, and digital music stores. From here, fans will be able to instantly purchase and download your music, and you’ll get money in return. Here are a few of the most popular sites for selling songs and albums online: Getting your tracks on multiple platforms and online stores will help you maximize your earning potential. Music downloads vs. streaming Some online platforms offer music streaming and downloading, whereas others specialize in just one way of accessing music. Selling music downloads and releasing your music on streaming platforms are both ways to get your music out there and earn from your musical creations, but it’s important to understand how these options differ and overlap so you execute them effectively. These music side hustles can easily go hand in hand, but they can also sabotage each other. “If all of your music is available everywhere, some simply won’t buy it,” Wiebe told us. If you’re thinking about selling digital downloads, you should be conscientious about what music you make available for streaming. Wiebe recommends experimenting with Bandcamp first. Try putting your singles up on streaming sites and then sending your audience to purchase your albums on Bandcamp. 16. Do session work Session musicians are hired on a short-term basis to back up a main artist in a recording session or live performance. While they typically aren’t permanent band members, they may be invited to go on tour with an artist or band. To find session gigs, market yourself online and reach out to local independent artists, producers, and recording studios. Being able to play more than one instrument can give you a leg up in landing gigs. Once you get your first one or two session gigs, focus on building a good reputation so you can land more opportunities in the future. “Plenty of people will want to work with you if you’re easy to work with,” Wiebe said. “Be a good hang, have a good attitude, deliver what you’ve been asked to deliver, and you should do well as a session player.” 17. Play covers at weddings and other events Many musicians make money by doing live cover shows for big events. Working as a function band, party band, wedding singer, wedding band, or other event musician may not sound like the most glamorous side gig if you’re a songwriter or creator who wants to make music, but if your goal is to earn money, it’s an option you definitely shouldn’t overlook. To give you an idea of just how much you could earn, one survey of wedding couples found that they spent around $4,500 on average for their wedding bands, with some paying out $10,000 or more. Granted, some of this money goes toward travel expenses and may be split between numerous band members, but it goes to show the high earning potential of this side gig for musicians. Playing cover gigs can be a fun and lucrative way to build experience performing, and it doesn’t mean you’re not talented. “Even the top artists in the world sometimes play bat mitzvahs and coffeehouses. You can make very good money playing weddings and similar gigs, so make the most of these opportunities,” Wiebe said. Websites for finding event gigs In addition to the sites mentioned for finding live performance gigs, the platforms below are popular options people turn to when looking for musicians to play at various events: Last Minute Musicians : Get hired as a band, solo artist, ensemble, or DJ to play shows at parties, weddings, funerals, and other events. Bands for Hire : Get hired as a band, ensemble, solo artist, or DJ to play at various events and functions, including parties and weddings. As an event musician, you could play at birthday parties, formal events, funerals, bat mitzvahs—you name it. The key is being flexible. People will likely request that you play certain songs or cover other artists. 18. Transcribe sheet music and lyrics The main responsibility of a music transcriber is to listen to live performances or recordings of songs and write down what they hear. They may write down different types of musical notations and even lyrics, depending on the client’s requests. As a music transcriber, you should possess the following skills and knowledge: Listening skills Rhythm skills Sight-reading ability Notation skills Chord knowledge Musical theory knowledge You’ll need transcription software, such as Transcribe! , ScoreCloud , or AnthemScore . These tools slow down the music, giving you time to break it down and transcribe it. From music publishers and amateur musicians to orchestras and cover bands, plenty of people in the music industry are looking to hire freelance music transcribers. Do research on the notation style preferences of your target client and hone your skills for that specific style. 19. Edit podcasts A crucial part of editing podcasts is sound design. If you’re proficient in music production, you can try your hand at a podcast post-production editing gig. Cutting out redundant words and pauses, creating a memorable intro and outro, and adding suitable music and sound effects are some of the key tasks involved in podcast editing. You’ll also be responsible for mixing and mastering the podcast audio to achieve optimal sound quality. To succeed, Wiebe says you need to learn to work fast. “Learn all the keyboard shortcuts inside your DAW (especially ‘slice’ and ‘crossfade’). Take advantage of audio sweetening tools like Auphonic instead of manually adding automation, EQ, compression, limiting, etc.” If you’re unsure where to start, consider watching YouTube tutorials or taking online courses in podcast editing. Establishing the necessary skill set is an important preliminary step before you apply for jobs. 20. Start a music-related YouTube channel There are plenty of ways to make money on YouTube with music. One option is to post videos of covers or original songs on your YouTube channel. Many famous musicians have launched their careers this way, and it can help you grow your fan base. You can also post music or lyric videos and use ads to earn money through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), but you’ll need to get the necessary music licenses. Popular songs that are most likely to attract viewers are typically copyrighted, so you’ll need to reach out to the copyright owner (usually the artist or their publisher) and ask for permission to use the song. Wiebe recommends developing a strategy and sticking to it for 100 videos. If it doesn’t work, go back to the drawing board and repeat this process until you find an approach that does work. “The worst thing is to be putting huge amounts of effort into content that no one appreciates,” Wiebe added. Being flexible and adapting your strategy will help you avoid this outcome. If you’ve built up a large following on YouTube, you can also earn additional money through paid sponsorships and affiliate links. However, you should still consider the hurdles involved in getting music licensing before you commit to this side hustle. 21. Get paid to review music Did you know you can get paid to write reviews ? This includes music reviews. Many music promotion platforms, such as SoundCampaign and Playlist Push , will pay you to review music from independent artists. But there is a catch: You need to already be a fairly established independent curator on a streaming platform. For instance, to be able to review music on SoundCampaign, you must have at least one playlist with 20+ songs, 1,000+ organic followers, and a proven track record of helping new artists and songs gain exposure. 6 Depending on your experience, you can earn up to $14 with SoundCampaign and up to $15 with Playlist Push per song review. 6 7 22. Start a music blog Blogging about various music topics is a great music side hustle option if you’re knowledgeable about music and enjoy writing. There are a few different ways to make money blogging . For example, you could add affiliate links to your blog posts, put ads on your site, writing sponsored posts, or sell your own products or services related to music. Learn about search engine optimization (SEO) best practices and apply them to your blog. Doing so will help your blog rank for higher positions on Google, which has the dual benefit of increasing your earning potential and guiding relevant users to your site. Most importantly, be willing to stick to it for the long haul. “Find your voice and show up daily to write,” Wiebe suggested. Stick with the process and be patient. He says it can take 6–12 months for you to see results from the effort you put into your blog and have your site appear in search results. Choosing a blog topic What you write about will heavily influence the success of your blog. Wiebe recommends choosing a “tightly defined niche” that may not be getting enough attention. “Look at what’s out there and what’s not being covered that you might be interested in covering. Avoid the temptation to go broad, because that will limit your chances of success,” he added. Here are some general music blog ideas to start with: Song and album reviews Instrument reviews Instrument care guides How-to-play guides Music history Artist interviews Music streaming options Songwriting Updates on the music industry You don’t need to be a music professional to write about many of these topics, but you should have a good understanding of them so you can publish quality content. People will only revisit your site if they find your content interesting and informative. 23. Become a music manager Becoming a music manager is a good job option if you have excellent interpersonal skills and you know all the ins and outs of the music industry. Aspiring music managers often get a degree in business management and intern at a record label or music management company. Many also establish their own management company. Here are the core responsibilities you’d have as a music manager: Help your clients navigate their careers Negotiate contracts on behalf of your clients Schedule performances and recording sessions Stay updated on current trends in the music industry Promote your clients’ music Scout out new talent As is the case in most professions, a music manager’s salary depends on their experience and location. According to Indeed, the average base salary for music managers in September 2023 was $38,969 per year (around $20 per hour). 8 You can make even more through commissions. However, Wiebe points out that these salary estimates may be misleading. “Unless they are working for a specific company (I don’t know how many jobs are out there), they are only ever going to earn a percentage of an artist or band’s revenue,” he said. This means that if you want to make a living wage, you need to work with acts with significant pull. 24. Rent out a recording studio Recording studios play a crucial role in the music industry. Musicians need a professional studio to produce high-quality music, and you can provide that space for them. If you don’t have the funds to open a professional studio, you can always open a budget home studio first and then expand it into a professional studio once you’ve generated enough profit. Depending on your location, you could charge around $30 per hour for a budget home studio or upwards of $100 per hour for a well-equipped studio with good acoustics. To set a fair rate, do research on how much different types of recording studios in your area are charging. You can even earn extra money by offering music production services, although you may not always have a steady flow of clients, so it’s worth setting up other music side hustles to fill the lulls in business. “Take advantage of those slower periods to grow your web presence, make and sell beats, create merchandise, offer social media marketing or other services, and so on,” Wiebe suggested. 25. Become a freelance writer Starting your own blog isn’t the only way you can get paid to write about music. You could also earn lots of money from freelance writing gigs for print or online publications that produce music-related content. In fact, content writing is the highest-paying music side hustle that Wiebe has ever had. “I had one content writing contract that consistently earned me $3,000 to $5,000 per month for several years (sometimes more if I had guest posting duties),” he said. Wiebe started by writing for one particular online publication and then expanding to write for a network of connected music industry websites. He wrote guides (e.g., about music promotion, live performance, organization and productivity, and competition), “10 best” articles for music related products and services, music reviews, and how-to guides. His writing experience landed him a job as a blogger and digital marketer, where he formed a lot of professional connections. One of the people in his network hired him as a contractor initially but later ended up asking him to work as a staff writer. How to find work as a music content writer If content writing is a gig you’re interested in, you can start by searching for freelance writing jobs with the keyword “music” or setting up a freelance writer account on a platform like Freelancer or Upwork. Alternatively, find a music publication or website you like and email to ask if they’re looking for writers. 26. Sell or rent out your musical instruments If you have old instruments or music gear lying around collecting dust, you might as well sell or rent them to make some extra money. Be sure to properly clean or repair each instrument before putting it on the market. If you decide to sell your instruments online, Wiebe says classified sites are best. “Look for the most used classified sites in your locality, and take advantage of those to sell your instruments,” he said. Other platforms worth checking out include eBay and Reverb . Whichever site you use, be sure to upload a clear photo of each item so that potential buyers can see its current condition. Some brick-and-mortar second-hand instrument stores may also be willing to buy your instruments or music gear. Additionally, musical instruments are one of several little-known items you can pawn —although pawn shop dealers aren’t likely to give you a fair deal, even if it is the quickest way to sell your instruments. If you don’t want to sell, you’ll be pleased to learn that musical instruments and musical equipment are among the many things you can rent out . There are several online rental platforms you can use to rent your musical gear, such as FriendWithA , RentMyInstrument , and BuyOrBorrow Music . 27. Offer instrument repair services A lot of people play an instrument, but not all of them know how to fix a broken one. If you know how to repair instruments and music gear, you can make a small business out of your expertise if you live in an area with sufficient demand. Introduce yourself to local musicians and use word-of-mouth to advertise your services. In addition, promote your services on social media and hand out flyers. It’s also worth setting up a website for your repair services so people can find you online. 28. Sell old CDs, vinyl records, and cassette tapes Even with the rising popularity of music streaming, hardcore fans and collectors are still willing to buy physical copies of music. If you have a music collection you’re willing to part with, then selling your old records could be an easy way to make some extra money. You can price your CDs, vinyl records, and cassette tapes anywhere from a few dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on their condition and rarity. Have a professional take a look at your collection if you’re unsure how much it’s worth. 29. Organize music events If you love listening to music or interacting with musicians, then why not become an event planner? The connection to music may not be obvious, but with an event planning career, you can specialize in planning concerts, music festivals, and other music events. Wiebe told us that organizing events is the best money-making option for music lovers who don’t play an instrument. You’ll get to make money listening to music and engage with musical professionals without the need for any musical ability. Whichever music money-making approach you decide to try, remember that balance is key. A good strategy is to choose a couple of side hustles that will balance each other out—like one passive income side hustle, one steady but lower-paying gig, and one jobs that’s higher paying but maybe less reliable. Most importantly, make sure you’re having fun. Article Sources RIAA. "2022 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report" Retrieved October 20, 2023. Apple Music for Artists. "Apple Music Insights: Royalties" Retrieved October 20, 2023. SESAC. "How do I become a SESAC affiliate?" Retrieved October 20, 2023. TikTok. "LIVE Gifts on TikTok" Retrieved October 20, 2023. U.S. Copyright Office. "What Musicians Should Know about Copyright" Retrieved March 14, 2024. SoundCampaign. "How to Get Paid From Making Playlists on Spotify" Retrieved October 20, 2023. PlaylistPush. "Spotify Curator Program" Retrieved October 20, 2023. Indeed. "Music manager salary in United States" Retrieved October 20, 2023. Victoria Scanlon Victoria is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. She has extensive experience editing research for publication in academic journals and writing educational content. Reader Interactions Leave a reply cancel reply. You must be logged in to post a comment. Related Articles How to Become a Music Teacher Without a Degree March 19, 2024 How to Become a Makeup Artist: 8 Tips for Starting a Successful Makeup Side Hustle June 15, 2023 How Much Do Makeup Artists Make? August 28, 2023 20 Legit Ways to Make Money in 1 Hour or Less November 29, 2023 What Is a Side Hustle? July 29, 2024 How to Make It in the Music Industry: 7 Insider Tips April 17, 2024 Your Side Hustle Story Side Hustle Basics App Reviews Manage Your Money The Gig Apple: News & Events Become a Contributor Advertising & Sponsorships Partner With Us Editorial Guidelines 7 Side Hustles for Musicians It’s hard to make enough money to live, let alone do fun stuff on one income source alone. Side hustles are a great way to fill your free time with productive work that you (hopefully) enjoy. In this guide, you'll discover several side hustle ideas you could tap into to bring in more income. But first, let's define what a side hustle is. But first, if it's your aim to do music professionally, you'll want to check out our free ebook while it's still available: Free eBook: Discover how real independent musicians like you are making $4,077 - $22,573+ monthly via Youtube, let me know where to send the details: 3 Characteristics Of A Profitable & Worthwhile Side Hustle For something to be a good side hustle, it needs to have three main characteristics: 1. It Cannot Interfere With Your Primary Hustle If your side hustle drains you to the point where it interferes with your real work, you need a different side hustle. Side hustles will still feel like work, but they shouldn’t cut into your overall productivity. For me, I had to be careful how much writing I took on, because it drains my creative energy, and leaves me with less energy for writing and creating music. 2. It Should Generate Income If you aren’t making money with a side hustle, it’s a hobby. Hobbies are great, and you should have hobbies. The difference is that you’re going to spend money on hobbies and make money on side hustles. 3. You Should Enjoy It There are lots of ways to make money. If you hate your side hustle , find something else. Life is too short to spend time doing something you hate. If you’re a musician, you have a variety of side hustle opportunities available to you. My main advice is to be careful not to let your side hustle consume your life. Sometimes, side hustles make more money than your regular hustle, and that can be a bit deceptive for an artist – stay focused on your goals. Side Hustle 1. Writing Bios Everyone needs bios, and nobody should write their own, if it can be avoided. If you’re a good writer, and enjoy talking to other artists, you should try writing bios for people. You can charge a few hundred dollars if you get good at it, but even when you’re starting out, you can charge $30 to $50 per hour. That’s good money, and you’ll end up making good connections with other artists. If this hustle interests you, start reading a ton of band bios. It’s quite fun, and you’ll find out tons of information on your favorite bands. And, you’ll also begin to understand how to craft an effective bio. Side Hustle For Musicians 2. Designing Simple Websites Thankfully for us, there are many people who are not tech savvy and are intimidated by the idea of building a site. Either that, or they just don’t have time. You can’t charge too much for simple sites like this, but they don’t take long to build, and you can easily charge $50/hr. Just put it out there on social media that you have these skills, and word will spread. Side Hustle 3. Music Administration Work Are you one of those (somewhat rare) artists that loves keeping their receipts straight and filing their taxes on time (or even early)? Good for you! Depending on what your work entails, you could be making extra cash doing admin work for other bands and artists. Over the years, I’ve hired people to send emails to promoters, fill out SOCAN (Performing Rights Organization) forms, and more. It’s quite handy to have that help, and I have no problem paying people to do this kind of work. Music Industry Side Hustles 4. Editing Artist Sessions This includes editing drum and bass tracks to make sure they’re in time, editing vocal comps, tuning vocals, and sometimes even adding or removing elements to make the track work better. If you have a studio set up, a good ear, and are proficient on any DAW, you can do this too. This kind of work can pay quite well depending on who you’re working for, and if you have a laptop and headphones, you can do it from almost anywhere. I’ll charge anywhere from $30 to $80/hr depending on the budget of the artists I’m working with. Side Hustle For Music Industry Professionals 5. Mastering This sounds funny, but if you have a relatively professional home studio set up, it may be worth investing in some mastering gear. All you need to master tracks and albums are a well-treated room, and the right outboard gear. Most people want to use outboard gear when they’re mastering, and this is a bit of an investment. But I know that a lot of studio owners will master projects on the side, because it doesn’t take up much time and can be done at any time of the day. Some studios will have someone in the control room mastering projects before the studio gets opened up to artists and producers. These types of mastering engineers are often charging between $50 to $80/song. Side Hustle For Instrumentalists 6. Setting Up & Repairing Instruments It often starts out of curiosity and an attempt to save money on maintenance costs. If you get good at it, you’ll have work. Everyone needs their instruments maintained and repaired, and if you can do this kind of work you’ll soon have friends texting you to fix their guitars and amps. Most repair shops charge around $50 to $80/hr for their work. You can either charge the same amount, or undercut the shops, because you’re not a professional and aren’t paying shop fees. Side Hustle 7. Write About Music And now for my primary side hustle – music blogging! I love writing about the music industry, because it’s literally what I think about all day long. I’m the kind of person who will write an essay about something I feel stressed about, just to organize my thoughts. If you have some unique experience in the music industry, you should try writing about it. Draft some ideas, write them up, and then pitch them to some popular blogs. Worst scenario, they say “no”. Blogs and websites are always looking for more content and fresh voices. Give it a shot! P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you! Similar Posts How Much Money Can Musicians REALLY Make From Streaming? As you may or may not have noticed, here on Music Industry How To I haven’t really put up too many guides on how to get your music on streaming website. This is mainly due to the fact that doing this doesn’t earn you that much in terms of revenue. Furthermore, there are other websites… How Musicians Can Overcome Their Fear Of Selling (And Why They Need To) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard these words, not just from musicians but other creatives: “I’m not a salesperson.” Most people don’t like selling. It has a lot to do with how we look at selling and how we feel about it, which is usually some combination of pushy, aggressive, pressuring, manipulative… How Do Spotify’s 2024 Changes in Royalty Rates Affect Independent Artists? Time for some more royalty payment news! Most independent musicians releasing music today understand that the music industry itself is fundamentally flawed in its use of archaic business practices in today’s digital age. We agree to the industry’s terms and conditions every time that we release new music on streaming platforms.  With Spotify’s proposed changes… How Much Do Singers Make Per Song, Concert, Album & More When you Google “How Much Do Singers Make”, you get a confusing list of answers. Some sites will tell you that the average singer is making $30/hour, which works out to between $45,000 – $65,000 per year if they were working full-time. I can tell you right now that the answer isn’t that straightforward. What… 4 Types Of Paid Singing Jobs Which Could Boost Your Income I’m sure there aren’t many singers who would turn down chart positions and a full time living from their songs. That said, it’s not easy to get to this stage, and it can often take a while till you’re earning even a part time living from your music. Did you know though that you could… Youtube For Musicians 2024 – The Ultimate Blueprint For Success! With gigs being canceled left and right, coronavirus has been playing havoc on the income of gigging musicians. Music teachers are also feeling the sting, with students pulling out of lessons and many schools around the world closing down. But what can be done going forward? This is what we share. News & Politics Science & Health Life Stories The New Sober Boom Getting Hooked on Quitting Liberal Arts Cuts Are Dangerous Is College Necessary? Dying Parents Costing Millennials Dear Gen Z Investing In Le Creuset Bitcoin Gambling Bitcoin Casinos Bitcoin Sports Betting SEC vs Celebrity Crypto Promoters 'Dark' Personalities Drawn to BTC “Hot Ones”: Ariana Grande says she feels really “proud and grateful” when she hears her old songs The “wicked” star also said she’s not a fan of hot sauce while conquering the wings of death in the season finale, by joy saha. In anticipation of her role as Glinda in the upcoming film adaptation of “Wicked,” Ariana Grande appeared on the season 24 finale of “Hot Ones” to discuss her music — both old and new — while feasting on a platter of spicy, vegan chicken wings. When asked about doing stunts on the set of the “Wicked” films, Grande took the opportunity to praise her co-star Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba. “There was lots of bubble singing, which was very high up, and I wasn’t harnessed — I was just kind of there,” she told host Sean Evans. “I had a lot of stunty singing, but nothing compares to Cynthia Erivo.” “Watching Cynthia in her harness with a broom, a hat, wig, corset, dress — the whole thing — flipping upside down, flying around the set, singing ‘Defying Gravity’ every take like it’s nothing … just the most phenomenal thing I’ve ever seen,” Grande continued. “We had to do some really insane and beautiful things for this film.” Grande later spoke about the “conflicting” experience of having her music leaked: “It’s really hard for me, because it’s really disheartening, and it’s disappointing, and it sucks. And I am constantly trying to get to the bottom of how people get stuff, whether it’s videos or pictures or audio, songs, and then also like, commented on, criticized, blah blah blah. “So it’s conflicting because that is very frustrating and feels very dehumanizing, and then the other side is like… I’m so grateful to be an artist people care about, and my fans want more of me, so they’re going to these extremes to steal and break in. It’s so lovely to be loved. But yeah, I sit somewhere in between being grateful to be here at all and being like, ‘But really? Come on.’ So that’s how I feel.” As for if she ever gets tired performing her old songs, Grande told Evans, “That’s a natural thing that all artists can relate to.”  “There was a time when it was hard for me to feel that same gratitude that I do now for certain songs and for the music…becoming a pop star is insane at 19 or 20, and I think that experience was sort of married to some of the songs a little bit,” she said. “Or some of the songs that are more emotional, the experience that inspired them can be married to the music.”  Want more great food writing and recipes? Subscribe to Salon Food's newsletter , The Bite. “But with time and therapy, we sort of are able to re-embrace, so I feel just really proud and grateful and happy when I hear them, whereas I used to maybe hear it and cry.” The “Victorious” alum has released seven studio albums throughout her career thus far. Her most recent album, “Eternal Sunshine,” was released on March 8, 2024, and was her first new project in over three years. Although Grande admitted that she’s not a fan of hot sauces, she remained poised throughout her interview and ultimately conquered the spiciest wing in the lineup. “Where do you think I’ll sit on the scale from DJ Khaled to Lorde?” she asked Evans. “I do my homework.” Watch the full video below, via YouTube : about "Hot Ones": Deadpool and Wolverine join forces to battle — and conquer — the wings of death on “Hot Ones” “Hot Ones”: Donald Glover bids adieu to Childish Gambino moniker while feasting on spicy wings Sabrina Carpenter powers through the heat while discussing songwriting and her fans on “Hot Ones” Joy Saha is a staff writer at Salon. She writes about food news and trends and their intersection with culture. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Related articles. Share full article Advertisement Supported by At a Festival Amid Industrial Ruins, Ivo van Hove Takes Charge For the Belgian director’s first edition as leader of the Ruhrtriennale, abandoned sites are “the starting point and the end point,” he says. By Elisabeth Vincentelli The calling card of the Ruhrtriennale Festival of the Arts is to present shows in former industrial sites, like power stations or coal plants, among cities in the Ruhr region of northwestern Germany. For the theater-maker Ivo van Hove, who is presenting his first season as the festival’s artistic director, this is churning up feelings of déjà vu. “I was 20 years old at a time in Belgium when theater was the most old-fashioned thing you could imagine,” van Hove, 65, said. “My generation made a real change and we did that by, for instance, not playing in theaters. My first production was in an abandoned laundry. We played for 30 people and we had 30 actors onstage.” The scale is much larger at the Ruhrtriennale , but at least van Hove had staged five productions at the festival before taking the helm, so he is familiar with the artistic parameters. One of them is paying attention to musical theater, which can take on vastly different forms in Europe compared with English-speaking countries. According to Krystian Lada, a Polish director who helped van Hove put together the slate, the Ruhrtriennale is known for presenting “a new vision of music theater” in Germany, where so-called high and low cultures are often rigidly separated. Lada’s own entry in the 2024 festival, “ Abendzauber ,” combines works by Bruckner and Björk. Van Hove’s “ I Want Absolute Beauty ,” which kicks off the festival on Friday, revolves around the “Anatomy of a Fall” and “The Zone of Interest” star Sandra Hüller (whom he had directed in Eugene O’Neill’s play “Strange Interlude” in 2013) performing a song cycle pulled from P.J. Harvey’s back catalog. (Van Hove’s take on musical theater, or any theater for that matter, is often divisive : A recent review in The New York Times called his musical adaptation of the film “Opening Night,” with new songs by Rufus Wainwright, “ a travesty .”) Other offerings of note at the festival include “ Legende ,” the dissident Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov’s take on the filmmaker Sergei Parajanov’s work; Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s new dance piece “Y”; and Philip Venables and Ted Huffman’s music-theater work “ The Faggots and Their Friends Between Revolutions .” We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . 275 COMMENTS The Homework Song It was sung by Lex, Presley, and Munchy. Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted. The Homework Song is a song that Lex made up. It was first introduced in Lunch Boxed In. She sings it while she's doing her homework. I like homework, I like homework It's like schoolwork, but it's homework This song was sung a second ... Side Hustle Homework Song Side Hustle Room For Munchy Side Hustle [I like HomeWork song ] About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright ... We Got This (Side Hustle Theme Song) Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupWe Got This (Side Hustle Theme Song) · Jayden Bartels · Jules LeBlanc · Nickelodeon Side HustleWe Got This (Side ... We Got This! "We Got This!" is the official theme song of Side Hustle. (I got you, got me, we got this!) I like the odds when we're side by side (I like the sound of that, oh) We're taking off, gonna do this right (I like the sound of that!) And when things go up in flames, we're on it, 'Cause I got you, got me, we got this! (I got you, got me, we got this!) What's up we're caught up in a reel crunch, so ... Side Hustle Wiki About the Show; Synopsis; Side Hustle follows best friends, smart and sarcastic Lex and confident and tough Presley, as they devise a plan to make money when fireworks accidentally destroy a boat belonging to the dad of their quirky friend and neighbor, Munchy.Forced to come up with creative ways to earn money to pay for the damages, the best friends enlist the help of Presley's tech-savvy ... Side hustle homework created by Julesxlex Side hustle homework is a popular song by Julesxlex | Create your own TikTok videos with the Side hustle homework song and explore 1.4K videos made by new and popular creators. 30 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2024 1. Freelancing. Freelancing is a tried-and-true way to earn extra money and deserves a top spot on any list of easy side hustle ideas. Freelancers deliver work on a per-project basis for one or ... Ways to make more with my side hustle : r/sidehustle Ensure you trust the person. Or find ways to automate your homework (improve efficency). Use AI for example to do so. Build a no-code app that scans the homework and gives you the first results that you need to tweak a bit. Time is money. Reduce your time per homework. 2. Music as a Dream Job: Make It Your Side Hustle The Power of the Side Hustle. Engaging your creativity, perfecting your music, and earning extra income sounds like a dream to most people. Nothing is stopping you from tapping into your side hustle capabilities —- except maybe procrastination and a desire to stay in your comfort zone. Of course, there are practical reasons to grow a side hustle. We Got This Full-HD Clip We Got This (Side Hustle Theme Song) Yeah, you and I, we got this. [Chorus] I like the odds when we're side by side. I like the sound of that, oh. We're taking off, gonna do this right. I like the sound of that. And when things go up ... Lex Lex is the deuteragonist of Side Hustle. The show follows her, Presley, and their zany friend Munchy as they accomplish odd jobs to pay off debt after they accidentally destroy a boat belonging to Munchy's dad. She is the longtime best friend of Presley. Lex is smart, sarcastic, kind and caring. Lex has dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. In Season 2, her hair is a dark hazelnut brown and ... 21 Side Hustles for Musicians Maybe you should. Earn some extra money with these side hustle ideas. 1. Gigs. This one may seem obvious but there are many musicians out there who have never considered their passion may be a money generator. The beauty of the live music side hustle is you can make it happen relatively quickly. Lex Lex is the main protagonist of Side Hustle. She is longtime best friends with Presley and Munchy. She is portrayed by Jules LeBlanc. Lex is smart, sarcastic, kind and caring. Lex has dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. In Season 2, her hair is a dark hazelnut brown and shorter. "See to me, that's a red flag!" - Lex to Munchy. "This is why I don't like squezing things!" - Lex to Presley. "Big cuz ... How to Make Money with Music in 2024: 29 Music Side Hustles 03. Busk. Busking, or street performance, involves playing music in a public space and waiting for passersby to give you money. Busking is by far the fastest way to earn money with music. Theoretically, you could have a hold of physical cash within minutes of deciding to start busking. Side Hustles: What They Are and How to Start Yours A well-rounded business plan can help you create a side hustle that can grow with intention. 4. Set up your side hustle. Depending on your side hustle, you may need to set up a social media presence. Create a branded email address, register on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, or build your online storefront. 12 Flexible Side Hustles for Women Looking to Increase Their Income If you're a woman passionate about health and fitness, coaching could be the perfect side hustle for you. With the market set to grow from $41.8 billion to $65.5 billion by 2033, there's a ... Side Hustle Theme Song Watch the official music video of the full length version of the Side Hustle theme song "We Got This!" sung by stars Jules LeBlanc and Jayden Bartels!Catch "... 7 Side Hustles for Musicians 2. It Should Generate Income. If you aren't making money with a side hustle, it's a hobby. Hobbies are great, and you should have hobbies. The difference is that you're going to spend money on hobbies and make money on side hustles. 3. You Should Enjoy It. There are lots of ways to make money. Homework · Side Hustle Academy Homework . This is my list and realized by cutting back on the stuff that's not moving the needle forward by a little bit those incremental changes can have a great ripple effect in developing my business. ... Side Hustle Academy. Public group. Students! Let's turn your passion into a profitable side hustle while excelling in school. Reach ... For those who either as a hobby or side hustle, or even with ... Engage with other people who write songs, show your work in progress, ask for feedback, or discuss the art of making music! ... Members Online • [deleted] ADMIN MOD For those who either as a hobby or side hustle, or even with intentions for a career, produce and distribute your own music by yourself, whilst working a regular 9-5 job, how is ... Most Musical Moments from Side Hustle S1 Jules LeBlanc and Jayden Bartels have brought their singing chops to their characters Lex and Pressley on Side Hustle. Check out all of their most musical mo... "Hot Ones": Ariana Grande says she feels really "proud and grateful "Hot Ones": Ariana Grande says she feels really "proud and grateful" when she hears her old songs The "Wicked" star also said she's not a fan of hot sauce while conquering the wings ... At a Festival Amid Industrial Ruins, Ivo van Hove Takes Charge Van Hove's "I Want Absolute Beauty," which kicks off the festival on Friday, revolves around the "Anatomy of a Fall" and "The Zone of Interest" star Sandra Hüller (whom he had ... Side Hustle About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright ... essay homework paper phd project resume review speech study thesis