Plentiful options could turn your hobby into a career.
Conventional wisdom states that the best career lets you pursue your passions. If cracking open an old Atari for its 8-bit sound or composing dreamy synth arias hunched in front of your computer engages you, this dream may seem difficult to attain. As interest in electronic music increases, however, you'll find a broader ranger of career options suited to you.
Performer
Booking DJ sets can help you book gigs as a solo artist.
Paying all of your bills by playing music requires perseverance no matter how you approach it. If you have the funds and want faster results, you can hire a publicist and booking agent to set up your shows, arrange for interviews and send your demos to radio stations and influential music journalists. If you can't afford a publicist, play as many shows as possible and hope that your reputation takes off. Getting acquainted with other local musicians and promoting yourself online will help. Consider social networking websites for sharing demos and booking gigs, but use your best judgment. Some sites are subscription services that provide an easily accessible promotional package but don't guarantee any bookings and might not deal with all of the venues you would consider appropriate.
Book DJ gigs at venues you enjoy, even if you'd ultimately rather play your own music. Once you've booked a few nights, the staff will know more about you and your music, making them more likely to recommend you to their booking agent. You can always add some of your own original material to the mix.
Producer
Both technical schools and universities offer sound production courses.
During all the hours you logged figuring out make your own work sound exactly right, you probably learned a lot about the finer points of production. Pursuing further training can help you use your skills on others' music. If you skillfully mix down your own tracks or collaborate often with others, you already possess the right qualities.
Plenty of universities and technical schools offer coursework in production, sound design and sound engineering. Some offer these programs as part of a larger university's school of music, while others focus solely on production. Consult the Trade Schools Directory for a full list of technical schools offering programs in production and recording.
Composer
If when you think "composer" you think only Beethoven, Prokofiev or Liszt, think again. Composers, especially of electronic music, can find regular, satisfying work composing for video games, commercials and movies. Licensing services can help you with all of the above, although they may take a larger cut of your profit than you would care to lose. Contacting producers and developers directly gives you a hands-on option.
If you choose to take matters into your own hands, perform your research before you start sending out demos. Find the music supervisor and look into her past or current projects if you can. Send a track that could be suitable for an upcoming project, or a track that could find many applications. Kris Giampa gives excellent in-depth suggestions in his feature article at Beat Portal.
Educator
Music conservatories may not boast entire departments dedicated to electronic music, but it might not be long before they do. Some well-regarded music schools such as The Berklee School of Music offer straightforward classes in mixing, production and electronic composition. If you have a music degree, especially an advanced one, teaching positions in these venues might fit your needs.
If you lack formal training or want a less permanent job while making use of your electronic music skills, seek out informal places of learning such as skill shares, or even offer one-on-one lessons through a classified ad. You'll find eager students, even if they lack any kind of musical background. Teaching others can clarify your own ideas.
