Gig Resources - How to find work in the music business
I have assembled a helpful list of websites where you can find jobs for musicians in the entertainment and theater industry, audition notices, cruise and casting agencies, and industry information that is useful for moving your career forward. Often the key to getting a job is applying quickly when a new job comes up. Check job boards regularly for auditions and emergency replacements! I will continue to keep this list updated. Feel free to let me know if there is a site that should be listed here!
Playbill Jobs – Theater jobs posted here regularly including National Tours and Regional Theater gigs, as well as other industry-related jobs. Emergency replacements are often posted here so check regularly.
American Federation of Musicians – Orchestra Vacancies in US & Canada. Only union members can access the auditions page. Listings are also posted in the International Musician magazine.
Entertainers Worldwide – Mostly UK gigs, but some US also
Musical Chairs – Orchestra jobs plus other admin and teaching gigs
Audition Cafe – Lists Orchestral auditions, mostly in Europe
Radio City Orchestra Auditions – Auditions only happen once a year, usually early fall for the Christmas Spectacular
New York City Ballet – NYCB Orchestra Auditions
Disney Careers – Auditions for parks, resorts, cruise lines. They don’t come up often but keep an eye out for them. They can potentially be very good gigs, many seasonal.
Shen Yun Performing Arts – You’ve all seen the ads literally everywhere. Supposedly it’s weird working there but… here it is if you’re interested.
Cirque du Soleil – They don’t post specific vacancies but it’s always open for applications. They are particularly interested in people who play unique, non-traditional instruments
Keep an eye out for upcoming tours and job posts from these production companies.
Broadway show chairs are filled by contractors and are not typically posted, but these sites are good for keeping up with what’s going on in the Broadway world:
BroadwayMusicians.com – Lists all current chairs on Broadway.
Playbill – Exhaustive list of current & upcoming shows on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Touring, & Regional
IATSE Local One – Lists Upcoming opening & closing dates for all union theaters in NYC.
IBDB – Like IMDB but for Broadway. Lists all past cast, crew, & creatives for Broadway & Equity Tours
Cruise ships can be great gigs depending on what line, ship, band, & itinerary you are on. Some cruise lines, like Carnival US, book their own musicians directly. Others use agencies to source their bands. Every line operates differently so ask around before accepting a contract. These are some of the most common agencies you can go through, although there are many more out there. Some others will rip you off – Beware any agent that needs you to put down any money, arrange your own travel, or can’t give you specific contract details.
Proship Entertainment – Agency that contracts Showband & Dance Band Musicians for Cunard, P&O, Princess and other lines.
Lime Music Entertainment – Agency that contracts musicians for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara, and others.
Landau Music – Agency that contracts for Royal Caribbean and others.
RWS Entertainment Group – Casts String & Piano players for Holland America Line’s “Lincoln Center Stage” and rhythm sections for “Post-Modern Jukebox.” RWS also casts and produces the production shows on board HAL.
Windish Music & Productions – Casts Dueling Pianists/Singers for ships and all types of ensembles for theme parks
Carnival Cruises – Carnival US hires their own musicians and bands
Disney Cruises – Disney mostly handles their own hiring as far as I know, although they may use agencies occasionally as well.
US Air Force Band – Premiere & Regional Band Vacancies
US Army Band “Pershing’s Own” – Washington DC
US Army Field Band – Washington DC
US Army Bands – Regional Bands
US Navy Band – Washington DC
US Marine Band “The President’s Own” – Washington DC
US Marine Corps – Musician Enlistment Option Program (MEOP)
Entertainment Careers – Various industry-related jobs
New York Foundation for the Arts – Lots of art galleries and museums but also other arts jobs
Broadway Classifieds – Mostly internships, but occasionally real jobs come up.
Chamber Music America – Grants, Funding, Competitions, admin jobs
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Inside Higher Ed – University Teaching Jobs
Chronicle Vitae – University Teaching Jobs