Be versatile. Don't limit yourself to only one type of venue. Play the clubs. Seek private parties and weddings, corporate events, fundraisers, restaurants, festivals, business events and church activities and similar events. In addition to generating cash flow, you will also get exposure to new people in various markets who may want to hire you in the future.
Promote yourself on the Internet and at your gigs. Create a professionally-written and designed web site that features your bio, show schedule, photos, and MP3 recordings of your original songs. Hand out postcards with your web address at your gigs. Mention your site on stage. Entice people to visit by allowing them to download an MP3 of one of your original songs for free. Carry business cards with you at all times. Use the social media like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and MySpace. Create a free institutional page on Facebook about your band or yourself. Steer fans to this page and engage them in dialogue about your music, events and activities. Network with other musicians to share gigs.
Advertise in the local or regional Yellow Pages. Seek listings in the many business and professional services directories, which are also free. List yourself under categories such as Entertainment, Musicians, Bands and Orchestras, Wedding Services, and Special Event Services. If you have a large market, pair your ad with a toll-free 800 number to make it very easy for prospective clients to reach you. Seek free publicity in event listings of your daily or weekly newspaper and community publications. Include a photo.
Sell CDs of your original music at your gigs. Whether you record and mix it in your own home studio or pay for studio time, be sure that your CD is professional quality. Choose professionally designed graphics or photography for the CD label and case inserts. Then you can command a price comparable with the suggested retail price of music CDs, usually around $15 - $20.
Volunteer to play at charitable events. This is all about getting exposure to people who might want to hire you for paying jobs. The organization will include your name in promotional materials, and the event may generate some TV or newspaper coverage. The organization leaders will most likely think of you first when they are looking to hire a musician for a paying job.
Join your local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians. The AFM provides a wealth of resources and services to help self-employed musicians build successful, well-paying careers. Most importantly, AFM members can file a union contract with their clients to ensure that they get paid. AFM also offers a member pension fund, among other benefits.