Intro: I just lost my job. I’ve been working at a company while working many music gigs and after 14 years… the typical story of downsizing hits home. It happened to me!! “They took our jobs! Dey took ‘er jerbs!! Durka der!!”
What do I do next!? Read on.
Music Lessons:
I IMMEDIATELY turned on my music lessons recruiter Takelessons.com. Sure, they take a cut, but they find students that I can help. I emailed my lesson list of former students to spread word of mouth. I wrote a blog! (You are reading it). Email newsletter update!
Teaching at a School:
I started up percussion ensemble again and mallets classes at Milwaukee Area Technical College. This gives me the opportunity teach music lessons, music business, ensemble playing and film scoring! Consider joining us over at MATC.
Gigging:
Right away, the week after finding out about losing my job, I got a gig playing vibraphone with Lost Tribes of the Moon at The Rave! This opened up my mind to playing more private parties and corporate events. Working on getting a profile on a platform, but for now you can contact me for prices and availability here: https://mikeneumeyer.com/contact-mike/
Merchandise:
I already have a lot of merch and sheet music, but I’ll be honest, it doesn’t fly off the shelf unless I’m playing out more. Did you always want that cat shirt or music and it wasn’t the right time? Now it helps me develop this business for the future even more! (I have a brand new shirt design and new stickers as well!). The vinyl are coming sometime, I swear! Lol. Here’s my store!
Sample Packs:
I recently worked on extracting parts from a YouTube video with Peacekeeper Music and he clipped these sounds up for my entry into the sample pack realm. If this takes off, recording my beautiful sounds and grooves could have another home and be another income stream. Free Sample Pack
School Assemblies or Clinics:
I already have some school visits scheduled to meet new people and demonstrate ideas of percussion and improvisation! Same as above, as a band director, do you want to ignite a new excite within your percussionists? Contact me because I’d love to stop by!
Session Musician:
I have now started an airgigs account and also posted my services on soundbetter.com. I’d love to record percussion, piano, voice, and more for your project. Here are my new accounts! Mike on Airgigs. Mike on Soundbetter.
So thank you for reading. Thank you for considering me for a project you have coming up or the teaching opportunities listed above.
It’s always scary if this happens to you, but I hope this inspires some of you out there that may have found it through losing your job.
Wish me luck on my new adventure of life throwing me a curve ball! I’m trying to dodge it like Neo avoids a bullet in The Matrix.
