How To Land Your First (or Next) Gig in the Music Industry: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Hired
/By Chris Goyzueta | Making It Academy
Breaking into the music industry isn't about luck. It's about strategy, persistence, and showing up. In our latest AMA session, we went deep on one of the most common questions we get from students and aspiring professionals alike: How do I actually get hired in live music or touring?
The good news? There’s a roadmap. And it starts here with the most comprehensive resource list we’ve ever put together for finding work in live events, touring, venues, agencies, management, and beyond.
Below, I’ll give you a preview of what’s in that guide and how to start taking action today. Whether you’re aiming for your first gig, a freelance role on tour, or a pivot deeper into the business side of music, there’s a door in. Let’s find yours.
🚀 Step One: Show Up
Before we even get into the tools and job boards, understand this—half the game is showing up.
That means:
Attending local shows and networking
Introducing yourself to door staff, bar staff, sound engineers, merch sellers, and production crew
Following up with people you meet
Volunteering or working at any type of event (not just concerts—think festivals, 5Ks, wine tastings, etc.)
If you’re introverted (like me), it can be uncomfortable. But the magic happens when you put yourself in the room.
✍️ Step Two: Customize Your Resume
Don’t fire off the same resume to 10 different companies. Every job you apply to deserves its own tailored version. Why?
Because employers notice. When you speak their language and highlight relevant skills, you're no longer just "interested"—you’re qualified.
Look at job descriptions carefully and identify transferable skills. Worked at a restaurant or theme park? You’ve got customer service and high-pressure experience. Use that.
🎓 Step Three: Skill Up & Get Certified
Certifications are powerful—not just because they build your skill set, but because they unlock networks.
Some high-impact examples:
Spotify Certified Ads Manager
Meta/Facebook Blueprint Certifications
Google Ads Certifications
Coil Learning Center’s Stagehand Bootcamp (my course is dropping soon!)
Event Leadership Institute Courses
Event Safety Alliance Training
These not only beef up your resume but can get you tapped for beta programs, early access to new features, and even insider contacts.
🎤 Step Four: Attend Industry Conferences
If you're serious about networking, industry events are gold mines. Some key ones to target:
IEBA (Nashville) – October
NEVA Conference – June
Pollstar Live! – February
Event Marketing Conference (Atlanta) – June
South By Southwest – Bonus, but not the top priority
Student rates and volunteering options often make these accessible.
💼 Step Five: Apply Strategically
Don't overthink job titles. Apply to one role per company. You don’t want to come across as unsure of your goals.
And yes—you should apply even if you don’t meet every bullet point. Hiring managers write ideal “wish lists”—that doesn't mean they won’t consider someone who’s a few skills short but hungry and learning fast.
🧠 Step Six: Use This Resource List
Organizations/Training/Resources (more education):
Backline: https://backline.care/
Coil Learning Center: https://www.coillearningcenter.com/
Event Leadership Institute: https://eventleadershipinstitute.com/
Event Safety Alliance: https://www.eventsafetyalliance.org/
The Clinic: https://theroadieclinic.com/
Tour Management 101: https://tourmgmt.org/
Jobs Lists/Sites:
BobNet: https://www.bobnet.rocks/
Giggs: https://www.giggs.live/
NIVA: https://jobs.nivf.org/
Rostr: https://jobs.rostr.cc/
Pollstar: https://store.pollstar.com/jobs/
Production Hub: https://www.productionhub.com/jobs
Groups
Event Festival/Work Opportunity: https://www.facebook.com/groups/411086559351477/
Foot in the Door: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2273671966210532
Merchandise Tour Crew: https://www.facebook.com/groups/836550413062494/
Stagehand Opportunities: https://www.facebook.com/groups/386232523097219/
Stagehand Work: https://www.facebook.com/groups/197601953736067/
Women in Music: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2492683634289637
https://www.facebook.com/groups/371112508382140/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/howtobeastagehand/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/488061808050201/
Production Companies / Stagehand & Crew Companies
4Wall Entertainment: https://www.4wall.com/
Atomic Design: https://www.atomicdesign.tv/
Brown Note: https://brownnote.com/
Crew One: https://www.crew1.com/
Encore: https://www.encoreglobal.com/
James Thomas Productions: https://www.jamesthomasproductions.com/
LMG: https://lmg.net/
Mountain: https://www.mountainproductions.com/
Rhino: https://www.rhinostaging.com/
Soho Experience: https://www.sohoexp.com/
StageWise: https://www.stagewiseproductions.com/
MORE Production / Touring / Music Festivals
All Access Staging & Productions (Nationwide) - https://allaccessinc.com/
AVL Productions (Jacksonville, FL/North Florida) - https://www.avlproductions.com/
Clearwing Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.clearwing.com/
Clair Global (Nationwide) - https://clairglobal.com/
Crew One Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.crew1.com/
Eight Day Sound (Nationwide) - http://www.8thdaysound.com/
G2 Structures (Nationwide) - http://g2structures.com
Gallagher Staging (Nationwide) - https://www.gallagherstaging.com/
Mountain Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.mountainproductions.com/
Premier Global Production (Nashville, TN, Nationwide) https://www.premierglobalproduction.com/
PRG (Nationwide) - https://www.prg.com/
Rat Sound Systems (Nationwide) - https://www.ratsound.com/
Rebekkah’s Dreams Crew Services (South Florida)
Sixth Man Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.sixthman.net/
Solo Tech (Nationwide) - https://solotech.com/en/
Sound Image Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.sound-imageproductions.com/
Stageco Productions (Nationwide) - http://www.stageco.com/
Tait Productions (Nationwide) - http://www.taittowers.com/
Triton Productions (Nationwide) - https://tritonproductions.com/
Upstaging, Inc. (Nationwide) - http://www.upstaging.com/
VER Productions (Nationwide) - https://www.ver.com/
Live Events / Staffing / VIP Ticketing
237 Global - https://237global.com/
Andy Frain Services - http://www.andyfrain.com/
ASM Global: https://www.asmglobal.com/p/our-story/careers
Contemporary Services Corporation - https://csc-usa.com/
OMG VIP - https://www.omgvip.com/
On Location: https://onlocationexp.com/ambassadors
Sound Rink: https://www.soundrink.com/
Songkick - https://www.songkick.com/
Teamwork Online - http://www.teamworkonline.com/
Tickets Today - http://www.ticketstoday.com/
Cruises:
SixthMan Cruises: https://www.sixthman.net/
Major Record Labels:
Sony Music: https://www.sonymusic.com/careers/
Universal Music Group: https://www.universalmusic.com/careers/
Warner Music: https://www.wmg.com/careers
Indie Record Labels:
Coming.
Artist Management Companies:
Friends at Work | https://friendsatwork.com/
Maverick Management | https://www.linkedin.com/company/maverick-management/
Red Light Management | https://www.redlightmanagement.com/jobs-internships/
Roc Nation | https://livenation.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/RNExternalSite
SB Projects | https://www.linkedin.com/company/sb-projects-aka-scooter-braun-projects/
Shelter Music Group | https://www.linkedin.com/company/shelter-music-group/jobs/
Agencies:
CAA | https://www.caa.com/careers
UTA | https://www.unitedtalent.com/careers
Wasserman | https://teamwass.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/WassermanCareers
WME | https://wmeimg.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/WME
