INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, welcomed Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes to provide another commentary in a series.
The Benjamin “BENCASSO” Barnes Commentaries
You’ve got talent—but without gigs, art stays a hobby. Chapter 7 of Artistpreneur Economic is your playbook to turning passion into profit. It lays out how to find and land music, acting, and art gigs by scouting local venues, online platforms, and festivals. But the magic is in networking —real relationships book more gigs than cold emails. Learn to pitch yourself, craft a killer booking email, and decide when it’s time to hire an agent. Whether DIY or pro-repped, the path to paid opportunities starts with hustle, strategy, and showing up. No more waiting—get booked, get paid, and get known.
🎙 1Intro Bio – Bencasso & The Coaches Corner
Benjamin Barnes, aka Bencasso™, is a violin-slinging street sage, CEO of Bencasso™ LLC, and host of the nationally syndicated Coaches Corner podcast segment. A former rockstar turned artistpreneur, he blends classical chops, gypsy jazz fire, and entrepreneurial insight to coach creatives on making a living from their art. From busking the streets to boardrooms, Bencasso™ has taught thousands how to monetize their craft, find gigs, and build sustainable artistic careers. His coaching, grounded in grit and vision, is the real-world guide for anyone wanting to turn creativity into currency. No fluff—just fire and facts, straight from the maestro’s mic.
📝 Artistpreneur Economic Chapter 7: Getting Gigs – How to Find and Land Opportunities
So you’ve got a dream, a craft, and the courage to chase it. But here’s the truth: art without opportunity is like a Ferrari without fuel. Beautiful, but going nowhere. Chapter 7 of Artistpreneur Economic is the roadmap for how to put that dream on stage, on canvas, or on camera—and get paid for it.
🎸 Gigs Are Oxygen for the Artistpreneur
Whether you’re a violinist, vocalist, actor, painter, filmmaker, or digital artist, gigs are your lifeblood. They bring exposure, experience, and income. This chapter doesn’t sugarcoat it: the best artist doesn’t always get the job. The one who markets, networks, and hustles hardest usually does. That’s showbiz economics, baby.
🔍 Finding the Right Gigs
Musicians, start with the basics:
- Walk into bars and venues—old school works.
- Scour Sonicbids, GigSalad, and ReverbNation.
- Contact event planners, corporate entertainment bookers, and wedding coordinators.
- Don’t forget sync licensing—upload your music to Songtradr, Artlist, and TAXI for TV/ film placements.
Actors, your goldmine:
- Build profiles on Backstage, Casting Networks, and Actors Access.
- Voice actors: jump on Voices.com or ACX for audiobook gigs.
- Cut your teeth in community theater, indie films, and YouTube series—build reels while building credibility.
Visual Artists, tap into:
- Juried exhibitions at galleries and art fairs.
- Public art commissions—cities fund murals and installations.
- Freelance sites like Fiverr, Upwork, and PeoplePerHour.
- Pop-ups, festivals, and residencies (which often offer stipends and free studio space).
🤝 Network Like Your Rent Depends on It (Because It Might)
“It’s not what you know—it’s who you know,” may sound cliché, but it’s gospel truth. Gigs are often shared in DMs, greenrooms, and gallery wine chats long before they’re posted online.
Want to stop being awkward and start being connected?
- Go where your tribe gathers: concerts, festivals, openings, open mics.
- Ask more than you talk. Listen more than you pitch.
- Follow up: a simple “Great meeting you” can lead to collaboration.
- Be visible online. Your Instagram is your business card now.
- Give before asking—share other artists’ work, help them shine, and you’ll glow by association.
📩 Booking Yourself vs. Hiring an Agent
DIY Booking is the artistpreneur’s rite of passage. It teaches negotiation, branding, and hustle. Pros:
- Keep 100% of your dough.
- Maintain full control over your career path. Cons:
- It’s time-consuming.
- You’ve got to wear every hat—artist, manager, negotiator, tech support.
Agent Life—once you’ve got consistent income, hiring a pro can level you up. Pros:
- They book bigger, better-paying gigs.
- They handle contracts and paperwork. Cons:
- They take a 10–20% cut.
- Not all agents are legit—never pay upfront.
Pro Tip: Agents don’t need chasing. Build your buzz, and they’ll come to you. Ask your peers for referrals and keep your online presence sharp.
🎯 Final Takeaways
- Be proactive. Gigs don’t fall into inboxes—they follow effort.
- Diversify: Perform live, license your music, act, paint murals—expand your streams.
- Network like it’s your art form.
- Follow up and follow through.
- Start DIY, and upgrade to an agent when you’re ready to scale.
This isn’t just about landing work—it’s about building a reputation. Be the artist who shows up, delivers, and follows up. Talent opens the door, but professionalism keeps it wide open.
Go get those gigs. The stage is yours. 🎤🎨🎬
Let me know if you want this formatted into a PDF, included in a newsletter, or turned into slides or video script!
Music: Year of the Dog (Bencasso’s Electronica and HipHop Album) “80’s Modal Dalmation”
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/51GwYmeay33ZhZlyQUSmxu? si=bc6d772b63e843be
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/80s-modal-dalmation/ 1608707576?i=1608707586
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B09S5V1ZYY? marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_o39YXb mq255zWpkDQZPHFcVDw&trackAsin=B09S5KTRZ5
Artwork: Bayshore Blvd D https://bencasso.org/featured/bayshore-blvd-d-bencasso-b.html
Available at Bencasso.org
Benjamin Barnes, aka Bencasso, is a genre-hopping artistpreneur, blending music, painting, and education. A classically trained violinist and rock band veteran, he’s survived mental illness and poverty, transforming into a respected author, teacher, and nonprofit leader. Founder of Bencasso LLC and Culture Scholar Corporation, Benjamin produces over 1,200 music releases, runs multiple YouTube channels, and hosts the Coaches Corner on the nationally syndicated Price of Business radio show. His work empowers artists to turn passion into sustainable livelihoods.
Social Media
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/benjamindavidbarnes
- Facebook: https:// facebook.com/benjamindavidbarnes
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/benjamindbarnes
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