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PROFITABLE MUSICIAN WEEKLY NEWSLETTER |
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Hey there, Profitable Musician!
I know we joke about “the check is in the mail,” but when you are the musician waiting for that check, it stops being funny pretty fast.
I remember doing luncheon gigs where I would walk in with my merch and my speaker setup, and someone would point me toward my spot at a beautifully decorated table.
The best feeling was when I saw a card sitting there with my name on it.
Payment handled.
I could sing, connect with the room, enjoy the little conversations afterward, pack up my stuff, and drive home without doing that awkward mental math about whether it was too soon to follow up on my payment.
That kind of peace, I must admit, made a difference in my focus.
Because when payment terms are vague, it can take up way too much space in your head, even if you don’t realize it.
You may have given a beautiful performance and had people come up afterward with tears in their eyes or big smiles and outstretched arms. The activity director probably told you they definitely want you back.
And then you get home and realize you still don’t know who actually submits the invoice, when checks are cut, or whether the person who loved your show has any control over getting you paid.
Now you are trying to be professional without sounding pushy. You reread the email before sending it because “just checking in” somehow feels both too soft and too annoying, and then you wonder if you should wait one more day.
I hate that feeling.
And I know a lot of you know it very well.
When Tara and I talked about this on the podcast, she shared that she has become much more direct about payment timing when she books gigs. She does not just agree on the amount and hope the rest works out. She asks when she will be paid.
For her, the ideal is the day of the gig, either when she arrives or right after the performance.
That may sound bold if you are used to being grateful for whatever gig you can get, but I think it is actually a very grounded and professional way to run your music business.
Tara performs a lot. If she is doing ten or more gigs in a month, she cannot spend the next month chasing every check that got stuck somewhere in a process nobody explained to her.
And this is where the emotional part of money gets tangled up with the practical part.
Because chasing a check is not just an administrative task. It changes the way you remember the whole experience.
A gig that should have felt satisfying starts to feel unfinished, and even unfair.
A venue you might have loved starts to sour a bit.
And instead of thinking about the genuine and appreciative people who came up to you after the show, you are thinking about the email you still have to send next Tuesday if nothing shows up.
That is a lot of weight to carry when a simple conversation ahead of time could have cleared up most of it.
I do want to be fair here because I have seen the other side too.
At a church or nonprofit, I know checks may need to go through a treasurer. Sometimes they are sent through a bill pay system. And oftentimes, the person booking the musician is not the person who actually sends the money.
Most of the time, it’s not about people being careless or disrespectful. It’s about getting clarity on their system and deciding whether you’re willing to accept it.
The payment process needs to be talked about before the gig, not after you are loading your speaker back into the car and hoping someone dashes out waving a check at you.
If you are booking paid performances, I would start adding these questions into your normal booking conversation:
When do you need my invoice?
Who should I send it to?
Will payment be ready the day of the event, or sent afterward?
How long does payment usually take once the invoice is submitted?
Is there a way to send the invoice now so payment can be ready by the performance date?
These questions are not pushy. They are part of booking the work clearly so both sides know what to expect.
And if you teach lessons, the same principle applies.
As a parent, I actually appreciate when payment is easy and automatic because I do not want one more thing to remember. Making payment easy is not just better for you. It is better for the person paying you.
Use an invoice with a payment button. Set up auto pay for regular students. Offer packages when it makes sense. If a venue can pay by credit card, Zelle, or direct deposit, ask about it.
Being clear about payment does not make you cold. It makes the whole experience easier for everyone, including the person who booked you.
I think musicians sometimes feel like asking about payment makes the whole thing less artistic, but I see it the opposite way.
When the business part is handled, you are freer to be present for the music.
You are not carrying that little knot in your stomach while you sing, teach, pack up, or drive home. You know what was agreed to, who is handling it, and when you should expect payment.
That is why Tara and I wanted to have this conversation.
Money can be awkward. Payment policies can feel uncomfortable at first. But the more you practice these conversations, the less personal they feel.
And honestly, your future self will thank you for every payment question you ask before the gig instead of three weeks after it.
Recently on The Profitable Musician Show, Tara and I talked about these hard money conversations, including late checks, teaching income, feast or famine seasons, and the practical things musicians can put in place so money feels a little less chaotic.
If you have ever waited for a check and wondered whether you were being impatient, you will feel very seen in this episode.
​Listen here on our blog or listen on Spotify.:
Always in your corner,
​<3 Bree
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