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<\/p>\nMany of our students, particularly those working within the creative industries, go on to become self-employed, freelance, or start their own businesses. We recently caught up with Commercial Music graduate Patrick Channon to talk about his experiences and to find out how he became a successful freelance musician.
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Tell us about yourself<\/strong><\/p>\n I studied Commercial Music with Canterbury Christ Church University at Broadstairs campus where I was lucky both to be taught by and to study alongside some amazing musicians. I currently teach at two different primary schools as well as running music workshops and teaching privately. I\u2019m also a session musician, working in and around Kent and London with singer-songwriters, wedding bands and stage shows. A lot of the work I have has come from years of chipping away, I\u2019ve been gigging consistently since 2010 so I\u2019ve managed to get together a load of contacts I know I can call when I need the work. What I found is that it starts off slow but the more work you do the more people you get to know that will give you work, so networking is a massive part of what I do. I\u2019ve been teaching for two years now and I\u2019m only just getting to a point where it\u2019s becoming my full time job so I\u2019m still building that myself.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aside from networking the most important part of freelancing for me is staying consistent with what\u2019s on your plate and I think that\u2019s true to whatever industry you\u2019re in. When you\u2019re financially reliant on the work that you\u2019re getting you have to make sure you have a stacked schedule because work could fall through at any time especially when teaching privately. <\/p>\n
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\nHow have you built your freelance work?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"2\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/careers\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/506\/2017\/01\/2-e1484734013278.jpg\")
\nWhat advice do you have for those going freelance?<\/strong><\/p>\n
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\nWhat\u2019s next?
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\nI\u2019m quite lucky in that I\u2019ve been picked up by a couple of companies that help me out with teaching work, my aim for the next year to finally go full time with the work I\u2019m passionate about as well as building my own business running music workshops in schools.<\/p>\n