In a forward-thinking move for music programs, Syracuse University partnered with Anyone Can Book a Gig to bring real-world booking education directly into the classroom, helping students develop the music business knowledge and skills they need to create opportunities and build sustainable careers.
As part of a recent classroom workshop, students learned how to approach venues professionally, plan tours, and manage the business side of being a musician—bridging the gap between artistic talent and industry know-how.
Contents:
- A Workshop That Bridges the Gap Between Art and Industry
- Why These Conversations Matter
- Syracuse Leading by Example
- A Shared Challenge Across Music Education
- What’s Next
A Workshop That Bridges the Gap Between Art and Industry
Hosted by the Setnor School of Music, our Anyone Can Book a Gig team joined a class for an interactive workshop focused on the business of booking live performances.
Over the course of 70 minutes, students explored:
- How to build a touring plan that aligns with artistic goals.
- The materials necessary for every artist and how to organize them.
- How to approach venues and bookers professionally.
- The essentials of contracts, riders, and marketing strategy.
The conversation was lively and insightful, with students asking sharp, practical questions about how to take their first professional steps after graduation.
Why These Conversations Matter
For many young artists, booking that first gig can feel like an impossible puzzle. They’ve learned how to play, compose, and collaborate, but not necessarily how to connect those skills to real-world opportunities.
That’s where Anyone Can Book a Gig comes in. Our program helps students understand that success as an artist isn’t about luck or viral moments — it’s about strategy, persistence, and professionalism.
As one student shared after the workshop:
“A notable takeaway from the lecture was how to specifically pinpoint my goals on what I deem as success in the career I want to follow.”
Defining your individual version of success is critical because it shapes every step you take on your journey. Some students shared dreams of opening recording studios, supporting themselves through performance, or transitioning into the business side of the industry. Each of these goals defines a different path, and having a plan to achieve one’s goal is essential.
Syracuse Leading by Example
Syracuse’s decision to bring Anyone Can Book a Gig into the classroom reflects a proactive approach to combatting issues in career readiness experienced across higher education. The more we hear from students and educators, the more we believe that career preparation is no longer optional, it’s essential.
By integrating practical business learning into their existing curriculum, Syracuse is giving students tools to navigate the live music world confidently and independently.
Reflecting on our live workshop, vocalist and professor Marianne Solivan shared:
“It was tremendous; the students loved it. The lecture had so many bits of information that you could really grab onto and go forth and work on. To have the tool of this book, which has the worksheets and everything you need to go from start to finish on booking either yourself or the artist that you’re working with, is just tremendous.”
Watch for the full quote below:
This type of collaboration between music schools and industry professionals is exactly how we close the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.
A Shared Challenge Across Music Education
A recent LinkedIn post from our Director, Katherine McVicker, about the need for practical booking education sparked thousands of impressions and comments, making one thing clear: this issue resonates deeply with educators everywhere.
Students graduate as talented performers but often feel unprepared to build sustainable careers. Institutions like Syracuse are taking the lead in changing that narrative — bringing real-world knowledge into academic spaces so students can thrive in the professional world.
The takeaway: Career education in music must include the business of booking. Syracuse University is helping lead the way.
What’s Next
Our team is continuing to partner with universities, conservatories, and college music programs to bring Anyone Can Book a Gig into classrooms in multiple formats:
- Guest workshops like this one
- Our Textbook for integration into course materials and libraries (with bulk educator discounts)
- Six-session guided intensives, where our team leads students through the course directly (ideal for summer programs)
If your department is exploring ways to strengthen your students’ career development, we’d love to talk.
📩 Reach out to us at course@musicworksinternational.com
Or learn more about educational partnerships → View our Educators Page
