The Thrifty Actor: Part VIII

Are you wasting your money on music? {via}

The Thrifty Actor: Part VIII

Saving Money on Music

This is more for my musical-actors and singers out there. Books of sheet music are expensive! Especially when you are trying to build your audition book with several songs from different genres to showcase your talent, you don't want to buy an entire book for $19.99 every time you need a song. Here's some thrifty ways around that. 

Buy One Song at a Time

Check out downloadable sheet music websites like SheetMusicScore.com or MusicNotes.com. If the song is popular or very common, you can download it and print it from home within minutes. It has saved my butt many times. 

A Trip to the Library Has Made a New Girl of Me...

Is there a college in your area that has a drama or music program? Chances are their library has a collection of sheet music. You might not be able to check out the books, but you can go and photocopy what you need. They might also have CDs there, too. 

Tradesies!

Can't find a specific song? Ask around. Maybe your friends or professors would be willing to lend you a copy. If you went to school for music, chances are one of your friends is a sheet-music-hoarder (cough cough). Online music sharing communities do exist, and you can find a wealth of free information, however the copyright legality is a bit shaky. At your own risk, you daredevil, you.

RE: Deduct it, Baby

So you can't find the sheet music to "Paint Your Wagon" anywhere and end up buying the complete score online for $65. Great! Keep your receipt and deduct it on your taxes as a business expense.