Musician - Emerging Artist Program - Canadian Musicians Co-operative

Emerging Artist (Musician) AUDITIONS 2023 

The Emerging Artist (EA) Program is designed to help young Canadian musicians navigate the next level of their career, whether that is a significant tour, business growth planning, debut album release, preparing for export, or any other major stepping stone from the beginner level to the intermediate. We have roles for singer-songwriters, self-accompanied vocalists, and instrumentalists (including backline performers on bass, drums, keys, guitar, and horns). EAs should be able to work independently, and in small groups to achieve workplace outcomes. 

This is a seasonal contract position with full-time hours. This role pays minimum wage for your province. The Summer Emerging Artist Program (SEAP) length is 8-16 weeks with the earliest possible start date in May until the end of August. Students currently in post-secondary schooling are welcomed and encouraged to apply for this position as part of a program’s requirements for a co-op or work placement. Those also applying to the Pre-Professional Program only need to complete ONE (1) application under this job posting and indicate interest in the 3P program in the application questions. 

This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees both work from home and onsite in-person, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks and opportunities. Working from the office/studio/cohort site is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration. Training and Workshops may be online or in-person, as needed. 

Due to federal funding requirements for this position, eligible applicants must:

• Be 15–30 years of age on their first day of work
• Be a Canadian citizen, have a permanent resident card, or be protected under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (there is no requirement to be a student)
• Be present in Canada while working
• Hold a valid Social Insurance Number, and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations

EAs enjoy learning opportunities from a variety of industry professionals in navigating the intricacies of the music industry, gaining skills and knowledge and building judgment crucial for career growth. The primary focus of this program is to provide support for and animate local communities and build sustainability in our artistic workforce. Emerging Artists spend approximately 50% of their paid time providing engaging and high-quality musical entertainment supporting community events and promoting tourism initiatives. The remainder of their hours are invested in attending workshops, training, and hands-on activities to prepare EAs to level up their business. Some performers may be cast in principal roles for the end-of-summer touring Showcase.

Please note: The 2023 Summer Emerging Artist Program will be a blended model of in-person and online activities, subject to local health regulations and guidelines. As such, participants should be prepared to record and perform online as needed - either at home or another location arranged by the artist - with quality acceptable for online video-hosting or streaming.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in career-related skill-development programs, workshops, rehearsals, and training programs to develop the highest caliber of professional skills and attitudes that will transcend the summer job period.
• Provide engaging and high-quality entertainment at summer events such as festivals, community celebrations, tourism initiatives, and agricultural fairs taking place in public and quasi-public spaces within municipalities and events partnered with the Co-op.
• Learning, rehearsing & memorizing new repertoire, utilizing live performance techniques (either in-person or via online livestream) learned in the training program.
• Safely setting up/taking down personal performance equipment, delivering family-friendly performances suitable for public spaces at an appropriate volume for the location/traffic.
• Growing and polishing their existing portfolio of their electronic press kit and other assets, linked to the artist’s website for the purposes of personal skills and entrepreneurial growth.
• Complete administrative tasks on time and with accuracy, as assigned.
• Attend functions such as job fairs, networking events, schools, and other approved locations to support the Co-op, the Summer Emerging Artist Program, and Pre-Professional Program.
• Providing support for company programs (Food Rescue, Wellness, etc).
• Respond to inquiries and interactions via electronic means (e.g., email, Slack, etc.) in a timely and professional manner.
• Maintain professional workplace behaviour and confidentiality in the workplace.
• Clocking in and out and providing daily shift reports using Employee Self-Service in the HRIS, Payworks.
• Effectively using assigned PPE and following Health and Safety protocols.
• Wearing a clean Co-op program shirt and employee ID during all in-person performances.
• Complete SOCAN Notification of Live Music Performance and other reports as needed.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Typical EA Work Hours

EAs will participate in a shift sign up process at the beginning of the summer to provide the most flexibility in arranging schedules that suit their other performance commitment needs.

• Tuesday to Friday for training, workshops and waterfall mentorship
• Scheduled CEP performances on evenings and weekends
• Monday: Full “Dark Day” Off

EA Eligibility:

• Have their own portable solo performance setup for in-person (CEP) performance opportunity (battery-powered amplification implements optional, but strongly recommended)
• Have minimum of 60 minutes of material suitable for performance in public spaces, and be prepared to engage and entertain the public
• Be prepared to perform for up to 3 hours in length in-person
• Be willing to engage in online performances of up to 60 minutes

Selected candidates will attend an online callback audition and formal job interview. Bands or ensemble members must apply and audition*** individually, as each person’s contract is based on the employment of the individual. Once hired, Emerging Artists are encouraged to work together.

***If you are a member of a band or ensemble, materials for that band or ensemble may be submitted for your individual application, as long as you have heavily participated in the creation of those materials, and we can clearly assess your artistic contributions and presentation. Please indicate which person you are in the video, and what your contributions are.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

As part of this application, applicants must provide the following items for applications to be considered. NOTE: N/A is an acceptable answer where explicitly specified.

The application provides questions where you will provide each of these items.

• Up-to-date Electronic Press Kit (EPK)
• Website
• Biography (200 words minimum)
• Discography
• Social media/streaming/download statistics and links
• Short summary of your career-related goals for the end of the summer, one year from now, and five years from now.
• List of music- and/or business-specific grant funding you have received to date. Please indicate the granting organization/year received. (If not applicable, please write N/A).
• 2-3 minute audition video of a live, unedited performance (original songs preferred)
• Video must be unedited (i.e., no vocal tuning, audio processing, or video editing of any kind).
• Links to public performances are permitted as long as they follow these guidelines.
• We will review a maximum of three minutes of content. You can provide a link that starts at a specified timestamp of your choice.
• Video may be uploaded as “unlisted” on YouTube if preferred. Please ensure that your video link is NOT private, as the audition jurors will not be able to view it and your application will not be considered.
• Attendance at a local Round One Audition may be substituted for the online video.

If you have any additional documentation (i.e., strategic plans, release/promotional materials) that you would like to submit as supplementary information, please do so in the box labelled “Additional Documentation.” Please utilize a Google Drive, Dropbox or equivalent software to share these files, and ensure that the audition jurors will be able to open the files.

Applications are only accepted via our branded “GetHired” portal. All pre-screening questions must be completed. If you have found this job posting on a website other than GetHired, visit https://CanadianMusicians.coop and click on the “Summer Employment Opportunities” button in the top right corner of the page to access the full list of open positions and the application portal.

RETURNING STAFF

Emerging Artists employed in this role in any prior seasons are required to add a cover letter detailing:

• Their growth since their last season,
• Why they would like to return, and
• What they hope to get out of the program if selected for 2023.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Co-op also offers the Pre-Professional Program, which is an employment program similar to the EA program, designed for artists at the beginning of their career.

If you would like to be considered for both the Emerging Artist and Pre-Professional Program, please only submit the EA application, and indicate that you would like to be considered for both in the pre-screening questionnaire.

To have your application successfully advance to screening, please ensure you complete all pre-interview questions.

Following our initial screening, applicants may be invited to a virtual callback audition that will include a live audition in front of a jury, a short media interview, and a formal job interview. Interviews take place in March/April onwards until positions are filled. The number of positions available to be filled depends on funding received for this employment program.

Canadian Musicians Co-operative welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please email jobs@canadianmusicians.coop if you have any questions or require accommodations to apply, or for your interview.

The Co-op is committed to the health, safety, and well-being of our members. The Co-op has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy strongly encouraging vaccinations for all employees who can be vaccinated against COVID-19 (respectful of Ontario Human Rights Code considerations). The Policy requires mandatory disclosure of vaccination status and full compliance with the policy requirements. All new employees (and re-hires) are subject to the COVID-19 Policy and the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement Policy as a condition of employment and disclosure of vaccination status is required prior to commencing employment.

Co-op membership is not required to participate in the competition for this position, and no preference is given to existing members in our ranking process. Please note that you do not need to be a member of The Co‑operative to apply. If you choose to accept a position with The Co‑operative, you will be expected to join as a professional member upon acceptance of employment. Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members.

Applicants not selected in this role are welcome to join the Co-op, as membership in a cooperative is open to all people who can reasonably use its services and stand willing to accept the responsibilities of membership. Professional Creator members enjoy access to the same live or digital resources, support and community as those in our Emerging Artist programs.

We thank you for your interest in Canadian Musicians Co-operative and submitting your application. Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.