Breakdown of Tax Write Offs for Musicians Starting Out. PT 1. Your Instrument!

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Starting your self-employment journey as a gigging musician is an exciting adventure filled with opportunities to grow your talent, reach new audiences, and create the life you've always dreamed of. But with the freedom to pursue your passions comes a new set of responsibilities, including managing your finances and making sure you're taking advantage of all the tax write-offs available to you. Don't worry, I've got you covered! Let's navigate the complex world of taxes and make sure you're keeping more of your hard-earned cash where it belongs – in your pocket. Below we'll start off with some basics in instrument upkeep and repair. Make sure to keep those receipts!

Stringed Instruments: Guitars, Violins, Basses, Banjos & Beyond

Instrument maintenance and repairs are a crucial aspect of keeping your stringed instrument in top playing condition. Some common maintenance tasks for stringed instruments include changing strings, cleaning the instrument, oiling the fingerboard, tightening screws and bolts, and adjusting the bridge and sound post. For repairs, it could range from fixing cracks, replacing damaged parts, fixing loose joints and fixing damaged sound post and bridges.
It is important to regularly maintain and repair your stringed instrument to ensure it continues to sound its best and lasts for many years to come. A good rule of thumb is to have your instrument professionally serviced once a year, or more often if you play frequently. A well-maintained instrument will be more comfortable to play, will sound better, and will hold its value longer.

Singers: It's not just only about being hydrated ;)

Vocalists, the primary maintenance and repairs needed are for their vocal cords and their microphone equipment. Keeping their vocal cords healthy and in good shape is essential for a vocalist to perform at their best. This may include practicing good vocal hygiene, such as avoiding yelling or excessive talking, staying hydrated, and taking breaks from singing when necessary.

Maintaining their microphone equipment, such as ensuring it is clean and in good working order, is also important for a vocalist to be able to perform effectively. In addition, vocalists may choose to invest in lessons or coaching to help maintain and improve their singing skills. Lessons depending on various factors may start anywhere from $50-$150/hr to group lessons being more affordable. It's best to shop around and find a teacher suitable for you.

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Brass & Woodwind Players: Dents, Dings, Joints & Keys!

For brass and woodwind players, regular maintenance and repairs can include:

1. Cleaning: Regular cleaning of the instrument can help prevent build up of saliva, oil, and dirt that can impact the sound quality and cause malfunctions.
   
2. Pad Replacement: Over time, pads on the instrument can deteriorate and need to be replaced in order to maintain the proper airtight seal for optimal sound.
   
3. Joints and Keys: Joints and keys on the instrument can become loose over time, and may need to be tightened or replaced to maintain proper function.
   
4. Dents and Damage Repair: Brass and woodwind instruments are susceptible to dents and other types of physical damage, which can impact their sound quality and overall performance. These repairs can include filling in dents and straightening out bent tubes.
   
5. Valve and Slide Alignment: Proper alignment of the valves and slides on the instrument is essential for optimal sound and ease of play. These components may need to be adjusted periodically to maintain the proper alignment.

Professional Maintenance: Regular professional maintenance is important for brass and woodwind instruments to ensure that they are in good working condition and produce the best possible sound. This may include a full overhaul or simply a tune-up, depending on the individual needs of the instrument.

For those that bang on things this one's for you

For drummers and percussionists, common maintenance and repairs may include:

1. Replacing drumheads: Over time, drumheads can become worn, torn or cracked, and will need to be replaced.
   
2. Tuning drums: Regular tuning of drums is important to ensure they sound their best and to maintain proper pitch.
   
3. Fixing cymbals: Cymbals can crack or become dented over time, and need to be repaired or replaced.
   
4. Replacing hardware: Hardware such as lugs, tension rods, and stands can wear out or break over time, and will need to be replaced.
   
5. Cleaning and oiling: Regular cleaning and oiling of drum and percussion equipment is important to prevent rust and maintain their longevity.

  It's important for drummers and percussionists to stay on top of their instrument maintenance to ensure they're always ready to perform their best. Taking care of your instruments is not only important for your performance but also for your financial health. 

  By making sure you have a good understanding of what repairs and maintenance you need to keep your instruments in top condition, and by keeping track of receipts for these expenses, you can ensure that you're getting the most out of your tax write-offs. With the right knowledge and planning, you can focus on what you do best – creating music and entertaining your audience – while also managing your finances smartly. So, don't fear telling your partner about that new guitar/bass/saxophone or condensor mic, as long as you keep good records you'll see some of that money back when you file your quarterly taxes!

Tax Planning for Gigging Musicians

Gigging musicians, don't let taxes be a roadblock on your way to success: Check out these tips:    

photo credit: unspash.com via @soundtrap

The attention to detail is key when it comes to keeping accurate records. Every receipt, every invoice, every mile traveled should be recorded with precision and accuracy. The smallest oversight could mean losing out on hundreds or even thousands of dollars in deductions and credits. It's not only about the art, but also about the business. The two must coexist in harmony. So, stay organized, stay on top of your record keeping, and you'll be able to fully enjoy the fruits of your labor!

As a gigging musician, keeping accurate records is essential for maximizing your income and minimizing your tax liability. The United States tax code can be complex and confusing, but with a little bit of organization and attention to detail, you can ensure that you're taking full advantage of all of the deductions and credits available to you. One of the most important things to keep track of is your income. This includes not just the money you earn from gigs and performances, but also any money you make from the sale of merchandise, streaming royalties, and other sources. Keep detailed records of all of your income, including the date, amount, and source of each payment. Another important aspect of record keeping is tracking your expenses. There are many different types of expenses that you may incur, including equipment and instrument purchases, travel and lodging costs, and promotional expenses.

photo credit: Kenny Eliason via unspash.com

Keep receipts and invoices for all of your expenses, and make sure to categorize them correctly so that you can easily find them when it's time to file your taxes. It's also a good idea to keep track of your mileage. If you're traveling to gigs, rehearsals, and other music-related events, you may be able to deduct some of the costs of those trips on your taxes. Keep a log of your mileage, including the date, destination, and purpose of each trip.

To make things easier, consider using apps like Simply Auto, Gas Buddy, Mint: Budget & Track Bills, Simple Budget to track your expenses, mileage and income. These apps are designed to help you stay on top of your finances, and they can make it much easier to organize and categorize your records. By using these apps, you can ensure that you're taking full advantage of all of the deductions and credits available to you.

In addition to keeping accurate records, it's important to stay organized and on top of your record keeping throughout the year. Set reminders for yourself to update your records on a regular basis, and make sure to keep everything in a safe and easily accessible place. Whether you use a physical filing system or digital records, keeping everything in order will save you time and energy when it comes time to file your taxes.

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Another important aspect of record keeping is keeping track of all your equipment and instruments. Your equipment is vital to your livelihood, and it's important to keep accurate records of your purchases, repairs and maintenance. Make sure to keep all receipts and invoices, and consider using an inventory management app to keep track of your equipment.

Repetition legitimizes: Keeping accurate records is essential for maximizing your income and minimizing your tax liability as a gigging musician. By paying attention to detail, staying organized and using apps like Simply Auto, Gas Buddy, Mint: Budget & Track Bills, Simple Budget, you can ensure that you're taking full advantage of all of the deductions and credits available to you. Remember to stay on top of your record keeping throughout the year or else you'll be playing the blues.

If you enjoy please consider commenting for any additional information I may have missed so I can do a follow up post!

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Stop & THINK

I figured posting on here would be a therapeutic way of venting rather than on Facebook, so here it goes....

STOP and THINK about the things you share on your social media stream! More specifically about the recent Las Vegas shooting at Mandalay Bay! The amount of conspiracy theories floating around in less than 12 hours since the act of cowardice that killed 58 people and wounded 500+ is unfathomable.  Have we regressed so far that we can't mourn or pay respects to victims without having to put our 2 cents in, in hopes of getting attention from our peers in "like" form?

First off, I get it, this was a shocking blow to many around the country (even more so than you could imagine had you actually been there in the chaos and fear at Mandalay Bay).  I worried for my friends that live in Vegas as many posted to see if friends and family were okay.
Yes it made me sick to think that once again there was another mass shooting but rather than start jumping on the #GunControlNow, #PrayForLasVegas #LasVegasShooting etc... hashtag nonsense I like the majority of people waited to hear what THE NEWS had to report.  You know credible information that has been gathered by people with knowledge on how to examine and correlate facts from fiction?
Yes there is FAKE NEWS proponents that can't wrap their minds around actual journalism and would rather bathe their egos in what ever narrative closely relates to their views so they can tune everyone out like the stubborn donkey on family guy but come on now? I was following things on twitter as well but rather than sharing the first thing that fit my narrative I read, thought about it, read some more thought about that, read even more and thought about what I've read and here's the kicker didn't post shit because I didn't have enough information yet to form an well thought out opinion! 
I log into Facebook later on in the morning and see the concerned posts, the shocked posts, the prayer posts.  Then my friends with the far right view points start posting their moronic pro gun rhetoric followed by my far left friends posting their moronic content finally my conspiracy theorist friends who I guess are a mix of the two, possibly anarchists start posting incredibly far reaching articles about the shooter couldn't of done this alone and how so and so did this and there had to have been more than one shooter because fill in the blank excuse with no credible source to back it up reason.

Now this video from Completely Offensive popped up on my news feed where this man speculates as to how this act of cowardice is a cover up for something more sinister and also gun control won't work because criminals don't obey laws and black people in Chicago kill way more than the mass shooter in Vegas.  Seriously?! This is just once of many examples floating around the social media stream.  At the moment that video has been shared 748 times, gaining momentum, popping up in other rationale minded peoples newsfeed because we all have that one friend that thinks 9/11 was an inside job.

So when I see those type of videos I normally go to the source and see the comment section because that's a great way to gauge the intelligence of people and mostly because someone like Brian Morrow comes along and totally nails it! Hopefully more people do this and research claims that sound far fetched and cherry picked (you may call it SJW or keyboard warriors) so unsuspecting people will at least get a little bit of knowledge in the comment section of a viral BS post.

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