Here's some suggestions from my perspective:

1) Make a demo CD (It should be of excellent quality). Update this fairly frequently as you improve or as you learn more tunes. Some wedding books tell the brides to expect that the "good musicians" to have a demo CD. Alternatively, one could provide a web site for brides to visit with your information,your suggestions, testimonials and reviews of your playing, and with some sound clips.

2) If you intend to become a professional, try not to play too many gigs as freebies. If you do, then people will expect more. It doesn't matter how professional you are, people will always expect free to cheap performances.

3)For wedding gigs, you need to associate with organists and bridal (pre-wedding) events/shows. Organists will often suggest soloists...that they know, they have worked with successfully or that they are aware of. Sometimes the presiding religious leader of a congregation (for example: the Priest, Minister, Rabbi) will also control these things but this is a rare situation.

4)Always be prepared and interact "professionally". In other words, be prepared as best that you are able musically -of course but also be upbeat, don't complain, perform your best, don't be a primadonna-no matter how good that you think that you are.

5)Don't overcharge.

6)If you live in the US, join the AFM in your area (American Federation of Musicians) and get to know the officers. The Secretary will often answer the phone at their office and many people looking for a flutist will often call the local AFM.

Remember that flutists are a a dime a dozen. There's one behind every bush. every one of them are extraordinary but truly good flutists are rarer than hen's teeth.
Also, if you want more gigs and you are in a small community, you either have to make them yourself (solo recitals) or you have to go somewhere where the gigs are more common such as a larger town but if you do, you will be moving in on other flutist's gigs.

But the bottom line is this, if you are getting gigs, you are getting your name out there. Your own personality and your playing expertise will define your number of gigs relative to your competition.

just a few ideas......

Well, it sounds like you're already doing a good job. You're already doing much more than I ever did. xD Try talking to your church music director to let him know that you would like to start playing in more events (such as weddings) and how to get started in that. As to getting involved in young artist competitions, that just takes research. Talk to your band director and private instructor about different opportunities in your area. Take a look around the internet for different artist scholarships and national music opportunities. There's a lot of stuff out there!

Try taking a look at the Young Arts Scholarship. http://www.nfaa.org/ Just make sure you have an accompanist. (*grumble grumble*)

it sounds like you are doing fine, take Bilbos advice, it is very wise...remember that every concert you do is experience, even if it doesn't pay well, or at all, if I had a dollar for every freebie I played, I would be a millionaire already...

the more you play out in the community, the better known you will become...also, put on your own concerts whenever you can and save the program and record the event with GOOD EQUIPMENT and GOOD MICS.. a poorly recorded event won't serve you well, and don't post anything on YouTube if it doesn't sound good...

Always have a website up and running about yourself and have business cards at the ready, and always return calls right away..

"and don't post anything on YouTube if it doesn't sound good..."

good point Patrick. This "Sound Good" part can be problematic in that the quality can be an issue with the internet file that is created at the YouTube Servers, the playback equipment of the individuals' computers, or simply the way that you play the piece in tone, tuning and inflection.

One other comment, as a person that may be transitioning into a professional career, there comes a point where any excuses for bad performance (whatever the reason) aren't generally accepted. These that don't become acceptable are,
My flute fell apart, the dog ate my music, I got lost going to the gig, I have the sniffles.---Fill in your own....

I was also thinking about another (darker side IMHO) of performing locally. More often, there may be a performer that is already doing the job. Some up-and-coming players will invariably do their best to get their name out there and to get their foot in the door regardless of the person already doing the job. The newer player may feel that they "deserve this position" or that they are a "better" player. My comment is that when all is said and done, you are getting involved in music because you love some aspect of it. So also does the other person who is already performing that you are trying to "beat out" of a job. Act responsibly with kindness so that when you look back, you can be proud of your life. Otherwise when (and not if), the same happens to you, you will not really understand it all.

If you're looking for young artist competitions, there's always the National Flute Association competitions.

http://www.nfaonline.org/competitions

good points Bilbo, in other words, don't feel sorry for yourself, ever..just move on if things don't go the way you want..

one requirement for a music career is a thick skin and the ability to take criticism..

"one requirement for a music career is a thick skin and the ability to take criticism..'
yes!!!
Take it, consider the source, and then move on with the information.


Don't burn your bridges. (I hope that the young kids understand what that phrase means.)

Don't give up. Ever....

Pay attention.

I think that many of us are in music because we are drawn to this art. We love it. Not necessarily because we are driven to be all that successful as the primary reason for doing it. I have seen many players who were always rated better than I was but who gave up on the grounds that they either needed to make more money or that they weren't as successful as they had expected to be.

So sure, everyone wants to be T-H-E best ***** BUT, the best musicians have learned that it takes more than just a desire. It takes blood, sweat and tears. ...and sometimes years of it. NOt to mention some good old fashioned luck. As proof,
Go and seek out someone like Sir James Galway and ask him this, (Sure you can. Don't be afraid. He's really quite nice.) Here....
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Galway-Flute-Chat/messages

Go and ask him:
How difficult has his career in music been?
How hard has he had to work at it?
Then ask him if his music career was worth all the hard work. I dare someone to do this... ;-)

~bilbo

In your community/town/area, find places where people put up cards offering services: bulletin boards in supermarkets, other stores, churches, schools, etc. That's often how I find people who do editing, writing, massage, babysitting, and so on.

If your area also has active craigslist.com forums, submit postings a few times a week to the forums on Musicians, Creative Services, and Event Services. This is also a good way to find others interested in joining you -- or having you join them -- in performing for events.

Good luck!

<Added>

Here is a posting from today's craigslist for the San Francisco Bay Area ("Event Services"):

We are Duo Alegria, an experienced, professional Flute/Guitar duo that specializes in providing musical entertainment for weddings, parties and other special events. Our versatile repertoire includes classical selections, jazz standards and Brazilian Bossa Nova and Samba. We also offer vocals/guitar in addition our flute/guitar repertoire. Let us provide beautiful music for your special event. A Demo CD with musical selections and an Informational Brochure which includes a sample song list and performer information is available upon request.

Please contact us at:
xxxxxxx

take good care with Craigslist, a student of mine advertised on there and had a few unpleasant encounters.

Here's a few more things to consider that I have not seen mentioned...

This may sound a bit morbid, but don't overlook the possibility of getting gigs to play at funerals. Today's population is aging and while not everyone gets married, everyone dies at some point, so business is booming. While funerals are not typically "done up" as big as weddings, many include soloists to play a favorite song or two of the deceased or of their family. In a typical year, I play for more funerals than weddings and they are generally pretty easy gigs - play a song or two and you're done in about an hour.

Again, getting to know church music directors/organists can help you to get a few funeral engagements. Circulate your name to the funeral homes in your area, too. The only gotcha is that funerals frequently occur on weekdays whereas weddings are more typically on weekends. Oh yeah, another problem with playing funerals is that you play Amazing Grace so often that you get sick of it. Get several different arrangements of Amazing Grace so that you can mix it up without dying of boredom.

Another point to consider is that when you play for weddings or funerals, you sometimes run into organists/pianists that are not used to accompaning solo instruments. Sometimes they are so used to playing alone and "doing their own thing" that this can present problems for you as a flutist. If you don't know the accompanist, be sure that you schedule a rehearsal as far as possible in advance so that there are no surprises. I've learned that there are certain accompanists that I must decline to play with. I'd rather not play a gig than to play one that makes me sound bad because the accompanist is a "diva", drops/adds beats, or can only play in certain keys - Yes, that happens!