Soundcheck: A Freelance Musicians’ Symposium

Monday, November 2nd, 2026 8:30am-4:30pm

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2026 9:30am-4:30pm

The Toronto Musicians’ Association (TMA) is proud to present Soundcheck: A Freelance Musicians’ Symposium a new Toronto event created for musicians, by musicians.

This interactive two-day event taking place on Monday, November 2nd to November 3rd, 2026 will bring together musicians from across the industry for engaging educational sessions, practical workshops, and networking opportunities.

We have assembled incredible line up of guest speakers and industry experts who will provide participants practical knowledge on topics including:

• Protecting & Diversifying Your Recording Revenue with CFM Executive Director, Liana White
• Know Your Rights with AFM Director of Freelance Services and Membership Development, Wages Argott
• Making it Last: Mental Health and the Freelance Music Career, with Revelios' Catherine Harrison
• Managing Finances for Freelancers with Creative Arts Financial, Nick Eddy
• and much more!

In addition, you will get the opportunity to hear real stories and lived experience from industry veterans- musicians, contractors, and presenters like Levon Ichkhanian (Musician, Contractor), Josh Grossman (Toronto Jazz Festival), Colleen Allen and Lou Pomanti (Musician, Producer), Rebecca Campbell (Musician), Rebecca Hennessy (Musician) and more.

Free and open to all musicians, Soundcheck is an opportunity to strengthen your career, expand your network, and connect with fellow musicians from across Toronto's vibrant music community.

Come learn, connect, and be part of something new. We look forward to welcoming you!

On the evening of November 2 at 6:00pm, we will host a Social & Open Mic Night in The Pilot's Stealth Lounge to connect, collaborate, and celebrate Toronto's vibrant music community. The evening will be emceed by freelance industry veteran and Juno award winner, William Carn and the William Carn Quartet.

For More information and to RSVP

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - 3rd Floor Lobby │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: How can freelance musicians build sustainable careers in an increasingly challenging economy? Join Nate Omdal, President of Freelance Musicians Association, Wages Argott, Director of Freelance Services, AFM, Olivia Esther, TMA Business Representative, and Dusty Kelly for a candid conversation about the realities of gigging today.
Together, they'll explore barriers to earning a living, including stagnant fees, rising costs, unstable work, and shifting industry demands, while discussing opportunities to improve working conditions through advocacy, collective action, fair pay practices, and stronger community support.
This engaging opening panel will spark dialogue, challenge assumptions, and set the stage for the conversations to come throughout the symposium. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - 3rd Floor Lobby │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: Are you getting the most from your recordings? Whether you're an independent artist, band, or, a session musician, we will explore the ways to protect your recordings and maximize the income you can potentially generate. Learn how licensing-residuals, pension contributions, and other revenue opportunities can help your recordings generate value long after they leave the studio. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: Freelance musicians carry a whole career on their own: the bookings, the money, the creative work, and often the band too. The Soundcheck Report, published in February 2026, drew on feedback from more than 1,200 people working in Canadian music to understand what that load actually costs.
In this session, lead researcher Catherine Harrison shares what the data shows and what it means for freelancers specifically. Financial precarity sits near the top of the list. That's not a personal failing. It's a structural one.
You'll leave with practical strategies for the parts within your control, and a clear sense of where to turn when you need more support. Bring your questions. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - 3rd Floor Lobby │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4 │

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - 3rd Floor Lobby │

Info: Freelance musicians move between a wide range of engagements, each with its own expectations, contracts, and challenges. One job may be with a client, another through a contractor or venue, and the next in a recording studio. Along the way, you may find yourself negotiating rates, navigating cancellations or late payments, or facing questions about how a recording or performance can be used. Join Wages Argott for a practical conversation about why knowing your rights matters. Learn what fair treatment looks like, what protections and resources are available, how to recognize when working conditions fall short, and how musicians can work together to create positive change. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - 3rd Floor Lobby │

Info: Who gives consent when music is scraped from the internet? How should artists be credited when their work influences AI-generated content? And what does fair compensation look like when technology profits from decades of human creativity? Learn about the AFM's campaign on Human Made, Human Paid. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Info: Whether you're performing, teaching, recording, composing, or balancing multiple income streams, managing your finances as a freelance musician comes with unique challenges. This practical session will explore budgeting for variable income, setting aside funds for taxes, managing cash flow between engagements, building financial resilience, and planning for both short- and long-term goals. Participants will be introduced to practical strategies, tips, and tools designed to help reduce financial stress, create greater stability, and support a sustainable career in music. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Info: Get an inside look at the music industry with Toronto’s top contractors, producers, and presenters. Learn how they build their programs and discover what catches their attention when hiring musicians for performances, shows, and recording sessions. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Info: What goes into creating a song? Hear directly from unique songwriters about their inspiration, craft, and creative process. This self-led session offers an inside look at how memorable songs come to life. │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Info: │Tiff Lightbox - Cinema 4│

Event venue & nearby stays

TIFF Lightbox, 350 King Street West, Toronto, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.

Get the app →

Discover more events by tag