youth development professional

marketing communications coordinator

information technology specialist

human resources specialist

food & beverage team leader

Canadian Musicians Co-operative

As part of the marketing team, I was under the impression that this would be a mostly in-office position, with the occasional videography and photography tasks at the events. Now that I know most employees are very new to their positions, work from home full-time, and do not have much knowledge of; the studio, other coworkers’ schedules, new hires’ requirements to begin work, how or when new hires will connect with their departments and be given resources to begin work, and finally, that there is $300 deducted off every employee’s first paycheque with very little information given on what that money goes towards, I have decided that this position will not work for me. Also, I did not receive the proper zoom links or login Info and had to call them for this info, then receiving incorrect or incomplete information several times. I was patient and understand that many of these people are new to their jobs and wouldn’t take my frustration out on them, however someone needs to be organizing this better. 

I was given “30-35 hours a week” without any info about what I’d be doing in that time. No one knew when I’d be able to meet with my department head for instructions, but expected me to start right away.  Also, all work is done from home so there’s little to no opportunity for real-time feedback or instruction, and the lack of instructions made me wonder if I’d really be working those hours, and question my actual pay. 

I couldn’t trust my higher ups as they had little to know information on my job, and I found that one of the presenters in the orientation was very unprofessional, seemed uninterested and became frustrated with answering new hires’ questions. I think that this company has great ideas and potential job opportunities for media students, but they need to get a better hold on their departments’ organization. I believe that with a bit more communication and in-person meetings/work, this company could sort out all of these issues fairly quickly. However, at this time I didn’t feel that I could trust them and so I could not move forward with the opportunity.

This organization is absolutely amazing. I am always speechless at the ridiculously high levels of competency amongst some of the staff in leadership. A commendable group of keeners, if I ever saw one.

There is clear and blatant support available for employees who identify as disabled, LGBTQ2S, a member of a visible minority group, or other equity-seeking groups. Youth are highly encouraged to take on responsibility and leadership roles to grow their work experience. You are encouraged to speak up when you see something wrong happening, even if the person you are challenging is higher on the chain of command. The organization is always willing to find accommodations to make staff feel safe in their jobs. There is a high value placed on the policies that exemplify the intent behind the Creative Industries Code of Conduct.

Any challenges I encounter have always been responded to with ample thought and consideration. I have never felt like my opinions fall on deaf ears.

Some non-leadership staff will drop the ball and you will likely have to pick up their slack in the moment; however, if you speak up about it, others will come to your aid and find ways to fix the root of the problem.  Failure, vulnerability, and courage are lauded as integral parts of the learning process. 

I have been able to successfully rejoin the workplace post-injury because of the kind and accommodating nature of the organization. 

The only downside to this job has been the fact that compensation is low and the 4-week pay period, but that is alright as the job comes with a lot of flexibility and independence. Plus the org is a Not-for-Profit, so that is understandable. If you are in driving distance, you can take advantage of their food rescue program, No More Starving Artists. You can free food to help reduce food waste.

Newcomers to the organization should be willing to learning new tools and methods of work. The more proactive you are, the easier the job. Ability to pick up new browser-based and standalone computer applications is a super useful skill.

Working at the Coop has been the most rewarding experience of my career. I came on to the team working as IT support / Web development, which has cascaded into me having the opportunity to Work Heavily with Video production alongside Long-Time Industry professionals, who have helped guide and hone my skills in the industry, bringing my abilities to a whole new level. This job has given me the opportunity to gain invaluable work experience on web development for a nation-wide company's main site, as well as several projects that I was able to spearhead/take part in such as a custom member site project, IT helpdesk support, digital signage, Livestream website management, Live event/Video concert production, stage work and so much more. The doors this job opened up for me are countless, and the culture in the workplace is nothing short of incredible. being able to work with like minded, passionate people that are always happy to educate me and collaborate on numerous projects is a gift that has given back to me tenfold. This job has taught me how to properly work in fast moving, high importance productions more efficiently and effectively. There is always something to work on, and twice that to learn.

I really enjoyed my time in the emerging artist program. It was very strange transitioning to work virtually, but OMCI did an amazing job making it work for everyone. In a typical day, we would have team time and head of to training, where we would attend various workshops about anything beneficial to a musician (marketing, grant writing, producing, theory, etc). During evenings and weekends, we performed on the OMCI livestreams, and had a chance to play covers and/or originals. These were very short performances though. A soundcheck early in the day and performance at night makes for an oddly spaced out day. There isn't really a better way to go about it, but just know that if you perform on a Saturday, that is good chunk of your day. 

Everyone was very positive, and it created a really co operative environment. Everyone helped each other. I met people that I will continue to work with for a long time. It is a great way to connect with other musicians. I will take the skills I learned with me for the rest of my professional career. 

I worked with OMCI last summer over a two month period and I would have to say it was one of the best and most flexible jobs I've ever had. As someone in the communications department, I was very impressed with how the management team trained and handled all their part-time staff for their summer positions, and how fun they made each opportunity. The musicians who received positions seemed to also have a lot of fun, and it was great watching all of them improve over the course of the summer and work off of each other to make themselves better artists. My pay was great for the work I was doing, and the people in management I worked with were very helpful and approachable. I made a lot of friends working there, and I received a lot of great opportunities such as working at festivals and being able to work behind the scenes at some awesome concerts they put on for their emerging artists. Although some days took a lot of hard work, I'd say the people I met and the things I learned through experience were definetly worth it.

OMCI is a very encouraging and collaborative co-operative that focuses on their artists and how they interact with the community. They help musicians from many walks of life develop their career and learn about the industry, while providing a steady pay, which is almost unheard of. The supervisors and coordinators that help put the program together are all amazing people that know exactly how to motivate and help the artists through challenges and new experiences. I have been a part of the program for a few years, and don’t regret it for a second. I have met amazing musicians; very talented and knowledgeable mentors; and learned many skills that I apply to my everyday life and my music career. It is necessary for the job to be your main priority over the course of your employment, as it is very involved. It can be taxing, but it is all worth while. My main takeaway is what you put into the program, tends to be what you get out of it! Very great job for those who want to take their music career to the next level and are serious about it!

This place is great. Getting paid to learn about the music industry and perform feels like a dream.
I will say that I’m not learning the same amount as I have in previous years. There seems to be a lack of organization on the management side - opportunities tend to happen last minute which can be frustrating for those who want to participate but need a week or so to make room for it. A lot of the programming this year felt last minute or recycled from the previous year. It was hard to know who was actually making the decisions. I got pointed to a lot of people for pretty simple questions.
Maybe they can run different workshops for people at different levels in their careers next year.
Overall, this is definitely worth it to learn the ins and outs of the music industry. It’s so helpful in taking that next step to full-time artistry. The whole crew was awesome, too. Couldn’t have asked for better coworkers. Everyone was keen on learning and soaking up all the info thrown at them.
Just wish they could have better organization for next year.

Professional onboarding and recruiting experience. Almost immediately I was offered training and opportunities in a variety of areas and was supported to pursue whatever interested me. I met a number of individuals and worked on a number of different teams. I can say without hesitation that everyone involved was collaborative, caring and knowledgeable. I spent my days working between the studio and online and learned a great deal about the music industry as well as what it is like to work in an innovative and professional organization. Getting to work on preparing the showcase events and supporting the artists was both fun and rewarding. I cannot say enough about this organization and the people involved.

A typical day as an artist apart of the coop includes attending meetings and workshops, doing assignments and performing. 
In our meetings we learn about different parts of the music industry like how to sell yourself and book gigs, take care of yourself when practicing and performing and different jobs that you can have.
Management and all of the teams that help the coop work and funtion are full of kind and amazing people who only want to see you succeed and help you get there. 
The most difficult part of the job would probably have to be performing if you are someone quite new to it. At the start it can feel a bit nerve wrecking but once you start doing it more and more it becomes one of the best parts of the job.

The emerging artist and pre-professional program at the Canadian Musicians Co-operative changed my life. I have worked for CMC for 2 consecutive years and I am returning for my third year in 2023. I started my artist career in 2020, unsure of where to start or how to navigate the music industry. I was basically just writing songs in my room for fun. Their summer jobs program helped me start my business, and they have continued to support my growth. I am now booking my own shows, receiving grants to support my creation and cultivating a fanbase. I would not be on my way to a full-time artist career if it wasn't for the Canadian Musicians Co-operative!

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Youth development professional 1 salary reported	$17.20 per hour
Marketing communications coordinator 1 salary reported	$17.20 per hour
Information technology specialist 1 salary reported	$17.20 per hour
Human resources specialist 1 salary reported	$17.20 per hour
Food & beverage team leader 1 salary reported	$17.20 per hour

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