10. It builds loyal customers. Customers will come to you first when they need someone, because they know you’ll help them find the right person, even if that person isn’t you. 

9. It develops peer-to-peer relationships. Your musician friends will owe you for getting them gigs, and they might even throw a few back at you. 

8. It builds trust between you and your clients. If clients know that if you’ll only do a show if you’re the best option, you have their best interest in mind (which you should, anyway). 

7. It generates more work. When people call you first with opportunities (see point #10) you’re likely to get the gig. Again, they’ll call you first if they know you can help them find the right person.

6. It makes you look successful. Who turns away work? Successful people that aren’t desperate for money. Clients love working with this kind of person, and referring your clients is the quickest way to communicate this. 

5. It keeps you from saying no to a potential long-term customer. Sometimes a potential long-term customer will have a show you’re not interested in. Saying yes to them by referring them to another musician keeps the communication going, and coming to you when they have work. 

4. It keeps you from doing work you’re not qualified to do. If you’re not good at something, don’t put yourself in a position where your suckiness will be apparent. Gracefully pass it off to someone that can do a great job. Your client will thank you. 

3. It keeps you from wasting your time on uninteresting projects. Often a show will be something you consider boring. Don’t say no- refer them, and you’ll be able to keep the lines of communication open for future opportunities.

2. It keeps you from saying no to work that doesn’t pay well. Like point 3, it pays to avoid saying no to clients at all costs. Referring a less-experienced musician for work that doesn’t pay well can help advance their career, while still satisfying a customer’s needs. 

1. It makes you more deliberate about your career. Having the option of referring someone forces you to decide if a opportunity is really good for your career, instead of falling into the bad habit of taking any gig you can get.

Note: there are hundreds of reasons why you should refer people for non-selfish reasons, including the hallmark of many of my christian blog reader’s faith, “do unto others. . . “. I believe those reasons are mostly obvious, and perhaps will be left for another blog post in the future.