A 30-year-old saxophonist earns up to $176,000 annually by performing at an average of 80 events per year.

Jason Nelson has always loved playing music.

Nelson, a 30-year-old native of Hillsborough, New Jersey, began playing piano and saxophone in elementary school and continued to do so in various school bands throughout high school. While studying marketing at Rutgers University, he started performing pop covers for his friends and classmates at parties and even outside on campus.

I would simply stroll down the street and approach random groups, requesting them to select a song for Drake to cover on his sax. During that time, Drake's "Hotline Bling" was particularly popular. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

In March 2019, a friend asked Nelson to play piano during the cocktail hour at her sister's wedding, and the bride also wanted him to play saxophone as they walked down the staircase for their grand entrance.

Despite only being paid for the cocktail hour and entrance song, Nelson had such a great time playing sax alongside the DJ that he ended up playing the entire reception. "I remember being up there with the bride, groom, and bridesmaids, playing along to pop songs and thinking, 'Wow, I can do this,'" he says.

Since then, Nelson has established a successful career as a live performer, playing piano and saxophone at an average of 80 events per year, primarily weddings. In 2023, he earned over $176,000.

Here's how he built his musical business.

Live musicians are 'a really, really popular add-on'

Nelson recalls that he discovered that hiring live musicians was a popular add-on for DJs in his New Jersey area after the first wedding, but he cannot recall the exact moment when he learned it.

He aimed to secure employment by any means necessary. By fall 2019, he had reached out to local New Jersey DJ companies and was playing two to three events per weekend.

He typically charged between $300 and $500 for weddings, which included a four-hour reception and sometimes the cocktail hour, he says.

In March 2020, Nelson aimed to leave his 9-to-5 job in marketing and pursue a career in events, believing he could earn the same salary of around $50,000. However, when the pandemic struck, he decided to postpone his plans. During this time, he increased his social media presence and made connections in the industry through apps like Clubhouse.

In the spring of 2021, after quitting his job in September 2020, he worked three to four events a weekend in the unconventional wedding industry, which saw a lot of DIY and rescheduling weddings.

He no longer needed to rely on DJ companies to book events as well. "You play one wedding," he says, "and then, you know, 12 people within the next three years are getting married." And they remember him.

'I don't have set packages anymore'

Weekends, Nelson typically attends approximately two events. Most of these are weddings, but there are also bar or bat mitzvahs, 40th birthday parties, boozy brunches, and nightclubs.

Earnings vary, though, his price tag has gone up.

He no longer has set packages and instead creates custom proposals for each client based on their specific needs. For weddings, he offers the option to book him for the entire four-hour reception or to have him come out at specific moments or play for a certain amount of time.

He earns about $750 per hour, with recent events paying $3,622 and $1,325. Prices reflect the demand for his services, as he is often asked to play multiple weddings per weekend, and the quality and detail he brings to each event.

This year, he has traveled to various destinations, including "St. Martin, Aruba," Newport, Rhode Island, Boston, Cape Cod, and will soon be in Miami.

Nelson's business goals are shifting from increasing his work schedule to achieving a work-life balance that allows him to spend time with loved ones, particularly during off-work hours.

He cherishes weekends where he has two weddings, a 30-minute and 45-minute drive away in New Jersey. On Saturday, he spends the day with his girlfriend, friends, and family going out to brunch or going on a hike before playing a wedding at night.

Going forward he wants to continue to prioritize that, he says.

Earn more money at work by taking CNBC's new online course, "How to Negotiate a Higher Salary." Expert instructors will teach you the necessary skills to increase your paycheck, including preparation, confidence-building, effective communication, and counteroffer crafting. Start today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for a 50% introductory discount through Nov. 26, 2024.

Sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to receive tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life.