The Musician’s Answering Service, established in 1976 by Richard Smith, was the first diary service to cater to both the orchestral and session world. As a busy freelance oboist he recognised the difficulties musicians had, trying to balance their playing commitments whist ensuring they were available when fixers called. 30 Years later, and now with over 900 clients, MAS has built a reputation within the classical music business for professionalism and reliability.

A diary service is like a PA, handling all your professional enquiries. There to ensure that you do not lose out on work because you are not immediately contactable and to take care of all the necessary communication between yourself and the orchestras who book you. In today’s competitive freelance world, a diary service is an indispensable tool for the successful musician.

So Why Choose MAS?

You are in control.

Our experienced team will take into account your personal preferences, likes, dislikes and priorities, enabling us to think as you do. We will follow your instructions regarding the handling of your diary down to the finest detail. We also understand the importance of maintaining the professional privacy of all our clients. Unless specifically instructed by you no unnecessary information is given out and we do not disclose ex-directory telephone numbers.

You can leave the decision making to us. MAS is unique in that we can accept work on your behalf according to your instructions. This means that all you need to do is take down the details; the work is already confirmed.

You will be informed of all enquiries, not just bookings. We will inform you if a fixer has checked your availability or if we have turned work down on your behalf. This way, you can ensure we are always making the correct decisions on your behalf.

Your can view your diary online. MAS online means you can view your own messages and edit your own diary using our unique computerised diary system via the internet, allowing you to access your diary anywhere in the world, at any time.

We are always available - Open 8am to midnight 7 days a week to take your bookings and for you to collect your messages or update your diary. Multiple telephone lines ensure that callers never get the engaged tone. We are open all year round except for a few days at Christmas and New Year.

We contact you immediately, wherever you are. In most cases we are able to get work messages out within minutes of taking them, using mobile phones, landlines, text messages, faxes and e-mails either at home or abroad.

We provide a personal service by highly trained staff. Although we now look after the livelihoods of over 900 clients, we are proud to still maintain the personal touch that is so important to us.

We are continually improving our service. Our last major development was specially written software for our fully-computerised diary system. Our systems and working practices are reviewed and enhanced to ensure a consistently high level of support, both to musicians and to fixers. New projects include an Ensemble Directory and expansion of our Young Professionals Package developed to further support our clients.

We support you throughout your career. Whether you are still at college or interested in expanding your playing experience, we are able to offer advice to help you achieve this. Please see our Client Support section for more details

We offer a discount for young professionals designed to help establish musicians in the early stages of their career. For more details, see Young Professionals Discount.

So much more than a diary service

Subscribing to MAS includes numerous other benefits, at no extra cost.

As the UK’s Leading Diary Service, we handle the greater market share of professional musicians, so being with MAS gives you the best opportunity of making new contacts and picking up last minute work through availability lists. We are able to offer fixers either instant computer generated availability lists, or personally tailored lists according to their requirements. Our diary system is linked to our Web CV pages, so we can instantly inform fixers of your playing experience.

With double the client base of our competitors, we are able to attract a larger number of enquiries so fixers and colleagues enjoy the convenience of our booking service to cover last minute problems.

Inclusion on our Web-site. - Placing you in the promotional shop window of the music profession. Go to Client CV’s for more details.

Inclusion in our CV Publication - Get noticed by over one hundred fixers nation-wide. New CV’s are included in our quarterly mailing; revisions go in our yearly publication. These are distributed along with our client lists.

Inclusion in our Ensemble Directory - Accessible from our website, this service has been developed to support the clients who are expanding the scope of their professional expertise to provide background music for functions, corporate entertainment and weddings. Go to Ensembles Directory for more details.

Access to our Orchestral Fixers List - An up to date contact list of over one hundred fixers who regularly use MAS, organised into Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Ballet and Opera Companies, Period Instrument Groups and Modern Ensembles. Vital for your marketing campaign and for informing fixers you are now a member of MAS and easily contactable through the service.

Quarterly Newsletter - Keeping you up to date on MAS developments, as well as news from your colleagues. Advertising in our newsletter gives you the opportunity to promote your latest CD recording or give your new address to over 1000 musicians and fixers.

Maternity Benefit Scheme - When your career is interrupted by having a baby, MAS will help bridge the gap by giving you a free service for three months during that time.

For information on Joining MAS, please click here