Careers and gigs
Gigs are how you earn a living in Popstar Online. There are seven careers, each with six ranks, and each rank has a quick gig and a long gig. This page lists all of them with the pay and rest times the game actually uses.
How gigs work
Each career is worked at its own place. When you're there, its gigs show up as buttons in the place bar; tap one and your character plays it out in the room. You're paid on the spot, and the gig then rests for a while before you can do it again. Gigs cost energy, which caps at 100 and refills by itself, one point every few minutes.
Every career keeps its own rank, so being a Headline Club Act on the Stage ladder doesn't stop you starting as a Mailroom Intern at the label. Because each gig has its own rest timer, the best way to earn is to work every gig available to you across several careers, then come back when they're ready.
Promotion
You're promoted automatically after a gig once two things are true: you have enough experience on that career's ladder, and you have worked enough gigs at your current rank. On top of that, each rank expects a skill level, shown in the tables below. The first promotion takes roughly an hour of play; the top ranks pay $18,000 or more for a long gig, once every 8 h.
Skills and gig results
There are seven skills: Vocals, Production, DJing, Acting, Modeling, Charisma, Business. Each goes from level 1 to 10, and every gig teaches the skill its career runs on. Going from level n to n+1 takes n × 100 skill experience, so level 2 comes quickly and level 10 is a long road.
Every gig ends as one of four results:
- Flop: 40% of the pay and a quarter of the experience.
- Solid: the normal pay and experience.
- Great: 125% pay and one and a half times the experience.
- Standout: 150% pay, double experience, a small fame boost and a shout-out to everyone in the room.
The odds shift by about 8% for every level your skill is above or below what the rank expects. That's why pushing for a promotion with a weak skill is a bad trade: you'll flop more often at the new rank than you did at the old one.
Tip: if a promotion toast says only your skill is holding you back, keep working the quick gig at your current rank. It rests the shortest and still teaches the skill.
Stage
Sing your way from the subway to the headline slot. Worked at the Concert Arena. Runs on the Vocals skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Street Busker | 1 | Subway platform set $25 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Farmers market corner $90 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Open Mic Regular | 2 | Coffeehouse open mic $70 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Host karaoke night $280 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Bar Singer | 4 | Happy hour covers $160 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Friday night residency $900 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Event Singer | 6 | Cocktail hour set $450 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Full wedding reception $2,600 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Opening Act | 8 | Support slot $1,100 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Regional tour leg $8,500 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Headline Club Act | 10 | Sold-out club night $2,400 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Festival side stage $18,000 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Studio
Learn the board, then run the sessions. Worked at Starlight Studios. Runs on the Production skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Studio Runner | 1 | Coffee and cables run $30 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Tidy the live room $95 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Assistant Engineer | 2 | Mic up a session $75 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Overnight backup and archive $290 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Session Musician | 4 | Lay down a guitar part $170 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Full day session $920 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Mix Engineer | 6 | Rough mix for an indie act $470 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Mix an EP $2,650 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Producer | 8 | Produce a demo $1,150 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Produce a single $8,700 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Hitmaker Producer | 10 | Topline writing session $2,500 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Album writing camp $18,500 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Nightlife
Work the door, then own the night. Worked at Velour. Runs on the DJing skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Flyer Promoter | 1 | Hand out flyers downtown $25 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Street team the block $85 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Door Host | 2 | Work the guest list $70 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Run the velvet rope $275 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Warm-up DJ | 4 | Open the night $165 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Early set to peak time $890 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Resident DJ | 6 | Weekly residency set $460 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Rooftop day party $2,550 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Club Promoter | 8 | Fill the club $1,120 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Throw a themed night $8,600 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Nightlife Mogul | 10 | Host the VIP night $2,450 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Run a weekend festival stage $18,200 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Acting
Start as an extra, end up on the poster. Worked at the Backlot. Runs on the Acting skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Background Extra | 1 | Crowd scene $30 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Full day on set $95 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Stand-in | 2 | Stand in for the lighting crew $75 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Body double for a star $285 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Bit Part Actor | 4 | One line, one take $165 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Guest spot on a TV show $910 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Supporting Actor | 6 | Commercial shoot $465 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Supporting role in a feature $2,600 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Leading Actor | 8 | Lead in a music video $1,130 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Lead in an indie film $8,650 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Movie Star | 10 | Studio press junket $2,480 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Headline a blockbuster $18,300 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Industry
From the mailroom to your own imprint. Worked at Peach Records. Runs on the Business skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Mailroom Intern | 1 | Sort the fan mail $25 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Run the reception desk $90 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Street Team Rep | 2 | Hang posters downtown $70 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Run a listening booth $280 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. A&R Scout | 4 | Scout an open mic $160 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Sign a local act $900 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Marketing Manager | 6 | Plan a single rollout $455 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Run a launch campaign $2,600 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Label Executive | 8 | Close a distribution deal $1,120 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Run the release quarter $8,600 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Label Mogul | 10 | Sign a superstar $2,450 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Launch your own imprint $18,200 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Modeling
From test shoots for your book to closing the show in Paris. Worked at the Backlot, London Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. Runs on the Modeling skill. Modeling is part of Premium.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. New Face | 1 | Test shoot for your book $30 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Go-see marathon around town $95 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Catalog Model | 2 | E-commerce shoot $75 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Full catalog campaign $290 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Runway Model | 4 | Walk a local show $170 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Walk New York Fashion Week $920 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Campaign Model | 6 | Fragrance ad shoot $470 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | A fashion house campaign $2,650 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. Muse | 8 | Fitting for a designer $1,150 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Close the show in Paris $8,700 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Supermodel | 10 | Magazine cover shoot $2,500 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Headline the season's biggest show $18,500 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Media
Seat the guests, then front the broadcast. Worked at the Grand Hall. Runs on the Charisma skill.
| Rank | Skill level | Quick gig | Long gig |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Usher | 1 | Show guests to their seats $25 · 5 min rest · 5 energy | Work the coat check $90 · 20 min rest · 10 energy |
| 2. Carpet Runner | 2 | Fetch stars for the press line $70 · 10 min rest · 8 energy | Work the step-and-repeat $280 · 45 min rest · 15 energy |
| 3. Red Carpet Reporter | 4 | Grab a quick interview $165 · 15 min rest · 10 energy | Cover the whole carpet $900 · 1.5 h rest · 20 energy |
| 4. Awards Presenter | 6 | Hand out an award $460 · 30 min rest · 12 energy | Present a category block $2,600 · 3 h rest · 30 energy |
| 5. TV Correspondent | 8 | Live cross from the carpet $1,130 · 45 min rest · 15 energy | Anchor the pre-show $8,650 · 6 h rest · 40 energy |
| 6. Face of the Night | 10 | Front the awards broadcast $2,470 · 1 h rest · 20 energy | Front the season gala $18,300 · 8 h rest · 50 energy |
Beyond gigs
Once you're known, offers start to come to you: features on other artists' songs, magazine shoots, film roles, brand deals and award show invitations. They arrive as calls and in-person approaches, go on your calendar, and pay far more than gigs. Gigs remain the steady income that keeps the lights on between them.