How to Promote Yourself As a Singer

Co-authored by Tanisha Hall

Last Updated: May 7, 2021 References Approved

Promoting yourself as a singer is so much easier nowadays thanks to the internet and social media. If you’re not totally sure how to get started, don’t worry—this article will walk you through all of the different ways you can get your name and music out there, plus how to find gigs if you want to perform locally. We’ve focused on the best, most effective ways to promote yourself so you don’t have to waste your time on things that won’t really make much of a difference. Check out the steps below to get started!

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Marketing Yourself on Social Media

1
Make your own website. A good website is the first step to establishing yourself as a singer. A website allows you to connect with clients, advertise your services, provide demos, and sell recorded albums.^{[1]
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Research source} You should include on your website:
- The type of music you sing
- Contact information such as your phone number and email
- A calendar of events showing your most recent performances
- Links to demos and videos
- Your resume
- A photograph of yourself
2
Upload video demos of your work. Using a streaming website such as YouTube, Dailymotion, or Vimeo, create a channel for your music. Post videos of yourself singing. If you have a gig, ask a friend to record it for you so that you can put it online. This will give potential clients a way to see how well you perform and what kind of crowd you can attract.^{[2]
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Advertisement
3
Maintain several different social media pages. There are many different social media platforms, each with their own audiences, tools, and quirks. You should create multiple social media pages to widen your presence on the internet. Some sites you might consider include:
- Facebook^{[3]
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- Twitter^{[4]
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- Soundcloud^{[5]
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- Bandcamp^{[6]
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- Google Plus^{[7]
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4
Post links often. Posting interesting links not only helps advertise your work, but it increases the chance that your work will be shared by others. Post at least once a week and no more than two or three times a week.^{[8]
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Research source} Some things you might post:
- Videos of your performances
- Notifications of recent gigs
- Interesting news articles about related music events
- Videos of other musicians you want to help promote
5
Add other musicians. A good way to gain followers is to follow other musicians, music venues, and producers. If you follow them, they might return the courtesy and follow you back. Once they are following you, they might share and link to your posts, generating even more publicity for your singing.^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Advertising Yourself Locally

1
Market yourself in local newspapers. Newspapers, both online and in print, can be a valuable source of business. Find your local classifieds, and buy an ad advertising your services as a singer.
- If you are offering a particular type of singing, you can look for a trade magazine. For example, if you are a wedding singer you can advertise in bridal magazines. If you sing children’s songs, you can advertise through a parenting magazine.^{[10]
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2
Put up flyers. Locate local clubs, coffee shops, venues, and other areas where potential clients might gather. Ask these businesses if you can hang a flyer advertising your services. Your flyers should identify you as a singer and provide your contact information, such as your phone number, email, and website.
3
Make business cards. Create your own cards that list your name, contact information, and services. Keep these on you at all times. If you run into someone who might be interested in your services, hand them your card.
4
Perform in public. The best way to gain visibility is to perform in public. Many singers are hired based on these performances. There are many ways you can perform for free without having to audition. These include:^{[11]
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- Open mic nights
- Singing contests
- Busking and street performances

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Finding Gigs

1
Record a demo. Either an audio or video demo can help potential clients remember you as a singer. It also gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your singing abilities outside of an audition. You should store these demos in a variety of formats, including MP3, CD, and online streaming.^{[12]
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2
Contact local venues. Locate different places in your area that might be interested in singers. This includes performance halls, theaters, wedding venues, and clubs. Contact the owner or their promoter to see if they would be willing to let you perform. Different types of singers will have luck at different venues.
- If you want to sing at clubs, you should print out a list of all local bars, clubs, and pubs. Contact each individually to see if they are interested in hiring a singer.
- If you want to become a wedding singer, you can contact local wedding planners or houses of worship, such as churches. They might be willing to refer you to their clients as a wedding singer for their events.^{[13]
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3
Reach out to promoters and producers. Knowing people who work in the music industry can help you find gigs. Contact local studios, agencies, and production houses via email or phone. Let them know of your services, and ask if they would be willing to listen to a demo of yours. Let them know what type of music you specialize in and why they should be interested in you.^{[14]
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- For example, you can write an email that says, “Dear Mr. Smith, My name is Laura K, and I am a jazz singer. For five years, I have been wowing audiences in numerous venues across the city, and I am looking to enhance my singing career. I know your studio specializes in upcoming jazz acts. The Daily Standard has called me 'the next big thing in jazz.' I am including a link to my demos if you are interested. Please let me know if you would be willing to meet some time to discuss a potential partnership. Thank you.”
4
Respond to advertisements. Check local listings frequently to see what singing jobs are appearing. Apply to every job you can to increase your chances of success. Different advertisements may require different qualifications, but in general, you will want to have a resume and demo prepared to send out to potential clients.
5
Join a band. While you may want to work as a solo singer, you can increase your exposure by working with other musicians. Joining a band will not only help you gain more performance experience but it may make you more marketable to certain clients, who might be looking for backing musicians as well. Cooperating with other musicians will also help you network within your local music industry, potentially introducing you to producers, audio engineers, and promoters.^{[15]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Preparing for an Audition

1
Ask clients for references. Once you have done a few gigs, you can ask your clients if they would be willing to write you a reference. List these references on your resume and provide them to your audience at the audition. You may even want to post these recommendations on your website in case the producers look you up on the internet.^{[16]
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2
Pick appropriate sets of music. Before an audition, you will need to prepare a repertoire of songs to demonstrate your ability. You should have a wide range of songs that are appropriate for the type of singing that you want to do.
- If you want to be a singer-songwriter, you should be able to sing popular hits from many different artists. You should also prepare songs you wrote to show your ability to compose.^{[17]
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- If you are a wedding singer, you will want to prepare different types of pop classics, love songs, and ballads as well as some common religious songs.^{[18]
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- If you are an opera singer, you will want to prepare arias in several languages.
- Musical theater performers should perform both classic theater standards and more recent Broadway hits.
3
Provide a picture and a resume. When you arrive at the audition, you will probably be competing against other singers. To make sure that you are remembered, you should bring a resume and a headshot with you. Give these to the producers before you start your audition. This will help them remember which singer you are, and it will give them a face to connect to the song.^{[19]
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Community Q&A

Question

How do you start yourself as a singer?

Tanisha Hall
Vocal Coach
Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.

Tanisha Hall

Vocal Coach

Expert Answer

Become a star in your hometown. Everybody in your hometown should know you before you try to reach out and take over the world. Sing at every football game, basketball game, Bar Mitzvah, or any other event your town has. Then, branch out to your regional community and beyond to continue building your fan base. Also, use instrumentals if you can't accompany yourself. Even if you don't play an instrument, you can go online and find instrumentals. When you find one you like, reach out to the person who wrote it and get permission to use it. Sometimes they may ask for a fee, but other times, they'll give you permission for free. Then, you can record your own lyrics over that.
Question

How do I brand myself as an upcoming musician?

Tanisha Hall
Vocal Coach
Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.

Tanisha Hall

Vocal Coach

Expert Answer

Release your own music before you hit it big. Record your own songs and release them on sites like Spotify, iTunes, or DistroKid. If you go viral or start getting a lot of attention, you'll need to have material ready so your fans are able to attach onto something.
Question

How do I promote myself?

Tanisha Hall
Vocal Coach
Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall's current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.

Tanisha Hall

Vocal Coach

Expert Answer

Connect your fans to your online presence. Any time you get a chance, shout out your Instagram, Tik Tok, or YouTube handle so people can find you online. Also, be sure you're really engaging with your followers, because these days, people are looking for an interactive experience.

Warnings

It can take a long time to establish a steady client base. Keep going, and don’t give up.

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Do not post too often on social media, or you may find that you are overwhelming your followers.

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