Making Money From Singing

Berenice Mulubah

Every singer I know, wants to make money out of their talent.  To do that, you must treat your talent as a business.  "Business," ooh, what a scary word? Most singers wish to just go into the studio, make  music and perform, without having to worry about the business aspect.  I got it, you are not a marketing expert, but here are a few basic tools you can apply from the business world:

1. The first step a business takes to attract customers is to create a brand. A brand is a name, symbol or sign that differentiates one product from another. In the performing world, your brand is the type of character or voice type that you would normally perform. I know you are a singer, but for marketing purposes, it’s good to know your niche and how others perceive you.

2. Once you’ve found your brand, use it on your marketing materials. Here are some suggestions that I believe every performer should have in his or her arsenal:

• Realistic Headshot: A good headshot is a great investment because many auditions are based on submissions of your headshot and resume.

• Resume: Your resume should include your contact info, personal info (hair color, vocal range, etc.), your theater/singing roles, your training, and your special skills. Be creative with your special skills, but make sure it’s something you can actually do!

• Business Cards: Business cards are a great way to give someone your contact information if you happen to meet someone important on the street.

• Website: A website is a great way to put your resume and videos online. You can invest money and buy your own domain, or you can use free websites like wix.com or webs.com to do the job.

• Demo Reel: A demo reel is a SHORT (3 minutes or less) video of your singing and/or acting clips to show your range and ability. Many directors want to see your reel before they give you an appointment for an audition – or some may just give you the job based on it!

Congratulations! Once you have these things figured out, the first part of creating your business is now over. Now go get those marketing materials into the right hands!