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It is difficult for singers to find a live performance opportunity . For singers, it’s important to embrace any live performance chance they get, as it helps them to gain real industry experience and learn their stagecraft. Taking up music opportunities to perform allows a singer to get a sense of which songs work for them and which songs don’t.
When trying to find a live performance, it’s important to remember that things such as fan base, social media and networking are important skills to master in order to help.
Places to perform live
Pubs
Always check if there’s an age limits, however most local pubs and bars will open their venue to singers on a regular basis as a way of making money. To find a live performance may be time consuming, but they are often run on a regular basis and the crowd will never be the same, therefore benefitting the singer.
This way you’re constantly playing for people who haven’t seen you perform before.
Busking
Busking is a great way to perform live for the public. If the weather’s nice, a few hours of performing could line your pockets too.
This is a really helpful way to scoring future gigs and many famous singers, like Ed Sheeran below, started out busking.
Open mic nights
Open mic nights are the most popular form of live performance for singers looking to build their experience in the industry. They offer up many opportunities for singers, as they can get a sense of how their music is being received by their audience. This way after your live performance you could ask for any feedback and make any additional changes to the song to give it more appeal. You could use it as a chance to write a proper setlist so you keep the best received songs in and remove any that didn’t get much of a reaction.
The most important thing is to network. Try different open mic nights all over your area don’t just stick to the same ones. Speaking to other singers and acts will hopefully open up more chances for a live performance, shared gigs, promoter details and other gig opportunities.
Community events
Being well known in the community as a singer can open many doors for a singer. So why not take some time to embrace any chance you get for a live performance by volunteering your talent to community events such as church fetes and open days for example. You never know who’s going to turn up to one of those events.
Singing competitions
These are a great way to network with other artists and perform in front of an audience. You’ll gain valuable experience and you never know who you’ll be singing for and where it might lead.
Some popular competitions for singers (besides TeenStar ) in the UK:
Useful websites
BandWagon
BandWagon is a website where you can search for a live performance in your area and see whether or not they’re paid. The idea of this website is for venues to fill their slots for the night and for singers to be given a chance to build their live performance experience up.
AliveNetwork
AliveNetwork isn’t necessarily a place where you can find a live performance slot, but it is a place where people can come to find you to perform for them.
People who are looking for a singer for a certain event can browse the site and find singers in specific areas and see how much they’ll cost. As a singer putting yourself on this website gives you the opportunity to be booked by people who may have never heard of you, and they’re paying.
It’s potentially a new audience and an income stream.