Advice (My Two Cents) from a Freelance Singer

OK, so it’s more like ten or fifteen cents, or that many ways of making cents, or making sense, as a freelance singer.

Hi. My name is Erika Lloyd and I am a freelance singer living in New York City. To achieve a tad of credibility with you, let me quickly tell you a bit about myself: I have a Bachelors of Music in Voice Performance from Indiana University. I currently work in music as; the lead singer/writer/manager of the indie rock band, Little Grey Girlfriend, a paid section leader of a church choir, a member of the traveling Renaissance quartet with lute, The Good Pennyworths, a soprano in the choral ensemble, Choral Chameleon, a choral ringer (sub), an outside soloist, a wedding singer, and sell various recordings mostly through digital distribution. I also work outside of music for; catering companies, tradeshows, parents who need a babysitter, and people happy to commission my paintings, drawings, and logo work. It’s like spinning plates my friend, spinning plates and juggling at the same time, just a thrill, a real hoot!

Obviously, one of my biggest pieces of advice is to be as versatile as possible, and to not let your ultimate goals get in the way of making a living while on your journey. In other words, don’t shoot yourself in the foot by turning down paying or fulfilling work in music, because it wasn’t your main style or passion. When you get offered a job, singing the national anthem at a kids local swim meet, just know this- there’s no room in that parking lot for your high horse! Ho oh! No she didn’t!

Buuuuttttt I bet you’ve heard that advice before, so I’ll try to give you some more unique and specific tips.

For Pop/Rock Singers

1. Quid pro quo exists outside of Washington. If you go to friends’ and acquaintances’ shows, they will come to yours. Support your local scene and you will become a part of it. If you know of a friend’s show and aren’t working or performing that night, “It’s too cold.” or, “I want to watch Hulu.” are not valid excuses for not being there. And, as bonus incentive, you will learn a lot about performing from every performance you attend. Pay attention to the flow of sets, stage presence, dialogue, promo techniques, lighting, sound, etc.

2. Digital distribution is the way to go! Especially if it’s your own royalty-free original music. Skip the costs of album copies (and be more environmentally friendly at the same time.) It’s only like $50 to get your recording on cdbaby.com, thus iTunes, Amazon, etc. If you record at home, that’s a start up cost of only $50!!! After that, you’ll make 63.7 cents for every 99 cents song you sell (example is iTunes USA). CHA CHING. You should always have some kind of physical copy of a recording to hand out/sell, but not all of them need to be. And after you get your music online, follow through! Promote it! Include your music on iMixes. Add links to your myspace.com, facebook.com, ourstage.com, lastfm.com, mog.com, and ilike.com pages. Use pages like thedelimagazine.com Open Blog, gogirlsmusic.com, or any community blog to announce your online release. It’s free advertising and reaches thousands of people!

3. Invest in a small and easy to use recording device. Then, record yourself and listen back constantly. Do this when performing, practicing, and in the process of writing music.

For “Classical” Singers (Choral, Chamber Ensembles, Event Music)

1. If you didn’t read the previous tips for pop/rock singers, read them, they apply to you too. Just switch out the word, “show,” with “concert” and thedelimagazine.com with something like polyphony.com or The Vocal Area Network’s van.org and you’re good to go. It’s all one in the same, really it is.

2. Sight singing! Sight singing! Sight singing! I learned the hard way that choral contractors and choir directors aren’t looking for incredible technique, a huge repertoire, or an impressive resume. They want someone who can look at a piece once, maybe twice, and then perform it. So if you don’t have perfect pitch, you better know those intervals! I’m talking twelve tone rows and funky modal music at auditions people! Invest in some ear training tutoring. And this applies to auditions for chamber groups and some opera companies too!

3. Volunteer choir work will lead to paying jobs, I promise. The director, other singers, and fans of that group will lead you to more work. Again, if you live in the New York area, van.org is a great place to look for audition listings. If you don’t live here, I bet there’s something like it in your area, so get googling.

4. If you want to get work singing at weddings, funerals, Christmas Parties… have a website and a current business card (best business cards have your photo, contact, and of course website info.) Your potential clients really just need to remember your face and be able to hear examples of your singing quickly and easily. Having a Gigmasters.com page was helpful. If you are willing to pay for it, it will help you get some gigs. (If you’re curious, I’m finalizing my new personal website now. It should be up soon. So I’m not a total hypocrite.)

For All Musicians

1. Create opportunities for yourself.

For example, I have had a bar tender take my demo, tell me he’s going to give it to the booker, and then proceed to stick it in the potted plant’s soil right next to me. I have been told hundreds of times, “Sorry, you’re not what we’re looking for.” at multiple multiple venues. I have also been told, “Sure, you can give a concert here, but it will cost you $400.”

I bet this has happened to you, and if it hasn’t, it will. So what? All you need to perform a show are the performers, the audience, and the space to house both. Do you know anyone who has access to a large space? Photographer’s studio, gallery owner, someone living in a loft? Do you belong to a church or community center? Just ask. Offer a cut of whatever door price you choose to charge. Invite everyone you would have invited to the show at that established venue you wish you could be playing. Problem solved. Don’t be ashamed to perform in someone’s basement. I’ve seen and been in some great shows down there, and I’m not just referring to my indie rock music.

I know, I know, I’ve kind of crossed the line from versatile into being a straight up weirdo, in this strange array of everything that I do. I know that all of this advice probably won’t apply to you in each of your freelance paths. But, hopefully, each of you found something useful that does apply to you. That thought, makes me very happy. We’re all in this together. If you have any tips to add to my list, please leave a comment!

Now, as an exercise, sing this entire article to the tune of Yankee Doodle.
Juuuuust kiiiiddding…