DO I HAVE TO BE RICH TO BE A SINGER?
HOW CAN I SUPPORT MYSELF?

 

Singing is an expensive business. Here's a brief list of some of the professional expenses you may incur:

Voice lessons and musical or dramatic coachings
Audition fees
Accompanist fees for auditions
Musical scores
Practice space rental
Travel, transportation, hotel, dining and entertainment expenses for out of town auditions
Travel (sometimes the company pays), hotel (sometimes the company pays or puts you up in a private home), transportation, dining and entertainment expenses for out of town jobs
Long distance, cell phone, and internet access charges while away from loved ones
Concert and audition attire
Manager's commission (10% for opera, 15% for concert)
Postage for express and/or standard mailings seeking auditions or for publicity
Materials (resume, bio, reviews) including professional photo and copies
Copies of production photos
Professional tax preparation

These items add up quickly, and add to the mix that most people have major student loans or credit card debt to pay off. Therefore, most aspiring singers (and even some pretty successful ones) must have a "day job" to support themselves while pursuing their dream. In fact, I would venture to say that most professional musicians have an assortment of jobs that they do in addition to performing.

 

Many singers choose to temp. It doesn't usually pay well or provide good benefits (though some temp agencies do offer a few bennies for their regular temps), but it provides flexibility. How are your computer skills? You need a reasonable command of software programs such as Word, LotusNotes, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and Access. Legal secretaries often make the best money, especially in bigger cities (although since 9/11 the temp market has been seriously curtailed; many people are having a hard time finding jobs). If you have computer and office skills and good typing , you will be able to temp anywhere you go and have the freedom to take off and pursue your singing whenever you need to. If you don't have skills like these, acquire them! You'll need work that is flexible.

 

Other people choose to find a steady job that allows them some flexibility. I have friends who work fulltime as legal secretaries for large firms who like them so much, they will give them time off for rehearsals and performances; and other companies will let you take a leave of absence to go out of town. In between singing jobs, I maintain a voice studio. Other people may teach, have a church job, maybe conduct. I know someone else who cleans houses and can set his own hours. Flexible work is out there. It's usually not the best paying and often doesn't have benefits, but it will allow you to pursue your dream.