Singer

Professional singers perform in front of an audience or make recordings for broadcast, CD or download. They may sing as a soloist, work with a group, or sing in a choir. They might also do session work for backing tracks, adverts and films.

A typical week might involve:

• attending practice sessions and rehearsals
• playing in front of live audiences
• composing songs and music
• participating in recording sessions
• promoting themselves, including making demos and contacting agents
• arranging performances and tours, sometimes with a manager or agent.

Most combine singing with other types of work, particularly at the start of their career.

Singers generally work long and irregular hours, practising, rehearsing and performing. Evening and weekend work is normal, and the work often involves a lot of travel.

Indoor performance venues can be hot and noisy. Playing outdoors means coping with hot, cold or wet weather.

Pay rates vary enormously depending on the venue, the experience of the singer and whether the performance is live, recorded, on radio or television. As an example, a BBC radio chorus singer might earn around £70 to £105 an hour. Solo singers could earn around £150 to £900 a concert.

A singer should have:

• outstanding musical talent
• a reliable voice, health and stamina
• self-discipline and determination
• self-confidence and the ability to handle criticism
• commitment to working long hours in a very demanding profession.

Singing is a highly competitive area of work, and very few people work as full-time singers. They may have to be prepared to work for little or no pay to gain experience.

There is no standard training programme and no fixed career path for singers. Singers may have to gain music qualifications to demonstrate expertise, but these don't guarantee work or success, and experience of singing in choirs or amateur groups, at 'open mic' spots or talent shows, and musicianship is generally more important.

Classical singers usually have extensive formal musical education and training. Most learn an instrument, usually the piano, including graded examinations.

There are many full- and part-time courses at colleges, academies of music, fee-paying performing arts schools and at adult education institutes and local community organisations.

As well as gaining formal qualifications, singers need to make a name for themselves by entering competitions, applying for bursaries and awards, attending auditions, participating in special schemes for young artists, joining amateur groups and giving free concerts. Most singers continue to develop their voices and their repertoires with practice, voice training, workshops or lessons.

Some singers move into different areas of the industry, such as teaching, writing songs, or producing their own music.

Further details