Singers are a dime a dozen, from teenagers through to grand parents, and the majority of singers you will see and hear have never received training or don’t hold a degree in their craft.
That said, a singers quality is judged by the individual that hears them. What one person thinks is the best singer in the world, another will think that the singer should have taken up another profession.
At the end of the day hiring a singer for your event is a personal choice and should reflect your musical taste and that of your event theme.
In this guide I’ve listed 5 tips to book a reputable, professional and trustworthy singer who will turn up on your day, present themselves in an orderly manner, perform beyond expectations and leave your clients, friends and family in awe.
Reputation
A singers reputation is one of the most important things one should look for before considering hiring them for your event. Word of mouth from others is one sure way to determine a singers reputation and outshines an entertainers self motivated and exaggerated social media posts.
A high quality showreel is a sure sign that the singer has invested time and money into themselves and their brand, and a stand alone website and personal email address will only solidify their professionalism.
Booking Direct
In this day and age, professional singers are business people. With the ease of accounting, contract and business software they run their own brands exactly like big businesses.
Booking a singer directly is a sure fire way to guarantee that the singer will be the front person of the band. Some bands are run by a musician or agent representative and booking through them can lead to the singer you thought you were getting being replaced by another.
Singers will be able to provide numerous band lineups to suit different size events. From an acoustic duo through to a 10 piece band, they will all be priced differently and explaining to a singer your event size and type will enable them to provide a best option.
"Booking a singer directly is a sure fire way to guarantee that the singer will be the front person of the band."
Availability
Before you get too excited about the awesome singer you want at your event, the second step you need to do is make sure they are available. For major events singers will be booked between 4 months to Two years in advance. The earlier you can reach out and provide a singer with your date the more chance you have in securing them.
Repertoire
A singers repertoire of songs will be a factor in the 1st instance of booking them and should reflect the style of music you like and require for your event theme.
A good thing to consider for weddings is a vocalist that has a diverse range of genres. This will provide some classic oldies for mum, dad and aunt Katie to dance to as well bridesmaids Jen & Loz to get their Twerk on.
With key moments of a wedding requiring special songs, ask your singer if they do special requests. You will find that some singers will learn a song of two for you.
When browsing through a singers repertoire be sure to notify the singer of songs you absolutely love and want to dance too and songs you don’t want to hear on the night. Nobody wants to be reminded of the song you met your crazy ex on the dance floor with.
Contract
A professional singer will have a contract for you to sign. Read this clearly. Singers will require a deposit upfront and often it’s non-refundable if you cancel them. You must understand that this is the livelihood of the singer, and professionals do this full time, have families, mortgages, rent and bills to cover. Once they lock in your date, they will turn down every other enquiry that comes in for that date. If you book a year in advance that could be 10+ potential paid bookings they have turned down.
In regards to a singer cancelling due to sickness or an unforeseen circumstance, most will have a clause where they will find a reputable replacement to cover your event. This is to guarantee you are not left without entertainment on your special night. I am a professional of 30 years and I’ve honestly cancelled on clients 5 times in my career due to illness and the unexpected birth of my daughter. I always found a replacement and their events were a success.
Conclusion
By following these 5 tips we know you will Find The Perfect Singer For Your Event with a booking process that's easy and fun.
To find the best singers in your area visit OzGigs.com.au.
Events Made .. Groovy!
This article was written by Cavan Te founder of OzGigs and professional singer in Sydney Australia with 30+ years of wedding and corporate event experience.
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