I Want To Sing And Perform! Where Do I Start?

Several times a month, I get asked by students how they can get involved in singing and performing. These are semi-professionals, these are hobbyists, these are beginners, these are advanced singers. What’s clear to me is that MOST people want an opportunity to make music and perform in some capacity. I wanted to write this as a springboard for your brain and creativity to see if it will spark something inside you.

There are a few articles already written about local-to-NYC open mic nights found here: Open Mic Nights in NYC: Resource Guide, and how to find a gig found here: How to Get a Gig: A Beginner's Guide

The “Why” and “How”

I want to expand on both ideas and include other thoughts. The first question I ask someone who says they are interested in performing or singing is, “Why?” 

Skill building. Be a part of a community. Perform in a musical. Get paid to sing. Make friends. Get better at singing. Build a following. Find folks to make a band as an act of service. 

There are many great reasons to want to perform, and all are valid. Once we know the “why,” we can start setting expectations for ourselves: How? In what way?

Are you looking to be paid? Are you looking to make it a career? Are you wanting a way to enjoy yourself on the weekend? Are you looking for a post-9-to-5 activity? Are you looking to switch careers? From there, we can start thinking about opportunities! 

Many factors determine what a singer wants out of their performing, and I can’t possibly cover every possible scenario, so for this article, I’m going to list a bunch of different ideas, and you, the reader, can decide what seems right for you!

Open Mic Nights

For more details, you can read the article above, but I think this is important for anyone and everyone. Search online, and more than likely, you will find an open mic night near you. Your first job is to go, enjoy the music, and catch the vibe. If it seems like your type of thing, find out how you can sing at the next one. Your second job…do it!

Choirs

Choirs are a great place to sing, build skills, and meet lots of people. Most groups include some type of performance, and if you’re in a city, chances are you will find one that fits your style (Pop, Rock, A Cappella, MasterWorks, Baroque, etc). Some are audition only, some have a fee to join, some are more professional, some are very casual. A simple search of “Choral Groups in X City” will probably give you a great start.

Local Theater

Do you have the acting bug? Look for a local theater to audition for. If you want to be a part of a show (whether it’s a play or a musical), find theaters near you and see what shows they are doing and how their auditions work. They might also offer classes and workshops that you can be a part of. 

Places of Worship

Are you a part of a place of worship? This might be a great place to join in on singing. There are numerous types of singing and music-making in places of worship- choirs, soloists, and bands. A good place to start is to reach out to the person in charge of music and see how you can participate! 

Jam Sessions

If you’re wanting to throw down a bit, be brave, and get into a vibe, then maybe a jam session is for you. A jam session is a space where a bunch of musicians get together and jam on songs. Usually, there is more than one of each instrument, so everyone takes their turn on whatever song is being called. Each of these will have a unique vibe and a different kind of energy, so you have to be on your toes and ready to go. 

Talent Shows

Schools. Churches. Organizations. Bars. Fairs. These are all places where talent shows have taken place. An opportunity like this would be a solo adventure and a place where you would want to shine! 

Busking

City streets. Subway. Street Corners. We’ve all seen buskers in various shapes and forms. You normally need to get some sort of permission from the city to do this, but that’s not always the case! This would be an opportunity for you to get a set of songs together (original or covers) and sing for the passersby! It also might be an opportunity to make a little cash. Either way, you’re practicing singing in a place in the wild, so you’ll want to be on your toes a bit. 

The National Anthem

In the US, the Star-Spangled Banner is often sung for events (graduation, sports, etc). Depending on the venue, there are usually auditions of some kind, OR you get recommended (casual or high stakes). For professional or semi-professional sporting events, there are high stakes, multiple-round auditions. If that doesn’t suit you, then maybe singing the National Anthem at a local high school’s softball or basketball game would be better. I’ve helped singers prepare the national anthem for graduations and sports, and I’ve also sung the national anthem in various settings. It’s an interesting and unique experience, and many consider it a singer’s rite of passage! 

Senior Centers & Hospitals

Senior Centers, Shelters, and Hospitals are GREAT places to share music and be of service to a group of folks. There will almost always be a volunteer director at these different places who you can reach out to and see what sort of music you might be able to bring to them. Sometimes these places pay, sometimes they don’t. Either way, it’s a valuable and fantastic service to bring music to underserved populations! 

Virtual

The pandemic taught us many things, and one of them is the power of virtual. Virtual choirs. Virtual Recitals. Virtual Karaoke. Virtual Open Mic Nights. Virtual Voice Lessons. They still exist, and you’d be able to connect with folks whom you might not connect with in a different in-person setting. AND you get to be in the comfort of your home. 

Karaoke

We all know karaoke. Some people love it (my partner), some people hate it (me). Either way, it’s a VERY low-stakes way to sing and get practice performing. You’ve got almost endless songs to choose from, you get to practice with a microphone, you get to work on singing in front of people, and no one will be judging you. It’s truly a win-win situation.  

I’ll Do It My Way…

At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong way to pursue singing and performing. If it’s something you want to do, I encourage you to go for it. If you don’t love one situation, try another. Singing is incredibly vulnerable. Connecting with people is incredibly vulnerable. Being in community is incredibly vulnerable. But I’d rather feel vulnerable singing and making connections and being in community than not singing at all.