Creating Your Brand as a Singer - Part 2

Creating Your Brand as a Singer - Part 2 Suzy S. Back in December, we featured an article by Antioch, TN teacher Erica S. on creating your brand as a singer. Now that you have your business cards printed up and your resume completed, what do you do with them? Heres part two of the article Marketing is defined as “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services.” Now that you have your branded promotional materials (headshot, resume, website, business card and reel), you need to get people to see it. There are many ways as a performer that you can promote yourself, but there are a few common ways to get started. First, you can submit your information when it is asked for. You may be asking yourself, “When is this asked for?” The answer is in an audition posting. Lately, there has been a trend where the casting director will sift through submissions of headshots, resumes, and/or reels, before he or she even offers a singer/actor an audition appointment. Your headshot should be sized appropriately so that the file is not too big in your web submission or email. You can talk to your photographer about getting your headshots in both higher pixels and lower pixels for different uses. Next question you are probably wondering is, “Where are these audition postings?” Each city will have different websites where theater and opera companies post auditions. Also, backstage.com is a great resource for finding auditions in your state or around the country. Second, you can unobtrusively hand your information to industry professionals. Business Cards: If you happen to meet someone in the industry, and they want to see something you’ve done or tell you that you should keep in touch, this is a great time to whip out your business card and have all your information neatly presented on the card. Postcards/Thank You Notes: If you attend an audition and have a great experience, it is common for performers to send a thank you note or a postcard thanking the casting director and personnel for their time. Now, you may be thinking: “Postcard?” This is a good thing for you to question because it is not just any postcard. This particular postcard should have your headshot and information on the front, and a blank postcard form with lines on the back. You can buy these at most photo printing stores or online at reproductions.com or vistaprint.com Mailings: Many performers mail their headshot and resume with a short cover letter to casting directors or agents. You never know when they are looking to cast someone like you, and your mailing may come at just the right time. Lastly, the best marketing comes from word-of-mouth. The best promotion you can obtain is someone who highly recommends you and wants to work with you again. To secure these kinds of recommendations, consider these tips: Always be a professional: arrive early, have all your materials (pencil, paper, music, script, etc.), and look over the scenes or songs you will work on before the rehearsal. Maintain the relationships you develop with the creative team and peers:  Sometimes it is easy to be catty and critical, however, try to see the good in everyone and foster your relationships.  You never know who you will work with next or what opportunity may arise from your peers. Like this post? Dont miss out on any of our tips, tricks and advice! Sign up for a free email subscription and get updates right to your inbox! You might also like Battling Your Inner Critic During Performances Bridging the Gap Between Amateur and Professional Musician The Shy Singers Survival Guide Erica S. teaches singing, Broadway singing, music performance and acting lessons to students of all ages in Antioch, TN. Erica earned her Bachelors degree in Music from Samford University, and her specialties include rock, pop, country, belting and legit styles. She joined the TakeLessons team in October 2012. Learn more about Erica, or search for a teacher near you! Photo by FaceMePLS