How to Stay Booked as a Jazz Singer: Tips for Maintaining a Full Schedule

Chris Melville, live at the Cordis Hotel, Auckland

How to Stay Booked as a Jazz Singer: Tips for Maintaining a Full Schedule
As a jazz singer, your talent and passion for music are essential to your success. But staying consistently booked, with a packed performance schedule, requires more than just musical ability. It involves strategic planning, effective marketing, and continuous networking to keep your calendar full and ensure steady opportunities. In this article, we’ll explore actionable tips and techniques to help you stay booked and maintain a thriving career as a jazz singer.

1. Create a Strong Online Presence
In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is essential for any performing artist, including jazz singers. Most of your potential clients, venues, and fans will first encounter you through the internet. Here's how to build a robust online presence:

• Professional Website: Ensure your website is visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly. Include a biography, a portfolio of your performances (videos, audio clips), a calendar of upcoming events, and contact information. A blog can be a great addition to keep your audience engaged and improve SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) rankings.
• Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter allow you to connect directly with your fans and clients. Regularly post behind-the-scenes content, performance snippets, and interactive posts like Q&A sessions or polls. Be consistent in your posting, and engage with followers to build a loyal fan base.
• YouTube & Streaming Platforms: Create a YouTube channel for your music videos, live performances, or even jazz tutorials. Sites like Spotify and Apple Music are essential for getting your music heard worldwide. Regularly upload new content to keep your audience engaged and ensure you’re easy to find.
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO): Ensure that your website content includes keywords like “jazz singer,” “live jazz performance,” and “professional jazz singer for hire.” This will help search engines rank your site higher when someone searches for a jazz singer or live music performance near them.

2. Network, Network, Network
Building connections in the music industry is vital to keeping your schedule full. Networking is not just about attending events but also about maintaining strong relationships with key players. Here’s how to effectively network:

• Collaborate with Musicians: Work with other jazz musicians, instrumentalists, and producers to expand your network. Collaborative projects can lead to more performance opportunities and help you gain exposure to a wider audience.
• Attend Industry Events and Conferences: Participate in jazz festivals, music conferences, and workshops. These events not only help you improve your craft but also give you the chance to meet venue owners, music promoters, and other professionals who can hire you for gigs.
• Reach Out to Booking Agents and Managers: Consider partnering with a booking agent or manager who specializes in jazz music. They can help you secure consistent bookings and manage negotiations with venues.
• Connect with Venues: Regularly reach out to local jazz clubs, lounges, restaurants, and event spaces. Let them know about your availability and share your performance portfolio. Building a relationship with venue managers and owners can lead to repeat gigs and referrals to other venues.

3. Diversify Your Gigs and Performance Types
While you might specialise in traditional jazz, it’s important to keep your performance opportunities diverse. The more types of events you’re available for, the more likely you are to stay booked. Consider these options:

• Private Events & Corporate Gigs: Many businesses and private clients hire jazz singers for events such as company parties, conferences, and private dinners. Tap into the corporate market and offer tailored packages for these types of events.
• Jazz Festivals and Public Events: Look for jazz festivals and public music events in your area or even nationally. These gigs often pay well and allow you to showcase your talent to a large audience.
• Weddings and Celebrations: Jazz music is a popular choice for weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Reach out to wedding planners, event coordinators, and venues to promote your services for such occasions.
• Live Streaming & Virtual Performances: In addition to traditional live gigs, consider offering virtual performances. Many artists have found success by streaming performances on platforms like Instagram Live, Facebook Live, and YouTube. Virtual gigs can reach a global audience and help supplement your income.

4. Keep Your Skills Sharp and Evolve Your Sound
In the competitive world of jazz music, staying at the top of your game is crucial. Constantly improving and evolving as a jazz singer ensures that you continue to offer fresh and exciting performances, making it more likely for clients to book you again.

• Vocal Training: Invest time in vocal lessons and exercises to improve your vocal technique. Strong breath control, vocal range, and tone quality are critical in jazz singing. Continued vocal training will help you stay versatile and capable of handling a variety of jazz styles.
• Experiment with New Styles: While it’s important to stay true to your signature style, experimenting with new genres, interpretations, or arrangements of jazz standards can set you apart from other performers. Stay open to new influences and take the time to incorporate them into your music.
• Learn Jazz Improvisation: One of the hallmarks of jazz is improvisation. If you’re not already comfortable with improvisational techniques, start practicing them. Many jazz listeners appreciate spontaneous, creative performances that display your unique flair as an artist.
• Record New Material: Regularly work on recording new music or jazz covers to stay relevant. Whether you’re recording a full album or a few singles, having new content allows you to market yourself fresh and exciting to venues and listeners alike.

5. Offer Exceptional Customer Service
When you provide excellent customer service, clients will be more likely to recommend you to others, and venues will consider you for repeat bookings. Your reputation as a professional can set you apart from other jazz singers.

• Be Punctual and Professional: Always arrive early to your gigs and maintain a professional demeanor both on and off the stage. Venue owners and event planners will appreciate your reliability and may offer you future opportunities based on your professionalism.
• Be Flexible: While you should set your boundaries, being flexible with your performance hours, song requests, and event types can lead to more opportunities. Clients and venues appreciate an artist who can accommodate different needs.
• Follow Up with Clients: After a performance, send a thank-you message or email to the venue or client. This simple gesture shows professionalism and gratitude and can help foster long-term relationships.

6. Create a Solid Marketing Plan
Marketing yourself as a jazz singer is essential to staying booked. Develop a marketing plan that encompasses online and offline strategies to consistently promote your brand.

• Email Marketing: Build an email list of fans, clients, and potential venues. Send out newsletters that update them on your upcoming gigs, new releases, and special promotions.
• Promote Your Gigs: Regularly promote your upcoming performances on your social media platforms and website. Highlight your upcoming events in newsletters and share concert details with your network. The more people know about your performances, the more likely you are to secure a full schedule.
• Leverage Reviews and Testimonials: Collect reviews from clients and venues and feature them prominently on your website and social media. Positive reviews from happy clients help establish your credibility and reputation in the industry.

7. Stay Consistent
Consistency is key to maintaining a full schedule as a jazz singer. Keep a regular practice schedule, stay active on social media, and continue building relationships in the industry. Whether you're performing for an intimate crowd or a large audience, showing up consistently will make sure you’re top of mind when a new booking opportunity arises.

Conclusion
​Staying booked as a jazz singer requires a combination of talent, strategic marketing, professional networking, and customer service. By developing a strong online presence, diversifying your performance opportunities, and continually improving your craft, you can ensure a steady flow of gigs and maintain a full schedule. Most importantly, stay committed to your art, engage with your audience, and never stop networking. In the competitive world of music, it’s your dedication, creativity, and professionalism that will keep you on top and always booked for your next performance.