How to become a singer in Dubai Guide

Dubai is a fantastic location in the Middle East, rich with prosperity and opportunity for new and existing businesses to thrive. Dubai is also a prime location for entertainers and singers to perform and succeed in a full time career in the art to which they love.

But what does it take to become a singer in Dubai and what should you know as an entertainer seeking to break out into the Dubai entertainment industry?

As a professional singer and performer in Dubai, I have put together what I have discovered and learnt throughout my journey and experienced whilst entertaining in the UAE.

Before we start, I would like to point out that I am not just a nobody. I have been a professional singer and entertainer worldwide who has finally settled down in the beautiful city of Dubai. Dubai has some of the most fantastic restaurants, beaches and most importantly entertainment.

Awash with restaurants, hotels, nightclubs and entertainment venues there has never been such a great location for entertainers, bands and singers to achieve they’re full potential.

To ensure that you have the best chance of success in the UAE with your singing career then follow these simple steps below:

Create a promotional CD

All entertainment venues and agencies will want to hear your voice before they book you. Creating a CD of 5 to 10 tracks will be enough for them to make an educated decision before signing you up.

Dubai has numerous recording studios located inside and surrounding the city in places such as Deira, Downtown and Abu Dhabi.

Make sure that you have a broad selection of various genres so that you are open to more opportunities and venues.

Get professional photographs

There is nothing worse than being empty handed when an agency or venue requests some professional photographs.

Hire a photographer to take a selection of pictures in hi-resolution to be used in any promotion, web sites and social media.

Get on social media

It is important that you start creating a following as soon as possible. Create fan pages on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter where people can find you and watch any of your live performances. Allow your fans to share and comment to get maximum outreach.

Be sure to reply to comments and announce any future performance dates. Remember that venues need to be filled to ensure that you keep singing there!

Print some business cards

Another highly embarrassing and unprofessional occasion is when a potential client or venue asks for your business card and you don’t have any to hand them.

You will find that business cards are still extremely popular in the UAE. This maybe due to the multicultural population of Dubai and the UAE. A good company that offers affordable business card printing are DESCO.

Having a professional and attractive business card is the quickest way to get your contact details into the right hands and generate some business.

Be sure to have the following information printed on the business cards:

· Make it clear what you are offering

· Your Name

· Contact Numbers

· Email Address

· Website Address

Build a website

I have been asked by countless agencies if I had a website which they can use to direct their clients to. Having an online portfolio is fast becoming the future for many entertainers.

Your website should look professional in it’s appearance, be easy to navigate and locate information, have your tracks embedded or linked to and have professional images.

Including any video on your website of live performances is also a powerful advertising tool.

Visit venues

Get dressed up and put your best shoes on! Time to get out there and start visiting venues to drum up some business.

Simply visiting restaurants, bars, golf clubs and nightclubs is a great start. Ask to meet with the entertainment manager at each venue.

It’s always wise to call the venue prior to visiting to ensure that the person you need to speak to are present when you plan to visit them.

Register with an agency or entertainment company

This really goes without saying but it is surprising that when I meet other singers who are just starting out, they tell me they have yet to do this.

The benefits of registering with an entertainment agency in Dubai, is that they can find additional work for you in the region. Some of the work maybe one-off and temporary yet it still creates revenue for you. More to the point that you can make more money from one-off gigs than a regular residency gig. (crazy right?)

Network

Networking in any business venture has always been critical to success. In the entertainment industry of the UAE it is no different. It is very much who you know rather than what you know and I have witnessed some extremely bad entertainers and singers in Dubai making more money than good singers and this is the reason.

Go to open mic nights and networking events for singers and bands in Dubai. These are great places to get your name on the scene and team up with other musicians who share the same passion for music as you.

Sing with a band in Dubai

Some will say that there is nothing better than hearing a live band in Dubai and an exceptional singer together. And I would agree with this. Great bands have serious earning potential in the UAE cities.

To find a band or other musicians can be fairly easy. Add an advertisement at the local supermarkets community board or paying a visit to open mic nights and networking with band members or bands is the way forward.

How much does a professional singer in Dubai earn?

The sky is the limit. Typically a new singer to the Dubai scene can expect 1,500 to 2,000 Dhs per gig however this can jump up depending how good and in demand he or she is.

As always larger venues tend to pay more than smaller venues. Hotels and iconic located venues will be willing to pay more depending on the quality of the performance.

I really hope that the information that I have put together in this guide will help provide you with the right tools to become a successful singer in Dubai. If you would like anymore information on myself then please visit my website below and remember that the voice comes first.