How to become a singer in Dubai Guide
Dubai is a fantastic location in the Middle East, rich in prosperity and opportunities for existing and new businesses to flourish. Dubai is also a prime location for artists and singers to perform and succeed in a full-time career in the art they love.
But what does it take to become a singer in Dubai and what do you need to know as an artist looking to break into the Dubai entertainment industry?
As a professional singer and performer in Dubai, I have put together what I discovered and learned throughout my journey and experienced while entertaining in the United Arab Emirates.
Before I begin, I would like to point out that I am not just a nobody. I have been a professional singer and entertainer all over the world finally settling down in the beautiful city of Dubai. Dubai has some of the most fantastic restaurants, beaches and most importantly entertainment.
Packed with restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and entertainment venues, there’s never been a better place for artists, bands, and singers to reach their full potential.
To ensure that you have the best chance of success in the United Arab Emirates with your singing career, follow these simple steps below:
Create a promotional CD
All entertainment venues and agencies will want to hear your voice before hiring you. Creating a 5-10 track CD will be enough for them to make an informed decision before signing up.
Dubai has numerous recording studios located in and around the city in places like Deira, Downtown, and Abu Dhabi.
Make sure you have a wide selection of various genres so that you are open to more opportunities and places.
Get professional photos
There is nothing worse than coming up empty handed when an agency or venue requests professional photos.
Hire a photographer to take a selection of high resolution images to use for any promotions, websites and social media.
Enter social networks
It is important that you start building 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 performances live. Allow your fans to share and comment for maximum reach.
Be sure to respond to comments and announce any future submission dates. Remember that the places must be filled to make sure you keep singing there!
Print some business cards
Another very embarrassing and unprofessional occasion is when a potential client or venue asks for your business card and you don’t have one to hand them.
You will find that business cards are still extremely popular in the United Arab Emirates. This is perhaps due to the multicultural population of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. A good company that offers affordable business card printing is DESCO.
Having a professional and attractive business card is the fastest way to get your contact details into the right hands and generate business.
Make sure you have the following information printed on business cards:
Make it clear what you are offering
Your name
contact numbers
Email address
Web address
build a website
Countless agencies have asked me if I have a website that they can use to direct their clients. Having an online portfolio is quickly becoming the future for many artists.
Your website should look professional in appearance, be easy to navigate and locate information, have your tracks embedded or linked, and have professional images.
Including any video of live performances on your website is also a powerful advertising tool.
visit places
Dress up and put on your best shoes! It’s time to get out there and start visiting places to drive some business.
Simply visiting restaurants, bars, golf clubs, and nightclubs is a great start. Ask to meet the entertainment manager at each location.
It’s always a good idea to call the venue before you visit to make sure the person you need to talk to is there when you plan to visit.
Sign up with an agency or entertainment company
This really goes without saying, but it’s surprising that when I meet other singers who are just starting out, they tell me that they have yet to do this.
The benefits of signing up with an entertainment agency in Dubai is that they can find additional work for you in the region. Some of the work may be one-time and temporary, but it still generates income for you. More to the point that you can make more money from one-off gigs than from a regular residency gig. (crazy right?)
Network
Networking in any business venture has always been critical to success. In the UAE entertainment industry it is no different. It is much more about who you know than what you know and I have witnessed some extremely bad artists and singers in Dubai making more money than the good singers and this is why.
Attend open mic nights and networking events for singers and bands in Dubai. These are great places to put your name on the stage 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 to this. Big gangs have great earning potential in UAE cities.
Finding a band or other musicians can be quite easy. Adding an announcement on the community board of local supermarkets or paying a visit to open mic nights and networking with band members or bands is the way to go.
How much does a professional singer earn in Dubai?
The sky is the limit. Usually a new singer on the Dubai scene can expect 1500-2000 dirhams per gig, however this can go up depending on how good and in-demand they are.
As always, the bigger places tend to pay more than the smaller places. Iconic hotels and venues will be willing to pay more depending on the quality of the performance.
I really hope that the information I have compiled in this guide will give you the right tools to become a successful singer in Dubai. If you would like to learn more about me please visit my website below and remember to put voice first.