Your Complete Guide to Book a Singer
Finding the right Singer is easy with our how-to guide. Bursting with essential tips and answers to all those niggling questions, we help you book with confidence, so that you and your guests can relax and enjoy a truly fantastic and memorable event!
Want to dive right in and find a singer for hire near you?
WHAT TYPE OF SINGER SHOULD I BOOK?
This all comes down to what type of event you’re planning, how many people will be attending, the age range and musical tastes of your guests and what kind of atmosphere you’re hoping to create.
Here are a the different types of singers to hire near you.
Looking for a charismatic performer who can sing and play like Sheryl Crow or Ed Sheeran? Want to be serenaded down the aisle on your big day, or create a mellow mood at a dinner or drinks reception? Or do you need live music to draw people in at a trade show or shop opening?
Guitar Singers are perfect for smaller events such as wedding receptions and for hotels and restaurants requiring mood music. Performing gentle songs that blend into the background, they can add a warm atmosphere to any dining room or lounge area. Or, with infectious renditions of pop, jazz and folk hits, they can get people talking, singing along and having a great time!
Guitarists who sing are ideal for events that require live music without hiring an entire band, and for venues with a small stage area. They can perform unplugged when required or use a PA system for more volume at a larger event.
You can find musicians on Entertainers Worldwide who cover everything from The Beatles and Neil Young to Joni Mitchell and Laura Marling – and their repertoire often goes beyond the usual guitar music. Guitar Singers have a wealth of popular hits to choose from and can mix up rock songs, jazz standards, Motown, soul, pop, reggae, slow songs and upbeat crowd-pleasers, to get everyone at your event enjoying great sing-along moments.
The catalogue of music for Pianist Singers includes timeless classics by Ray Charles, Elton John, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel as well as newer favourites by Coldplay, Jamie Cullum, Vanessa Carlton, Diana Krall and John Legend.
The piano is such a versatile instrument that a singing piano player can perform pop hits, dance tunes, rock songs, soul music, romantic ballads and much more!
Nothing creates a warm atmosphere on your wedding day quite like the tinkling of the ivories, so this is a great way to create a relaxed atmosphere while your guests socialise in between photos, speeches and cutting the cake.
A Pianist Singer is also an excellent choice for a cocktail party or after-dinner entertainment, where they deliver slow piano ballads and smooth jazz, adding elegance and flair to the occasion.
Female Singers
Female singers are hugely popular and often requested as singers for weddings, corporate functions, birthday parties, charity fundraisers, awards dinners, bar mitzvahs, trade shows, product launches, conferences, dinners, company promotions and more.
There is something undeniably special about a female vocalist, with emotion and intensity carried in their tone and delivery. Filled with expression and a fantastic range, she can belt her way through the pop diva hits of Beyoncé, Whitney and Mariah or lift the soul with heart-stopping versions of Aretha.
She can also get your party rocking with Cher, shimmying with Tina Turner or bopping with Katy Perry. Or she can deliver a sultry mood with Amy Winehouse.
Whether you prefer classic pop, soul, Motown, love songs, piano ballads, dance tunes, rock, jazz, or a bit of everything, a female singer, with some of the greatest songs ever written at her fingertips, will leave your guests breathless.
Hire famous singers for events…Adele, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Ross…the list of sensational female singers for hire is endless, so there’s plenty to choose from!
Male Singers
Are you a rocker at heart? Then consider hiring a Male Singer specialising in music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. They can rouse even the sleepiest of crowds with lively versions of songs by Elvis, Chuck Berry and The Beatles.
Organising a 16th birthday party? A contemporary Male Singer can bust out chart-topping hits by James Bay, Bruno Mars and George Ezra, to the delight of every teenager there.
We all love to hear our favourite songs sung by a professional singer and here at Entertainers Worldwide, we have an astonishing range of Male Singers to choose from!
Whether you’re planning an office party or a family fun day, it’s the frontman’s job to get the crowd clapping and singing along, creating just the vibe you’re looking for. From modern pop and soul, to jazz, swing and musical theatre, we’ve got all eras and genres covered.
There is no question that having a live singer for a wedding is much more exciting than just hiring a DJ – although you can always do both, so that there’s someone to keep the dance floor packed in between sets. Your guests will be thrilled as a live singer serenades his way through disco classics, Motown hits, soul favourites, and rock and indie winners.
Forget awkward or stuffy office parties and corporate events. Why not hire a Male Singer to expertly break the ice and loosen up colleagues and clients. Before you know it, their fabulous voice will have you dancing the night away with your co-workers and give everyone plenty to talk about in the office the next day!
If you’re organising a retro or vintage-themed event, you’re going to need a Jazz Singer. Lower the lights, fill your glass and get that low-down feeling as one of our talented Jazz Singers performs songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Michael Bublé and Gregory Porter. Or, if your guests enjoy dancing, request some Duke Ellington and get that party started!
For a Mardi Gras style event, don your feathers and beads and let-the-good-times-roll with some New Orleans swing and rhythm and blues, or if you’re planning a roaring twenties, speakeasy theme, why not go for 1920s Chicago jazz, with hits by Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong or Jelly Roll Morton, and invite your guests to dress up as flappers and gangsters!
Of course, Jazz Singers are also perfect for wedding receptions, cocktail parties and after-dinner entertainment, adding a mellow mood to any sophisticated gathering with smooth, luscious sounds.
Classical Singers & Opera Singers
Want to really add a touch of class and sophistication to your corporate event? It doesn’t get much more glamorous than hiring an Opera Singer. Just imagine hearing live the spectacular arias made famous by Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and Plácido Domingo.
José Carreras and Kiri Te Kanawa will be with you in spirit as your guests revel in some of the most exquisite music ever written, including excerpts from Mozart, Puccini, Strauss and Gershwin.
As with other solo vocalists, classical singers can either perform with pre-recorded backing tracks (today, the quality of these is remarkable) or be accompanied by a live Pianist.
Classical Singers are particularly well suited to weddings, corporate events, anniversaries, dinner parties and drinks receptions. For a truly uplifting experience that you guests will remember for a long time, check out our choice of classical and opera singers.
Other popular categories of Singers are Production Singers, Song & Dance Acts and more recently a growing number of enquiries & bookings for A Cappella Groups.
Singagrams
Looking for a really special way to say Happy Birthday, send a colleague a leaving message or even pop the big question?
You can hire a singing telegram to either give a live, personalised performance, or a virtual one. There are a wide range of singagrams available for hire, from tribute acts, like a Kylie singing telegram, to opera singers, comedy singers, rat pack and vintage singers and much more
BOOKING A SINGER FOR YOUR WEDDING
If you’re planning your special day then you may want to hire a singer to add a touch of magic to your wedding registration/nuptials. Having a professional experienced wedding entertainer sing your favourite romantic song as you walk down the aisle is a wonderful way to make the moment truly memorable for you and your guests.
Just imagine a talented Pianist Singer performing Elton John’s ‘Your Song’, or Coldplay’s ‘Fix You’ as your guests arrive, or as you walk down the aisle. There won’t be a dry eye in the house! You can also book a vocalist to provide warming background music during your wedding breakfast, creating an easy-going and relaxed vibe in between speeches and during photographs.
Post ceremony, why not add the dulcet tones of a professional wedding singer to set the mood, so that friends, family and the happy couple can fully relax and embrace the social side of the wedding day.
At your drinks reception, you can start to inject more energy with up-beat songs, setting the tone for the evening celebrations to come.
Hiring a performer to sing for you on your big day is a unique and special way for you to start married life together and will create memories you can both cherish forever.
Popular choices of singers for weddings include Female Singers, Guitar Singers, Pianist Singers and Classical Singers.
HOW MUCH DOES A SINGER COST TO HIRE?
This will depend on their level of experience, how many musicians they are performing with, how far they have to travel to your event and the type of event you’re holding. Here is a rough guide to the different price ranges:
- Solo Singer / Guitar Singer / Keyboard Singer: £300 – £500 in the UK ($500 in the U.S. and €600 in Europe)
- Singer + guitarist / keyboardist (Duo): £400 to £700 ($700 in the U.S. and 800€ in Europe)
- Singer + 4 or 5 piece band: £1000 – £2000 in the UK ($1000-$2000 in the U.S. and 600€-1200€ in Europe)
- High profile singer with top, highly experienced and in-demand band: £2000 to £10,000 in the UK ($2000 to $10,000 in the U.S. and 2,200€ to 11,000€ in Europe)
Singers and bands will charge more at key times of year such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Of course, we all need to watch our budget and costs can mount up when putting on an event, but it’s worth paying for a reliable singer who will turn up on time and deliver a great evening’s entertainment. See our Essential Tips below for information on booking terms and conditions.
Before they even attend your event, singers will have spent hours, weeks, months and years developing their vocal range and repertoire, paying for lessons, sheet music , rehearsal and studio time. Then there are equipment, costume and marketing costs and travel and set up time. All singers need to factor these things in, on top of their actual performance time.
We’re here to help you find the perfect singer for your occasion and budget, with our easy-to-use entertainment directory which allows you to search for the best singers to hire who are local to your area and then use the contact form to message them directly and ask for a no-obligation quote. You will find that some acts also add a rough price guide to their profile.
Since the prices vary, we highly recommend getting in touch with your chosen performer for a completely free, no-obligation quote.
HOW LONG WILL THEY PLAY FOR?
Set lengths for singers vary from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Two 45-minute or 60-minute sets are typical but this can be discussed when you contact the act and singers, who are generally happy to accommodate all requests.
If your event is due to last all day, you can speak to your chosen singer and agree on a schedule together. Extra or longer performances will cost more, so keep an eye on your budget.
Many singers can offer acoustic sets as well as a full band lineup, or will have the facility to play pre-recorded music through the PA using a laptop. Either way, your guests can enjoy some background music during dinner or in between sets and this will be cheaper
than hiring multiple acts.
SUITABLE VENUES FOR SINGERS
When choosing your venue, it’s a good idea to consider the type of event you’re planning and how much space you’ll need.
Is your singer performing solo or with other musicians? If they are a Piano Singer, are they playing a full-sized piano or an electronic keyboard? Will you need extra room for a DJ or host? Is there room for equipment such as speakers? Is the room big enough for all of your guests? Is there parking and easy access, allowing for easy set up?
Other Considerations
Stage Size
Even if your singer generally stands still while singing, they will need a certain amount of room in order to be comfortable and perform at their best. We recommend using the following guidelines to ensure that your stage is the right size for your singer and any accompanying musicians (measurements given are Width x Depth):
Solo Performer: 8ft x 6ft (2.5m x 2m)*
Duo: 12ft x 8ft (3.6m x 2.5m)
Trio: 16ft x 12ft (4.8m x 3.6m)
4-5 Piece Band: 20ft x 12ft (6m x 3.6m)
5-6 Piece Band: 20ft x 16ft (6m x 4.8m)
7-8 Piece Band: 17ft x 10ft (5m x 3m)
8-10 Piece Band: 16ft x 24ft (4.8m x 7.3m)
10-12 Piece Band: 16ft x 28ft (4.8m x 8.5m)
*Solo performers may need more space if they are bringing a PA system and monitors.
Backstage Area
While not all singers expect the luxury of a fully-fitted dressing room, they will need somewhere away from the guests, ideally with a mirror, to get changed, warm up and relax in between sets. A small room or back office is often sufficient.
We have plenty more information about the practicalities of booking entertainment on our FAQs page, where you can find everything you need to know about Deposits & Travel expenses | Cancellations | DBS Checks | Performer Insurance & Risk Assessments .
We hope you’ve found this guide really helpful, but please do fill in our Request form if you have any questions about how to hire a singer or would like our singers to contact you direct – and remember you can book through us with no booking fees!