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Performing artist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Quoted experts

Robin Barkley,

Lawrence Jackson

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical performing artist skills. We ranked the top skills for performing artists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 32.7% of performing artist resumes contained private parties as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a performing artist needs to be successful in the workplace.

13 performing artist skills for your resume and career

1. Private Parties

Here's how performing artists use private parties:

Perform between 5 and 20 shows, private parties, and events a month.

2. Poetry

Here's how performing artists use poetry:

Performed hip hop and poetry at live venues throughout New York, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
Researched and developed poetry curriculum for adults for Creative Writing and Performance Poetry.

3. Facebook

Here's how performing artists use facebook:

Utilized social media platforms including Facebook to connect with college community.
Generated viral interest through maintenance of Twitter and Facebook accounts.

4. Event Planning

Here's how performing artists use event planning:

Contributed to the event planning and management of showcases, concerts, press tours and other related events.
Oversee Owl Tribe related projects including community housing operations, event planning, and music release.

5. Sketch

Here's how performing artists use sketch:

Completed 16 weeks of Improvisational and Sketch Comedy Training through the Upright Citizens Brigade.
Received packages and signed vendors in and out Artist(Freelance) Present I sketch portrait drawings upon request.

6. Music Videos

Music videos are short films or videos that feature a song and imagery and are produced either for artistic or promotional purposes.

Here's how performing artists use music videos:

Featured in Music Videos & various films as a singer.
Take part in major productions of musical shows, CD albums, and music video DVDs.

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7. Press Releases

Here's how performing artists use press releases:

Prepared documentation for exhibits, including press releases and postcards/invitations.
Prepared press releases and established relationships with media contacts.

8. YouTube

Here's how performing artists use youtube:

Established personal brand as singer/songwriter with an emerging YouTube presence.
Maintained a record of musical artists and of other talent profiles on MySpace, YouTube and other social networking sites.

9. Live Audiences

Here's how performing artists use live audiences:

Sing as a member of a Hip-Hop group and performed for live audiences, on television and on radio.
Perform on stage in front of a live audience.

10. DJ

DJ is an acronym for disc jockey which stands for a person that curates songs and plays them for an audience or in a radio station to numerous listeners. They usually have a compilation of songs from different artists cutting across different genres and regions of the world. They are important figures in the music entertainment industry.

Here's how performing artists use dj:

Released and promoted LP of DJ work which reached the top 10 on BeatPort.
Collaborated with other Dj's, Producers, and songwriters.

11. Public Speaking

Public Speaking or oration, as it is sometimes known, is the act of any one person speaking live in front of an audience. Although in the past the audience was only a physical one, nowadays oration might be done on an online video call, at a digital conference, at an online class, or elsewhere. The art of public speaking is very old, drawing its first established roots from Ancient Greece and likely from before, too. It is an important skill and asset in many industries.

Here's how performing artists use public speaking:

Teach and help students grow in the areas of creativity, public speaking, and confidence.
Teach students the fundamentals of public speaking, and increase oratory skills.

12. Music Composition

Here's how performing artists use music composition:

Create music composition for film (documentary, cinematic, background, music for background spoken word and speaking events).
Worked independently and with other musicians in music composition, arrangement, production, tour support and coordination.

13. Live Shows

Here's how performing artists use live shows:

Scheduled rehearsals, performances, tours, lighting and sound for live shows.
Played over 1,000 live shows and toured the country many times.

What skills help Performing Artists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on performing artist resumes?

Robin Barkley

Director of the Animation and Video Game Animation Programs, Fairleigh Dickinson University

The skills that stand out on an animation resume is the person's software and artistic skill sets. In this field, a demo reel or samples of their work are very important. People hiring animators are looking for a combination of technical skills as well as visual and aesthetic skills. Samples of the applicant's work are imperative to landing a job in this industry. What is written on paper can be the same for many applicants, but what is visually shown will differ for all of them. Employers will be looking for quality of work, attention to detail, and sometimes a specific style or type of work.

What soft skills should all performing artists possess?

Lawrence Jackson

Associate Professor, Dance, Chair, A&S Diversity Committee, President, Alabama Dance Council, A&S Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Associate Chair of the UA Dance program, The University of Alabama

Soft skills used that are most important for a dancer include time management, interpersonal communication, collaboration, spatial awareness, empathy, persistence, flexibility, leadership, teamwork, commitment, ability to work independently, respectful of deadlines, respect for others, mental and physical stamina, attention to detail, listening, and following directions.

What hard/technical skills are most important for performing artists?

Lawrence Jackson

Associate Professor, Dance, Chair, A&S Diversity Committee, President, Alabama Dance Council, A&S Distinguished Teaching Fellow, Associate Chair of the UA Dance program, The University of Alabama

Mastery of turns, advanced jumps, increased range of motion, flexibility, high level of artistry.

What performing artist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Randall Bradley

Director and Professor, Baylor School of Music

This is a good question. I'm not sure there is a region that is better; however, the places in which the coronavirus has had the least impact are starting to open up and search for leadership first. Secondly, I think one of the most open places for worship leaders to find positions will continue to be in smaller towns. There are many smaller town churches that desire well-trained music and worship leaders; however, most younger people are not particularly interested in settling in places that are further from major metropolitan areas. We are seeing similar challenges among medical professionals, educators, etc. Yet, with the recent interest in smaller rural communities as safe places to escape a pandemic, this trend could shift.

What type of skills will young performing artists need?

Dr. Niki Tulk

Assistant Professor of Theatre, Alfred University

I will speak just to the theatre in the higher ed workforce. Knowledge of video augmented reality, virtual reality, and zoom as performance platforms will be important.

Do you want to know more?

List of performing artist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a performing artist resume and required skills for a performing artist to have include:

Private Parties
Poetry
Facebook
Event Planning
Sketch

Music Videos
Press Releases
YouTube
Live Audiences
DJ

Public Speaking
Music Composition
Live Shows

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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