What should a female jazz singer do to break into the field?

I am in my early 30's and I love singing Jazz numbers. I am a fan of Billy Holiday, Edith Piaf, and Etta James; but I hate happy fake book jazz. (Many people, including many musicians, tell me I have a great voice for the genre.)

I really like to do the old torch songs and ballads. Is there a market for that? How do you get gigs in the local jazz scene without knowing anyone? Should I only do covers or should I also write my own music? How do I find musicians with a similar interest?

You could go around sitting in and hoping that someone will call you for a gig, but that isn't what you asked. You asked how to break into the field. This is what you should do.

1) Make a list of all the songs you know how to sing, and find lead sheets for those songs. Make sure the lead sheets are in a key you can sing well in - if not, transpose them.

2) Hire a trio - piano, bass, drums - and find a studio that has a demo package - usually a few hundred bucks.

3) Spend a little time getting your press kit together - bio, influences, high quality photos, etc.

4) Hand out your packet to anyone and everyone that might be able to get you a gig. Restaurants, clubs, wedding planners, community arts associations - everyone.

This way you are calling the shots. You don't have to go around singing "Mustang Sally" in bar bands to pay your dues or whatever. If you are good and you believe in yourself and your talent then you are off to a great start. The next step is to approach the whole thing like a business. You have to learn to sell your product (you) the best way possible.

It's really hard to find a market for any type of jazz these days. I would try a big city, like New York, Chicago. Or a college town.

Go to open mic nights and network to find musicians. Or try a local college music department. I got a gig with a bunch of Music professors from the local community college.

Anyway good luck.

yep, go to open mic's . or cafes and network.
if you build a fan base ..you know you're good.
if it's meant to be it will be.

Make sure you know your songs inside and out....melodies and lyrics perfectly. Make sure you know the keys you sing in before you go and sit in anywhere. Make sure you have control of your stage presence and you know how to count off the songs, you know how to talk to the musicians and you have to get them to respect you right from the first note. Then, go in to jazz clubs, jam sessions, sign up and wait. When they call you, you knock em out. Flat out. Then, from that moment on, they'll know you.

Believe in yourself and have a recognizable style

Go with Kevin ... good job kev! Also look into the career of Diana Krall. She is close to the genre you described and is quite successful today.

Ron in H-Town