What do you think of singing competitions?
They can be a great way to open up a lot of doors. Now, if we’re talking The Voice or American Idol, be careful--those singers are contractually obligated to not record if they don’t reach a final 3 or win. (The rules are different for different televised singing competitions.) But for some, if you don’t win, you can’t get paid to sing for five years. So that’s a huge risk on you career (with huge reward if you win.)
Non-televised competitions can be great options, though. I’ve entered into Lotte Lenya before, and the winner gets 10k, and there are awards for many different other finalists. It’s very renowned, is great on your resume, and is a fantastic experience. I’ve got lots of friends who have done them before--just make sure you read the fine print before entering!