Sing-song girls were trained from childhood to entertain wealthy male clients through companionship; singing and dancing in special sing-song houses. They might or might not provide sexual services; but many did. They generally saw themselves as lovers and not prostitutes.

Sing-song girls did not have distinctive costumes or make-up. Often they wore Shanghai cheongsam as upper-class Chinese women did. Sing-song girls often did amateur Chinese opera performance for clients and often wore the traditional Chinese opera costume for small group performance. Sing-song girls had one or several male sponsors who might or might not be married; and relied on these sponsors to pay off family or personal debts or to sustain their high standard of living. Often sing-song girls married their sponsors to start a free life.