Tutorial
#4
Becoming a Singer - Pursuing a Career
So you want to become a singer?
Wouldn't it be nice if record producers came knocking on your door with a pen and paper asking you to sign a deal promising to make you a superstar? Sorry, it doesn't work like that! Becoming a singer requires some hard work and dedication to your passion.
The first thing to keep in mind is that there are millions of other people that want the same as you: to become a singer.
Tom Jackson, a professional performance coach, once told me: "there are singers, and then there are SINGERS!" You need to be a SINGER! When paving your road to becoming a singer, keep in mind that a lot of singers have become famous even though they lack a great voice; people want great music, and songs with great messages and connection can make up for an "average voice." Bob Dylan is an example (Bob, I hate to use you as an example, but its actually sort of a compliment!). I just want you to keep that in mind, please do not use that as an excuse to pass up vocal training and tending to your voice! If a great singer and an average singer both sing the same song, the better voice will always have the upper edge, however, an average singer singing a great song can be better than a great singer singing a bad song. The bottom line is: an average singer CAN find success, but a better singer will always have the upper edge. So go train your voice and become a SINGER!
Unless you want to be another needle in the haystack, you must create an image for yourself. Don't mimic an already famous superstar. There is already a Celine Dion. People should recognize YOUR voice as YOUR voice! They should not have to say, "is that Celine Dion or is that so-and-so?" You can be LIKE your favorite singer, but don't try to BE your favorite singer. The best solution is to put all of your famous influences together to help mold your OWN image. You are trying to become a singer, your are NOT trying to become a Celine Dion. So... once you have started to create an original image for yourself, what do you do next?
Go Perform.....LIVE!
Although posting your recorded music on the internet can get you some attention, people really want to see you perform and hear you live. Half of your career as a singer will be performing. You might have great music, but nobody will enjoy a performance if you stand still in the middle of the stage and stare blankly into space. The audience is there to watch you play, so let them know who the music is for. Music is a conversation between the artist and listener.
Perform? But where?!?
Anywhere! Anywhere with an audience is helpful, but plan wisely. Make sure you are performing in a place that suits your music. In other words, don't go into a retirement home and start singing heavy metal! You can perform in local bars, parties, talent shows, community events, or if you have a large enough fanbase you can rent out a place and hold your own mini-concert. I know those aren't exactly the huge arenas with thousands of fans screaming your name, but remember: you are becoming a singer, you are not already a singer (at least not a famous one). If you live somewhere music-driven, such as Nashville, then there is an unlimited supply of places to perform (and record label reps are always on the lookout!). Places like the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN are very musician friendly and have been the discovery site for artists as big as Garth Brooks. The bottom line is: if you want to become a singer, then you must go perform. If you have something special then you will be noticed, however, many artists do live shows for years before they get noticed (it does take hard work!). The better your music, the better your chances of tasting the spotlight.
If you plan on revolving your life around music, then revolve music around your life!
Fish live in water, polar bears live in the arctic, and monkeys live in the jungle. You live best in the environment that suits your lifestyle. In other words, if you plan on becoming a singer then don't pack up your bags and move out to the desert! Nobody that wants to become a singer moves out to the great plains of North Dakota, the isolated deserts of Arizona, or the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Somebody that wants to become a singer will most likely move to an area where the entertainment industry is a large part of the lifestyle, such as: Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York. I know some can't afford to make those sacrifices, and that is completely alright if you can't. It is just another advantage if you can, and you can never have too many advantages! Moving to these areas will not guarantee success, but it sure will give you more opportunities.
Do You REALLY Want to Become a Singer? Are You Prepared?
You always hear about the average person who would LOVE to become famous, but you also hear about the famous people who would LOVE to have their normal life back. I am not discouraging you at all, if you really want it then go for it! However, it is something to think about. Becoming a singer requires you to be a "product" for the public. People will pay to hear you sing and watch you perform just like they would pay for new clothing or a new household utility. That is why it is called the MUSIC BUSINESS!
You will be the product that your record label duplicates, puts on shelves, advertises, and your live shows will be like a promotion for your CD sales. This is the reason why I personally believe artists should let the businessmen take care of all of that work. The artists need to concentrate on making great music and making great connections with their fans, while on the other hand, the businessmen should be doing whatever they can to make more sales. If artists were the ones that had to do whatever it takes to make more sales then the artists MIGHT start losing that music integrity and turn into a "how much will you pay me" type of person. So your job as a singer is to make great music that people will enjoy, and the businessmen will take care of the rest!
As greedy as it sounds, you as a singer must remember that you are a product. When someone goes out shopping for a new pair of shoes, they will go to the "shoes" section of the store and see a whole lot of different types of shoes by different companies. They aren't all the same. What makes one pair better than the other? What makes on pair stick out from the crowd? Music fans will unconsciously ask the same about you as a singer. What makes your favorite singer your favorite singer? The voice? The music? The messages in the songs? The individual style that sticks out from the rest? What is it? Keep these questions in mind. If every singer was just the same ol' average singer then there wouldn't be much variety for fans to choose from. As Tom Jackson says, "don't be a singer, be a SINGER!"
Becoming a singer will affect your life if you become famous. You will be on the road touring all year long and then when you get a break from touring you will have to go to the studio for your next album. You are always in the spotlight. It can take a big chunk out of your personal life. So the question is, "how bad do you want it?" Again, I do not want to discourage you at all, but you must keep these thoughts in mind when paving your road to becoming a singer. If you really want it, then by all means... GO OUT AND GET IT!
Hard work and dedication will pay off, and becoming a singer requires a lot of it. Are you ready?
Click here to get your music on iTunes!
3 Things to remember when becoming a singer:
1. Create an original image for yourself. There is already a Celine Dion. People should recognize YOUR voice as YOUR voice, they should not have to say is that Celine Dion or is that "your name here"? You are trying to become a singer, not a Celine Dion.
2. Perform, perform, perform!
3. Surrounding your life with music is nothing but an advantage.
Becoming a singer is NOT an easy task (unless of course you are already famous or were born into a famous family *cough* Paris Hilton *cough*). If you REALLY want to become a singer then be prepared to put everything into your dream while still maintaining a backup plan. You don't want to be one of those people that dump all of their money into their music career and end up being a struggling artist for the rest of your life (its very sad, but true). Always have a backup plan. If you are young then finish school, get a degree, and have an alternative! I could name a million people that want to become a singer, yet only so few actually taste that dream. If you really want it, and it is really your deepest passion, then by all means.... GO FOR IT! But remember to have a Plan B!
I hope my few words of wisdom will be remembered as you..... BECOME A SINGER!
Becoming a Singer - Pursuing a Career
So you want to become a singer?
Wouldn't it be nice if record producers came knocking on your door with a pen and paper asking you to sign a deal promising to make you a superstar? Sorry, it doesn't work like that! Becoming a singer requires some hard work and dedication to your passion.
The first thing to keep in mind is that there are millions of other people that want the same as you: to become a singer.
Tom Jackson, a professional performance coach, once told me: "there are singers, and then there are SINGERS!" You need to be a SINGER! When paving your road to becoming a singer, keep in mind that a lot of singers have become famous even though they lack a great voice; people want great music, and songs with great messages and connection can make up for an "average voice." Bob Dylan is an example (Bob, I hate to use you as an example, but its actually sort of a compliment!). I just want you to keep that in mind, please do not use that as an excuse to pass up vocal training and tending to your voice! If a great singer and an average singer both sing the same song, the better voice will always have the upper edge, however, an average singer singing a great song can be better than a great singer singing a bad song. The bottom line is: an average singer CAN find success, but a better singer will always have the upper edge. So go train your voice and become a SINGER!
Unless you want to be another needle in the haystack, you must create an image for yourself. Don't mimic an already famous superstar. There is already a Celine Dion. People should recognize YOUR voice as YOUR voice! They should not have to say, "is that Celine Dion or is that so-and-so?" You can be LIKE your favorite singer, but don't try to BE your favorite singer. The best solution is to put all of your famous influences together to help mold your OWN image. You are trying to become a singer, your are NOT trying to become a Celine Dion. So... once you have started to create an original image for yourself, what do you do next?
Go Perform.....LIVE!
Although posting your recorded music on the internet can get you some attention, people really want to see you perform and hear you live. Half of your career as a singer will be performing. You might have great music, but nobody will enjoy a performance if you stand still in the middle of the stage and stare blankly into space. The audience is there to watch you play, so let them know who the music is for. Music is a conversation between the artist and listener.
Perform? But where?!?
Anywhere! Anywhere with an audience is helpful, but plan wisely. Make sure you are performing in a place that suits your music. In other words, don't go into a retirement home and start singing heavy metal! You can perform in local bars, parties, talent shows, community events, or if you have a large enough fanbase you can rent out a place and hold your own mini-concert. I know those aren't exactly the huge arenas with thousands of fans screaming your name, but remember: you are becoming a singer, you are not already a singer (at least not a famous one). If you live somewhere music-driven, such as Nashville, then there is an unlimited supply of places to perform (and record label reps are always on the lookout!). Places like the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, TN are very musician friendly and have been the discovery site for artists as big as Garth Brooks. The bottom line is: if you want to become a singer, then you must go perform. If you have something special then you will be noticed, however, many artists do live shows for years before they get noticed (it does take hard work!). The better your music, the better your chances of tasting the spotlight.
If you plan on revolving your life around music, then revolve music around your life!
Fish live in water, polar bears live in the arctic, and monkeys live in the jungle. You live best in the environment that suits your lifestyle. In other words, if you plan on becoming a singer then don't pack up your bags and move out to the desert! Nobody that wants to become a singer moves out to the great plains of North Dakota, the isolated deserts of Arizona, or the summit of the Rocky Mountains. Somebody that wants to become a singer will most likely move to an area where the entertainment industry is a large part of the lifestyle, such as: Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York. I know some can't afford to make those sacrifices, and that is completely alright if you can't. It is just another advantage if you can, and you can never have too many advantages! Moving to these areas will not guarantee success, but it sure will give you more opportunities.
Do You REALLY Want to Become a Singer? Are You Prepared?
You always hear about the average person who would LOVE to become famous, but you also hear about the famous people who would LOVE to have their normal life back. I am not discouraging you at all, if you really want it then go for it! However, it is something to think about. Becoming a singer requires you to be a "product" for the public. People will pay to hear you sing and watch you perform just like they would pay for new clothing or a new household utility. That is why it is called the MUSIC BUSINESS!
You will be the product that your record label duplicates, puts on shelves, advertises, and your live shows will be like a promotion for your CD sales. This is the reason why I personally believe artists should let the businessmen take care of all of that work. The artists need to concentrate on making great music and making great connections with their fans, while on the other hand, the businessmen should be doing whatever they can to make more sales. If artists were the ones that had to do whatever it takes to make more sales then the artists MIGHT start losing that music integrity and turn into a "how much will you pay me" type of person. So your job as a singer is to make great music that people will enjoy, and the businessmen will take care of the rest!
As greedy as it sounds, you as a singer must remember that you are a product. When someone goes out shopping for a new pair of shoes, they will go to the "shoes" section of the store and see a whole lot of different types of shoes by different companies. They aren't all the same. What makes one pair better than the other? What makes on pair stick out from the crowd? Music fans will unconsciously ask the same about you as a singer. What makes your favorite singer your favorite singer? The voice? The music? The messages in the songs? The individual style that sticks out from the rest? What is it? Keep these questions in mind. If every singer was just the same ol' average singer then there wouldn't be much variety for fans to choose from. As Tom Jackson says, "don't be a singer, be a SINGER!"
Becoming a singer will affect your life if you become famous. You will be on the road touring all year long and then when you get a break from touring you will have to go to the studio for your next album. You are always in the spotlight. It can take a big chunk out of your personal life. So the question is, "how bad do you want it?" Again, I do not want to discourage you at all, but you must keep these thoughts in mind when paving your road to becoming a singer. If you really want it, then by all means... GO OUT AND GET IT!
Hard work and dedication will pay off, and becoming a singer requires a lot of it. Are you ready?
Click here to get your music on iTunes!
3 Things to remember when becoming a singer:
1. Create an original image for yourself. There is already a Celine Dion. People should recognize YOUR voice as YOUR voice, they should not have to say is that Celine Dion or is that "your name here"? You are trying to become a singer, not a Celine Dion.
2. Perform, perform, perform!
3. Surrounding your life with music is nothing but an advantage.
Becoming a singer is NOT an easy task (unless of course you are already famous or were born into a famous family *cough* Paris Hilton *cough*). If you REALLY want to become a singer then be prepared to put everything into your dream while still maintaining a backup plan. You don't want to be one of those people that dump all of their money into their music career and end up being a struggling artist for the rest of your life (its very sad, but true). Always have a backup plan. If you are young then finish school, get a degree, and have an alternative! I could name a million people that want to become a singer, yet only so few actually taste that dream. If you really want it, and it is really your deepest passion, then by all means.... GO FOR IT! But remember to have a Plan B!
I hope my few words of wisdom will be remembered as you..... BECOME A SINGER!
