Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Improve Your Skills
• Part 2 of 3: Seek New Opportunities
• Part 3 of 3: Promote Yourself
• Tips
• Warnings

Let's face it, you're humming all the time and secretly dreaming of a singing career. Of course, you know that the road ahead is not easy, but you can become a professional singer if you improve your voice, work on your style, invest in the necessary equipment, look for the opportunity to sing in public in front of a small audience, and also advertise yourself with demos. and not only.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Improve Your Skills

1. 1 Take vocal lessons. Whether you are a beginner or a rising star, learning doesn't hurt. By studying with a teacher, you will not only learn to “sing better”, but you will also feel how to control your voice in order to get the sound you want. Find a music school or private vocal coach near your home.
   • When choosing a vocal teacher, evaluate what you have and what is lacking for a good performance, and look for a teacher who specializes in practicing the exact points that you would like to improve. Find a few teachers online or from someone you know, and then take trial lessons from at least three of them. Then choose a teacher to whom the soul lies more.
2. 2 Train your voice! For a singer, the voice is his instrument. Do you want to become a virtuoso? The recipe is simple: work, work, work. Practice however you like: sing in the shower, in the car, for grandparents, in the church choir, or alone in your room, practice all the time.
   • Sing your favorite songs, as well as any other, in a variety of musical styles. You can learn a lot by trying different options.
   • The quality of your singing is highly dependent on your physical fitness. Singing takes a lot of energy. You not only have to hit the right note, but also learn how to breathe correctly while singing, control the position of the body, and so on.
   • In the course of long training, you will understand what your skills are, what you are capable of as a singer: vocal range, timbre and preferred style of performance.
3. 3 Get an education. Although you don't need a diploma to win the hearts of listeners, if you are serious about making a career as a singer, you might find it useful. Many colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as music and vocals. It can deepen your knowledge and experience and help you improve your data in general.
   • Besides learning the basics of music theory and vocal performance, it's a good idea to take courses or get a second degree in areas such as business or marketing. You will be diversified and will acquire valuable skills that will come in handy later when you establish yourself and establish yourself in the music business.
   • Many schools require auditions to enroll in music courses.
4. 4 Learn to read sheet music. Even if you have a beautiful voice, but you cannot read sheet music, you cannot make a dizzying career in the world of music. Knowledge of notes helps when communicating with other performers, when writing your own songs, deepens knowledge in this art form.If you have not received an official musical education, complete self-study to know how to read sheet music and understand basic musical concepts (rhythm, harmony, etc.)
   • Note that in many concerts you will need to be able to read sheet music, so this is an important skill.
5. 5 Learn to play musical instruments. Good singing is an art in itself. However, if you know how to do something else, you will be one step ahead. Knowing how to play instruments such as guitar, piano, drums, and accompany yourself will help you rehearse, write songs, and communicate your ideas to other musicians. Possession of multiple instruments will increase your chances of getting into concerts and help you find other promotion opportunities.

Part 2 of 3: Seek New Opportunities

1. 1 Gain self-confidence. To perform well in front of other people, you need to be confident and charismatic. The only way to truly develop self-confidence is to perform and sing as often as possible. Try the following options:
   • singing in karaoke;
   • street performance;
   • participation in a talent show;
   • participation in vocal competitions;
   • performing at parties, weddings, church ceremonies, family gatherings and any other public events.
2. 2 Become a chorus or any other vocal group. When you are brave and ready to speak in public, you can alternatively look for a group to join. This can be a church choir, a school ensemble, a choir circle, a city choir, a street quartet, a group of carols, and so on. While you may not be a star when performing in a group, you will still learn a lot and improve.
   • If you are interested, you can ask your vocal group director about the opportunity to sing a solo.
3. 3 Find your style. When you reach a certain level of skill as a singer, you will want to stand out from the crowd. With flexibility, you can get off to a good start. Try to perform as many different styles as you can. Then you will choose your favorite style and sing great.
   • If you have any special vocal abilities, now is the time to start developing them. For example, you play very high notes or you have a "hoarse" voice that fits well with soul music.
4. 4 Write original songs. If you really want to do well as a singer, you should also start writing your own pieces. Focus on writing songs in whatever style and form you like best, but always look for opportunities to develop and hone your craft.
   • You can write music and lyrics yourself or work with a co-writer to develop one or the other.
   • If you play any musical instrument, use it in the process of working on your musical composition, even if you end up playing a completely different instrument.
   • Keep a notepad with you to quickly jot down music or words wherever inspiration strikes, or install a note-taking and songwriting app on your phone.
5. 5 Set goals and be hardworking. It takes a lot of work to be successful and become a singer, and chances are you'll face setbacks and rejections along the way. So it's important to be patient. Although there are stories all around about someone waking up to be a star in the morning, most singers work hard and hard to achieve success.
   • Decide what “success” means to you. You can write down where you will sing five years in advance. However, be prepared to change the plan in the course of life, at least in some of its points.

Part 3 of 3: Promote Yourself

1. 1 Find a regular paid job as a singer. Find a place as soon as possible where you will be paid to perform. This is how you become a professional.Even if the work is not great, additional opportunities may open up.
   • Paid concerts include performances on cruise ships, theme parks, clubs, weddings, parties, voice acting for commercials, and the like.
   • Some singers manage to earn extra money by accompanying a local or touring artist. This kind of work provides an excellent opportunity for promotion. Stay tuned for audition announcements or contact artists directly.
   • You can start looking for paid concerts in local clubs and other places, however, for this it is better to get a manager, your own equipment and a demo.
   • While waiting for your “chance”, you can give singing lessons to others, teach music, earn extra money in a club, or do any other work related to singing. Thanks to this, you will gain valuable experience and earnings, while simultaneously moving towards your dreams.
   • Finding a paid job that requires a permanent performer is quite difficult. If you can't make ends meet, look for work in another field, and do your singing career in your spare time.
2. 2 Purchase equipment. Your own performance equipment will increase your chances of participating in concerts. It will allow you to search for concerts in venues that do not have a sound system, or where they prefer the musicians to use their equipment. Musical instruments are expensive. You don't need to buy high-end or super new gadgets if you're just starting out. However, if you are serious about becoming a singer, it is worth purchasing some equipment as soon as possible, such as:
   • microphone,
   • sound system and sound reinforcement,
   • sound processor,
   • any equipment for the necessary special effects.
3. 3 Make a presentation recording. After you create a collection of your own songs or covers, record them and use them as a presentation. You can use these records for applications for concerts, contracts, and more. It is possible to rent a professional studio (which is expensive), but it is quite easy to make a decent recording at home using computers and amateur software.
   • Typically, a presentation recording requires no more than four songs. You can always write more if you like and choose the best ones.
4. 4 Hire a manager. The manager will organize your participation in concerts, take care of advertising, conclude contracts, settle questions about them, and also help you earn more money and build a career. You can find a professional manager where you work, or even ask a friend or family member to help.
   • Professional managers take a commission, which can be a certain percentage of your fees and other earnings. You should enter into a contract that suits both of you.
5. 5 Submit your presentations. Your manager will help you send your presentations to clubs, radio stations, recording studios and other places where they might be of interest. Make sure your presentation shows your strengths and your best pieces come first. Along with the presentation itself, you should also attach a short cover letter and / or resume that lists your experience and accomplishments as a singer.
   • Modern presentations do not have to be on disk or in any other form, it can be a list of tracks online. In any case, the recommendations are the same.
6. 6 Be in touch. Nowadays, if you want to be a singer, you need some kind of Internet presence. Create professional pages for yourself on various social networks, post recordings and videos of your performances and check if your music is included in the list of listening and downloading services.
   • It might be harder to make money directly from streaming online, but it can lead people to find out about you and want to come and watch your performances.Many singers have made careers and made a living by posting videos on YouTube.
7. 7 Think over your image. Personal image and appearance are important for singers. As a performer, you represent yourself and your chosen style of music. The clothes you wear, the way you move, and other external attributes all matter. Think carefully about how you want to use your look to connect with your audience and at the same time maintain your uniqueness.
   • For example, if you want to perform classical music, it usually makes sense to wear formal clothes. If you want to stand out, you can play Beethoven in a T-shirt and ripped jeans.
   • Likewise, if you are into gothic rock, your viewers may find it odd if you show up in suspenders and a cowboy hat. At the same time, it will help you stand out from other performers.
8. 8 Advertising, advertising, advertising. To grow, most singers need to advertise themselves relentlessly. Don't miss any opportunity. In addition to participating in concerts and recordings, you can also:
   • Participate in events such as SXSW (an annual event that includes a number of music, film and media festivals and conferences).
   • Sell ​​products with your logo or name (T-shirts, stickers, hats, CDs, etc.)
   • Create a press kit to establish yourself as a singer.

Tips

• Take care of your instrument: voice. Drink plenty of water, quit smoking, avoid alcohol abuse, eat well, and get plenty of rest.
• Gather a group so that you do not shake with fear on stage alone.
• Develop as a person. As a teenager, Taylor Swift acted in the form of a young girl, full of health, a respectable American woman (listen to "Fearless", "Better Than Revenge" and more). Katy Perry, when she started out, had the image of a kind girl next door (think "I Do Not Hook Up", "Takes One To Know One", "Teenage Dream" and "One of the Boy").

Warnings

• On this path, you are likely to encounter a lot of rejections. If you know you’re not good at dealing with rejection, it’s better to do something else.