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Have you asked yourself, how do I become a singer? What makes a professional singer and do you want to know how to boost those singing skills to book that dream job? I want to tell you all about how to be a more confident singer and what skills you need to perform to your best ability. Keep reading for singing exercises, famous singers and what they did to make it big.
The music industry is a competitive and at times crazy place, so even if this has been your dream from a young age, be prepared not just to sing well, but nowadays there is a need to market yourself well and network. You are essentially a business and the better you can do that – and sometimes this means finding the best people to surround you and who can also support you – the easier you will find out how to become a good singer.
What knowledge do you have of the musical world, in terms of producers, music itself and what sort of area do you see yourself in?
Here are some tips to make this dream of being a singer a reality.
There are different types and genres of singers; broadway and west end singers, jazz singers, backing singers, country singers and you might even be someone who is a singer songwriter. So you need to find your own, unique style and perfect your voice, so you can come out on top within that specialized market.
It is very important to remember that to be a professional singer, it requires strong vocal skills, and you need to really hone your craft, and keep practicing. Work to your strengths and sing songs which really suit your vocal style. You need to just be able to sing without a care in the world and perform to a large audience, demonstrate your passion and this is far easier if songs suit your voice. Once this is done, you can work on a singing showreel, you can send on to casting directors.
This is a great way of improving your voice under a trained eye and also to have fun with singing and just let go. This is vital, because you have to enjoy what you do. You will learn how to achieve a finer grasp of a musical style and use techniques in terms of breathing and delivery to increase your range, clarity and keep your voice sounding strong. Overall, it builds your confidence as a singer. I will list some vocal warm-ups later in the article to follow.
Having someone in your corner who is already in the business is essential, as they can guide you through your singing career, whatever your style. These can be professional vocal coaches – so you may include your singing teacher as one already – or someone who is also in the industry as well as a singer and you can go to for advice. If you went to musical theatre school, then you are bound to know a lot of people from class or a teacher again. But if not, then there are plenty of professionals online who you can reach out to. You will more often than not have a 1-1 session with them and then build on your relationship. You can even find these mentors on social media now, you just have to find them!
Having just mentioned social media, this is now a great place to shine and demonstrate to anybody who is watching what you can do. I mean look at the TikTok stars Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, who created and sang their own Bridgerton musical and now have just won a Grammy. The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. That could be you one day. Today it’s all about making your own music and getting yourself out there, so really embrace social media and make your presence known.
You must be confident in making sure you get your name out there and recognised. It is about 60% of the job and it is a constant part of being a professional singer. Go to singing events, gigs, album launches and turn up with a demo of your music. Really take the time to make a memorable first impression, as it is critical they remember you as someone others would like to work with.
Now this takes work, as you need to have high quality demos, really work on your set, research the venues that you would like to sing at and maybe even collaborate with other singers. If you have sent out an EPK to a booking agent, then make sure you follow up with them as they may not get back to you at first.
Ok now, there are way too many to mention as you probably would have guessed, so this is just a short list, otherwise we could be here for days!
Here are the best vocal warm-ups for you as a singer, which you should get into the practice of doing before an audition. You definitely need to warm up your voice ahead of time.
This really depends on what style and genre you chose and experience, as there is going to be a difference between a pop singer, broadway stage singer and vocal coach. So, it can be anywhere from working for free to making $2,304 per week on Broadway. And then if you really want to make the cash, Adele’s net worth is $191 million as of 2021.
The key is to invest in yourself and your voice, enjoy what you do, and make a name for yourself to as many professional people as possible. I hope that this article has been helpful and you know more about being a singer and how to become a better one. Time, effort and tenacity are essential. Good luck!