How to become a singer
How to become a singer
How To Become A Famous Singer In 8 Steps
Today we’re going to look at how to become a famous singer in 6 steps. If you’re a beginner singer and want to know what it takes to give yourself the best chance of making it in the music industry, be sure to read to the end for all the details.
If you want a guide which will help improve your vocals in general, check these great value online singing lessons.
Disclaimer: While these below six points will go a long way to helping you reach your desired level of fame as a singer, there is no guarantee that you will become famous. This will come down to a few different things, such as how talented you are, being in the right place at the right time, and more.
That said, doing the below will greatly increase your chances of making it as a successful singer. Be sure to read all 6 points to get a good idea of what needs to be done.
But first, if it’s your aim to do music professionally, you’ll want to check out our free ebook while it’s still available:
1. Build Your Way Up To Fame
A common misconception about fame in the music industry is that it will come overnight. It’s easy to see someone in the charts for the first time, and assume they haven’t been working hard for some time leading up to that.
In reality, this isn’t normally the case. If you want to be a famous singer, you will need to work at it.
You won’t start out doing world tours or writing number one hits. You need to work your way up the ladder.
Start out by aiming to become known with your family and friends. When they recognize your talents and let you know you’re genuinely good enough, network out and start to build up your name in different areas.
Start establishing your name in your local area, on online music forums, on already established YouTube channels, on local radio stations and the like.
Once you have this local market covered and people are talking about you, expand once again. Each time aim to conquer a bigger market, using the buzz you gained in the previous area to get more people to give you a chance.
This is the best way to become a famous musician, one stage at a time.
2. Have A Unique Selling Point If You Want To Become A Famous Singer
A unique selling point, USP for short, is a way to differentiate yourself from the crowd. You don’t want to be doing the same thing as every other singer out there; if you are, what’s going to make people buy into you over the others?
Your USP doesn’t have to be anything big, but it has to be noticeable. It could be that you structure your songs differently, that you have a voice that’s different from the norm, or simply that you do what you do at a much higher level than everyone else.
Yes, that in itself is a unique selling point, as people will see they can only get the best by being a fan of yours. If you don’t already have a USP, you may want to think about creating one.
Once you do, make sure it’s clear to people what it is. Sometimes it will be tangible, but other times you will have to drop it into the conversation via interview or on your website, etc.
Don’t say “My USP is”, instead say “I like to do *this* which I don’t think is something fans get anywhere else”. This will help make you sound like you’re thinking of them, and also put the idea in their mind that you stand out in some way.
This is an important step if you want to be a well-known singer.
3. Market Yourself As A Singer
If you want to become a famous singer, you will need to learn how to market yourself. That, or you will need someone to market for you.
If you haven’t got the budget to pay someone to market you, then it’s all down to you. You may want to check out our marketing for musician guide for tips and advice on how you can do this.
Marketing is the process of raising awareness of yourself as a singer. The first step in getting your fans is letting people know you exist.
Second is making them be open to listening to you. This is a much trickier job than it sounds, so don’t underestimate how much work is required to make this happen.
With all the other singers and musicians fighting for people’s attention, music fans have become overwhelmed with the choice available to them. The result?
Many people are blocking out most artist that throw themselves their way. Even if you’re giving away a free download, the majority of people will actively ignore it.
Giving out a free CD? A lot of the time it’ll end up on a shelf never to be listened to.
It has become increasingly difficult to market yourself as a musician, but with the right knowledge it is possible. Being a famous singer will require you to have a lot of fans, so if this is what you want to achieve, then you need to get your marketing hat on asap.
Without it, you simply won’t reach your goals.
OK, so here are three other tips teaching you how to become a famous singer. Point number 8 is especially important, so make sure you read on to the end:
4. Learn How To Sing Properly
OK, so this may seem like an obvious point, but if you aren’t a good enough singer you’ll never, never become a famous singer. You can market yourself all you want, but if people don’t want to listen to you, you’ll never move forward in your singing career.
It’s never a bad idea to take online singing lessons if you haven’t already, so you may want to look into that. Alternatively, you can always take an online singing course which is a lot cheaper than the hourly rates many vocal teachers charge.
Either option is good, as strengthening your voice and improving your vocal range can only be good for your music career as a whole. Ultimately, your goal should be to be the best you can be.
Britney Spears is not an impressive singer. Neither is Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips.
There are plenty of others that can hold their own, in their own unique way (they’ve developed their USP), but aren’t necessarily at the top of their game. Nevertheless, they are famous.
It’s true that being undeniably good will open doors that being so-so simply won’t. But you don’t need to be Idina Menzel either.
You can make up for your weaknesses with image, branding, marketing, and attitude. But don’t fool yourself about how good you are (or aren’t), because that can come back to bite you in the butt later.
Get an honest opinion from someone you trust. If you’re tone-deaf, you’re in trouble.
But most of the time, there is a way to progress and to improve as a singer, and that’s the path you should follow.
5. Collaborate With Musicians And Industry Figures That Are Bigger Than You
The art of using other’s authority is one of the best ways to get yourself known. One of the quickest ways of getting in front of a relevant audience is working with someone who already has an established audience in your niche.
If you can get this person to recommend you or be on a song with you, you are going to get in front of their audience, and have the chance for them to become your fans too. You can also study under them as a backing singer, if they are amenable to the idea.
While it may be hard to collaborate with someone big in your genre at first, keep working at it. Start with a lesser-known person with a decent buzz, and start working with more known artists as you are able.
The more you work with others and get your name out there, the more people will want to work with you. As time goes on, you’ll find it easier and easier to get the more prominent collaborations, and your audience will grow at a decent rate as a result.
6. Join A Band & Generate A Ton Of Interest In The Music
What do you do when you’ve been putting your best foot forward for years, and you still can’t find success and fame as a singer? You take charge of the situation.
There are many bands looking for great singers. Working with a talented singer can make a huge difference for them, because signing duties often fall to the bass player or guitarist, who may not be great singers to begin with.
They can develop in time, but if they could concentrate on what they’re genuinely great at (i.e. their instrument), they’d have a better chance of reaching their goals and getting somewhere in the music industry.
That’s where you come in. If you sang for the band, and delivered killer vocals, that would free up everyone else to focus on their strengths.
It’s a win-win. And when everyone is doing what they’re good at, amazing things can happen. A band becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Just look at The Beatles.
If you choose to take this route, then make it your goal to sell a lot of music. It’s getting tougher and tougher to sell CDs and digital downloads these days, but getting streamed and featured on notable playlists can also get you to where you want to go.
Once thousands or tens of thousands of people are listening to your music, industry people and labels will have no choice but to take notice of what you’re doing. And if you land a contract or an amazing opportunity as result, achieving fame will only be a matter of time.
Note: finding a band isn’t hard, but finding the right band isn’t easy. You must ensure that there is good chemistry between the members, and that they are good players.
They should also have the same goals in mind that you do, or at least aspire to the same level of success. Otherwise, the band won’t be together long enough to achieve anything worthwhile.
You also must ensure that you aren’t the culprit of issues within the band. Beware of lead singer disease (LSD). Singers sometimes have a tendency of seeing themselves as the most important piece of the band, and set different standards for themselves than they do for others.
This is not only unfair to the band, but it can also cause unnecessary tension. You are important as a singer, but not that important. So, bring the best version of yourself to the band, always.
7. Build Your Following & Own It
Again, sometimes you must take matters into your own hands. Today, it’s rare for you (or anyone) to be presented with massive opportunities randomly and unexpectedly.
You must make your own way, and as you keep hustling, serendipities and synchronicities will begin to occur. But you can’t expect this to happen by default or on autopilot.
If you want to make it big, you’ll have to earn every inch of your success. If you let others dictate to you what your portion should be, you’ll get the short end of the stick every single time.
That’s why you should take initiative and build a following that’s all your own. Prove your worth!
But it isn’t enough to set up a website (find a techie friend to help you), ask for emails, and send people to your social media profiles. This might get you a few signups and followers, but you’re going to have to be more aggressive in your approach.
Everywhere you go, you need to smile, shake hands, hand out business cards, and make real connections. It doesn’t matter who you talk to, or how important you think they might be.
You must treat everyone as though they are the most important and valuable person you know. And then, you need to follow up with everyone you connect with, and introduce them to others you know.
But only introduce people when there is a genuine, mutual benefit. Send an article that might be of interest to them if you can’t introduce them to anyone.
Can you connect with one new person every single day? It’s not that hard.
And just think of how many doors that could open for you in terms of opportunities and new connections. Think of the 365 follow-up emails you’ll be sending every single year (make strategic use of your email signature to draw attention to your email list and social media profiles).
Every email you send can be used to promote who you are and what you’re doing. Want to pick up the pace?
Then connect with two, three, four, or even five people every day! Want to take your hustle even further?
Then become an influencer in the industry. Write a new blog post every single week, guest post on other popular blogs, leave blog comments, connect to people on forums, send email campaigns, be active on social media, distribute press releases, go to networking events, and so on.
Again, own your following and build a relationship with them. This alone may not make you famous, but it will become a vital contributing piece to the larger fame puzzle.
8. Never Give Up
So finally, let me give you one of the most important factors of becoming a famous singer: NEVER GIVING UP. The thing is, fame doesn’t come overnight.
If this is what you expect, you’ll be in for a very demotivating journey indeed. It’s taken some of the biggest musicians in the world years to become successful.
If they had given up half way through, do you think we would have heard of them? No, we wouldn’t have.
Every singer has up and down periods. If you’re going to quit at the first few down periods, you may as well not have started in the first place.
People will let you down sometimes, but deal with it. Learn from it, and take a new path with someone else.
Eventually you will get to where you want to be, so keep building on and leveraging previous successes.
How To Become A Famous Singer Conclusion
So there you have it, 8 tips on how to become a famous singer. If you want to gain exposure and fame from your music career, you’ll do well to follow these tips. If however you want to learn to sing better, check out guide on how to become a better singer.
As mentioned, there is no guarantee to fame and fortune for anyone. But by using these best practices, you will greatly increase your chances of doing well.
Good luck with achieving your dream, and let us know how you get on in the comments section below. If you find this guide useful, please share it on Facebook, Twitter, and any other sites you use.
How to Become a Famous Singer
This article was co-authored by Tanisha Hall. Tanisha Hall is a Vocal Coach and the Founder and Executive Director of White Hall Arts Academy, Inc. an organization based in Los Angeles, California that offers a multi-level curriculum focused on fundamental skills, technique, composition, theory, artistry, and performance at a conservatory level. Ms. Hall’s current and previous students include Galimatias, Sanai Victoria, Ant Clemons, and Paloma Ford. She earned a BA in Music from the Berklee College of Music in 1998 and was a recipient of the Music Business Management Achievement Award.
There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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If you’ve been gifted with an amazing voice, you might be thinking about using your talent to make you famous. This is a great goal! Before jumping in, know that being a famous singer takes more than just having a good voice—you have to have a good stage presence and be a good performer as well. This is doable with practice and experience. While there is no guarantee for the level of fame you will reach, know that there are plenty of steps you can take to become known and recognized and even get paid for your talent.
How to Become A Singer in 6 Steps
If you’ve ever dreamed of writing your own songs and performing them for an audience, you might have wondered how to become a singer.
Some believe it’s a talent that can’t be developed if you’re not a natural. After all, singing is one of the most sought-after skills in music.
But is singing really impossible to learn? Of course not.
Just like any other skill in music, you can improve your singing with time and patience. In fact, any accomplished vocalist will tell you that their own skills took plenty of time and effort to perfect.
But where should you start, and what’s worth spending time on? What can you expect once you take the plunge?
In this article I’ll break down the essential guide to becoming a singer in 6 steps.
1. Change your mindset
Let’s start by busting the biggest myth about singing—you don’t need to be a natural talent to make music as a vocalist.
In modern tracks, there’s a huge focus on the singer as the main figure of the music they create.
But in reality, almost every song you hear is a collaboration between dozens of talented people working on different aspects of the production.
The singer certainly leant their talent to the equation, but the final polished sound takes a lot of work behind the scenes to create.
The result is an unrealistic view of what it takes to sing in a musical setting. A hundred years ago, singing was a regular part of life for almost everyone. Special talent wasn’t considered necessary to participate in musical life in church or folk music.
Things have certainly changed since then, but the takeaway is that you don’t have to be a pop star to sing well, or write an impactful song.
Once you get your head around this perspective, you’ll feel less self-conscious about not sounding great right away.
The truth is that everyone can sing, and there’s no such thing as a bad voice.
The truth is that everyone can sing, and there’s no such thing as a bad voice.
2. Learn how to practice
That said, you’ll have to put in the time to practice singing musically and develop your sound.
Just about everyone sings in the shower or hums under their breath from time to time. But that’s not the same as dedicated vocal practice that’s meant to train your basic abilities.
There are hundreds of guides to vocal warm-ups, singing exercises and beginner techniques available online. It may seem intimidating, but all you really need is to learn a handful of basic techniques to get started.
Look for a reputable source with simple, beginner-level guides but don’t stress too much about choosing the right one. Your progression will come from regular practice, not specific techniques.
When you look at it this way, practicing singing is just like practicing any other instrument. Find a routine that works for you and stick to it—it’s the only way to get better!
Find a practice routine that works for you and stick to it—it’s the only way to get better!
3. Train your ear
Producing sound with your voice is just half the battle when it comes to singing.
The rest comes from knowing the fundamentals of music and a skill called ear training.
It’s a musical discipline that allows you to recognize intervals, situate them in the material you’re singing and hear them in your head before you sing.
Having a good ear is your best bet to make sure you’re always singing on key and hitting the right notes.
Ear training goes hand-in-hand with music theory, and you’d normally learn both at once if you study music in a traditional setting.
To get started, fundamentals like major and minor scales, chords, progressions and rhythms should be on your list.
But don’t let music theory intimidate you, most of what you’ll learn should feel familiar once you recognize it in music you know and love.
Training your ear at the same time is how you put theory into practice. Recognizing intervals, singing them in different keys and organizing them into chords will help you hit your notes consistently.
Luckily, there are some great apps out there to help you train your ears. Here’s our guide to the top picks.
4. Build your confidence
Once you’re comfortable with the fundamentals, you can build confidence by learning songs and singing with other musicians.
Singing in a band or ensemble is different from singing on your own, but it’s an essential skill.
Interacting with other musicians will help you understand where you’re at and what you need to improve.
It’s also one of the most fun and satisfying parts of being a musician.
That said, If you’re not ready to work with others in person you can always collaborate online.
For example, It’s common for producers to work with vocalists to create hooks and toplines for their beats and tracks.
Check out LANDR Network to see how you can connect with other musicians to collaborate.
5. Find your unique style
The most important step as a singer and creator is to find your unique style.
The most important step as a singer and creator is to find your unique style.
Every voice has its strengths, and finding the genres, moods and styles where yours works is essential.
You may have to accept that some vocal styles may be out of reach for your basic sound—but that’s OK. If you focus on being creative and musical, you’ll find an approach that suits you.
Here’s a few tips on how to zero in on what you sing best:
Find your range
The typical roles in a vocal ensemble are bass, tenor, alto and soprano. They correspond to different voice types that are separated by the range of notes they typically sing.
Identifying which voice type you have can help you choose comfortable keys to sing in and write better parts.
Here’s a helpful guide to finding your voice type and how it can help you develop as a vocalist.
Try different genres
Different genres take radically different approaches to vocal style.
From whisper soft to all-out screams, you may find your voice is better suited to a particular genre.
Don’t hesitate to try out different approaches as you discover your personal style.
Experiment with vocal effects
Plenty of today’s distinct vocal styles rely on vocal effects to enhance the singer’s voice.
You probably recognize some of the most common ones like Auto-Tune or lo-fi effects.
But there’s a whole world of cool audio effects you can use to create a unique vocal sound.
Check out our guides to vocal processing, momentary effects, pitch correction and more for a look at the possibilities.
6. Use tools to help you
To use those cool effects, you’ll have to dive into some basic music production techniques.
It may sound intimidating, but every creator making music today should know the basics of using a DAW.
Even if you never plan to mix or master music, the creative benefits of digital tools have a lot to offer.
When it comes to singing, vocal recording is a skill of its own you’ll have to learn.
When it comes to singing, vocal recording is a skill of its own you’ll have to learn. If you’ve never heard your own voice recorded before, the experience can be jarring.
And vocal tracking puts every single imperfection in your performance under the microscope. After all, you’re completely alone in a vocal booth singing into a highly sensitive microphone at close range!
Getting used to it is part of being effective as a singer. But using a DAW to record yourself will also help you craft parts and understand areas where you can improve.
That’s vital information for any developing singer.
Start singing now
Singing may seem like it’s only possible for a few talented individuals.
But if you dig a bit deeper you’ll find that that’s never been true.
For every flashy pop-star there are plenty of great singers that fly under the radar and create memorable songs.
No matter what style you end up pursuing, it’s worth taking the first steps to start your journey as a vocalist.
How to Become a Singer
| Singer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Pay / hour | $41.46 |
| Education | 3-4 Years |
| Outlook | 11% |
The majority of people can name at least one pop singer and one of their most popular songs.
Although pop singers may the most easily recognizable performers, this profession has a wide range of possibilities through the musical genres available.
Individuals who want to become a Singer have a variety of musical genres to choose from when beginning their career.
Table of Contents
Education Requirements to Become a Singer
Typically, there are no educational requirements for people who want to become a Singer.
Although there are collegiate programs and majors focused in the arts, an individual does not necessarily need to take this route in order to become a Singer.
However, for individuals who want to perform as a Singer in the opera or in classical music, attaining a Bachelor’s degree will assist in securing a job.
For Singers who are also pursuing a college education, they have the option of focusing their studies in Music Theory or Performance.
This type of program can be competitive itself since applicants will be required to submit a recording or perform an audition in person.
Some programs may require both an audition and a recording in order to be accepted.
Other undergraduate programs will provide classes in musical expression, music history, classes to work on their vocal techniques and instruments.
Singers also have the option to pursue a graduate degree in fine arts or music.
For Singers who opt out of pursuing a college degree, they must have the capacity to work on their singing skills and working on innate qualities that successful singers possess.
Because there is stiff competition to become a Singer, an individual must possess the dedication and discipline to not only work on their craft and rehearse for hours on end, but to know that pursuing this career is not easy and that they may face a lot of rejection.
Individuals must also possess musical talent and have interpersonal skills in order to work with other music industry professionals such as managers, agents, music producers and other musicians involved in their work.
Additional skills that a successful singer might have include having the physical stamina to rehearse, record and do live performances.
Live performances might cause Singers to go on tour to perform in other cities and states, or for very successful Singers, in other parts of the world.
Successful Singers will be able to mentally and physically handle a busy schedule.
Singer Job Description
The life of a professional Singer revolves around music and the many different mediums they can express their talents through.
Singers can use a variety of platforms to get their music across including live performances, recordings and sometimes music videos.
They can expect to spend several hours rehearsing their music and fine tuning and perfecting songs they write or are hired to perform.
Successful Singers will also go on tour if the music that they recorded was well received by consumers.
Singer Salary and Career Path
Job opportunities for Singers will grow by 5 percent through the year 2022.
This growth is considered slower than average when compared to other industries and positions in the United States.
The projected growth is attributed to an increase in demand for live performances.
Another factor contributing to this demand comes from how easily accessible downloading music is due to internet downloads.
Music streaming platforms for both recordings and performances will also be a factor in this growth.
Individuals looking to pursue their dream of becoming a professional Singer have plenty of opportunity to work on their craft in many industries and musical genres.
Even though there is stiff competition to become an international superstar, aspiring Singers should pursue their dreams and express themselves through using their special talent.
The below information is based on the 2021 BLS national averages.
How to Become a Singer: 8 Steps to Singing Pro
Yours Free: How to Dramatically Increase Your Vocal Range
Learn the secret tactics used by the world’s greatest singers to increase their range rapidly.
photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisgold/4764130127/
How to become a singer: The 8 step method to kickstarting your singing career and getting paid to sing.
You dream of being on stage. When you hit the perfect high note, the massive crowd roars in appreciation.
This is your stage, and you want to be on it now. But it seems so far away. Sitting at your computer, or on the bus looking at your smartphone.
How are you ever going to make this dream a reality? How to become a singer and make real money so you don’t have to do the crappy day job any more?
You fear people not thinking you are good enough. Being booed off stage. What if you enter a competition but freeze up during your big song? Going home humiliated. You see it on TV all the time.
Well, the truth is, every singer you admire started somewhere. They weren’t always perfect, certainly not as good as they became.
Sometimes, it’s the toughest experiences that teach us the most…
Why I Can Help You Become a Singer
Learn what this article on how to become a singer is about by quickly watching the 1 minute video, then keep reading.
One of my first gigs ever was at my high school prom. I decided to sing all original songs, no covers. A bad choice for a room of teenagers who just wanted to dance to songs from the charts.
I didn’t make it to the end of the show before being booed off stage. That’s a tough experience for a 16 year old, new to performing. Humiliated in front of the 200 people I’d spent the last 5 years at school with.
But, here I am now and I’m pretty sure I’m the only person from my school year who became a professional singer.
I’ve made a full time living from singing since 2006. I’ve been paid to sing all over the world from Alaska to Dubai. From France to Cambodia. From the UK to Australia.
It wasn’t easy. But I’ve learned a lot over the years, including how to read a room and sing the right songs to make them happy. I learned that the hard way, didn’t I.
I made this career for myself. Along the way I’ve helped lots of other singers and musicians get their start too. Now I can help you too. Can anyone learn to sing? Yes, almost anyone can.
Is This Article For You?
Perhaps you just want to improve your singing voice so you can sing in the shower…
But, I’m willing to bet 95% of you reading this would rather be on stage showing off your singing. And, if you had the choice of singing for free, or getting paid to sing, most of you will be happy to take the money.
This article is for anyone getting started singing professionally.
If you have earned more than that, you perform live for money every month but want to know how to turn that casual income into a full time job you need to move to the advanced class and read “How to Become A Singer: Turn Full Time Professional” where I’ll help you figure out how to turn your passion into a paycheck.
Get Your Start As a Singer
If you are sticking with me for the 101 class, by the end of this article, you’ll have a clearer idea of how to become a singer and get paid to sing. You’ll be able to form an action plan for your next steps to getting ahead as a singer and earning money.
What you won’t be getting is the formula for fame… why not? Anyone giving that away for free on the internet doesn’t know the real formula. Seriously, a formula for fame? That’s worth millions of dollars. It’s not going to be available free.
So, this is not a get rich and famous quick pile of BS. This is a proven method that worked for me and many others and will help you get moving. Ways to build your confidence, talents and start to find recognition for your singing.
Remember, you don’t have to be famous to earn a living from singing. I’m not. But also, you don’t have to sacrifice your dreams of fame to make a living from singing. You can work at both simultaneously.
There are so many career options that pay. I’ve done a full list: How to become a singer: The Ultimate guide to Singing Careers & Jobs.
So, why not earn money singing, quit your day job and focus on your passion – one day it may be more than just the job you love, it may be what takes you into a world of fame and fortune. But, right now, you have to start somewhere.
You need a plan. I’m going to help you figure one out.
8 Steps to becoming a singer
Firstly, you are already a singer. Only 1% of the population is genuinely tone deaf, the other 99% can learn to sing. Some people have more natural talent but almost everybody can succeed at singing if they want to enough.
This brings me to the most important 1st step…
1. Believe in yourself and your dream
You must focus on this from the get go. There will be people who support you, there will be people who question your choices. These choices are yours to make, think about ways to respond to people who question your decisions.
One of the proudest moments of my life was being able to quit my desk job and never go back. Focus on that future success story, the thing you want more than anything else. Imagine yourself having it, and how it will feel.
Whenever you have doubts, remember that feeling.
2. Improve your singing
You don’t have to be the best singer in the world to get paid or get famous… but it helps!
Actually, for some singers, it could be the make or break. Why take the chance when there is an advantage these days that didn’t even exist 10 years ago…
They are much cheaper than getting a personal singing teacher. There are some great ones on the market.
Once you’ve learned proper technique and know you have the commitment to become a singer, you can progress to get private lessons or an online personal tutor through Skype.
This is why, after years of singing pro, I still went ahead and joined yet another singing course in 2012. Apart from learning new techniques, there are loads of advanced classes out there, as well as those for beginners.
Sign up to my email list and I’ll send you a whole bunch of recommendations as well as advice to start improving your vocal range today and how to get paid to sing.
3. Sing as much as possible
Don’t wait until you have had a bunch of lessons to get singing! Sing anywhere you can. In the shower. At karaoke. Go to jam nights. Sing along to backing tracks at home. Learn guitar and sing along with that.
Learn to play some chords on the guitar and sing along. Or find a friend who plays guitar and sing with them. Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kk/5540641309/
Even experienced singers often misunderstand how the voice works. Warm ups are essential. But simply doing a warm up before singing for 2 hours, is generally not enough.
If you sing every day, you keep your voice “in shape” just like you would for other muscles in your body. The more you work it, the stronger it’ll be and the longer it will last when you power it out on stage or in the studio.
Warm ups, regular use and good technique are the three most important factors for healthy singing. There are loads of lesser factors like staying hydrated, I cover a most of them in my free email series and free e-book.
Note: If you sing a lot and your voice seems worn out or strained – stop! Rest your voice. Although you should sing everyday, don’t injure your voice by over singing.
It’s not just about vocal training. You should also be getting on stage and singing as much as possible too. At first you may not be sure how to do this. Certainly not how to get paid for it. So, Karaoke is a starting point many turn to.
Keep doing it. But, be aware, that you need to get into other performance situations. Ones without the words on a screen. Perhaps with a live band or in an unfamiliar venue. These early experiences will shape how adaptable you are in the future. Sometimes you’ll have to perform and won’t be able to hear your voice clearly. Sometimes, you’ll have loads of space, others you will be crammed in the corner of a room.
The more of these experiences you have, the better you’ll be at performing under pressure and handling anything the world can throw at you.
This will build your confidence and stage presence! You’ll also be getting exposure, building your resume and improving as a singer.
Get 18 in-depth singing tips on how to sing better with my detailed article.
4. Have a “go to” song.
Have a song, that you will nail every time, as your “go to” song. No matter how you feel at that moment, when the spotlight shines on you, you will get that one perfect.
It needs to be something that everyone in the audience knows and likes, so they will be with you from the first line.
It needs to be something that fits perfectly in your vocal range so you never have to strain for any notes, even if you forgot to warm up. You need to know that you will not struggle with any part of the song. That you know the words perfectly.
If you only get to sing one song for a showcase, it’s this one. If you are halfway through a set and something knocks your confidence, sing this song next to get back on track. If you are nervous about opening a show, open with this one.
As time goes on, you’ll figure out a list of “Super” songs so you have plenty to fall back on.
But, please don’t choose Mustang Sally, its been done to death! 🙂 And most agents are not going to be impressed by the song everyone else does – be unique and stand out.
5. Learn To Embrace Rejection & Criticism.
Before you step on stage, be ready for some people not to like your singing.
I’ve had people shout insults at the stage, even recently, and I do this for a job! Justin Bieber is hated by millions, yet has plenty of fans too.
As with most things in life, it’s pretty hard to please everyone. Half the time when you get put-downs, it’s because the person is jealous or insecure. Do what you do. Keep Improving and ignore rudeness.
Because honest and constructive criticism is an essential tool to help you improve. Don’t get this advice from random audience members. Get it from other singers and people who actually have a clue. But, make sure you ask them to be brutal.
Friends and family are always supportive. Sometimes, being too supportive is not helpful. The best advice comes from experienced people who have no reason to sugar coat their suggestions.
Singing is a competitive industry. Rejection is a learning experience. If someone turns you down, you shouldn’t take it personally.
It’s easy to think “It must be because I suck”. But, most the time it could be “We needed someone blonde for this role” or, “the other applicant has worked for us before”.
There are often some really simple reasons you don’t pass auditions or get work. It’s often good to ask why. If it is something you couldn’t have done anything about, you’ll feel a whole lot better. If it’s something you were doing wrong, you’ll have the opportunity to fix it for next time.
It may be hard to be told you are singing out of tune or that your tone is bad – but these are things you can fix: Vocal training will fix both – you can actually learn perfect pitch!
I can promise you one thing. If you don’t take on criticisms and work on them, you will NEVER be successful. Only people who try to improve, end up succeeding. You are going to make mistakes. Everyone does. You will learn from them. If you bury your head and avoid learning from them, you will not improve and will never reach your full potential.
No matter what criticism comes your way, the worst thing you can do is let it get you down.
6. Network with people that are doing better than you
If you want to know how to become a singer, you need help from others who are more experienced.
It’s too easy to become the karaoke king at your local bar and start believing that you are going to be “huge” one day. Maybe it could happen… It’s more likely to happen if you broaden your horizons.
The bigger your network, the more chance you have. The more successful the people in your network, the better access you have to opportunities. Good opportunities.
It’s who you know, not what you know. This old saying is even more relevant in singing. You could be the best singer in the world but, barring a few youtube sensations, you need to make contacts to get ahead.
The scariest part of this as a novice is approaching experienced people and expecting them to help you. If you are just starting out, you may also have no idea how to start making contacts.
The best way to get accepted is to forget your own ego, and flatter the person you are wanting to learn from. Say, “You are such a great singer and you are obviously doing really well, what’s your secret?”
As long as you are sincere in your comment, most singer won’t be too suspicious of your flattery and will be more than happy to talk to you about their career. Once you form a bond and prove you are a good singer, you’ll find other singers will help you.
7. Set achievable Goals
This is the most important thing you can do. They need to be small, specific goals though:
Set lots of small goals. Take it step by step. If your initial goal is too big, it’s overwhelming and it’s hard to know what to do to get there. Build on each small goal towards your big goal. Its the prize at the end, not the stepping stone on the way.
8. Get your first paid work
Whether this is getting paid to sing live, to host karaoke or from selling your own music online, it’ll give you confidence. Getting paid will validate that you have the potential to do this.
As your career progresses you’ll find it easier to get work. Once you figure out exactly how to become a professional singer, you’ll have the right state of mind and business savvy to get paid to sing all the time.
But, if you are just starting out, you might need to take whatever work you can, just to get hired and get experience.
A good place to start is offering to sing for free with local bands or local theatre. Live experience looks great on your CV, helps you grow your confidence and you’ll likely make connections with other people who may be able to help you in the future.
Doing a first gig for free for any client where repeat work is possible, is ok. Make it clear that any follow ups should be paid gigs. If they like you, they pay.
Once you prove yourself and are singing at a level where people enjoy your shows, you should be getting paid. That payment may be through selling copies of your album, or the venue paying you the door takings or a flat fee.
If you continue to play for free once you are a skilled performer and singer, you are doing a disservice to other pro singers and to yourself. If venues think they should get high quality entertainment for free, they stop paying anyone. Thats bad for all singers.
One important step to get paid singing work is to record a demo – although this may be a rough video recording of a live performance on your phone… You should also consider recording your voice with a higher quality sound. Check out my list of affordable home studio microphones. All you need to record at home, at the most simple level, is a computer, a backing track to sing to and a good microphone.
What’s Next? Take Action
Once you start singing for money, you really have become a singer. It’s no longer a hobby or a dream. Your next step will be to increase your singing income, get paid regularly and shoot for the stars! There are so many ways to do this. And the internet makes it easier than ever to make money from singing.
Set a goal right now. Everyone wanting to become a singer is at a different stage. So whether your goal is to:
Set a date to reach your goal. Choose something to achieve within one month and something to achieve within 6 months. Put a note in your calendar and actively make sure you act on it.
Becoming a singer takes commitment but it’s a rewarding career
It’s easier to get there if you know what you are doing, if you have a mentor. I would like to help you improve your singing and learn how to earn more money as a singer.
I’ve worked as a full time singer and musician since 2006. My singing has taken me around the world, performing on 5 continents and getting paid to do so. I want to help you achieve your singing dreams.