Have you ever watched a singer at a festival, a concert or a show? Have you ever sat down and watched shows like American Idol?
If you’ve answered yes to these – have you then decided you wanted to have their job? You wouldn’t be alone.
Millions of us around the world dream of being singers, but the career path is not as simple as some others on offer. It’s not a case of simply putting in a job application!
So, how do you start in the world of singing? In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about starting off in the field and some other crucial information you’ll need to know.
Here’s how you start a singing career.
Table of Contents
Get The Psychology Right
In the creative industry, success does not simply happen right away. It goes back to the old adage that Rome wasn’t built in a day.
So, in order to succeed in the singing industry, you have to have the right mind. Don’t be hurt if you don’t make it through an audition or get a part you were hoping for. Don’t give up if you fail in a singing competition.
Huge names in the music business like Katy Perry spent years traveling around America trying to get noticed by a talent agent. The Beatles had to work in Europe as a cover band before they were discovered back in the UK.
The point is, you can’t expect the singing industry to be as simple to showcase your talent as applying for a typical job would be. Be ready for setbacks and be prepared to be disappointed at some point.
Making sure you’re thick skinned and open to change is important. Simon Cowell has discovered and signed many prospective artists, but he considered that a singer might be better suited to a band or different genre.
If you’re open to accepting changes and feedback – you can go far in this business.
Develop Your Skills
What a lot of people fail to realize sometimes is that they think they can sing – but they really can’t. It’s worth singing to unbiased people and seeing their feedback. Try karaoke first for example.
If you can’t sing, you cannot develop your singing skills. However, if you’ve got the foundations – as with any talent, practice will make you better. The more practice you do, the higher your skill will be and the higher your chances of making it.
Test out singing routines, training programs and switch up your genres. Try absolutely everything. Eventually, when you’re ready – go to a very simple and low-key singing audition. Perhaps that will be for a local theater show.
If you get the part, you can ask for feedback and move on from there. In fact, you should ask for feedback from all of your performances.
It’s also a good idea to record yourself singing at home and listening back, with you and others. Remember to be self critical, as well as taking other opinions on board. Changing and adapting will make you a versatile performer and a better singer.
Speaking of making yourself better – it would be wise to develop your skills further by learning how to read music. As a singer, your primary objective is to sound great – but knowing where the music is going and what it’s trying to do will help you in the long run.
What’s Your Starting Point?
Although switching up and being open to change is important, at some point – you will be set on a specific genre or type of singer/music.
The question is, what are you more suited to? This will completely change how you break through into the industry too. Pop singers for example will find it very difficult to make it to the top, in fact it’s probably the most difficult.
The other genres aren’t easy either – but you’re more likely to make it in country music if you’re very talented in that field.
Perhaps you’re more suited to theater singing – so maybe Broadway is the way to head? The idea we’re trying to get to here is, if you know what you’re trying to hone in on, you’ll understand your career path.
Get A Coach
A mentor or vocal coach is important to your singing development. You can’t expect to simply be amazing straight away – but some people do have spectacular natural talent.
Even those singers have coaches. Experienced coaches will be able to guide you through practice routines and help you out with some handy tips in the industry. Ideally, your coach will be able to double up as an agent – and be able to find you some places to go for auditions.
Of course, they won’t be as knowledgeable or operate as agents, but they might be able to give you that starting block as to where you can showcase your talent.
Okay, so let’s assume you’re a good singer. Many massive names like Justin Bieber were discovered by labels through their YouTube channels. This applies to other genres too, including parody like Weird Al Yankovic.
If you’re a great singer, you can decide what direction your YouTube channel goes and whether to monetize it etc.
It’s a great way to start in the industry and how to keep working and your name relevant. The more subscribers you get will depend on your talent and marketing skills – but the more you get will increase your chances of discovery.
Remember to set up a Facebook page for your singing career with contact details for bookings. It might seem like it’s small time, but trust us when we say it can work!
Additionally, it would be wise to start writing your own music and showcasing that. You might even break into the industry through your lyrics!
Gigs, Shows And More
If you’ve identified which path you’re going to follow, you will start to understand what to try and do. For example, if you’re a musical type singer – then going for Broadway auditions is the right thing to do.
That would involve you having experience in local theater productions first and building a portfolio.
If you’re hoping to break through into country music, you would try and ask a local country bar for a gig etc. It really depends on what genre you’re hoping for. The point is though, you’ll need to go to as many auditions, gigs and shows as possible!
Summary
The music industry is a tough place to achieve a career, but it’s not impossible. If you’ve got the drive and will to succeed along with the talent and determination – you’re going to hit the ground running!
Persistence is key. The path to a singing career may have ups and downs, but staying committed to your passion and continuously refining your craft can lead to fulfilling musical achievements.
A strong online presence through social media and platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud can help you reach a broader audience and gain recognition as an independent artist.
Networking and building connections within the music industry are essential. Collaborating with other artists and producers can open doors to exciting opportunities.
Investing in vocal training and developing your singing skills is a crucial step to becoming a successful singer.
Starting a singing career can be a thrilling journey, allowing you to express your creativity and connect with audiences through the power of music.