How To Be A Singer… Essay, Research Paper
Steps To Be A Singer…
Can fame and stardom come without struggles and hardships? When the word fame or stardom comes up, people usually think of movie celebrities, sports stars, and especially musicians. Musicians fill the world with the great sounds of rhythmic beats and melodies. Though the world is filled with musicians of all kinds, singers possess the true inborn gift, vocal talent, which can only be obtained at birth. Singers are seen living the good life with nice cars, luxurious mansions, and a constant cash flow. Those are all great images of a musician but they are the benefits that can only be received AFTER they are established. On the road to a record deal, there are numerous amounts of steps to overcome.
The first and most important thing to have is the true talent to sing. This is key because this is the main thing that is looked for. If there is no ability to sing then no record company is going to want to sign you. There is not one record company willing to sign someone a label contract that did not have the raw talent to sing. A bad voice does not make many people want to jump up and buy the CD. Record companies are all about money, they need a sure thing. Profits must be made and if a CD cannot sell, why invest and lose money on it. Once you have established your singing ability, it is on to the next step.
The next step is to find an entertainment lawyer (also known as a manager or an agent) who is familiar with the industry and willing to work with you. Usually a manager can be found in many different resources like the yellow pages, references from vocal coaches, or even searching on the Internet. Another untapped resource is the radio. The radio usually airs commercials about different events, in your local area, that are going on to support those who feel they have the talent and ability to compete with professionals in the music industry. These affairs basically serve as scouting events for managers to see the new talent. If an agent likes you, you will most likely be given a contract for representation. If an agent does not see it fit that you are good enough for the business, then a record company will not either. No record label will take an aspiring artist seriously without a manager. A manager shows the label that they have someone experienced to back them up and show them the way to success. Without a manager, it is like Tiger Woods going to the driving range without his golf clubs or going to church without your Bible. Managers are very helpful and can assist you with many things, but take an enormous cut of your money, like about seven to ten percent when you are finally established. The initial costs of representation vary with every agent on the market. There are some agents who need little of your money to start the “look out” process, where record companies are trying to be found, and then receive more money when the deals are being closed. Some managers are very expensive but back themselves up with past representation of today’s famous singers. Though it varies from agent to agent, one thing you can count on is spending a lot of money to get started.
After you get a manager, you must set up studio time to record a demo tape. Studio sessions can be booked at any recording studio in your town. Fastest way to find a recording studio: the yellow pages. The studio does cost money because you are using their facilities and it will probably run you about 150 to 300 dollars an hour (be prepared when you book this session, you are not going to want to make and create your song when you get to the studio). A demo tape is a professionally recorded song that you have sung in the studio. This tape shows the record company that you have the capability to sing in a studio session. The demo tape is also given to portray an example of the artist’s work to keep on file. How are labels going to know if you are any good, if they do not know how you sound? The label needs this recorded version to not only hear what you sound like, but to give them a sense of what they are about to invest large sums of money into. Though a demo tape of a hit single is great, it is not the only thing that is looked for by the recording company. A live performance brings everything that has been submitted, together.
Your last step in reaching the goal to being a musician is to make arrangements for a live performance. This can be done in any type of musical establishment like dance clubs, county fairs, or even just any old public gathering. You will most likely have to pay for the time you are putting on your performance (could range from fifty to two hundred and fifty dollars) but it should be worth it if a record company is willing to come out and see your act. When a live performance is given, it shows the record label a taste of what the fans will be spending money to see. Record labels are entitled to watch every aspect of what they are investing in. One of the main reasons they watch a live performance is to see how much courage the band has. Many artists can sing well but it takes a true entertainer to please the crowd and sing with all eyes on them. If an artist gets scared of an audience, the record company is not going to want to take them in because of their stage fright.
To conclude, these are my recommendations on the steps to take in getting a record deal. Through these steps you will find that it is a lot harder to get the fame that you feel you deserve. The fact of the matter is, these steps are true and they, in most cases, work out for the better. I followed these steps and did not quite make it as far as I wanted, but got both of my feet in the door and made a memorable performance doing it.