How to Become a professional Singer

How to Become a professional Singer

There are many vocalists and musicians out there who think that becoming famous is the b-all and end-all. Now I am not saying it’s not a great thing to try and achieve your dreams and become famous with your music, but along the way, you can make a really great and successful business out of your music and performing in so many other aspects.

There isn’t enough information out there for people who want to start performing professionally as a vocalist or musician, especially for those who don’t come from a musical background. When I started singing professionally 14 years ago, there was nothing out there to help me and I hadn’t a clue where to start with a ‘professional career.’ It was purely by accident that my mother had a nice couple come into her office to speak with her regarding her business and she mentioned me to them. They happened to be in the ‘music business.’

I auditioned for them and there it began…..a long trail of hard work, long nights and eventually came some amazing achievements. Throughout my career I had the opportunity to perform to over 37,000 people at festivals, at celebrity parties for Sir Alex Ferguson, Ricky Hatton, Frankie Dettori, AP McCoy, Kym Marsh plus wonderful performances at hundreds of weddings and prestigious events world wide. These achievements came from working my way up, starting at the very bottom, performing in some of the worse places imaginable and gaining experience, which is what I was advised to do. It took a lot of work, dedication, long hours and self discovery along the way, but it was a dream I had never imagined could be so good.

I now have my own professional corporate and Wedding entertainment Agency, boasting of over 900 quality performers, Vocalists, Musicians, bands and speciality entertainment all who perform at a variety of corporate events and private functions throughout the UK and Europe.

So, I want to share some tips with singers and groups, who want to start earning and gaining experience in entertainment business:

1. You will need to have at least 40 songs under your belt that you know off by heart, back to front and standing on your head. Over time, as you develop, as music grows and develops, you will need to add and change the songs to what suits the venue or client you are performing for. Usually clients expect 2 x 45min sets or 90mins performance.
2. If you want to be noticed and booked for events, if you want to stand out and be seen, against all of the other musicians and talented professional singers out there, then you need excellent quality publicity images. No entertainment agency wants to see an image of you that was taken in the bathroom on a night out, or sitting on the couch in your living room. Your image is what will sell you, so make sure its high quality and represents the chosen market you want to target (ie weddings, private events etc). You can view some of the quality images that an agency looks for at www.franklin-james.co.uk
3. Next, demos are great to send out to recording companies with your own tracks on, but to obtain bookings at weddings, corporate parties and other events, you will need a video. In fact, we believe this is one of the most important and powerful pieces of publicity you should invest in. You will need an excellent quality video of you performing, one that you can send to agents that they can send to their clients, that does not have your contact details on it. The quality needs to show you in your best light. So ideally something professional, not taken on your phone, with muffled sound.
4. Next you will need to purchase a good music or PA system, ample for the size of your act, professional, reliable, transportable. A great place to start would be DJ-Kit on line. They are really helpful.
5. You need to establish some interesting things to say between your songs (patter, banter as they call it,) this needs to be personal, entertaining, say what is right, what you feel, that suits what you do. But if your going to just stand there and sing, then people Mayas well put on a CD. Give them some personality, charm charisma. Were not talking Cheese here, just something that entertains.
6. Why not get a 30 second introduction made, something that you can play before you walk onstage, that prepares the audience for your show. This always comes across well.
7. Next you will need to send all your publicity to agencies for consideration, and you should include your new publicity images (2 or 3 maximum is fine), your video links (2 or 3 max), a biography about yourself and detailing any achievements, recent clients, prestigious events and a song list.
8. Follow up your sendings with a call to the agent.
9. Next be prepared to audition.

Once signed with the entertainment agency:

1. Demonstrate professionalism; always be on hand to either answer your phone, emails, texts, social media messaging, as agents will want an answer from you for your availability asap. If they can’t get you, then you may lose the booking.
2. At your bookings, turn up on time, follow the requirements of the client.
3. Always look the part, never turn up to the gig looking scruffy and unprepared. Make sure the venue feels confident in you, make sure you look like you know what your doing. But also, never turn up in what you are going to wear when you are on stage. Make sure you set up, sound check and then change for your gig.
4. Speak with the venue owner or client and build up a rapport before, between and after your booking, if you do, they will re-book you through your agent or directly if you have obtained the booking directly. This is important. Don’t just sit in the dressing room. Take the time to speak with them and your audience.
5. Make sure you always have cards at hand to give out at your gigs, either with your own details on or with your agents; this is a great way to obtain re-bookings too.
6. Make sure you have back up wires, leads, equipment with you, you never know when you need it.
7. After the gig make sure you deal with your commissions and payments on time and keep all your paperwork up to date.

Above are just a few tips and hints for acts who are starting out or who are already in the business. As an agency, we view and audition all of the acts we work with, because we have to know who we are promoting and who suit the needs and requirements for our client or venue owner.

It is important to us that our customers get the best entertainment provided to them. We go out of our way to give our customers a great professional and reliable experience and it is up to you the act, to have all the other things that we sell about you in place, so that everyone can live up to what the client expects and to what we have promoted you as.

For more information or any questions on starting out as an entertainer or vocalist, don’t hesitate to contact us on 01494682800 , email info@franklin-james.co.uk or visit our website for more information.