How to be a singer
I have been advising a few people who want to make it into the entertainment biz. And to be honest, it is one of the toughest businesses to break into; especially if you are a newbie without any experience.
Most of you would know by now that I am an actress by training and been active in the local theater scene for a few years. I am not much of a singer unless you count my participation in the school choir which I reluctantly join. Therefore, I am not much of an authority to talk on starting a singing career. However, singing and acting do cross paths in some expect. After all, both are performance based.
I am basing this whole entry on my acting experience.
1. Get the experience
Now, school concerts, karaoke sessions and singing in the shower do not really count as experience mind you. Try to get a paid gig at the local café or pub. Build a fan base from these gigs. Many Americans singers started out singing at church. That is a viable way of getting experience.
2. Join a Reality Talent show.
The following videos are winners and finalists of different shows. In my opinion, you do not really have to win. Of course winning will make it easier, however, if you are good and you have received enough exposure in the media as a contestant, you should be one step closer in achieving your dreams.
Here we have Vince Chong of Akademi Fantasia 1 and Jaclyn Victor of Malaysian Idol 1.
Shayne Ward of X-factor
Chris Daughtry
3. Volunteer at gigs.
This takes a lot of hard work and perseverance. But it is the best place to network. You will never know who you meet and who can help you out. Plus, you get to know more about the insider stuff and how to do things.
4. Exposure on the Internet
There are many websites now that you can use to get more exposure. Video hosting sites like www.Youtube.com is an excellent way to post up videos. Then there is all the social networking sites, like MySpace, Friendster and Multiply. If you want, you can always get a blog or buy a domain name via www.hostonfire.com
Here are a few people who got signed on after being discovered online.
Soulja Boy
Colbie Caillat
These are just tips I have modified based on my acting experience and expertise over the years. Results may vary according to individuals and effort put in. Plus it really depends on how talented you are. Good luck!!
In Malaysia there are a list of singers that got discovered from talent search, I think there is the Mawi craze from akademi fantasia. You have Karen discovered from Friendster and Yuki from 1 in a million. Chenelle was also discovered in Myspace. Keep up the good work on the blog! Cheers.