Question:
i'm 14 and i have a strong interest in singing. what can i do to get discovered?
pokkchop
2006-05-11 06:39:13 UTC
i'v won two talent shows in a row in first place. for the first talent show i wasnt alone it was my best friends charo and shykela. my name is maxine and we formed a singing group called SMC. charo is rican and shykela and i are black. we all enjoy singing but i'm the only person who wants to persue a carreer as a singer. i would really appreciate if you would give me advice on how to get discovered.
Nine answers:
Maglor
2006-05-11 21:47:47 UTC
Let me tell you you're starting down a hard road. Is music really what you want to do with your life? Are you prepared to deal with rejection and sometimes hard critisim. Can you know in your heart of hearts that you are still good even if people tell you you aren't? Still interested? Good! I'm not trying to cast a negative light on performing and persuing a career in music, but these things are a part of it, in the same way there negative aspects to any career. A career in singing has its rewards too, and these outnumber the drawbacks. Good for you that you're already thinking about your future (at 14!) Here are my suggestions, though keep in mind that I'm a classical vocalist (and currently in College) and that some of what I'll say below may or may not apply to you:



Find a good voice teacher you work well with. You'll grow so much as a vocalist, and getting the basics of good singing techniques down now are essential for success. If you're really serious about singing professionally, get as much performing experience as you can now, singing in tallent shows (like you've done before), school and community choruses, trying out for local musicals, cantoring in churches, and finally auditioning for colleges. Look for colleges with good music and vocal performance programs for the type of singing you're interested in (many schools specialize in Classical, Jazz, or Musical Theater singing, but there are some that specialize in pop, country, gospel, folk, etc...) While you're in school, start getting to know people in the business and getting your name out by finding internships and trying out for as many things as you can. After you graduate, hopefully you'll have a solid grounding in singing as well as a solid network of contacts who can get you strated. You might also want to give a recital when you graduate and advertise it well. Then your name starts getting around and getting opera roles are easy.



Professional vocal performance is a hard, but very rewarding route to persue in life. Make sure you have the drive to do it, as well as ideas for a co-career, or a "plan B" if performing is all you want to do. If you're good, you'll get the gigs, but with a few notable exceptions, it usually won't pay all the bills. I'm a Vocal Performance/ Music Education double major now, I just finished my freshman year. Education was never my "plan B" I went into school only as a music ed major, because I've wanted to be a teacher all my life. I added performance because I love to sing and perform, and it is something I could really see myself doing in conjunction with being a music teacher in a public school.



Best of Luck,



MTJF
AOMGMC77
2006-05-11 06:45:42 UTC
Take voice lessons with a private teacher. That is a start.





You can then try auditioning for things that need singers (commercials, musicals, etc.)



Get an agent (remember they only make money when you do, if they ask for money up front RUN to another agency!!!)



You could start checking the papers and see if any local bands/groups are looking for a new singer. Or start your own.



Some people get discovered b/c they have a band/group and are out on the circuit working local clubs and such. (This can be hard because of your age).



Others (especially young ones) get discovered b/c they are on a tv show or program where they got to showcase their talents.



Some get discovered because they are back up singers for existing performers. (J-LO was a back up singer, of course she produced her first album on her own).



Also you can put together some demos (this will cost $$) and send them into the record labels yourself. (this is a money investment and a time investment)



Build up a thick skin. Lots of competition out there, trying to do the same thing. You will gets LOTS of "no thank you's" before the big YES comes. So don't let it get you down!
jymsis
2006-05-11 06:51:48 UTC
Good for you!

Sing everywhere you can. Sing Sing Sing...

Are you getting support for this idea from your parents?

If so, let them lead the way. If not, sorry. Sing sing sing.

The more your voice is out there the more people that will hear you the more chance you have that the right people will hear you. Join the choir at your school. Join the choir at your church (if you have one) if not go to one and join the choir. A good choir teacher at school is a great place to start. They have access to things you may not be able to find.

There was a young woman (about your age) in my small town that had a voice... just fantastic. The choir director from the high school got her singing at every event the town had. And helped her get into a good music program at college. She's now singing small clubs and working on an album. It is a long road but keep going. sing sing sing.

Good luck!
Michael A
2006-05-11 08:31:10 UTC
Choose 4-6 songs that are not in copyright and record them in professional quality as samples of your ability. Post them on at least one P2P network. People will download them and if you're as good as you think you are, the songs will spread.



Next, get someone with experience to write a press release that explains what you're doing - The human interest angle should almost guarantee a response from major media like the Today show, and the [free] publicity won't hurt much! :) After that, the record companies should come to _you_



Hope this helps,



Michael,

Harlequinade.com
jamsandekar_shweta
2006-05-11 08:25:08 UTC
If u stay u in India & specially in Bombay u can join Akil Bhartiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, Vashi, New Bombay 400703 & Sangeet Mahavivalaya, North South Road No. 10, Vile Parle (West)400049.
brandon_and_laine
2006-05-11 06:42:35 UTC
My wife teaches voice in Louisiana, where we live. She has been a professional singer. She would say, get some lessons, and study techniques as much as you can. Continue to perform and sing whereever you can. Also, consider a college with a good Music program, like Belmont University, in Nashville, TN.
Anna Banana
2006-05-13 23:07:12 UTC
Find a voice teacher, take lessons from them. Your voice teacher will be able to "help" you be discovered, if that's what you want.
A.Marie
2006-05-11 06:40:18 UTC
open mic night, you'll probably have to go to a large city though if you want anyone remotely important to hear you though
Carolina
2006-05-11 07:48:10 UTC
American Idol?


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