To become a professional singer you need to be really motivated. You will have to dedicate yourself body and soul to your profession, which requires a lot of hard work. You will have to be creative and you will receive many no's before "making it". However, the feeling you will get when you are successful will be unmatched. Be prepared because the road will be long. You will have to proceed with dedication and willpower.
Steps
Step 1. Make sure it's something you really want to do
Not for fame, but for a real and strong passion for music. It will take a lot of hard work.
Step 2. Take singing lessons
Your natural talent doesn't matter; the lessons will teach you a lot and help you improve your voice.
Step 3. If you want to be part of a musical group:
look for other passionate and trustworthy musicians who share your creative vision and feel comfortable collaborating with. If you choose the wrong members, you will have serious problems in the future.
Step 4. Once you have mastered your voice, you will need to get used to singing in front of an audience, so start singing in the presence of people you know, such as in a school choir or at your church
Step 5. Learn to sing in front of strangers
To do this, look for all the possibilities to perform in front of an audience of strangers, for example in clubs that organize open mic nights or karaoke. If you are lucky and live in a big city, you can just perform on the street, or maybe at a concert.
Step 6. Optional:
form business relationships! This won't be easy if you live in a small town. Befriend the people who run the live music venues, and you might get the chance to "open" the gig of a more famous band and meet even more people in the industry.
Step 7. Start recording demos
You can even use a program like GarageBand to do this.
Step 8. Start promoting yourself as much as possible
Talk to friends and family, print flyers for your upcoming gigs, create a page on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, write an online journal and create a YouTube account - anything that can get the voice to as many people as possible!
Step 9. Send your demos to record labels
Don't be discouraged if you are not offered a contract, keep trying! Always remember that record labels do NOT want to hear material that has already been heard, so be original.
Step 10. Keep trying
Keep performing (go on tour if possible), advertise, ship demos, and grow your fan base! The labels appreciate who takes the initiative.
Step 11. Don't let your label control your music after you've signed a contract
Fight for your artistic independence.
Advice
- It does NOT allow anyone to stop you. If that's really what you love, go for it! Don't waste your life wondering "if I had…".
- Make sure your co-workers (agent, teammates, staff members, etc.) are dedicated and respectable people. Otherwise you will have problems.
- Don't do it for the money, but for the love of singing.
- Be patient!
- Some labels only listen to the first 30-60 seconds of a song to determine its commercial validity.
- Get an agent, otherwise some labels will reject your demos.
Warnings
- READ the contract before signing up for a record label.
- If you fail to assert your rights, your label will check you.
- Don't have too bright expectations, but work hard!
- DON'T fall into scams! You shouldn't pay anyone before you are earning yourself.
- Take lessons from a good singing teacher to protect your voice.
