Managing Your Singing Career

As a professional singer singing on many sessionswork at an organization such as William Morris, I
including, FOX TV, UPN TV Station ID's,am equally aware that no matter your
O'Charley's and numerous others, it is not alwayscircumstances, that you can learn from the day
easy to manage one's singing career - Balanceto day marketing of one's music, mistakes,
that out with the hectic day to day and familysuccesses and from others who are approachable
time, it's not an easy task, especially whenand who are willing to give you some time and
session singing isn't always 9 to 5. Even as an upinsight. I should make an important side note here,
and coming session singer, it's often difficult atthat just as when you give your resume to ten
best, to maintain a full calendar, paying the bills,supposed experts, that you will receive ten
and making time for friends and family. So howdifferent comments and ways that you should
does one go about managing their career whenchange your resume, you will have to watch out
breaking into the business? How do individualsfor all of the "experts" in the music industry as
break down their days and weeks into workablewell. Take in as much information as you can and
goals as they try to enter the jingle singing andthen sift it through what I call the ego colander. Is
session singing world? Those are great questions,the individual real or are they looking to impress
and with the time remaining, I will try toyou with their knowledge and "wisdom."
incorporate some ideas that you can work intoAs you approach music industry professionals
your singing career to try and improve your oddsabout your singing career, what kind of demo
of not only obtaining session work, but do it intape are you running with? Is it smokin like the
such a way as to maintain emotional harmony.Smoky Mountains, or is it stalled at the level of an
To begin with, most individuals don't really sitant hill? Your demo ought to knock the socks off
down and create a to do list, not to mention anyyour listeners and leave no room for "Well let's
goal setting of any kind and tend to work from athink about it" - Your demo needs to speak "We
half-hazard approach. Let's start with workablewill call you the next spot we get. If you have
goals and game plans to get started on the rightany questions at all about your demo, don't
foot for success. I've always thought it incrediblyhesitate to contact this author for an honest
important to write down a to do list not only toopinion and any recommendations to make on
keep myself motivated, but to actually know andyour reel.
remember what the heck I'm suppose to getWhat does your press kit, bio pictures and CD
done this day or week. If you haven't done sosleeve look like? Is it quality or look and read like
already, take time each day and set your goalsa member of the band or a friend put it
and to do's in order of importance. I actually writetogether? Make sure that everything you include,
the telephone number right by the name of thegoing to any music business professional, look and
individual to be called so I'm not looking for anysound like the cream of the crop. There is just
numbers making calls.too much competition out there to be running
When starting a company to help up and comingwith sub par material. There are a multitude of
singers, there were many loose ends and ideasresources for this kind of thing. If you need more
that were not totally figured out. I often spentideas you may visit for artist press kit writing
hours over a cup of coffee not only relaxing, butideas, what to include, what not to include, and
brainstorming and eventually, was born and hasvarious artist resources.
become widely known as the jingle singer'sWhat are you doing to maintain your contacts
resource for breaking into the jingle singingand music industry info. You better have a good
industry. Make it a habit of getting out torolodex system - one that allows for changing
Starbucks, your front porch, somewhere whereentries and overwriting. You want to keep up to
you can dream and brainstorm. Whenever I startdate information with changing contacts and
on an individual's jingle demo reel, I'm constantlynumbers and most previos conversation material
looking at musical ideas and marketing avenues ofclose at hand. You can do this hand written, but
best success for a particular singer and theiras you know, it is a heck of a lot easier to
working jingle demo reel - It's one thing tomaintain in the computer. The only problem I find
produce a jingle demo reel and another to lookwhen I talk to individuals, is that they don't
long-term at the singer's career path and helpingcontinue to create entries or update them even
them to achieve their goals. Make it a practice towith the help of the computer. I say whatever
take time out for yourself, relaxing with a cup ofworks, use it - Just make sure and have a filing
coffee and brainstorming.and rolodex system in working order.
As a former talent booking agent with the WilliamIn closing, so much more could be written, and
Morris Agency, I worked diligently every dayperhaps in future articles I will enhance this topic,
making phone calls and setting up booking datesbut for now, keep at it, make sure you have set
for various country artists - many householdyour goals with a to do list for each day and
name acts. When I first became an agent thereweek, working with the best possible singer demo
many lessons that I learned and many incredibleand press kit materials to go along with it and
booking agents to learn from. While I realize thatkeep at it!
many of you reading won't get the opportunity to