When looking to hire a male guitar vocalist for a wedding there a few small considerations to make to help decide on your ideal act for the big day.
Firstly, are you looking to have the entertainment for earlier in the daytime perhaps during the afternoon photography session to keep your guests entertained as they enjoy drinks or are you planning on booking the guitar singer for the evening reception as the all out feel good party music.
Of course all highly professional acts will be able to adapt to both settings to ensure everyone has a great time. The key differences the acts will put to their show will normally be in the form of backing tracks.
An act booked to perform earlier in the daytime will tend to lean towards the laid back, purely acoustic guitar sound along with great vocals to create an enjoyable atmosphere of sound to make your day that bit more elegant. A great example of this is Just Martin - An acoustic wedding singer in the north west
There are plenty of occasions where acoustic acts such as this are the ideal choice, as guests will get up dancing to the great sound and energy of one man and his guitar. (Note- Just Martin performs lively dancing music also with backing tracks where required)
However, if the entertainment you have in mind for your wedding starts off with the laid back ambient mood but then moves towards rocking the house when you and your guests take to the dancefloor, there are other types of guitar singers that will perform their guitar/vocals and later introduce backing tracks which are pre-recorded drums, bass, lead and keyboards to take the party to the next level.
Matt Hutchison who started off as an Indie Music Pub Singer has perfected and crafted his art in both his solo original work alongside numerous wedding events and corporate functions to the point where he has tailor made his own backing tracks that complement his sound so well, the guests who are entertained on the night are left staggered that such as full unique sound is created by one man.
There are also some high profile names available to hire for your wedding entertainment that specialise in wedding entertainment. Michael Collings formerly a contestant in the grand final of Britains Got Talent is Bristol based but is available for hire for all types of weddings and corporate events as far North as Manchester, Cheshire and Lake District.
His professionalism and likeable personality as well as extreme talent is what brought him to the final with great plaudits from Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff during his performance of Fast Car - Tracy Chapman.
Although Michael has reached such heady heights in the entertainment world, for any booking engagement he makes, he ensures plenty of direct contact with any clients he has to ensure all the arrangements are properly arranged and everyone is happy with the plans for the entertainment on the day so on the day there is the peace of mind you and your guests are in the hands of one of the best guitar vocalists in the country.
All three of these acts are available to hire Best One Entertainment Agency amongst a whole range of other similar great artistes not only for weddings and corporate events, but also birthday parties, christenings, engagements and anniversary events as well as hotel and holiday parks. You can find our quick and easy enquiry form here or on the acts profile where you can get in touch and check availability for your upcoming event.
Thursday 29 May 2014
Thursday 15 May 2014
Professional Singers Looking To Get A Contract As Cruise Ship Guest Performer In Caribbean and Southern Europe
If you are a full time musician or singer and have performed the pub and club circuit for many years you might consider a career diversion into cruise ship entertainment. This type of work is perfect for those of you who are still single and before you settle down with a family.
It is an amazing way to see the world and actually get paid for it in the meantime. To get access to one of these jobs takes two paths mainly, the first is by knowing someone who does it already and asking them to arrange it or by applying yourself.
The main route this way is to ring all the entertainment agencies you can find on a search engine or a phone book. If you already work for these agents be sure to express your interest as it isn’t something they’ll offer out of the blue. If you have no luck then you can locate the company email and addresses of all the cruise ship companies. If you write a letter to the Events Team asking how you would go about obtaining work and in the letter be sure to ask for the name and number of the director of music. This sounds like a formal title but the music director is usually just the drummer or the one who has been on cruise ships the longest.
With all of these leads try and set up an actual audition, you should pay for a rehearsal room yourself and invite anyone from the industry you can to watch you. Offer complimentary food and drink, even if its crisps and pop. It all makes you look more professional in their eyes and as you will be living onboard 24/7 these impressions count.
If you’re persistent and finally break through and go onboard you must know what skills you’ll need. If you’re there as one of the backing band for the large room where tribute acts and one off performances are you need to be highly skilled at reading sheet music and be proficient at playing a song first time without even knowing it sometimes purely from the sheet. So for the musically skilled of you this is a great job and most of the time you’ll be in black at the back of the stage which means you don’t need to worry about stage fright as the singer takes that pressure for you. Perfect.
Another job in cruise ship entertainer would be as a singer. You will more likely be in a bar area of the ship and will be singing to backing tracks. A nice touch here would be to play a guitar along with the tracks to give a sense of realism to the music and remove the karaoke singer stigma which sometimes comes with this job. You will normally do 3-4 30 minute shows six times a week so you’ll need at least two hundred songs in your repertoire. Then double that figure as two hundred is for a week and most people cruise for two weeks and if you repeat the same song over you will find some very unhappy holiday makers.
A key skill of this job is interpersonal skills. You will be the one that bring that personal touch to the evening on the ship so you should banter with them and ask how their day was etc. You will also get officer privileges so you can eat/drink and socialise amongst the passengers which most of the other crew members cannot do. With that perk comes the responsibility to be respectful, kind and above all always on professionally.
It can be a fairly draining job even though its only a couple of hours a day as you live, eat and breathe the ship but when you’re home you will have seen places in the world you may never have dreamt of going and most definitely will feel like a success.
It is an amazing way to see the world and actually get paid for it in the meantime. To get access to one of these jobs takes two paths mainly, the first is by knowing someone who does it already and asking them to arrange it or by applying yourself.
The main route this way is to ring all the entertainment agencies you can find on a search engine or a phone book. If you already work for these agents be sure to express your interest as it isn’t something they’ll offer out of the blue. If you have no luck then you can locate the company email and addresses of all the cruise ship companies. If you write a letter to the Events Team asking how you would go about obtaining work and in the letter be sure to ask for the name and number of the director of music. This sounds like a formal title but the music director is usually just the drummer or the one who has been on cruise ships the longest.
With all of these leads try and set up an actual audition, you should pay for a rehearsal room yourself and invite anyone from the industry you can to watch you. Offer complimentary food and drink, even if its crisps and pop. It all makes you look more professional in their eyes and as you will be living onboard 24/7 these impressions count.
If you’re persistent and finally break through and go onboard you must know what skills you’ll need. If you’re there as one of the backing band for the large room where tribute acts and one off performances are you need to be highly skilled at reading sheet music and be proficient at playing a song first time without even knowing it sometimes purely from the sheet. So for the musically skilled of you this is a great job and most of the time you’ll be in black at the back of the stage which means you don’t need to worry about stage fright as the singer takes that pressure for you. Perfect.
Another job in cruise ship entertainer would be as a singer. You will more likely be in a bar area of the ship and will be singing to backing tracks. A nice touch here would be to play a guitar along with the tracks to give a sense of realism to the music and remove the karaoke singer stigma which sometimes comes with this job. You will normally do 3-4 30 minute shows six times a week so you’ll need at least two hundred songs in your repertoire. Then double that figure as two hundred is for a week and most people cruise for two weeks and if you repeat the same song over you will find some very unhappy holiday makers.
A key skill of this job is interpersonal skills. You will be the one that bring that personal touch to the evening on the ship so you should banter with them and ask how their day was etc. You will also get officer privileges so you can eat/drink and socialise amongst the passengers which most of the other crew members cannot do. With that perk comes the responsibility to be respectful, kind and above all always on professionally.
It can be a fairly draining job even though its only a couple of hours a day as you live, eat and breathe the ship but when you’re home you will have seen places in the world you may never have dreamt of going and most definitely will feel like a success.
Saturday 10 May 2014
Buying A Used Second Guitar | Information To Assist In Your Decision To Get A Great Instrument
When buying a secondhand guitar use these pointers to ensure your purchase is one you’ll be very pleased with.
Often cheaper than a brand new guitar and just as ready to rock , a secondhand guitar could
be a great addition to your collection or the ideal thing to start you off, but how do
you know that your potential purchase isn’t a potential waste of cash?
The truth is that some amazing guitars, while expensive when new, are relatively cheap
secondhand. Sometimes you can find a custom or a limited edition guitar that someone is
selling quickly for the cash and you can often get a real bargain if you know what you are
looking for. It really pays to do some searching before thinking about buying a used
guitar as some sellers will push their price up to cash in, especially if they know they are
selling to a beginner who doesn't know that much about guitars.
So, as a beginner who may not know much about guitars, what should you look for when
inspecting a used instrument?
Let’s just say that you have found a secondhand guitar in the musical instrument section
of the weekly classifieds and you are quite keen to go and take a look at it. Below is a list
of hints that will help you when inspecting the guitar and talking to the seller:
When talking to the seller, ask them the following:
The make and model of the guitar – It is best if you can find some info on the guitar
model to find out the asking price elsewhere, both new and used, and whether or not
other people are experiencing problems with it. You can find reviews for almost any guitar
submitted online you can go and ask at your local music
store.
About the condition of the guitar – If they are trustworthy, the seller may tell you about any
impairment that is unnoticeable upon rough inspection.
How long they have had the guitar – If they have had it for a long time, they should have
a good knowledge of its history of use, repairs and maintenance etc. If they are not
co-operative with that sort of information, they may be trying to con you.
When inspecting the guitar, check the following:
The overall condition – Look the guitar over and make note of any obvious damage –
guitars often take a bit of wear and tear and if its just small scrapes and scratches then
the guitar will probably be fine. Look for rust also , not on the strings, but on the hardware
that is holding the strings and the pickups. If there is any rust in these places… run! It’s
not worth it. What good is a guitar that may fall apart on you in the near future? Trust me
– leave it alone.
The neck of the guitar – the neck is vital. Here are some areas to look at:
Make sure that the neck is not warped or out of shape in any way.
Check the area where the neck joins to the body of the guitar – look for cracks where it
may have been damaged in the past.
In the same fashion, check the area where the neck joins the head of the guitar.
Check the action – Action is a word that describes how close the strings are to the fret
board starting at the head of the guitar all the way down to the bridge. It is preferable to
have the strings very close to the fret board as to make it easier to press them down (not
so close that they are touching of course). If the strings are nice and close to the fret
board all the way along, you would say that the guitar has a good action. Pictured right is
a guitar with poor action. Notice that the strings sit quite far off the fret board. Guitars with
poor action are harder to play and don’t sound very good. You can fix the action on your
guitar by taking it to a guitar technician, but it will cost you between £40 and £90.
The Intonation of the strings. Intonation is a word that describes the accuracy of each
actual note that the guitar can produce on any string. If the intonation is correct, every
note on the guitar will be the correct pitch – If it is out, the guitar will be impossible to tune
and it will sound horrible. To roughly check the intonation, play the E shape barre chord
on each fret of the guitar. As you move towards the bridge of the guitar, you should hear
the chord keeping its pitch – if not, the intonation is out and you will need to get a guitar
technician to work on the problem.
If the guitar you are looking at is an electric, you must plug it in and see how it sounds
through an amplifier. Ask the seller if you can play it through your amp and if you don’t have
one, ask someone if you can borrow theirs. Try the following when testing an electric
guitar through an amp:
Turn the amp up to a fair volume level and then play with the volume and tone controls
by turning them to full and then back to zero. Test the pickup selector by flicking its
switch back and forth. Carefully listen to any sounds that are being made while doing
these things. You are looking for scratchy sounds or clicks that might indicate old or worn
electrics.
Strum a single chord and while the chord is ringing start playing with the controls like
before, still listening for scratches or clicks or any other nasty sounds. Guitar technicians
can fix these problems and most guitars need to be done about once every 5 - 10 years.
Just be aware of this fact or you could find yourself spending more money than you first
intended.
Check the sound of the guitar – Before you buy, you want to know that the guitar sounds
like it should? Once you have tested the guitar sound, go to a music store and ask to play
. on a new model of that guitar If at all possible, use a similar amplifier to the one that you
tested the second hand guitar on, and see if you notice any BIG differences. There is a
simple rule that I like to follow: If you’re not happy with the guitar sound… Don’t buy it!
The most important thing to remember when shopping for any guitar is... Don’t shop
impulsively. A guitar is a major purchase and you want to get the right one. Leave
yourself time to go away and think about the purchase. If you have doubts when checking
out a guitar, you are probably better to leave it and hold out for something that better
suits you.
If you are new to the guitar and a little worried about testing guitar in public – don’t worry.
It is important to remember that you are not there to display your playing ability – you
are there to discern whether your proposed buy is a good deal or not so just go for it.
If you are still worried, take an experienced guitarist along with you when you are looking
at a possible buy. See if you can ask a teacher or a friend – most musicians
love to help newbies. Not only will they be able to offer helpful advice – they will be good
moral support when it’s time to pick up the guitar and test it out in public.
Often cheaper than a brand new guitar and just as ready to rock , a secondhand guitar could
be a great addition to your collection or the ideal thing to start you off, but how do
you know that your potential purchase isn’t a potential waste of cash?
The truth is that some amazing guitars, while expensive when new, are relatively cheap
secondhand. Sometimes you can find a custom or a limited edition guitar that someone is
selling quickly for the cash and you can often get a real bargain if you know what you are
looking for. It really pays to do some searching before thinking about buying a used
guitar as some sellers will push their price up to cash in, especially if they know they are
selling to a beginner who doesn't know that much about guitars.
So, as a beginner who may not know much about guitars, what should you look for when
inspecting a used instrument?
Let’s just say that you have found a secondhand guitar in the musical instrument section
of the weekly classifieds and you are quite keen to go and take a look at it. Below is a list
of hints that will help you when inspecting the guitar and talking to the seller:
When talking to the seller, ask them the following:
The make and model of the guitar – It is best if you can find some info on the guitar
model to find out the asking price elsewhere, both new and used, and whether or not
other people are experiencing problems with it. You can find reviews for almost any guitar
submitted online you can go and ask at your local music
store.
About the condition of the guitar – If they are trustworthy, the seller may tell you about any
impairment that is unnoticeable upon rough inspection.
How long they have had the guitar – If they have had it for a long time, they should have
a good knowledge of its history of use, repairs and maintenance etc. If they are not
co-operative with that sort of information, they may be trying to con you.
When inspecting the guitar, check the following:
The overall condition – Look the guitar over and make note of any obvious damage –
guitars often take a bit of wear and tear and if its just small scrapes and scratches then
the guitar will probably be fine. Look for rust also , not on the strings, but on the hardware
that is holding the strings and the pickups. If there is any rust in these places… run! It’s
not worth it. What good is a guitar that may fall apart on you in the near future? Trust me
– leave it alone.
The neck of the guitar – the neck is vital. Here are some areas to look at:
Make sure that the neck is not warped or out of shape in any way.
Check the area where the neck joins to the body of the guitar – look for cracks where it
may have been damaged in the past.
In the same fashion, check the area where the neck joins the head of the guitar.
Check the action – Action is a word that describes how close the strings are to the fret
board starting at the head of the guitar all the way down to the bridge. It is preferable to
have the strings very close to the fret board as to make it easier to press them down (not
so close that they are touching of course). If the strings are nice and close to the fret
board all the way along, you would say that the guitar has a good action. Pictured right is
a guitar with poor action. Notice that the strings sit quite far off the fret board. Guitars with
poor action are harder to play and don’t sound very good. You can fix the action on your
guitar by taking it to a guitar technician, but it will cost you between £40 and £90.
The Intonation of the strings. Intonation is a word that describes the accuracy of each
actual note that the guitar can produce on any string. If the intonation is correct, every
note on the guitar will be the correct pitch – If it is out, the guitar will be impossible to tune
and it will sound horrible. To roughly check the intonation, play the E shape barre chord
on each fret of the guitar. As you move towards the bridge of the guitar, you should hear
the chord keeping its pitch – if not, the intonation is out and you will need to get a guitar
technician to work on the problem.
If the guitar you are looking at is an electric, you must plug it in and see how it sounds
through an amplifier. Ask the seller if you can play it through your amp and if you don’t have
one, ask someone if you can borrow theirs. Try the following when testing an electric
guitar through an amp:
Turn the amp up to a fair volume level and then play with the volume and tone controls
by turning them to full and then back to zero. Test the pickup selector by flicking its
switch back and forth. Carefully listen to any sounds that are being made while doing
these things. You are looking for scratchy sounds or clicks that might indicate old or worn
electrics.
Strum a single chord and while the chord is ringing start playing with the controls like
before, still listening for scratches or clicks or any other nasty sounds. Guitar technicians
can fix these problems and most guitars need to be done about once every 5 - 10 years.
Just be aware of this fact or you could find yourself spending more money than you first
intended.
Check the sound of the guitar – Before you buy, you want to know that the guitar sounds
like it should? Once you have tested the guitar sound, go to a music store and ask to play
. on a new model of that guitar If at all possible, use a similar amplifier to the one that you
tested the second hand guitar on, and see if you notice any BIG differences. There is a
simple rule that I like to follow: If you’re not happy with the guitar sound… Don’t buy it!
The most important thing to remember when shopping for any guitar is... Don’t shop
impulsively. A guitar is a major purchase and you want to get the right one. Leave
yourself time to go away and think about the purchase. If you have doubts when checking
out a guitar, you are probably better to leave it and hold out for something that better
suits you.
If you are new to the guitar and a little worried about testing guitar in public – don’t worry.
It is important to remember that you are not there to display your playing ability – you
are there to discern whether your proposed buy is a good deal or not so just go for it.
If you are still worried, take an experienced guitarist along with you when you are looking
at a possible buy. See if you can ask a teacher or a friend – most musicians
love to help newbies. Not only will they be able to offer helpful advice – they will be good
moral support when it’s time to pick up the guitar and test it out in public.
Monday 5 May 2014
Which Type of Guitar Strings Are Better On Acoustic Guitars - Nylon or Steel?
When you come to choose which type of acoustic guitar to purchase in order to play your music, you have a variety of choices of style. You can select from Jumbo, Spanish, Classical to name a few. The focus on this talk is on which type of strings you put on there, namely Steel or Nylon strings.
Looking at nylon first, these tend to be softer on the fingertips and have a more tender delicate twang from the sound. In that respect I would recommend that nylon strings are the perfect choice for a beginner guitarist as for the first few months you will find the tips of your fingers will become fairly tender. Your body will respond to this by developing tougher skin on the fingers you use on the fretboard to make chords and in turn will assist you in the future when playing steel strings which are tougher.
The other reason for selecting nylon strings would be if you are looking to play a certain style of music. For example, classical music and certain genres of Spanish guitar songs favour nylon strings, classical music in past has been reluctant to acknowledge the guitar as a member of an orchestra and debate has been continued for centuries with no real conclusion. As it stands it is occasionally used but mainly on nylon stringed classical guitars only.
A nylon stringed guitar can be tricky to replace strings as at the bridge end, near the sound hole the strings tend put be placed on with a looping and intertwining method as opposed to the simpler plastic rod on the bridge of a steel stringed guitar. For that reason I would advise you see a specialist when replacing strings if you are not familiar with them.
The steel string variety is a more modern invention, in fact it was introduced as last as the 20th century in a widespread capacity. Nowadays they tend to be favoured by rock and pop modern bands due to the crisp sound they produce which can be used towards a more edgy cutting sound.
Another reason why they are favoured amongst modern musicians is that for live performances when playing in a full band with drums, bass, keyboards and other instruments the steel strings can be used alongside a pickup which will interpret the vibrations from the manipulation of the strings and then can be converted into an electrical signal, then it can be amplified through a guitar amp and this warm personal sound of an acoustic guitar can be projected to hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people in an audience at a gig.
In summary, nylon strings are a great choice when you are playing music of a specific genre as mentioned earlier or if you are a beginner looking for a gentle way to become involved in guitar playing and composing, if you are performing to a louder audience you may increase sound by using a microphone but if you are looking to play music on a louder, more penetrating way then steel strings are the modern and more technologically adapted way to bring your sound to yourself or the audience you are performing to.
Looking at nylon first, these tend to be softer on the fingertips and have a more tender delicate twang from the sound. In that respect I would recommend that nylon strings are the perfect choice for a beginner guitarist as for the first few months you will find the tips of your fingers will become fairly tender. Your body will respond to this by developing tougher skin on the fingers you use on the fretboard to make chords and in turn will assist you in the future when playing steel strings which are tougher.
The other reason for selecting nylon strings would be if you are looking to play a certain style of music. For example, classical music and certain genres of Spanish guitar songs favour nylon strings, classical music in past has been reluctant to acknowledge the guitar as a member of an orchestra and debate has been continued for centuries with no real conclusion. As it stands it is occasionally used but mainly on nylon stringed classical guitars only.
A nylon stringed guitar can be tricky to replace strings as at the bridge end, near the sound hole the strings tend put be placed on with a looping and intertwining method as opposed to the simpler plastic rod on the bridge of a steel stringed guitar. For that reason I would advise you see a specialist when replacing strings if you are not familiar with them.
The steel string variety is a more modern invention, in fact it was introduced as last as the 20th century in a widespread capacity. Nowadays they tend to be favoured by rock and pop modern bands due to the crisp sound they produce which can be used towards a more edgy cutting sound.
Another reason why they are favoured amongst modern musicians is that for live performances when playing in a full band with drums, bass, keyboards and other instruments the steel strings can be used alongside a pickup which will interpret the vibrations from the manipulation of the strings and then can be converted into an electrical signal, then it can be amplified through a guitar amp and this warm personal sound of an acoustic guitar can be projected to hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people in an audience at a gig.
In summary, nylon strings are a great choice when you are playing music of a specific genre as mentioned earlier or if you are a beginner looking for a gentle way to become involved in guitar playing and composing, if you are performing to a louder audience you may increase sound by using a microphone but if you are looking to play music on a louder, more penetrating way then steel strings are the modern and more technologically adapted way to bring your sound to yourself or the audience you are performing to.
Wednesday 30 April 2014
Tips For Singing On Stage | Preparation Advice From The Morning To Showtime
This guide is a follow on from an earlier article I wrote about how to start a career as a professional singer. It helped on a broad level from obtaining the right equipment for you to use at a gig to how to get yourself on the books of an entertainment agency.
In this piece I’m going to tell you about the preparation on the day of a singing performance, it will be you be energised, confident and light on your feet so you can shine like a star. First off, you need to consider your food intake on the day. When it comes to showtime you don’t want to feel sluggish with a stomach full of heavy, starchy food so avoid pizzas, chips, pies and most other types of junk food. You need to eat with a see-saw effect, starting the day with the heaviest of foods then getting lighter with food that is easier to digest. A great example diet on the day could be, toast and a bowl of cereal with a banana for breakfast, for lunch, tuna and pitta bread with mayo and salad, for early evening a healthy thick vegetable soup. This will give your body a chance to digest the heavy carbohydrates early on but the later meals give you sustained energy through the evening time.
The next step is voice preparation, around an hour before you set off to your gig you should do a warm up session. First you should do a full body stretch for every muscle group. This is a time where you can regulate some steady breathing, counting to three slowly whilst you breathe in and again to breathe out. Next you can warm your voice up by running through some scales of notes, a guitar or a piano may help you stay in tune. Quarter of a hour of vocal warm ups should get you ready to try a run through of some of the songs you will be performing in the evening. Once you have completed this you can try some scales just before you go on stage but this is your preference, personally I think the warm up at home is enough to last the rest of the day.
So here we are, 5 minutes to show time but wait a second. You’re not just a singer, you’re an entertainer. In my opinion the gig starts when you enter the venue. So after you have rigged up your equipment, rather than hanging around the dressing room area you could go out to meet and greet the members of your audience. Unless you are Mick Jagger, this is a very simple concept which will make a crowd warm to you as it shows you are down to earth, so even though you will soon morph into a rock god you are showing appreciation to the people who came to see you.
Now you are on the stage and the first song is starting, you are warmed up, energised from healthy nutrition and have the crowd on your side. Now sing.... but when you sing, look up and outwards. There is nothing on the floor that is so interesting you can neglect a room full of people all looking in one direction, at you. Many singers look at the floor for many reasons, they are shy, they are concentrating too hard on staying in pitch but the drawback is you are not connecting with the crowd and unless it is an amazing captivating performance their interest will wane. This brings on another key point and that is smile. When you smile, the world smiles with you. Try it next time you go out to the shops, it works. When I first starting smiling on stage people would react with a great interest and positive feedback which in turn inspired me into more flamboyant performances. At first it felt rather strange smiling when no-one was actually saying or doing something funny. It felt like I was a fake and people would tell. I tried it in front of a mirror and it looked like a minimal, content smile that looked like I was pleased to be there.
The final pointer as hopefully your gig is going well, you are singing good and the crowd are happy. You should talk to them between songs. There is an art to this, as sometimes the crowd will shout something straight back when you say something creating a nice two-way communication. Providing it isn’t heckling you should have a nice time. The other scenario is when it falls on deaf ears and they look back blankly. This probably isn’t a rejection on your part more simply they are the ones afraid of public speaking. To counteract this you could write and rehearse a full interesting monologue you can use that requires no response whatsoever so if you are holding a one way conversation you look like the most confident interesting person in the room. Compile these new thoughts and ideas into your repertoire as an entertainer and you are one step closer to being a professional. Good luck.
In this piece I’m going to tell you about the preparation on the day of a singing performance, it will be you be energised, confident and light on your feet so you can shine like a star. First off, you need to consider your food intake on the day. When it comes to showtime you don’t want to feel sluggish with a stomach full of heavy, starchy food so avoid pizzas, chips, pies and most other types of junk food. You need to eat with a see-saw effect, starting the day with the heaviest of foods then getting lighter with food that is easier to digest. A great example diet on the day could be, toast and a bowl of cereal with a banana for breakfast, for lunch, tuna and pitta bread with mayo and salad, for early evening a healthy thick vegetable soup. This will give your body a chance to digest the heavy carbohydrates early on but the later meals give you sustained energy through the evening time.
The next step is voice preparation, around an hour before you set off to your gig you should do a warm up session. First you should do a full body stretch for every muscle group. This is a time where you can regulate some steady breathing, counting to three slowly whilst you breathe in and again to breathe out. Next you can warm your voice up by running through some scales of notes, a guitar or a piano may help you stay in tune. Quarter of a hour of vocal warm ups should get you ready to try a run through of some of the songs you will be performing in the evening. Once you have completed this you can try some scales just before you go on stage but this is your preference, personally I think the warm up at home is enough to last the rest of the day.
So here we are, 5 minutes to show time but wait a second. You’re not just a singer, you’re an entertainer. In my opinion the gig starts when you enter the venue. So after you have rigged up your equipment, rather than hanging around the dressing room area you could go out to meet and greet the members of your audience. Unless you are Mick Jagger, this is a very simple concept which will make a crowd warm to you as it shows you are down to earth, so even though you will soon morph into a rock god you are showing appreciation to the people who came to see you.
Now you are on the stage and the first song is starting, you are warmed up, energised from healthy nutrition and have the crowd on your side. Now sing.... but when you sing, look up and outwards. There is nothing on the floor that is so interesting you can neglect a room full of people all looking in one direction, at you. Many singers look at the floor for many reasons, they are shy, they are concentrating too hard on staying in pitch but the drawback is you are not connecting with the crowd and unless it is an amazing captivating performance their interest will wane. This brings on another key point and that is smile. When you smile, the world smiles with you. Try it next time you go out to the shops, it works. When I first starting smiling on stage people would react with a great interest and positive feedback which in turn inspired me into more flamboyant performances. At first it felt rather strange smiling when no-one was actually saying or doing something funny. It felt like I was a fake and people would tell. I tried it in front of a mirror and it looked like a minimal, content smile that looked like I was pleased to be there.
The final pointer as hopefully your gig is going well, you are singing good and the crowd are happy. You should talk to them between songs. There is an art to this, as sometimes the crowd will shout something straight back when you say something creating a nice two-way communication. Providing it isn’t heckling you should have a nice time. The other scenario is when it falls on deaf ears and they look back blankly. This probably isn’t a rejection on your part more simply they are the ones afraid of public speaking. To counteract this you could write and rehearse a full interesting monologue you can use that requires no response whatsoever so if you are holding a one way conversation you look like the most confident interesting person in the room. Compile these new thoughts and ideas into your repertoire as an entertainer and you are one step closer to being a professional. Good luck.
Thursday 24 April 2014
Using Online Music Forums To Find A New Band Member For Your Group
These days it can be more and more difficult to find the right person to create that great line-up in your band. You can try putting up a paid ad in your local music shop or hang around at unsigned nights talking to others in the crowd asking if they play the bass or drums or whatever.
It can become tedious and it is most definitely eating away at the rehearsal time you could be doing to create that great sound.
With that in mind it is a great idea to turn to the internet for your rescue remedy in this situation. Nowadays there are more and more music forums popping up and you can simply search something like find a band member online and with a few clicks you may find a lead guitarist only a few streets away who is currently jamming to his music collection at home wasting away his talents.
With a few messages back and forth you could soon arrange a jamming session and before you know it you’ll be ready to roll with your first live performance.
Something this good sounds like it comes at a price but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Yes there are some out there who will try and ask for your cash to access this information but keep faith and hold out until you find ones that are out for the musician and therefore free.
Without these online forums the future of music could miss out on some amazing lineups and songs that go down in history.
When you’re on there it is good to upload an image of yourself because that may help people click on your profile over others but more importantly be sure to state your tastes in music and also the type of stuff you’re willing to play.
Be open minded, I’ve seen a few metals band that teamed up with a funk bassist and their sound was phenomenal. Also try and be clear from the start what your intentions are as some bands will require a lot of your free time to try and push for a deal whereas some others are happy thrashing out some chords over a few beers.
So unless you are still at school and every lunchtime in the music rooms is like an impromptu music festival then get yourselves onto one of these sites as you may be busy with work or whatever and not have the time to audition every couple of days with musicians you know nothing about.
It is the love of live music that pushes these websites to become alive and if you are a free spirit when it comes to playing music using these forums may give you the opportunity to play with a metal band, funk, jazz, pop, acoustic, dance, indie and many other types to diversify your skills to a level you never thought possible.
Best of luck to you on your musicial journey wherever that may lead.
It can become tedious and it is most definitely eating away at the rehearsal time you could be doing to create that great sound.
With that in mind it is a great idea to turn to the internet for your rescue remedy in this situation. Nowadays there are more and more music forums popping up and you can simply search something like find a band member online and with a few clicks you may find a lead guitarist only a few streets away who is currently jamming to his music collection at home wasting away his talents.
With a few messages back and forth you could soon arrange a jamming session and before you know it you’ll be ready to roll with your first live performance.
Something this good sounds like it comes at a price but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Yes there are some out there who will try and ask for your cash to access this information but keep faith and hold out until you find ones that are out for the musician and therefore free.
Without these online forums the future of music could miss out on some amazing lineups and songs that go down in history.
When you’re on there it is good to upload an image of yourself because that may help people click on your profile over others but more importantly be sure to state your tastes in music and also the type of stuff you’re willing to play.
Be open minded, I’ve seen a few metals band that teamed up with a funk bassist and their sound was phenomenal. Also try and be clear from the start what your intentions are as some bands will require a lot of your free time to try and push for a deal whereas some others are happy thrashing out some chords over a few beers.
So unless you are still at school and every lunchtime in the music rooms is like an impromptu music festival then get yourselves onto one of these sites as you may be busy with work or whatever and not have the time to audition every couple of days with musicians you know nothing about.
It is the love of live music that pushes these websites to become alive and if you are a free spirit when it comes to playing music using these forums may give you the opportunity to play with a metal band, funk, jazz, pop, acoustic, dance, indie and many other types to diversify your skills to a level you never thought possible.
Best of luck to you on your musicial journey wherever that may lead.
Friday 18 April 2014
A Short Guide To Building A Home Recording Studio To Create Great Music Demos
When you decide you want to build a home recording studio you are embarking on a journey which will provide you with an investment that will last a lifetime. The beauty of recording your music is that even if you don’t make it to the top of the charts you can capture a time in your life which will live on forever for you future generations of family to enjoy and see a snapshot of your time on earth. If that’s not a good reason to get one I don’t know what is.
On to the technical side anyway, to build your studio the very basic thing you need to begin with is a computer or laptop. You need the highest specification you can afford as music recording can really push the capabilities of its potential. Ideally keep this computer disconnected from the internet. The main reason is loss of data from downloading something and crashing the whole thing. Also it could simply slow it down and affect recording.
I’m assuming you’re already a competent musician but just to confirm you’ll need instruments, the most obvious being a guitar, bass and drums. You have these so let’s build a studio. The first thing you need is a condenser microphone. This is a special studio piece of equipment, not suitable for live performance due to the sensitivity of the diaphragm which picks up the sound. Make sure you choose one with phantom power, ideally 48v. This is a small amount of electricity which passes into the microphone to enhance the clarity of the sound.
Your next piece of equipment is an audio-midi interface. This is a small box which plugs into the USB port on your computer and then you can plug in a variety of guitar and speaker cables to send the sound into your computer for recording. Make sure you can use XLR, ¾ inch jack and MIDI cables.
Now you need to hear the sound so you need two things, get some decent headphones preferably the big ones that completely cover your ears and drown out outside noise, these will be utilised for vocals when you want to sing but not record the backing music at the same time. You also need monitor speakers. These have a higher range of frequencies than the average home stereo ones as you will be recording in high quality definition.
At this point a great optional item but not essential is a MIDI keyboard which is almost identical to the standard musical keyboard but can be used to not only lay down piano type sounds but using special computer programs you can play drums via the MIDI keyboard rather than setting up a kit in the corner of your spare bedroom.
Last but not least, you need a computer music editing program. These days there are a huge number of choices, to name one to get you started take a look at Cubase and go from there. This is essentially where you send the sound from the audio interface into the computer on the program where you can mix, edit and create.
The beauty of this set up is you can fit these items in your spare bedroom at home and with a bit of searching you can pick these up even on a small budget. This is a basic home studio but it is enough to build a full song which with the help of online music sites could be the next big hit. Good luck to you.
Many wedding entertainment bands musicians will utilise such as set up to create high quality backing tracks to use for their live performances.
On to the technical side anyway, to build your studio the very basic thing you need to begin with is a computer or laptop. You need the highest specification you can afford as music recording can really push the capabilities of its potential. Ideally keep this computer disconnected from the internet. The main reason is loss of data from downloading something and crashing the whole thing. Also it could simply slow it down and affect recording.
I’m assuming you’re already a competent musician but just to confirm you’ll need instruments, the most obvious being a guitar, bass and drums. You have these so let’s build a studio. The first thing you need is a condenser microphone. This is a special studio piece of equipment, not suitable for live performance due to the sensitivity of the diaphragm which picks up the sound. Make sure you choose one with phantom power, ideally 48v. This is a small amount of electricity which passes into the microphone to enhance the clarity of the sound.
Your next piece of equipment is an audio-midi interface. This is a small box which plugs into the USB port on your computer and then you can plug in a variety of guitar and speaker cables to send the sound into your computer for recording. Make sure you can use XLR, ¾ inch jack and MIDI cables.
Now you need to hear the sound so you need two things, get some decent headphones preferably the big ones that completely cover your ears and drown out outside noise, these will be utilised for vocals when you want to sing but not record the backing music at the same time. You also need monitor speakers. These have a higher range of frequencies than the average home stereo ones as you will be recording in high quality definition.
At this point a great optional item but not essential is a MIDI keyboard which is almost identical to the standard musical keyboard but can be used to not only lay down piano type sounds but using special computer programs you can play drums via the MIDI keyboard rather than setting up a kit in the corner of your spare bedroom.
Last but not least, you need a computer music editing program. These days there are a huge number of choices, to name one to get you started take a look at Cubase and go from there. This is essentially where you send the sound from the audio interface into the computer on the program where you can mix, edit and create.
The beauty of this set up is you can fit these items in your spare bedroom at home and with a bit of searching you can pick these up even on a small budget. This is a basic home studio but it is enough to build a full song which with the help of online music sites could be the next big hit. Good luck to you.
Many wedding entertainment bands musicians will utilise such as set up to create high quality backing tracks to use for their live performances.
Vocal Exercises For Preparation Before Singing Performances
If you want to make the most of your voice and have an even sound and tone from the top of your range all the way down to your lower notes then these daily exercises will help you achieve this goal.
Keep a look out for my other articles on how to prepare for singing and breathing exercises which will follow and try them before doing the sets below.
Steps
1) Say “le” and “la” out loud and try to use an Italian accent (say “le” instead of “lay-ee” and “la” rather than “la-uh”
2) Join the vowels “a” and “e” together with the “L” in a curving arc type sound flicking your tongue quickly making the “L” sound as short as possible.
3) Do this exercise for a few minutes
4) Say with an Italian accent vowels a, e, i, o, u, prefixed with the lip consonant “m”
5) Pronounce these vowels in sounds in the following way: “ma” for the “a” vowel as in the name Arthur. “me” as in the “e” in wheel. “Mi” as in machine. “mo” as in the “o” in more and “mu” as in the word “tool”
6) In order to produce the correct sound required for the “m” sound, spring open your lips and this will help pronounce the sound and project the note out
7) Ensure throughout the exercise maintain a good focus on good quality consistent breathing
Extra Tips
In singing Italian vowels are almost always used in singing so it is important in learning and practising this way of letter pronunciation.
Also by improving your pronunciation of the following consonants (L, M, P, T, D, F, G, N, S, V, Z) this will work towards good exercising for your tongue. For example, as opposed to using the whole length of your tongue to produce the sound “L” practice just using the tip of your tongue curled backwards. It actually makes it easier to say in fact.
Steps
1) If you take the melody of a song that is familiar to you can replace the lyrics with the Italian vowels from the above exercise for a good workout and practice.
2) The method is called vocalizing and to illustrate look at the following example: Somewhere over the rainbow / Way up high / There’s a land that I heard of / Once in a lullaby / Somewhere over the rainbow / Skies are blue / And the dreams that you dare to dream / Really do come true.
3) Using a steady flow of breath use should vocalize this example focusing on the “la” and “ma” sounds
4) Memorize all the lyrics to the song you have been practising with the Italian vowels then sing the actual song with the lyrics.
5) Instead of looking at the written lyrics try looking outwards and sing as if you are looking at an audience watching you perform.
Final Tip
When you listen to your favourite songs try not to copy the voice of the singer but rather see it as your own version of the song when you sing it. It may be fun to copy your favourite pop star but if you mean to do singing as a profession it best to do it your way in order to not damage the vocal system and also help bring out your own potential.
These techniques are some of the best professional singers and entertainers and can be conveniently done in 10-15 mins to get you performance ready at any time.
Keep a look out for my other articles on how to prepare for singing and breathing exercises which will follow and try them before doing the sets below.
Steps
1) Say “le” and “la” out loud and try to use an Italian accent (say “le” instead of “lay-ee” and “la” rather than “la-uh”
2) Join the vowels “a” and “e” together with the “L” in a curving arc type sound flicking your tongue quickly making the “L” sound as short as possible.
3) Do this exercise for a few minutes
4) Say with an Italian accent vowels a, e, i, o, u, prefixed with the lip consonant “m”
5) Pronounce these vowels in sounds in the following way: “ma” for the “a” vowel as in the name Arthur. “me” as in the “e” in wheel. “Mi” as in machine. “mo” as in the “o” in more and “mu” as in the word “tool”
6) In order to produce the correct sound required for the “m” sound, spring open your lips and this will help pronounce the sound and project the note out
7) Ensure throughout the exercise maintain a good focus on good quality consistent breathing
Extra Tips
In singing Italian vowels are almost always used in singing so it is important in learning and practising this way of letter pronunciation.
Also by improving your pronunciation of the following consonants (L, M, P, T, D, F, G, N, S, V, Z) this will work towards good exercising for your tongue. For example, as opposed to using the whole length of your tongue to produce the sound “L” practice just using the tip of your tongue curled backwards. It actually makes it easier to say in fact.
Steps
1) If you take the melody of a song that is familiar to you can replace the lyrics with the Italian vowels from the above exercise for a good workout and practice.
2) The method is called vocalizing and to illustrate look at the following example: Somewhere over the rainbow / Way up high / There’s a land that I heard of / Once in a lullaby / Somewhere over the rainbow / Skies are blue / And the dreams that you dare to dream / Really do come true.
3) Using a steady flow of breath use should vocalize this example focusing on the “la” and “ma” sounds
4) Memorize all the lyrics to the song you have been practising with the Italian vowels then sing the actual song with the lyrics.
5) Instead of looking at the written lyrics try looking outwards and sing as if you are looking at an audience watching you perform.
Final Tip
When you listen to your favourite songs try not to copy the voice of the singer but rather see it as your own version of the song when you sing it. It may be fun to copy your favourite pop star but if you mean to do singing as a profession it best to do it your way in order to not damage the vocal system and also help bring out your own potential.
These techniques are some of the best professional singers and entertainers and can be conveniently done in 10-15 mins to get you performance ready at any time.
Monday 14 April 2014
How To Be An All Round Wedding Entertainer
This guide is aimed at giving you a platform to move into wedding entertainment. This can be for either a beginner looking to move into the performing industry or someone who has paid their dues in the pub and club circuit for years and would like to move up into more consistent work.
The initial benefits of working as a professional wedding singer over singing in local bars is that an arrangement or a gig in a pub is a verbal agreement which can easily be cancelled by the landlord at the last minute, whereas wedding work is normally via an agency which will arrange a solid contract with steps in place to avoid cancellations. This security means you can use this form of employment as a steady ground to build your life on such as rent and bills etc.
In terms of the music you perform you may need to revise your set list a little from the songs about heartbreak and misery that would go down a storm with the drinkers in the pubs. A wedding day is a happy occasion so songs focusing on the positive in life will be in order here. Not necessarily cheesy numbers although you’ll need some of those towards the end when the dance floor is full.
You may have also been used to standing in the corner of the bar area with your microphone stand, speakers and mixing desk. For weddings you need a flashier look here, so try a portable lighting rig with a few traditional disco lights, look online for this. Also to disguise the lengths of cables and cords from speakers try some black canvas that covers it up. A nice touch with this is to buy white fairy lights and cut tiny holes in the canvas and pop them through to create a stars at night effect covering the unsightly stage cables.
When you dress for a wedding show, the ladies can experiment a little here but I find a traditional, classy dress in a striking colour looks fine. For a male, a suit jacket, trousers, white shirt and shoes. No need for ties as by the time you perform most of the male guests will take off the tie for comfort. Same goes for a waist jacket, you can leave that at home.
An excellent tip which will convert to more gigs for you is to learn how to be a disco DJ yourself. Most clients end up paying for a singer and a DJ separately at a great cost, if you learn how to do it yourself via a laptop with a mixing program and your entire music collection you could add it on for a nominal fee and make your act a lot more desirable to potential customers.
These little tweaks to your set up could be the ones which promote you from pubs and clubs to professional entertainer for hire. If you’re a beginner and are starting right from scratch, I have made some more tutorials online which will help you take the first step and learn how to be a pub entertainer. Take a look around for them and enjoy. When you accomplish those first steps, re-read this article and you’ll be working as a singer in no time.
Finally, when your act is up and running you’ll need professional representation. Search for entertainment agencies or find Best One Entertainment and submit your application to join their books. Good luck.
The initial benefits of working as a professional wedding singer over singing in local bars is that an arrangement or a gig in a pub is a verbal agreement which can easily be cancelled by the landlord at the last minute, whereas wedding work is normally via an agency which will arrange a solid contract with steps in place to avoid cancellations. This security means you can use this form of employment as a steady ground to build your life on such as rent and bills etc.
In terms of the music you perform you may need to revise your set list a little from the songs about heartbreak and misery that would go down a storm with the drinkers in the pubs. A wedding day is a happy occasion so songs focusing on the positive in life will be in order here. Not necessarily cheesy numbers although you’ll need some of those towards the end when the dance floor is full.
You may have also been used to standing in the corner of the bar area with your microphone stand, speakers and mixing desk. For weddings you need a flashier look here, so try a portable lighting rig with a few traditional disco lights, look online for this. Also to disguise the lengths of cables and cords from speakers try some black canvas that covers it up. A nice touch with this is to buy white fairy lights and cut tiny holes in the canvas and pop them through to create a stars at night effect covering the unsightly stage cables.
When you dress for a wedding show, the ladies can experiment a little here but I find a traditional, classy dress in a striking colour looks fine. For a male, a suit jacket, trousers, white shirt and shoes. No need for ties as by the time you perform most of the male guests will take off the tie for comfort. Same goes for a waist jacket, you can leave that at home.
An excellent tip which will convert to more gigs for you is to learn how to be a disco DJ yourself. Most clients end up paying for a singer and a DJ separately at a great cost, if you learn how to do it yourself via a laptop with a mixing program and your entire music collection you could add it on for a nominal fee and make your act a lot more desirable to potential customers.
These little tweaks to your set up could be the ones which promote you from pubs and clubs to professional entertainer for hire. If you’re a beginner and are starting right from scratch, I have made some more tutorials online which will help you take the first step and learn how to be a pub entertainer. Take a look around for them and enjoy. When you accomplish those first steps, re-read this article and you’ll be working as a singer in no time.
Finally, when your act is up and running you’ll need professional representation. Search for entertainment agencies or find Best One Entertainment and submit your application to join their books. Good luck.
Friday 28 February 2014
A Guide On Which Path To Take When Forming A Band. How to Create a Solid Lineup You Can Trust and Build On
A popular band is more than a set of accomplished musicians – There are many other factors as well as musicianship that affect the success of a band. Today I would like to outline a few of them so you may get around the pitfalls and problems all bands face when trying to achieve greatness. Firstly, I would like to talk about group direction. Before anyone even thinks about picking up their instrument, the direction of the group should be discussed and agreed upon. There are a few directions a band can go. A ‘60/40’ group is one that plays approximately 60% old pop standards and 40% ‘top 40’ tunes.
A band heading in this direction will play most of its gigs at dances, hotels, weddings etc. and can be guaranteed of a steady income. Recognition for a band like this will probably be restricted to a small local level. Another direction a band can head is to play original material and aim for a recording contract and tours. A band heading in this direction will not make a lot of money until they are well known. When starting a group, it may be better to go with a ‘60/40’ group to gain experience and money for better gear. Whichever group you decide on, make sure that you all agree on the number of musicians, the types of instruments and the style of music that you are going to play.
You must choose a style of music that everyone in the band enjoys. It is a good idea to listen to other established groups playing live to see the popularity of different styles and to get a feel for which genre you would like to play in. Once you have decided upon a style, stick to it. You will notice that your crowd will get smaller because you are playing to a niche market; but you need to remember that you can’t please everyone and it is far better to give really pleasing shows to a select group than average shows to many. It is extremely important to think about the structure of your group.
Basically, a group can be broken down into two parts – the ‘rhythm section’ and the ‘lead section’. The ‘rhythm section’ includes the bass guitarist, the drummer and the rhythm guitarist. It is the job of the rhythm section to lay down the beat of the piece of music. The drummer and bassist should work together to set the beat up; the rhythm guitarist should fill the beat to give the whole rhythm a full finish.
The ‘lead section’ includes the lead guitarist the vocalist and other things like the keyboardist. This section should work together to improve on the beat that the rhythm section sets up. It is important that each member does their part and does not over do it. You must remember that you are working as a team to achieve a combined sound. If your group is really serious about getting out and playing and making a real impact on the music scene, then you should spend a lot of time on rehearsal – probably more time than anything else (apart from maybe sleep).
It is important to be organized and to not let each other down as bands often breakup over commitment issues. When you start rehearsal, make sure that you have a goal for the session and that you keep record of what you achieve. Rehearsal is important but I really can’t stress enough the importance of playing to a crowd. You will gain 20 times the amount of experience on stage as you would in the rehearsal room. Work on a good stage appearance and think about the things that you are going to say to your audience.
It is most important to connect with your audience. You should practice these things in the rehearsal room. - It’s not all band work you need to practice by yourself as well. Think of it as your responsibility to the other members in the band to keep your skill level up/increasing and to know your parts as best you can before you get to rehearsal. You will save countless hours if you work on band music outside of band rehearsal. The most important thing when it comes to making a successful, tight band is unity. If the band works as one, it will achieve good things.
For more information on advancing the bands gigs and bookings once established visit Bands For Hire Agency to get in touch
A band heading in this direction will play most of its gigs at dances, hotels, weddings etc. and can be guaranteed of a steady income. Recognition for a band like this will probably be restricted to a small local level. Another direction a band can head is to play original material and aim for a recording contract and tours. A band heading in this direction will not make a lot of money until they are well known. When starting a group, it may be better to go with a ‘60/40’ group to gain experience and money for better gear. Whichever group you decide on, make sure that you all agree on the number of musicians, the types of instruments and the style of music that you are going to play.
You must choose a style of music that everyone in the band enjoys. It is a good idea to listen to other established groups playing live to see the popularity of different styles and to get a feel for which genre you would like to play in. Once you have decided upon a style, stick to it. You will notice that your crowd will get smaller because you are playing to a niche market; but you need to remember that you can’t please everyone and it is far better to give really pleasing shows to a select group than average shows to many. It is extremely important to think about the structure of your group.
Basically, a group can be broken down into two parts – the ‘rhythm section’ and the ‘lead section’. The ‘rhythm section’ includes the bass guitarist, the drummer and the rhythm guitarist. It is the job of the rhythm section to lay down the beat of the piece of music. The drummer and bassist should work together to set the beat up; the rhythm guitarist should fill the beat to give the whole rhythm a full finish.
The ‘lead section’ includes the lead guitarist the vocalist and other things like the keyboardist. This section should work together to improve on the beat that the rhythm section sets up. It is important that each member does their part and does not over do it. You must remember that you are working as a team to achieve a combined sound. If your group is really serious about getting out and playing and making a real impact on the music scene, then you should spend a lot of time on rehearsal – probably more time than anything else (apart from maybe sleep).
It is important to be organized and to not let each other down as bands often breakup over commitment issues. When you start rehearsal, make sure that you have a goal for the session and that you keep record of what you achieve. Rehearsal is important but I really can’t stress enough the importance of playing to a crowd. You will gain 20 times the amount of experience on stage as you would in the rehearsal room. Work on a good stage appearance and think about the things that you are going to say to your audience.
It is most important to connect with your audience. You should practice these things in the rehearsal room. - It’s not all band work you need to practice by yourself as well. Think of it as your responsibility to the other members in the band to keep your skill level up/increasing and to know your parts as best you can before you get to rehearsal. You will save countless hours if you work on band music outside of band rehearsal. The most important thing when it comes to making a successful, tight band is unity. If the band works as one, it will achieve good things.
For more information on advancing the bands gigs and bookings once established visit Bands For Hire Agency to get in touch
Thursday 27 February 2014
How To Become A Professional Singer and Perform At Weddings, Birthday, Corporates, Pubs and Clubs
If you are a capable singer and fancy moving into the profession of live entertainer for your full time job there is a list of things you should do first. This is a complete guide to becoming a paid singer for hire. The purpose of this discussion is to inform solo singers who intend to sing live vocals over a pre-recorded backing track. A performer of this style would tend to be suited to wedding receptions, pubs and working men clubs, birthday celebrations, christenings to name a few.
To go back to the beginning you need to have established you can actually sing and people tend be entertained by you when you do so. The reason for this is at a performance you will be the focal point of the room and for many of the audience your smiling face is a welcome break from the ups and downs of a working week and they are there to enjoy a drink or two whilst you entertain them. Evidence of this may come from when you get up do a number at the karaoke at your local pub and the crowd erupt like you’ve just won the X-Factor.
The first thing you need to do is work out a repertoire of around 25 songs which suit your voice and are popular enough to please a crowd. You should then buy the backing tracks. There are many established retailers online which specialise in professional backing music. Now you have the songs and the confidence in yourself, you now to rehearse. Now I mean weeks of practice, even months. You could stay in your old job whilst you get ready as this is not an overnight thing. You music master the songs but also work out your talking between the songs as it is the personal touches between the songs that will really connect you to the crowd and turn you into an entertainer. So you now have a show that would make Simon himself proud, you now need to make a little financial investment in yourself.
This will eventually pay for itself through gigs but in order to be taken seriously you must obtain a- PA System and Speakers, A good wireless microphone, a minidisc player or MP3 player, a decent lighting rig, an outfit worthy of an on stage performance. This will be full set up for live shows and when you have along with your own transport you are a one person show ready to perform anytime, anywhere. You can now use this for practice unpaid gigs such as a birthday party for a friend where you set up at their house and perform for experience. Sooner or later you’ll want to perform for money at professional gigs. You’ll need to join a music agency who will add you to their books and match you with clients looking for an act.
To join an agency you need a promotional pack. Again this may involve a little investment financially in yourself but it is well worth it. You need a recording of yourself singing to the backing track. Please don’t use a home computer with the built in microphone, if you’ve come this far, hire a day in a recording studio in order to capture the best sound possible. This will set you apart from the competition as there are more people out there searching for the same gigs as you want. So with your great song made now you need a photograph of you. If you hire a photographer for this also they may be able to offer advice on the right outfit to wear and certain pose to do etc.
Next you must sit down yourself and write a biography for yourself. This should be written in the third person. That means you write as if you’re writing about someone else so you could put something like, Elvis Smith is the leading entertainer in his field today. This is your moment to capture the imagination of the reader so make it catchy and use correct spelling and grammar.
Attached to the bottom of this should be a set list of your repertoire so the agency can match you up to the correct clients so everyone has a great time. See here (Artist Registration page) for a working registration page and apply via this and other agency sites in order to grow your list of contacts. It takes a while to gain full momentum in the music business so I would recommend keeping your day job but providing you have the right stuff you can certainly forge a career in live entertainment with work and persistence.
To go back to the beginning you need to have established you can actually sing and people tend be entertained by you when you do so. The reason for this is at a performance you will be the focal point of the room and for many of the audience your smiling face is a welcome break from the ups and downs of a working week and they are there to enjoy a drink or two whilst you entertain them. Evidence of this may come from when you get up do a number at the karaoke at your local pub and the crowd erupt like you’ve just won the X-Factor.
The first thing you need to do is work out a repertoire of around 25 songs which suit your voice and are popular enough to please a crowd. You should then buy the backing tracks. There are many established retailers online which specialise in professional backing music. Now you have the songs and the confidence in yourself, you now to rehearse. Now I mean weeks of practice, even months. You could stay in your old job whilst you get ready as this is not an overnight thing. You music master the songs but also work out your talking between the songs as it is the personal touches between the songs that will really connect you to the crowd and turn you into an entertainer. So you now have a show that would make Simon himself proud, you now need to make a little financial investment in yourself.
This will eventually pay for itself through gigs but in order to be taken seriously you must obtain a- PA System and Speakers, A good wireless microphone, a minidisc player or MP3 player, a decent lighting rig, an outfit worthy of an on stage performance. This will be full set up for live shows and when you have along with your own transport you are a one person show ready to perform anytime, anywhere. You can now use this for practice unpaid gigs such as a birthday party for a friend where you set up at their house and perform for experience. Sooner or later you’ll want to perform for money at professional gigs. You’ll need to join a music agency who will add you to their books and match you with clients looking for an act.
To join an agency you need a promotional pack. Again this may involve a little investment financially in yourself but it is well worth it. You need a recording of yourself singing to the backing track. Please don’t use a home computer with the built in microphone, if you’ve come this far, hire a day in a recording studio in order to capture the best sound possible. This will set you apart from the competition as there are more people out there searching for the same gigs as you want. So with your great song made now you need a photograph of you. If you hire a photographer for this also they may be able to offer advice on the right outfit to wear and certain pose to do etc.
Next you must sit down yourself and write a biography for yourself. This should be written in the third person. That means you write as if you’re writing about someone else so you could put something like, Elvis Smith is the leading entertainer in his field today. This is your moment to capture the imagination of the reader so make it catchy and use correct spelling and grammar.
Attached to the bottom of this should be a set list of your repertoire so the agency can match you up to the correct clients so everyone has a great time. See here (Artist Registration page) for a working registration page and apply via this and other agency sites in order to grow your list of contacts. It takes a while to gain full momentum in the music business so I would recommend keeping your day job but providing you have the right stuff you can certainly forge a career in live entertainment with work and persistence.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)