Time to prep, early birds!

The entertainment industry is back in full swing! Concerts that have been cancelled due to COVID-19 lockdowns are on again and there are plays, musicals and movies galore that are being planned or already underway. The party is on!

What this means for all the singers out there is that the stage is set for more shows this year and next.

If you feel underprepared or just want to get a headstart for the round of auditions later in the year, it’s a good time to “vocal up”.

Here are my top three tips on how to make the most of 2023 as an artist.

1. Get an agent. If you graduated in 2020, chances are you didn’t feel it necessary to get an agent while every theatre or concert hall was shut. But now is the time to work with someone to represent you. If you’re a newbie in the music industry, getting an agent is one of the best ways to fast-track your career as they already know most, if not all, of the ins and outs of the industry.
2. Work out. I don’t mean do 20 push-ups every day but start doing your vocal drills regularly so that you are ready to audition at a moment’s notice. Some of the best opportunities in life often comes unexpected. Stack the odds in your favour by practicing your craft twice a week, at the very least, or get a coach (ahem) to kickstart your journey if you need someone to steer you in the right direction and give you a realistic timetable to work towards.
3. Spend more time on your “weaknesses”. Most people have their favourite songs, or favourite riffs and runs that they could do and they tend to focus a lot of their time doing them. But what about those top notes or low notes that you struggle with? Or have you stretched yourself enough in terms of your vocal range? The best time to discover which top notes you can and cannot do is not the month before you have to attempt them. Giving yourself a good chunk of time (say, six months) to work on songs that you think should be on your repertoire will pay off big time the next time they call your name to an audition.

Bonus tip: sometimes it’s not your voice. Sometimes you have tight muscles in your body (it could be around your jaw or a sore back) and you might just need to pay your physiotherapist or chiropractor a visit to loosen up those same muscles. That can make a big difference in how your voice comes out during a performance. Best of luck!