
You know you have talent. You are constantly asked to sing at friends’ weddings, in church, and even at local clubs. This attention lets you know that you are not just fooling yourself: you’ve really got the pipes. Can you make it in the big time? The only way to really find out is to get out there and take some chances by entering competitions and seeing how you stack up against the other hopefuls out there.
If you plan on entering live and online competitions to show off your talent and get noticed, you’d better be prepared! Here are some ideas to help you be ready for and excel in any situation that might get tossed at you.
— Don’t be a One Note Nellie. So what if you want to be a country singer? If you really love country music and think that genre is where you’ll end up, great! Meanwhile, until you hit the big time you need to work on developing your own style in a wide variety of different genres. Depending on what shows you enter, you may be asked to sing pop, oldies, rock, the blues, or – yes – country. You need to practice all of the different kinds of singing you might need to know how to sing: versatility is key.
— Develop a “signature style.” You don’t have to write your own songs to succeed, and in competition formats you will probably be singing others’ songs. But you have to be able to pull these off while still retaining your own individuality. Perhaps you have a little yodel when you sing, or maybe you lean towards a jazzy style. Your signature style can be applied to virtually any type of song, and it is that which judges will remember.
— Don’t ever be dull. Plenty of people can sing well, but not everyone has the personality to pull off what it takes to become a popular singer. Your stage presence will make all the difference in whether you are remembered or forgotten.
If showing a vibrant personality doesn’t come easily to you, practice, practice, then practice some more. You need to learn how to own a stage when you step on it: that self-confidence will be contagious and you will get a bigger reaction from both the judges and the spectators.
— Now, get out there and put your talent on the line where it counts. It’s one thing to sing for a sympathetic audience of friends and family members, but it’s quite another to enter a talent show or other type of competition. But you can do it! Just make sure you feel well prepared and ready to take on the world and let it know you have arrived. Good luck!