New artists recording for the first time and veteran artists who’ve been there and are trying to launch a project in today’s music market atmosphere have questions because so much has changed. There’s no magic bullet, I’m afraid… here’s what succeeding as a singing artist takes:

• talent/ability,
  
• research/knowledge,
  
• training/practice,
  
• commitment/passion,
  
• energy/health,
  
• persistence/positive atitude,
  
• teamwork/support and
  
• adequate funding… understanding money spent must be looked at as a gamble, not a sure thing that your career will “pay it back”.
• There’s also, quite frankly, luck/fate involved. But the previous requirements are in your hands.

With those things in place, here are 9 tips to help you get your career in music going:

1. Reach out and network with people. Understand the principle of the “six degrees of separation” You don’t know who could help or know someone else who could help you unless you ask – and the only dumb questions are the ones you DON’T ask.
2. Perform in your area and develop a local, then regional following and you would have more credibility talking to people, plus make a little money performing.
3. Read up on how music is being marketed on the Internet now. There is loads of information on the internet.  Bob Baker has some good material. Getting a MySpace page has long been the norm for music marketing, but the growing word on the street is to also promote you music through Facebook. There are loads of other online sites and sources you should investigate and study. Do your homework, and/or get someone on your team to help.
4. Check out and consider joining Indie Connect and graze through the great music marketing material they have online and at their regular meetings.
5. Make sure, when you do find someone who will listen to you, that you are singing, playing (if you play), writing, performing your very best. If you need training, get it. If you need experience, go perform everywhere you possibly can.
6. For those of you who want to pursue a professional career in the commercial music business: DO NOT put a bad performance online!! It’s ok if the quality of the audio or video isn’t great, but your performance needs to be stellar. Imagine that someone in the music industry that could move your career forward just stumbled into your site and is checking you out.  If you already have a questionable singing performance online, do yourself a favor and take it off.
7. Make a business plan. If you need money, talk to some investors and/or to someone who could get you product endorsements. If you use your own money, do it wisely and don’t gamble on “become a star quick” schemes. When considering working with someone, check them out through online and personal sources- and finally through a music attorney. NEVER sign anything without passing it by a trusted attorney who specialized in entertainment law! Be sure that you know exactly what a prospective business person can do for you, and exactly what they expect from you.
8. Make sure your personal and music goals can walk together. Talk to your family and consider the impact of your commitment to your music to your life… best to get this done at the very front of your planning efforts.
9. Plan and proceed with your recording project, making sure as you budget your resources that your primary focus is the best vocal performance you can do, and secondly that you have the best songs you can get. Also, use the very best musicians you can… and pay them union scale, even if that means you hire fewer musicians. Your producer should help you choose the best studio and engineer for your needs… and your project will end up as something you can be proud to play for anyone – and put online to make a great statement about the kind of recording artist you are.

What can you do about lady luck and father fate? Be prepared … with the ability and the goods to jump through the windows of opportunity they raise!