Guide for Vocalists.
A It’s a great, sometimes even awe-inspiring, feeling making music. There is something magical about creating something that can touch another person on a real emotional level.
We at Vocalizr know how satisfying it is to be able to make a living from this very feeling. To be able to express yourself through singing feeds the soul. To make music while making money – that feeds hungry mouths too!
Vocalizr is here to connect vocalists and producers. It’s a tool you can use to make money doing what you love. But like any other tool, sometimes you need some pointers on how to use it.
Our resident producer and Vocalizr co-founder, Luke Chable, says that when looking for a singer he looks for a well filled out profile that gives him information on who the artist is. “The more detail, the better.” he explains. He also stresses the importance of “proper tags, not unrealistic tags” when it comes to the ‘Sounds Like’ section. If you don’t sound like 50 cent, don’t say that you do. Most importantly: “I LISTEN to their demo. Is it strong? Does it get to the point quickly? Is it unique and do they have character?”
Drawing on Luke’s expertise, here are our top tips on how to make your profile work for you:
- Upload Audio Tracks – Ultimately, what you’re trying to sell is your voice. Most people like to try before they buy so make sure you provide them with a sample. Upload demos of your work that illustrate your talent, abilities and range. Consider putting together a show reel to show your versatility across a few different examples. Show them what you can do.
- Apply ‘Sounds Like’ Tags – Think about your range and the characteristics of your voice – which well-known singers do you most sound like? Select the tags carefully and make sure you can back them in your demos. The tags will allow producers to find you quicker and easier and then you can wow them with your show reel!
- Add a Picture – A missing profile picture, whether we are looking at facebook or LinkedIn, immediately makes us suspicious. Vocalizr is no different. Adding a picture of yourself shows producers that you are a real person with nothing to hide who legitimately wants singing work. It gives your profile credibility.
- Nail Your Profile Description – This is where you get to tell producers who you are as a professional singer. Make sure your description covers the main points you want to make but also make sure it’s concise and to the point – no one likes a wall of text. Include things like your achievements, previous experience and any cool projects you may have worked on. Do you have any stats to show off? For example, did you sing on a track that has 100,000+ views on YouTube? Make sure you mention that. Try to display some of the info in bullet points if you can – it makes text easier to digest. Finally, try to include something that shows your personality – tell us who you are.
- Embrace the Review Process – Once your amazing profile has helped you land a gig, make sure you finish the project off with a review. Provide honest, thoughtful feedback on what it was like to work with that producer, and ask them to do the same for you. Reviews, both given and received, show that you can play well with others and the more you collect the easier it will get to win gigs. Vocalizr might be a tool for finding work in the music industry but it’s also a community. And in a community it’s important to communicate and support each other.
Whether you’re a vocalist or a producer, one thing we all have in common is our love of music. Whether you knew you had to be a singer from the age of 3, while performing lounge room concerts for your family, or whether you stumbled into making music through another channel as an adult – you’re here now. And with these tips and some determination, you’re here to stay.
