Practice Makes Perfect – Tips For Singers

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” And no, singing in the shower doesn’t count. If you’ve decided to pursue singing as a career, then it’s time you develop a consistent practice regimen to prepare yourself for the road ahead. To develop a successful practice regimen you’ll need to:

- Make a schedule of the days and times you will reserve for practicing

- Research vocal exercises that you can use during your scheduled practice

- Develop a system for charting your growth

Whether you’ve set aside 20 minutes to practice, or two hours, be sure to begin with a warm up. It’s also important that you prepare the exercises you’ll be working on before your scheduled practice time. If you spend your practice time searching for exercises, or trying to comprehend the instructions, that’s less time that you’re actually working on your voice.

In addition to helping you improve the tone of your voice, committing to a practice schedule will also help you to…

…build endurance. If you’re considering becoming a professional singer, then much like an athlete, you will need to train your voice so that you can sing for long periods of time without your voice fatiguing which can result in pitch problems.

…become a well-rounded singer. Longer practice sessions not only help improve vocal quality, but also help you become a better sight reader, memorize more material, and develop your poise and stage presence.

…gauge your progress. As you practice more often, you will begin to see marked differences in your voice, and begin to note how you’re improving. It’s also advisable to chart your progress on paper so that you can visually see how you’re developing.

Curious to learn more about how other Elite Casting Network members improve their vocal technique? Visit our community forum at http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com to network with other singers. And be sure to check out singing auditions in your area!

Set Your Sights On Competition In 2008

Ever wonder how your talent compares to other aspiring performers? Participating in competitions is a great way to gauge how you measure up in the industry, as well as increase your confidence and get additional performing experience. It’s also a great way to get exposure and boost your resume.

To make the most out of your competition experience:

Target competitions that are geared towards helping performers launch a professional career – especially competitions that either have celebrity judges or have a reputation of being well attended by industry professionals.

Make sure you’re aware of all scheduled deadlines, rehearsals and performances. You don’t want to blow your big break because you didn’t get your application in on time or because you missed your audition.

Be sure that you’re aware of all of the requirements - especially any required fees - so that you’re prepared. Whether it’s a singing, modeling, acting or dance competition, be sure that you have everything you’ll need from your repertoire to your wardrobe – and if you don’t have something, make sure you take care of it well in advance.

Take advantage of opportunities to network. Remain focused on the competition, but be sure that you build relationships with participants, staff and other individuals that could potentially help you in the future.

Have fun! Winning isn’t everything. If you don’t win your first competition, there are lots more out there. And with all of the experience that you get from your first competition, you’ll be even more prepared for the next.

For a list of talent competitions, visit our ‘Talent Resources’ page at http://www.EliteCastingNetwork.com. You can also visit our community forum to ask other Star Search Casting members which competitions they’ve participated in to help them boost their careers. Good luck!