- 1). Develop your vocal talent and singing skills. Although intrinsic talent is an essential ingredient, becoming a good singer requires commitment, dedication, practice and lots of of experience. Take singing lessons with a vocal coach. Studying with a professional is the quickest and most efficient way to develop your natural abilities. Join a group, or several groups, in your area, and perform as much as possible. Practicing and performing in front of an audience are completely different; the experience acquired from live performances is an essential element in building confidence and vocal chops.
- 2). Develop your sight reading and music theory skills. Recording studio singers are often expected to learn their parts in a relatively short amount of time. You may be handed a musical score 15 minutes before the recording session. An appreciation of music theory will provide you with a broader insight into the whole as well as giving you deeper insight into the various possibilities in arranging a vocal part for a particular piece of music.
- 3). Practice singing harmony parts. Studio singers often round out an arrangement by singing harmony with the lead singer in the recording session. Harmony requires a good ear to stay on pitch as well as the ability to complement and blend with the tone of the lead singer. Practice singing harmony parts with other singers. Record yourself singing a lead vocal part, then record yourself singing different harmony parts to your lead vocal.
- 4). Record a demo on CD. Select a few different songs that showcase your range and vocal styles. As a studio singer, you may be expected to cover a wide range of styles, from jazz to country to pop, so you must show your versatility. At the same time, emphasize your strengths and distinctive qualities on the demo. For example, if you have a gritty bluesy voice, include a song that highlights that quality.
- 5). Peruse trade papers and music weeklies. Concentrate on papers and weeklies in your area. For example, if you live in or near New York City, the music classifieds in "The Village Voice" is a good resource. Look for wanted adds seeking recording studio singers. Take advantage of the classifieds to advertise and market yourself as well.
- 6). Contact recording studios with your demo in hand. Call ahead of time, and make an appointment. You can also send the demo and contact information to different recording studios, but meeting engineers, producers, musicians and various staff may help you get your foot in the door.
- 7). Print professional business cards. Keep a few copies of the card with you to hand out to potential contacts you meet at gigs, recording sessions and casual encounters.
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