Lifestyle to Livelihood: Rock Star

“On stage tonight, performing in front of 50,000 screaming fans, is platinum record selling artist…..”

We’ve all had this dream, standing on stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, singing our songs and selling millions of records. But here is the good news – it doesn’t just have to be a dream! Here are some tips on how to break into the music industry, your first step to becoming a superstar!

Step 1: Learn to sing or play an instrument

OK, this sounds really basic, but you will be surprised how many people think they can be rock stars without being able to sing, play an instrument or even read music.

You must learn the basics if you stand any chance at all. You don’t have to fork out for expensive lessons, you can buy Teach Yourself books from music stores or online shops, which come with clear instructions and backing CDs.

However, if you are really committed to being a rock star, it is recommended to get at least some formal musical training with a professional music teacher. She can tell you what you are doing right, how you can improve and keep your motivation up.

For singers, this is especially important. Your voice is an instrument, and if you sing incorrectly you can actually damage your voice before your career has even started.

Trust us, growling like a rock chick may sound cool now, but try doing that for two hours and see how your voice sounds for the next week. With professional training, you can learn how to sing amazingly without risking your voice. Oh, and smoking is a big No No, so put that horrid cig away, or you’ll wreck your voice.

Good teachers don’t come cheap. You will be looking at paying about �25 per hour for a music lesson. If you do want lessons, make sure you stick at them so you don’t waste your parents’ hard-earned money.

A good idea is to share a lesson with a friend, so you can reduce the cost and keep each other company. Even better, try and get a part time job to pay for the lessons yourself – this will increase your motivation to stick at the lessons, when you realise how hard you have to work to pay for them. In return, you’ll become a mega musician, with cool stories about how you had to graft for your art!

Find a good teacher either through your school or the Yellow Pages.

Step 2: Get professional help

No, we don’t mean a doctor, but the advice from people in the music industry.

You may think programmes like X Factor or Britain’s Got Talent are corny, but they will offer you a great opportunity to perform in front the UK’s most successful music industry insiders. Take their advice as genuine and be prepared for some harsh comments. In an ideal world, they will think you are the best singer/guitarist they have ever heard and sign you up on the spot. However, the following scenarios are more likely:

1. You get through to the next round, but no further. This is still an amazing achievement – over 150,000 people auditioned for the latest series of X Factor, so if you beat them, you have a real chance of succeeding in the future after a little more practice.
2. You don’t get through, but you are told to keep trying. Believe them if they say this. If they think you have some natural talent, which just needs to be worked on, then accept the fact that you are talented and just need to practice some more. Keep trying!
3. They say you don’t have a chance. Again, although this is really harsh, you must listen to them. They know what they are talking about. If you really have no musical talent, try and focus your energies in another direction, such as band management, scouting for new talent etc. Just because you can’t be a performer, doesn’t mean you can’t work in the industry and be a real success. After all, do you really think Simon Cowell can sing, and yet look how successful he is?!

Step 3: Learn the industry

Try and get some work experience at a record label. You will get contacts in the business and also get the inside gossip on what makes a successful artist. Who knows, you may even get a chance to show off your talent.

Step 4: Music courses, UCAS and Extra-Curricular Activities

If you want to go on to college or university, and are keen to be a rock star, then there are some good courses out there that you can take.

A really good college is Point Blank Music College in London (www.pointblanklondon.com). This college is one of the leading music production and DJ colleges in the country, and runs courses from learning how to be a rock star, song writing, through to band management, promotion and being a DJ. They offer online courses as well as traditional ones, so you can learn from home if you don’t want to move to London.

Most universities or colleges offer music courses with modern/rock music included. Have a word with your school to get some good advice.

Courses like this are really competitive, so you’ll need a good UCAS form application. If you are applying for a music course, your UCAS form will need to include:

1.  A list of any music grades you have (e.g. piano Grade 5 etc), what instruments you play and if you sing.
2. Your musical hobbies – do you sing in a choir, have a band, run gigs etc
3. The reasons why you want to study music or a music-related course. Saying “just because” will not get you onto the course. They are looking for people who are committed and passionate about music and the music industry.
4. Have you done any work experience in the music industry? If so, mention this on the UCAS form.
5. Have you entered or won any music competitions? If so, this has to go onto your form.

If none of the above apply to you, what are you doing trying to get into music? If you haven’t learnt to sing or play an instrument, if you don’t have any musical hobbies or haven’t even attempted to perform in front of a live audience, you need to rethink whether you are genuinely interested in being a rock star.

Things don’t just fall into your lap, you have to work hard to make your dreams come true.

Step 5: Cut a demo track

Get into a recording studio, either on your own or with your band, and cut a demo track. Don’t do covers, only record material you have written yourself – the music industry wants people who are genuinely talented and won’t rely on songwriters to do all their albums.

Keep a copy of your demo track on you at all times. You never know who you might bump into.

Step 6: Be prepared to go it alone

Major record companies get hundreds of thousands of demos each year, and have thousands of artists on their books. Even if they sign you, they may not have enough time to dedicate to you, and it could take years for your album to come out.

A lot of successful artists either apply to small independent labels, or set up their own record label.

For example, LA gospel singer Eartha was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003, even though her CD had only officially sold 52 copies in the shops, according to Sound Scan. However, her independent record label, AFRT Music, reported that the album had actually sold 10,000 copies at concerts, clubs and other outlets.

She had dedicated her record label to promoting and selling just her own material. She went on to win the Grammy in the Best Contemporary Soul Gospel category. This shows that if you have your own label, you can market yourself more efficiently, you can prove to major labels that you have a good track record and you can develop a fan base.

REALITY CHECK!

As the above examples show, it isn’t easy getting into the music industry to be the next superstar. Hundreds of thousands of people try every year, and only a handful will ever be truly successful.

However, when you do make it, what a dream come true!