How to Start Singing Professionally 3 Tips for Networking

How to Start Singing Professionally 3 Tips for Networking Suzy S. When you’re an aspiring singer, sometimes it feels like getting your foot in the door is an impossible task. Understanding how to start singing professionally  can take some time to figure out.  But in reality, if you have the skills, information, and knowledge, you can make your way into the music industry more easily than you think! You might not start at the top, but like any profession, you can work your way up. One of the key elements to landing any job is networking. You’ll often hear things like “it’s all about who you know”â€" and in many cases it is. Networking is about subtly selling yourself without becoming overwhelming. It’s about paving the way to future opportunities and potential jobs and auditions. It is essential, because most people like to work with someone they know and trust. In today’s digital age, there are endless singers hoping to make it by promoting themselves with videos, blogs, and social media.  While those things are tools that can be helpful, there is nothing more important than face time. Face time makes us more memorable, and it can give you a chance to create an unforgettable conversation that allows people to get a glimpse of who you are, and more importantly, remember who you are. Think of networking as a job in itself. You want to present your best attributesâ€"in other words, behave professionally.  Nothing says more about you than giving your word, and sticking to it, even in the music industry.  Remember, the life of a professional singer might seem glamorous, but it is hard work as well. Networking can be a way to prove to people you’re capable of showing up on time, putting in the hours, and are willing to work hard and help out.  Below are a few tips that can get you out there and singing professionally. Tip 1: Volunteer or Intern Nothing says you want something more than offering to work for free. Music festivals  are a great way to start â€" they can also be the catalyst that lands you a job in the music industry. Festival jobs often involve things like taking tickets, directing people, or staffing an information booth. Volunteer regularly and perhaps you’ll get more advanced assignments and meet more important people, especially if you earn some good referrals. Contact various festivals in your area and ask what opportunities they might have, and how to apply. Other volunteer and intern opportunities exist with community theaters. This an excellent option if you’re interested in a career in Music Theater. It’s also perfect for finding out how it all works.  The more familiar you are with the behind-the-scenes process, the better you’ll interview/audition in the future. It also gives you insight into what it takes to make it big! Interning can come in various forms. It might be a specific period of time with a major label, where only a very limited number of people are chosen. Other internships can be created try calling or talking with industry professionals or local labels and asking about the possibility of an internship. The music industry is a place where you’ll hear the word ‘no’ a lot, but don’t take it personally. Pick yourself up, and move on. Networking is about persistence (but again, subtle and not demanding). Also, keep your eye on resources that let you know where the opportunities are. This can include music industry websites, magazines, or even Craigslist. Tip 2: Get an Entry-Level Job Work on your resume and/or audition, and get out there searching. Entry-level music industry jobs are things like concert runners, singing with a local choir, small parts in local theaters, managing a small band, or working as a karaoke host â€" find anything that has you working with music. Contact venues, continue your vocal lessons and practice auditioning, attend local concerts, and talk to managers and bands. Do everything you can to open the door to more possibilities. Tip 3: Get Your Voice Out There Even if you’re networking just to get to know people in the music industry, don’t forget to put your voice out there as well. Open mic nights are a fantastic way to perform. Take advantage of  social media, join or start a band, and continue to do things that allow you to be actively practicing your passion while getting your voice out there. Professional Singing Careers What kind of singer do you want to be? Before you start networking, this might be the most essential question you answer. Are you interested in musical theater and opera, being a lead vocalist, backing vocalist, member of an international choir, composer, or lyricist? Fine-tuning your vision will help you determine what types of networking to pursue. While you make your way and learn how to start singing professionally by taking it one step at a time, remember to keep up with your training and lessons  â€" and more importantly, keep dreaming. Good luck! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher  Photo  by John Benson

What is it Like to Attend University of California, Davis

What is it Like to Attend University of California, Davis The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Darren is a Los Angeles tutor specializing in GRE prep tutoring, ISEE prep tutoring,SSAT prep tutoring, Algebra tutoring, and much more. He holds a Bachelors degree in Classical Civilization from University of California, Davis. See what he had to say about his alma mater: VT: Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Darren: The UC Davis campus is one of the most serene and beautiful I have seen. My sister (two years my elder) also attended Davis, and I felt immediately at home there when I would visit her during my final two years of high school, making the school one of my preferred options already at that time. In some ways, it is an understated beauty not as in your face as the beauty you might find at a campus nestled in the Rockies or perched over the Pacific Ocean. It is the beauty of open fields, of a stream meandering through the Arboretum, of sunlight breaking down onto a tree-lined street. I always felt incredibly safe on campus. Part of that (as is the case anywhere, unfortunately) is being male and having less reason to fear for my personal safety, but I never thought twice about walking home alone after a late night studying in the library. Having access to a car is a bonus due to the relative ease with which you can get to places like Sacramento, SF, and Tahoe, but it is certainly not necessary. The bus system in town is quite effective and reliable (with some quaint double-deckers imported directly from London, no less) and the entire town is built to accommodate the ridiculous bike-to-person ratio. VT:How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Darren: I was in a small major (Classical Civilization) which helped me to get to know my professors quite closely but I found even the professors of classes outside of my major to be accessible and engaging (unusually so, I think, for a university of Daviss size). I remember most of my professors very fondly from Greek professor, Dr. Albu, meeting weekly with students who asked her to help us read through the Greek New Testament, to discussing my future plans over coffee with orchestra conductor, Dr. Holoman. I am still 13 years after graduating in contact with multiple of my old Davis professors. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Darren: The dorms at Davis have by and large become quite nice. I happened to live my freshman year in a building that was dilapidated and close to being condemned. Students heading there now dont have to worry about old Emerson Hall. I didnt care for dorm life much. I felt like a rat shoved into a too-cramped living situation with a bunch of adolescents too immature to yet handle life on their own. I moved into an apartment with friends my sophomore year, as most second-year student do at Davis, and the new arrangement drastically improved my level of contentment. I had many friends who absolutely loved dorm life (my sister had been one of them), but it wasnt really for me. My socialization happened through singing, a school musical, classes, and Christian fellowship groups. VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Darren: Davis is famous for agriculture, veterinary studies, and wine-making, but these are surely not the only strong programs. The only real weakness is in business classes (the closest major to Business was Agricultural Economics), and yet every single one of my Davis friends who has entered the business world has been very successful even with undergrad majors like Communications, English, and Psychology. I started out as an English major but switched when I realized I didnt much care for reading. I started taking Greek classes my sophomore year because I wanted to be able to read the New Testament in its original tongue. The Religious Studies department also offered a slew of New Testament classes that I took because of my interest in the Bible. Before I knew it, I was closer to having a degree in Classics than in English. I didnt have a huge interest in the Classical period mythology, wars, and such but the Classics classes were mostly taught by my Greek professors, whom I k new well after a few Greek classes and whom I held in high esteem. Thus, I became an accidental Classics major, joining a small group of students that tended to eat, drink, and sleep the ancient world. I had enough English classes for a minor in English, and I discovered a love of choral music in college, so I also added a minor in Music Performance. I always felt very supported by all of these departments. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Darren: I had a difficult time making friends my freshman year, but that had more to do with my own introversion and resistance to change. I ended up making very close friends (when I got married just over a year ago, three of my five groomsmen were guys Id roomed with at Davis). The Greek scene isnt huge at Davis somewhere around 10% of students rush. I think most people who arent scared of new people do just fine making friends their freshman year at UCD. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Darren: I dont have much personal experience here, as I knew fairly early on that I wanted to continue my education in graduate school upon graduation from Davis. So, I was never seeking employment while I was there. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Darren: There is plenty of space for studying at Davis. There are a lot of students, but its also a massive campus so it never feels overly crowded, either in study spaces or in other common areas. This was a major reason for my decision to attend Davis over UCLA and Berkeley, both of which felt far more congested when I visited during the stressful weeks of making my final decision of where to enroll. I went a couple of years without even owning a computer (unthinkable now, but not extraordinarily unusual in the late 1990s) and never had trouble gaining access to a computer either in a computer lab or in the library. By my last couple of years, I had taken to studying mostly in coffee shops in town or outdoors around campus (because of Daviss particularly peaceful setting). VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Darren: I absolutely love the town of Davis it is a consummate college town. The town actually largely developed around the university, so it is, in a sense, tailor-made for the college student. People who need the fast pace of a major city might feel bored at times in Davis, but the town is by no means boring. There also seem to be more clubs/bars in town now than there were a decade ago (to my taste, an unfortunate development, though I know there are many who would disagree). I loved attending concerts and plays in town, seeing performers at local coffeehouses, and such. One of the premier performing arts centers in all of the western United States, the Mondavi Center, is located right on campus. Again, there are also larger cities nearby for more opportunities as well. I sang twice a week my senior year with a very good choir in Sacramento, and I had friends who would drive 70 miles to San Francisco (the City) weekly to explore its vibrant restaurant scene. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Darren: Davis has a very large student body, but again, it doesnt feel overly large. The main campus is close to 1,000 acres and it is divided such that there are parts of campus that you rarely have reason to go to (for instance, I was almost never by the science buildings, so my campus was the humanities corner). I had a couple of large, lecture-style general education courses, but most of my classes (due in large part to my very small major) were maybe 5-20 students. I was quite pleased with that arrangement. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Darren: The moment that pops into my head was during a New Testament class with the great Dr. Lincoln Hurst (unfortunately now deceased). He was referencing Martin Luthers analogy for the difference between having bad thoughts enter your mind and consciously mulling over bad thoughts: As Luther said, You cant keep a bird from flying over your head, but you can keep it from nesting in your hair. Without missing a beat, my buddy (and future groomsman) an active hunter leaned over to me and whispered, Oh, I can keep a bird from flying over my head. I got a curious look from Dr. Hurst when I let out a thunderous guffaw. Check out Darrens tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.