Singers are everywhere. We see them performing on stage, hear them singing
songs on the radio or for movies, in jingles on TV, and singing in choirs
or for plays. For the large part, they use their vocal and musical talent
to entertain audiences.
They spend years training and developing their voice through vocal lessons,
rehearsing, and practicing, often beginning at a very early age. Singers can
be classified according to the type of music they sing or their vocal range.
The vocal range includes soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone and bass.
Steve Dawson is a solo artist as well as a vocalist for the group Dolly
Varde. He says that professional singers can find work in numerous places,
depending on the kind of music they specialize in and the type of voice they
have. Music specialty can include anything from rock or pop to gospel or opera.
"There's everything from singing in clubs, to singing in theatrical performances,
to singing on jingles for TV and radio advertisements, and lots more," he
says.
Often those who want to perform on stage will typically start out doing
small shows for places such as coffee shops and local bars. This could later
lead to larger venues such as festivals, community shows and charity events.
Being a singer is more than a full-time job. Professional singers are constantly
perfecting their craft and looking for new opportunities to perform. Singers
tend to work irregular hours, and in a wide range of locations.
"The hardest part is you work all the time. There are no set hours," says
Sarah Morrison. She is a professional singer.
Days can be spent working in an office setting, booking and searching for
shows, contacting clients, responding to e-mails, filing, accounting and doing
various other office duties.
"Then other days are gig days where I may be off to the studio for a recording
session, off to a live event, on set for a TV show or out meeting clients,"
says Morrison.
Time must also be set aside for rehearsing for these shows or events, and
taking voice lessons. While shows will often be in different venues, they
may also be in different cities or countries, so you may have to travel.