WITCI Research Portfolio – Professional Vocalist
Professional vocalists are a core part of the creative industries. Almost all corners of the industry can require a vocalist in many parts of a project. There are countless roles for a vocalist. Musical theatre, Solo artist, session vocalist, ensemble singer are some of the main areas you will find them usually at the core of. The reason for a Vocalists importance in today’s music industry is the demand for a voice in music and the adaptability a voice has letting them branch into all genres and forms of the creative industry. The voice can reach the entire spectrum of emotion and bring human storytelling to a project. Lyrics can only be sung so any piece of creativity with a script or lyrics require a vocalist to deliver the message. This essay will explore in detail what is required of a Professional vocalist to reach industry standard from Knowledge and physical training to finance and marketing, I will dive into the journey of becoming a professional vocalist and outline the challenges and opportunities along the way.
There are many different required qualifications for a vocalist depending on which section of the industry they want to practice. Some professions can require specific qualifications. A degree in vocal performance is a commonly required academic qualification as it involves advanced vocal technique and training. They learn the ability to site read and understand sheet music, gain experience with performance of grade 8-diploma level pieces under pressure, display stylistic understanding amongst other things. The course would also train a vocalist in discipline, consistency and organisation, vital for almost all professions.
On the other hand, there is a lot of freelance work for vocalists. This brings value to the ability to network in the industry. Experience in the industry is also a core component for freelance work as a lot of venues, concerts or projects will take talent if they see it or are recommended someone by someone they trust.
The voice is like any other instrument in that it requires constant practice and a deep understanding and connection with the instrument (the body) and the music being performed. Singing is very physical. To reach industry standard or success in the profession, a vocalist needs to train and maintain core strength to support the breath effectively and to maintain correct singing posture all while having the stamina to last and not damage the voice overtime. There must also be training in relaxing certain parts of the body to retain energy and avoid straining of the neck and voice. This also helps produce a good quality resonance. Understanding which parts of the body should engage and relax needs to become muscle memory therefore requires constant and consistent training. Muscle memory of scales, runs and oral positioning is very important to train as well and would take a long time to do so. This training is needed to produce the best sound, resonance and accuracy while maintaining the voices quality through a performance, especially for taxing, full on jobs like musical theatre and opera.
A high level of understanding of music theory and the style of a piece must also be reached to fully understand the inner workings and I intentions of the music being performed. This is integral for most jobs that would be taken. Music theory is the building blocks of music, the formula for the composition. Harmony is a key component of this. Understanding harmony would allow the performer to be able to read the notes they would perform in the music as well as the reason they have been chosen in relation to one another, bringing an understanding of the importance of each note and how much emphasis should be given to each. Markings for rhythm, dynamics and general energy would all need to be learned for accuracy in the performance of the piece. Correct articulation and diction for multiple languages would also be trained and practiced regularly to bring professional clarity and accuracy.
Stylistic and emotional understanding would be required from a performer. They would need to be able to study the text and era the piece was composed in, step into the shoes of the composer and properly digest the story to understand its meaning and what is trying to be conveyed in every word. Achieving this while bringing some personal interpretation and uniqueness requires a lot of practice.
Finally, to maintain this rigorous schedule, a level of professionalism needs to be maintained. The vocalist must own and represent certain qualities of a hard worker. They would need to keep a schedule of daily practice and upcoming performances to stay on top of things. At the start of their career they would most likely need a second job on the side, highlighting the need for a strong plan even more. Consistency is key with singing and to keep the voices quality, a level of consistency and determination would be required.
Like many other professions, a typical day for a professional vocalist should be full on. Warming up, technical work and practice of repertoire would be done almost daily multiple times a day. Warm up should take around 20-30 minutes minimum. Around 2 hours would be dedicated to practicing repertoire and studying the piece. If the voice is weaker or the person has an illness, they would take certain remedies or use something like a vapour diffuser to keep the voice healthy. A portion of the day may be spent researching opportunities, building an online presence/CV and networking. As previously stated, if the performer is near the start of their career, they may also be working in the week to make ends meet.
A good level of financial and legal knowledge is a part of being in the creative industries. It’s especially important for a recording artist or performer to not be taken advantage of financially. Contracts are legally binding agreements between two parties designed to help two parties to a fair and set in stone agreement. They can be both written and verbal. A Unilateral contract is a contract where one party makes a promise. The contract is created once the action is completed and the acceptance from the other party happens by doing the task, not by agreeing in words. An example is a gig where the performing party would be paid in cash afterwards. The more common form of contract is a Bilateral contract by which both parties agree on a set of terms to be completed. Failure by one party to deliver on these terms results in a breach of contract and legal action to right any wrongs so it’s a good process to put in place to ensure everyone is on the same page.
As you can see there’s plenty to learn about contracts and they are very important and delicate so a vocalist must know the full picture before entering a project they will be expecting funding or exposure from.
Marketing and promotion are another key factor to master for a Professional vocalist. In today’s day and age, it is vital to have an online Prescence as it is where many employers will look for new talents. Its constantly presenting your work and abilities 24/7. Social media pages on multiple platforms should be set up in a professional manner that is also digestible and to the point. Other more work-oriented websites like LinkedIn are also at the centre of hiring now and should be taken advantage of to be on the same advantage as other performers.
Brand development is another essential part of marketing and promotion in the creative world. An identity needs to be created to best represent your image and values as an artist. The viewer needs to clearly understand the genre/sound you are in and the values you represent. Your aesthetic as an artist is a great way to stand out and represent your character, especially in the pop world. It brings viewers in and keeps them wanting to see what will come next if done effectively. Descriptions of an artist’s story and the story behind their performances help strengthen the bond between artist and viewer. Another way that bond can be strengthened is through live performances. Seeing a vocalist perform in person is a unique experience and again further strengthens their connection to the audience. This can be combined with something like an interview or podcast, telling the viewers about the behind the scenes and the challenges overcome to create the art. For promotion especially on social media, a level of consistency in posting must be maintained to create an exponential snowball effect of recognition.
There are many personal challenges in the creative industry for Professional Vocalists. The pressure of performance is a major one. A professional Vocalist will often find themselves in highly competitive situations like public exposure and auditions. The voice is literally a part of your person so any scrutiny can be challenging and personal to handle. Pressure can affect the voice more than other instruments as it is directly connected to the person that may start to feel anxious or frustrated, throwing a spanner in the works of the delicate system of the body and voice.
To overcome this challenge a Professional Vocalist would need to build their confidence through preparation. Gaining more experience in performing would make performing a more familiar environment. Being fully prepared before each performance is effective because fully understanding the music helps calm a performer down as they won’t be worrying about the music, instead the performer will be focused. Building a supportive circle around you would also combat potential stress of performance.
There are good career-progression/development opportunities in the creative industry for a Vocalist. Firstly, the voice can be improved with practice throughout a Vocalists career leaving unlimited room for growth. There are countless opportunities for development and evolution along this career path. For example, expanding across new genres, building more experience and understanding of music from a point of view. A vocalist could also become a teacher in Schools, University’s or privately giving them financial support. Branching into Recording solo or for a composer is another route to take. Finally, a portfolio of performances and achievements can always be added to and enriched, improving chances at being accepted for new career opportunities.
To summarise, there are many different opportunities and challenges in the career of a professional vocalist. It’s a profession that requires rigorous practice, physically and intellectually, careful consideration and studying of contracts and royalties and constantly staying prepared. In return this industry path has a plethora of different opportunities that can be easily adapted to. The professional vocalist can always improve, evolve and branch out in their work for the duration of their career, building new sources of income to further sustain their practice and improve their professional work.
