I had forgotten about this article, but I recently found it and thought I would post it. It is an old college "process" essay I wrote for my first semester in college (English 1001) several years ago. My professor thought it was a unique idea to write an essay on the process of breaking into country music and I received an A for it! After re-reading it, I noticed many changes I could make to improve it. However, I am posting it as I originally turned it in for a grade. Enjoy!
The long road to becoming a singer begins at a young age. Loving to listen to music and sing along with songs on the radio is a great place to start. Learning to play an instrument and write songs from an early age gives the person a great advantageMost people begin performing at local clubs to gain the experience of performing before an audience. When the person feels ready, a move to Nashville, Tennessee, is a smart choice. Once there, it is a great idea to get a job as a waiter or maybe as a tour guide at the Country Music Hall of Fame. A job as a receptionist or demo singer at a record company gives the person a chance to witness what goes on “behind the scenes” in the music business. Recording a demo tape and sending copies to various record label executives can be a crucial factor in getting a recording contract. If these executives like what they hear, the person will be called for an audition, which usually leads to receiving a contract. The person still has a long way to go toward reaching his/her goal.
The hard work begins once the contract has been signed. The person listens to literally thousands of songs or writes his/her own until the singer finds the 10 or 12 best songs and begins recording the critical debut album. Upon completion of the album, the record label’s artists and repertoire department begins its job of determining how to market the new artist. They help decide on the artist’s “look” for the album cover and stage appearances. The artist’s image can play a crucial role in initial acceptance and success. It is now time to introduce the new artist to the public.
Next, life on the road begins. The first year is usually spent opening for more established artists. New artists quickly realizes it is not as glamorous as they once thought. The performer soon learns the pre-concert drill of setting up the stage and lights and doing sound checks and rehearsals each night. Touring with an established artist certainly has its advantages. He/she can offer the new artist advice on everything from performing on stage and handling the media and fans to juggling career and family demands. New artist often loves the excitement of road life, which allows them to be in a different city or state nearly every night, but quickly becomes tired of it after the first year or two.
A new artist who quickly becomes an “overnight success” must learn to handle constantly being hounded by fans and the media. As new artist becomes more successful, they are asked to make more appearances and do many interviews. They now has to deal with the fact that they will have little or no privacy and then must decide how much of their lives to keep private and how much to share with the public.
Several signs indicate that an artist has “made it.” Receiving that first number one record, having an album sell gold, platinum or even multi-platinum and being nominated for various industry awards are major signs of success. Having the opportunity to meet and become friends with other artists, especially the ones that have greatly influenced their career choice and now say they are a fan of them is a huge compliment. While there is competition among the artists, they are constantly pulling for each other. Being asked to perform on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time is always a great honor for all new country artists.
Perhaps the most important sign of success to an artist is the fans. They are the people from whom the artist receives the majority of praise and criticism. By voicing their opinions, fans let artists know what they like or dislike about their music or personality. In doing this, family, friends and fans alike help keep new singers from becoming arrogant about their success. Fans share a special bond with their favorite artists and often write letters explaining how their music helped them through painful times in their lives. Many artists show their appreciation by writing back and sharing their own personal stories. Artists often meet with fans and sign autographs during meet and greets either before or after a show or during events such as Fan Fair. Once a person becomes a fan, it is usually for life. The more “accessible” entertainers are, the more fans they are likely to have.
So, if you love to sing and think you can handle all of the pressure, excitement and fulfillment that life on the road as a country singer hands you, keep practicing and never give up because you just might make it as a country singer.
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