How to Become a Studio Musician & Singer
Being a studio musician or singer, sometimes known as a session player, can be the ideal job for musicians and singers who enjoy working with different performers and in different musical genres. It takes a lot of skill, hard work and a little luck to be a successful session musician, but if you possess all of these things and are in the right part of the country, there's never a shortage of work available. If you have the determination and skills necessary to play music in almost any situation, a studio musician or studio singing path can be the road to a successful, rewarding career in music.
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Things You'll Need
- Professional Music Equipment (depending upon instruments you play)
- Resume
- Performance Demo
Instructions
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Study your craft. Attend a music school if you can afford it---demonstrated knowledge and ability, not a degree, will get you the jobs. This means learning the skills a studio musician needs, in whatever way you learn best. These skills include the ability to sight-read music, compose, improvise and play a variety of instruments.
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Visit recording studios and talk to the producers and engineers. Leave a demo CD that showcases your proficiency on a variety of musical instruments. Include several different musical styles to showcase your diversity. As a studio musician, you can be called upon to play everything from country to rock. Ask to be placed on the studio call list.
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Play in public as often as you can. Build a name for yourself and keep your skills sharp by playing with local bands, filling in for musicians when needed and networking on the music scene.
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Build a portfolio and keep it updated with every new gig (job) you play, whether it's a live performance or a studio recording job.
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Consider moving to the closest major city to you, or even going to New York, Los Angeles, Nashville or another major music city. Making a move such as this can be a big deal, but realistically, you want to go where the jobs are. If there isn't a studio where you live, your chance of getting work drops.
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Tips & Warnings
Many recording studios are online, so make a point of picking a few and sending out a demo and a copy of your resume.
Always be prepared to give a live audition to get on a studio's substitute list.
