bussniss manager: How can I become a Singer? Breaking Into Show Business

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Kamis, 14 November 2013

52-Week Online Career Mentorship "The Winners Circle"

Step-by-Step 52-Week Online Career Guidance from a Hollywood Talent Manager

Beloved Actors, I am so excited! I have found a way to help make you a success :)

 The problem you have, and all beginning actors have is - when you are new, most managers won't take you on because you probably won't make them any money for the first few years. So managers typically look for actors who are already working. But you still need a manager, or someone who can tell you what do you do?

At the beginning of your career, only a handful of lucky actors get a manager. But you still need someone who can help you and guide you...to make sure you get great headshots that pop to casting directors, to help you figure out your type so your headshots will show your type, to help you figure out which casting directors you should be meeting and where to meet them. You need a manager to teach you how to build you resume up so it will impress casting directors. You need a manager to help you understand how to use online marketing, postcards, actor one-sheets and followup emails with industry people. You need a manager to make sure you write great, professional cover letters, to help you decide when to join SAG-AFTRA, when to stop doing student films, what acting jobs should you be trying to put on your resume, how to get a commercial agent, how to create a demo reel, a sizzle reel and create profiles online that are great and resumes that POP! But you can't get a manager yet, because you aren't going to make them any money. But you still need one.

That is why I created an Online Program to meet every beginning actor's needs. It's called TALENT MANAGER IN YOUR POCKET - A STEP-BY STEP 52 WEEK COURSE. When you sign up for my program I personally guide you for 1 year online making sure you do all the right things to begin your journey as a working actor. It doesn't matter what part of the country you are in, I can help you do everything we just talked about. It is the solution to your catch 22. But this program isn't for everyone. It is only for real actors.

I am a Talent Manager with 25 years experience in the Entertainment Business. Prior to being a Talent Manager, I was a Talent Agent. I have worked in Casting, Production, Network Television and at top Talent Agencies and Public Relation firms. I was also a professional singer and actor so believe me, I know this business inside and out. I know what it takes to work in it. This program is only for serious actors. If this is a hobby forget about it, I can't help you.

As a manager, I usually represent about 25 actors at a time, who are working in film, tv, webisodes, print, indies, shorts, theater, commercials etc. I get my actors agents, they book jobs and they work. But I can't represent every actor that submits to me. This year alone I have received over 2,000 submissions. I can only handle 25 actors at a time. (and even that gets rough) That's why I created an online program to guide every actor who wants professional help advancing their careers.

My online program THE WINNERS CIRCLE - THE WAW ELITE ACTORS CLUB is a STEP-BY STEP 52 WEEK COURSE that fills the gap- it gives you the direction of a Talent Manager so you aren't guessing what you should be doing, or wasting money and time. Trust me, you need guidance on so many things... you don't know 1/2 of what you are doing. I get so many submission from actors who don't know what they are doing. Every day I look at lousy cover letters, resumes wrongly formatted, headshots that don't work, and demo reels that look so amateuristic. No wonder those actors aren't getting ahead. I hate for you to be in that category sitting with Casting Directors missing out all your amazing talent. But now with my online program, I am so excited, (I really am) I can help every actor who wants professional guidance. Waahooo! And that includes YOU!

WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAaeMOprpPA#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

http://wawentertainment.com/Secrets.html

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been without it. - See more at: http://secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com/talent-manager-in-your-pocket-step-by-step-instructions-for-every-actors-first-year/#sthash.mp93t6LL.dpuf

To sign up now, go to my website WAW Entertainment and join. Choose whether you want to be billed $100 monthly, or $300 every 3 months. By the end of the year you will be miles ahead of where you would have been with out it.

After you have joined THE WINNERS CIRCLE - THE WAW ELITE ACTORS CLUB
email me at wawentertianment@yahoo.com to set up our first Skype Call. I look forward to speaking to your personally and getting to know you. We can talk about where you are right now in your career -what classes you have already taken, if any, and you can show me your current headshots and resume so I can review them and make changes to your resume to format it correctly. In our Skype conversation, we will also talk about your type, and your online profiles. I will give you immediate advice you can implement right away to get you onto the right path.

I will be giving you all the SAME advice and guidance I give to all my signed actors. GO AHEAD AND SIGN UP TODAY!

The cost is for this 1 year program is only $100 per month! (That's less that $25 a week for professional guidance.) Compare that to just 1 acting class which costs $295 a month. So obviously, I am making it affordable for every actor who wants the guidance of a talent manager, but they are just to early in their career to attract one. You need a professional guiding you, so here is your opportunity. Just follow my simple monthly instructions for 1 year and step-by-step together we will advance your career.

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=bs-QRhDuzYY_Wi5dwlmPZ1EGsjRJ4_7gr7ELVe1IWxzE9axQ0AGjz7EbR9e&dispatch=50a222a57771920b6a3d7b606239e4d529b525e0b7e69bf0224adecfb0124e9b61f737ba21b081986471f9b93cfa01e00b63629be0164db1

SO... congratulations on deciding to join the club and work with me. You will also be receiving a FREE copy of my e-book "Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager" which we will use as a guide through the year, along with tons of helpful tools, audition secrets, workshops you should take, event invitations, and insider tips throughout the year to add to your success!

Having a talent is a gift. Sharing it with the world is privilege. Having someone help you do it is good fortune. I look forward to working with you... if you are serious about doing the work :)  This is going to be fun.

See you on the Red Carpet,

Wendy Alane Wright
Talent Manager
WAW Entertainment
www.secretsofahollywoodtalentmanager.com

Selasa, 07 Mei 2013

5 Proven Ways to Start Your Singing Career

Minggu, 31 Maret 2013

Advice from Casting Directors On How To Get More Acting Jobs.

Wendy Alane Wright is a Hollywood Talent Manager with WAW Entertainment. Her clients have appeared in numerous national commercials, movies, webisodes, short films, and on television networks such as ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, BIO, Lifetime, plus many more. Previous to being a Manager and a Talent Agent at Burn Down Entertainment, she assisted many high profile Managers, Agents and Publicists in the careers of Neil Patrick Harris, Johnny Galecki, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Four Tops, The Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Guttenberg, The Cranberries Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers, and Neil Diamond. Wendy is also a Recording Artist, Actress, Author and Music Producer all giving her a 360-degree perspective of the industry.

So you have your headshot, you have your growing resume. And you think I just need auditions. Once I get in the room and the see how great I am and how much talent I have they are going to hire me for the job. I don't need audition training, I am just going to wing it!" Yikes!!! Does that sound like you? I hope not. But the truth is, most beginning actors sound EXACTLY like that.

As a Talent Manager in Los Angeles, I feel it is my duty to tell you that is wrong! And make sure you have a change in your thinking right now, ASAP.

You studied acting in college or with a private teacher or in an acting school. Now that you have graduated it's time to put that that good acting training to use. So you move to Los Angeles or New York and are convinced people are going to hire you just because you are you. But, alas, that is not how it works. Auditioning is a very specific skill set. Unfortunately they do not teach it in college or in most acting schools. But being ignorant of the law, does not abolish the law. And the law of acting professionally means you will audition 90% of the time and act 10%. Therefore you must train extensively to become adept at auditioning. It is a skill you must master if you want to become a working actor.

When someone asks you what is your job? Your answer should be "I am a professional auditioner, who occasionally gets to act, and even more rarely, gets paid enough to pay my bills with it." (Until you are a well paid working actors that is).

So how do you become a well paid working actor? First, you have to get an audition, then you have to get a callback, and then you have to nail the call back (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of them) and then you get into the final running for the job and have to book the job! Once you get into the audition room its ALL about your audition skills. It is not about your talent because there are talented people all over Los Angeles and the majority of them aren't booking the jobs. The actors who have a strong audition technique to go along with strong acting techniques book the jobs. The skills go hand in hand.

COMMERCIAL AUDITION TRAINING

How may hours a week do you take On-Camera audition classes and Cold Reading class? How many hours in the last 365 days have you taken On-camera audition classes and Cold reading classes? I hope your answer is at least 1-2 classes per week and minimum of 200 hours per year.

If you are serious about becoming a working actor, then you need to get serious about becoming an expert at auditioning. Don't even think of "winging it" - that's a recipe for failure and you will likely be one of the thousands that flock back home after a failed attempt of trying to make it in Hollywood. Don't let that happen to you. You have talent, don't be ;lazy, cocky, or arrogant and think you can do it without very specific training. You can't, unless you want to be a broke actor who has to make their living from their day job.

If you a have Commercial Agent you should be taking an on-camera Commercial audition class every week with any of following expert teachers: (If it was me I would take one right after the other so in 2 years I would be 100% confident in my audition techniques, which would make my agent 100% confident in me)

Judy Kain
Carolyne Barry
Francine Selkirk
Stuart K Robinson
Scott Sedita
Terry Berland
Killian McHugh

I would read many books on auditioning, including:
"Breaking Into Commercials" by Terry Berland
"Making It In Hollywood" by Scott Sedita
"How To Get The art Without Falling Apart" by Margie Haber
"Hit The Ground Running" by Carolyne Barry
"How To Break Into Show Business; Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager" by Wendy Alane Wright

THEATRICAL AUDITION TRAINING

If you have aspirations to work in television film (and by film I mean not student films), you need to have SERIOUS audition techniques. That's what separates the big boys from the wannabes. Novices without intensive scene study, audition technique and cold reading training fall apart along the way because they do not have solid audition skills to keep them in the game. A working actor has master of the audition room. They know who they are, what they have to sell, what is unique about them, how to break down a character quickly, how to play the opposites, how to make bold choices, not safe ones (and they know the difference between the two.) They also know the appropriate ways to interact with Casting Directors, how to dress for auditions, for the callback, when to make changes, when not to. Your audition techniques need to be as familiar and feel as natural to you as your breathing.

Here are some of the most common complaints Casting Directors have about actors in the audition room. Quotes are from the book: "Getting The Part" 33 Professional Casting Director Tell You How To Get Work in Theater, Films, Commercials and TV" by Judith Searle

"The biggest mistake actors make sometimes is stating anything negative before they have begun. I have found that no matter what you say thereafter to try and win back favor, the director has formed an impression and most of the time you can not get him (or her) to think differently. And it doesn't mean the person in not a good actor. But half of it is the acting, and half of it is the way the other person feels." - Pam Dixon, Casting Director

It's terrible when actors come in unprepared. Actors don't read the scripts when they are available. "They do not bother to take responsibility. You can make excuses, but you hinder yourself when you do things like that. You're not taking advantage of the things that are presented to you." Al Oronato, Casting Director

"I hate when actors come in for an audition loaded with props." - Barbara Claman, Casting Director

A lot of people are disturbed when actors come in and say, 'do you mind if I have two minutes to prepare for this?' Don't do that. Come in prepared to do it. People are looking at two things in auditions, They're not only looking at your talent, they're looking to see whether or not you're going to make problems." - Stanley Soble, Casting Director

Not being genuine. "The slate needs to be simple. I wouldn't pitch myself, like in music, more than a half step above how happy I feel on that particular day. You know what I am saying? Sometimes people come in and go "hiiiiii!" (With yards and yards of teeth.) You know they don't mean it; you know they're not feeling it. Some directors are so cruel - they just fast-forward from the slate. They don't look at the performance. So you could have given the greatest performance of your life on tape, but if they hated your slate you're gone. -Danny Goldman, Casting Director.

"Don't hang out too long. It's a business. Everybody's got a limited amount of time. Get in, do your thing, get out. Present yourself the best way possible: make sure your clothes are fresh, make sure you have a fresh face on, you are well mannered, you are polite to everybody - and just do your thing. I find it terribly disarming when an actor comes in - in character, because you don't know what that person's like and the camera is not always rolling. And if this person is in character, you have no idea who they are. So I like to see a line of demarcation between the person who comes in and the performance. Probably the biggest mistake actors make is when they start off on a scene, find themselves floundering because they've lost concentration, and keep going because they are afraid to stop. You have to stop yourself and say, "I'm sorry. I want to start again." - Pamela Basker, Casting Director

"They talk too much. I think it's nervous talk. There's never anything wrong with an actor asking a question that is pertinent to the material before them, discussing an approach to the material - making it concise and moving along. But a lot of times actors are too chatty. They are trying to ingratiate themselves and for that purpose, for the audition purpose, believing that saying the words effectively is what is going to get them the job. Seventy-five percent of the time the reason an actor is not chosen for a job has nothing to do with their skills. So most of the time I think your concentration should be on preparing and looking at an audition as an opportunity to act, an opportunity to show (us) that you belong in the business because we do so many projects that if you want it and you're working in the right way at it, it will happen." - Eugene Blythe

Lateness. Never - I repeat, never - be late to read for a casting director in a studio, for producers or writers, because if you keep them waiting they're not going to be in a good mood when you are seeing them. - Robin Nassif, Former Head Of Comedy Casting at ABC, Talent Agent

"I think the biggest mistake actors make is not respecting themselves enough. And that includes trying to do what you think is wanted rather than what your instincts are telling you to do. Caring too much about getting the job has a tendency to undermine your work. I think if you are good your work will ultimately be recognized. I think actors who get into a comfortable place with that in themselves bring that into an audition. They are not apologetic, they are not overly solicitous, they're not angry. They're just good and they know it." - Lacy Bishop, Casting Director

"Not taking enough time to prepare and being late...and being harried and having their minds somewhere else - on the next audition, or the fact they're going to get a ticket, or the fight they just had with their girlfriend. The inability to concentrate on the job at hand - the audition, that moment. When you're dealing with this kind of money, you can't let the fact that you didn't get any sleep the night before or somebody flushed your cat down the toilet or your car is totaled get in the way. Your job is to make these people (in the audition room) feel comfortable. They want you to be good. - Beverly Long, Casting Director

The biggest mistake is not understanding what an audition is. The audition really is about only the part at the moment, and performing at a level that can convince the director you are the person for that role. Auditions can't be attempts. They have to be choices carried out, and you have to give the impression that you can deliver. People who are not known (by casting) have to gain that assurance, that trust." - Jay Binder, Casting Director

If you liked this information leave a comment! Visit and "like" me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/WAW-Entertainment/108466172546413 or follow me on Twitter @WAW_wendy FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE!

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Every month I offer a workshop called, “The Winner's Circle" for brand new actors which will help you begin to understand the business and start to develop a plan of action for your success. I teach it along with several important industry friends of mine including a top Theatrical Agent, Commercial Agent, Casting Director, Headshot Photographer, WorkingActor and including Reel Producer. You will learn so much information in this workshop from top people in the business who are all committed to your success! I have been coaching actors for years, and I know new actors need a mentor and professional guidance, so if you are new to this business I highly recommend this workshop. It will give you the "inside" information you need and it will put you miles ahead of the hundreds of other newcomers that arrive in L.A. every year. At the end of this 4-hour seminar with us you will have a game plan for success. The cost is $179 and it's worth every penny. Visit my website and sign up today for the next workshop. email wawentertainment@yahoo.com for more info.

Wendy Alane Wright Smith
The Hollywood Talent Manager
WAW ENTERTAINMENT
wawentertainment@yahoo.com

Selasa, 26 Maret 2013

Top 3 Ways to Get A Talent Agent

Do you want to get a Theatrical Agent's attention? Here's one of my favorite secrets; Start getting CALLBACKS!

#1 GET CALLBACKS
What is a Call Back? A Call Back is what you get when you do a great job in your audition. Actors get call backs to come back in and read a 2nd or 3rd time for producers, directors, studios and networks. Getting a Callback is VERY IMPORTANT and means you did something right in the first audition that the Casting Directors liked, and they think the big wigs will like it too. So, Actors go back in and do the exact same thing they did in the 1st audition to give other people a chance to see what the Casting Director saw.

Actors who get callbacks are closer to actually getting the job than the actors who did not get a call back. Usually a Casting Director will see 20-100 people for each role in the pre-read (audition) and only a handful of actors will be called back. You want to be one of those. When you are getting a lot of callback you are seriously in the running for a job and are more likely to make an agent money than the actors who are not getting call backs.

When Agents sign actors, they see within a year which actors are getting callbacks. The actors who are not getting call backs are typically dropped by their agents at the end of 1 year. So if you are getting a lot of call backs they would much rather have you on their roster than the actors who are not getting callbacks. Make sense? If you are getting callbacks and their own clients are not...you will become very interesting to agents.

So lets get started....

#2 SUBMIT YOURSELF LIKE CRAZY AND BUILD YOUR RESUME
Start building your resume with THEATER. Here is a resume of a 16 year old in Kentucky. She is serious about becoming an actor and her resume PROVES it. Look at the training she has had and the theater she has done. How does yours compare? Click on this link to see Alicen's resume. This is what you need to start building your resume into.

ALICEN ABLER - Resume | Actors Access

Then, submit yourself like crazy for projects on Actors Access, La Casting and Backstage - get out there auditioning for Low Budget Films, Webisodes, and Shorts. You will book some along the way. Remember to always add these important credits to your resume to continue to build your credibility as an actor.

(SIDE NOTE: You really should be subscribing to Backstage.com if you aren't already. It is full of audition notices and chock full of acting business articles that will greatly expand your understand of this business. If you are not constantly reading how this business works you will have a difficult time navigating it. Remember, you are a business owner. You are the CEO of your company. And YOU are the product. Nobody runs a business on a wing and a prayer. Do your research.)

To continue...so your out auditioning like crazy and booking some jobs. Then what? Keep track of your callbacks. Every single time you get a callback send a postcard to your target agents letting them know you got a callback for...and write name the specific project and the casting director. Do not be vague. Don't say "I am getting a lot of callbacks" Instead, be very specific and say:

Hi Mark, I just a callback for "The Prodigy" with casting Director Fern Champion. Would love to meet with you!

# 3 CONTACT AGENTS
When YOU are getting callbacks NOW you have something wonderful to offer! It will distinguish you from the pack of wannabe actors who have a dream but no proof of concept. When you are getting callbacks for most of you theatrical auditions that's the time to get an agent. Create a list of 5 - 10 Agents you want to meet. You can create this list by getting the book "THE RIGHT AGENT" from Samuel French Bookstore either online or in Hollywood. The book lists Talent Agencies, agent's names, address and often email. Below each Agency is a description of the types of clients they represent; kids, teens or adults, union or non union. Often they also list what they are specifically looking for right now; 18 to play younger, ethnic looking, character types or leading man, etc.

Read through the entire book, highlight the agencies that may be right for your type! Make a list of 5-10 Agents that are accepting submissions from your type and send them your Headshot, Resume and demo reel to introduce yourself. Put links to your website and/or IMDB page. Be sure to tell them what acting jobs you have booked, call backs you have gotten recently and where you are training. Then follow up with that same agent every 3 months and continue to tell them what acting jobs you have booked and the call backs you have gotten recently. It often takes several contacts with an agent before they will be willing to see you. You have to prove to them that you are booking and getting callbacks and can MAKE THEM MONEY. This is a business and they are not a charity. They want actors who can make them money, period.

SHOWCASE I always suggest if your target agents are attending showcases... go perform in front of them. Nothing makes an impact like a live acting performance. They need to see you do great work. Make sure you choose a light, or funny scene to present. Nothing heavy or dark. A good laugh goes along way. Get coached on your scene before you put it up. Showcase for these agents so they can see your acting live then follow up with a phone call or email asking of you can set up a meeting with them, If you don't ask you won't get anywhere. You won't always get a yes but you will only get a yes if you ask.

If you are in Los Angeles you can coach with these working actors:

Gloria Garayua Gloria Garayua@gmail.com
Kimberly Crandall Kimberely_Crandall@hotmail.com

Josh Latzer Joshlatzer@yahoo.com
Rodney Rowland Rodrlan@aol.com

If you are outside of Los Angeles:
Gloria Garayua does coaching by SKYPE so do I. So you can work with us from anywhere, just email visit out websites for rates and times. secretsofahllywoodtalentmanager.com and gloriagarayua.com

FOR MORE HELP GETTING AN AGENT WATCH MY VIDEO:
"WHAT AGENTS REALLY WANT"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NCpXqScvIY&list=UUN3nGR_nF4g1Qo5lJl4NxAg

Good luck. And remember, follow your dreams and don't let ANYONE discourage you or get in your way. Have faith in yourself and keep on going. You can do it!

FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE! FREE!
Get 3 FREE chapters of my new book "Breaking Into Show Business; Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager."

If you liked this information leave a comment!
Subscribe to my Secrets Of A Hollywood Talent Manager TV You Tube Channel with over 200 FREE Videos! And follow me on Twitter @WAW_wendy

Kamis, 10 Januari 2013

21 WAYS TO GET YOUR SINGING CAREER STARTED (This post has 23,380 views)

21 WAYS TO GET YOUR SINGING CAREER STARTED

If you have a dream to be a singer, you can make it happen! My name is Wendy and I am a talent manager in LA. I know how to help talented people just like you make their singing dreams a reality. I want to help you reach your highest ambitions too! Listen, I know what it feels like to have a dream to be on the radio, or to make cds and record in the studio. That dream began for me when I was just a kid. I made it happen for me and now as a talent manager I can make it happen for you too. Take my advice and I promise you will start making progress in your singing career.

The ideas I am going to discuss below can be done in ANY city you are in. Whether you are in a small rural town in Oklahoma, or a big city like Chicago, you can get started on your singing career today. Don't sit around and "hope" you get discovered. Get out there in your community and sing every where you can so people start to know you exist and hear your amazing voice. If you are talented get out there and show people what you can do. I want you to believe in yourself, and take chances, even if it is scary and even if you don't know what you are doing yet. Everyone has to start somewhere. There is a saying by the famous motivator Zig Ziegler," You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to become great." So get out there and start. NEVER undervalue who you are, and NEVER underestimate what you are capable of.

I am going to be your long distance "Talent Manager." The advice I am going to give you will walk you through the beginning steps you can take to move ahead on your goals. This advice is the exact same advice and direction I give my clients who live here in Los Angeles and are signed to my professional management company. If you want to be successful and competitive in this business, to make people take notice of you, I highly recommend you do the things I am suggesting below. Believe in yourself and go for it! You have something unique and wonderful to share and I want to help you. So, let's get started.

1. Number One. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN. Take voice classes. Get yourself in local singing classes with the best teachers you can find in your area. Find teachers at music schools, colleges, or local voice teachers. Try a few out until you find someone you are comfortable with and see improvement with. Make sure you are practicing 2-3 hours a day and becoming as good as you can get. Be sure you learn to sing in key.

2. Pick 2-4 songs you know very well and start to perform them live everywhere you can. Churches, Schools, Fairs, Farmers Markets, Nursing Homes. You need the practice, practice, practice. So ask if you can sing. Sing at family events. Have a concert in your backyard and sing for your neighbors, family and friends. Sing live at least 5 times a month for 1 year to begin to perfect your act. If you aren't singing, you are not a singer.

3. Audition for local musical theater groups and get experience on stage and working professionally. Later, you may be ready to move to New York to audition for Broadway if that is your dream!

4. Your best friends in this industry are other singers and musicians. They always refer you to people they know who needs a singer. The more musicians you meet and sing with, or for, the more they will introduce you to opportunities. Sit in with other people - that means ask if you can get up on stage with them and sing a song with them. You can do that pretty often and people will be able to hear your talent. Bring someone along to video tape it so you can put it on You Tube.

5. Check out your local music scene and get involved. Every town, big or small, has singers and musicians playing somewhere. Find them. Go to shows, watch other people perform, see what arouses a crowd, how do they use the stage? Learn how to be a good performer and connect to an audience. All stars have good stage presence and know how to connect with an audience. Take a performance class if you can find one. Watch videos of your favorite singers, but turn the sound off and just watch their facial expressions, arm movements and body language.

6. Sing a song you really love to sing into a camera. Use a neutral or artistic background like a brick wall. (Don't use your cluttered kitchen as a background or your bathroom) Sing from your heart. Don't hold anything back. Make eye contact with the camera. Mean what you are singing about. Be expressive. Then post it on You Tube. You can also send the You Tube link to show people what you can do. If you need help making the tape, contact a film student at a local college and ask if they will film a demo video of you singing. Make sure it is well lit, and the sound is good.

7. If you can't afford to go in a studio and pay musicians to play the music, create a "Poor Man's Demo." Get some backing tracks at a music store or download them online and record yourself singing over them. Make sure the music doesn't drown you out. You can hand out copies of these songs to everyone you meet - use it as a demo to show people what you can do.

8. Sing at College Campuses. Call the events department at colleges and see if there is a local event you can sing at. Or find out how you can sing the National Anthem at one of their sports games. Always make sure someone video tapes your live performances so you can put them on You Tube later, if the sound and lighting is good.

9. Contact local booking agents and see if you can "open" for people performing in and around you. Make sure someone videotapes these performances and put them on You Tube.

10. Create a Website, Facebook or MySpace Page or other website with full bio info and music samples of you singing. Keep adding links to your new You Tube Videos as you make them. You need to be able to show people what you can do. Don't put a slide show of still pictures. People need to see how you move and your expressions.

11. Send press releases to local papers and let them know when and where you are singing. You need publicity. You want to become a BIG Fish in your small town before you try to move to LA or NY. Save the newspaper articles and any good reviews you get so you can quote them on your website and in your cover letters.

12. Contact reputable music managers and send your demo along with a very good picture of yourself and a link to your You Tube videos.

13. Sing on other people demos. There are song writers in your town who need singers to sing their songs. Call them and as if they have any songs you can sing on. Send them your demo or sing live for them right over the phone. Ask if you can use their song to show people how you sing.

14. Work and save your money so you can audition every chance you get. If you live near New York, LA, Chicago or any other big city, take the train in and go to auditions. Audition often so you get comfortable doing it.

15. Keep a Binder with contact phone numbers and emails of every musician/singer you meet or play with. Stay in touch with them. They often need a singer. Research local venues you can play and put the list in your binder. Call them ask try to get yourself booked there. Also put in your binder lyrics and charts of the songs you sing with keys so you can sing them anywhere at a moments notice. Any good piano player can help you figure out the keys to your songs.

16. FIGURE OUT WHO YOU ARE as a Singer. What kind of music do you sing? Do you sing with a band? R&B, jazz, country, blues, pop, dance? Do you perform alone, with guitar Player, Piano Player, Dance tracks? What is your act? Get the materials you need to perform live. If you need a guitarist or piano player find one to play with you. If you need backing tracks buy them in music stores of online. For original songs have the producers you work with give you backing tracks so you can sing live with them. There are so many ways to work as a Singer. You MUST to figure out what YOU want to do.

17. Contact local music producers in your area, meet them, write and record songs with them. See what you come up. If you are under 18, always bring a parent with you to meet people you don't know.

18. Learn the Piano or Guitar so you can accompany yourself anytime and anywhere you are.

19. Go into a local recording studio and record your own 4 -10 song CD. Sell it at your shows and all your local performances.

20. Ask other local artist/musicians what they are doing, where they are singing, do they have any advice or contacts for you? Read books about breaking into show business. Read autobiographies of singers who have made it. Read Wikipedia and see how your favorite singers have built their careers. Every path will be a little different but you can learn a lot from people who have already done it.

21. Audition for ALL local singing Contests. Audition for national singing contests including American Idol, America's Got Talent and The Voice. Go online to their websites and follow directions. You can audition in person or send in a tape.

WATCH THIS VIDEO: 10 Proven Ways To Start Your Singing Career

Okay here's a bonus # 22: Find out where your local open mics are and go sing at them.

If you are in Los Angeles/Glendale/Pasadena area, here is a list of Open Mic Nights for you!
Always CALL and double check the days and times before you go! GOOGLE OPEN MICS IN YOUR AREA!

Jewel City Bowl
135 S. Glendale Avenue, Glendale, CA 91205
(818) 243-1188
Open mic every Tuesday
9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

The Coffee Gallery Backstage
2029 N. Lake, Altadena, CA 92001
(626) 398-7917
Open mic on the first and third Wednesday of the month.
7:30 to 10 p.m.
Presented by Songnet @ www.songnet.org

Jones Coffee Roasters
693 South Raymond Ave, Pasadena, CA
Open Mic Second Friday of each month at 7:30 pm

Priscilla's Gourmet Coffee
4150 Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA
(818) 843-5707
For info and booking, call George at (818) 843-5707 ext. 5

Riverbottom
4201 W. Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA
(818) 846-2342
Call for information about open mic nights.

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Sprazzo. Monday Open Mic
Skip E. Lowe (coord.) is seeking performers for an open mic.
Performances are Mondays, 8 p.m. at Sprazzo, 1389 Westwood Blvd., L.A.
Seeking—Singers, Musicians, & Comedians.
Bring CD and/or sheet music; pianist provided.
For more info, call Skip E. Lowe at (213) 446-2395.
No cover charge. No pay.

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Canter's Kibbitz Room. 419 North Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA. (213) 651-2030 The bar at famous Canter's Deli, which is known as the Kibbitz Room, offers an acoustic open mic on Sunday nights at 9:00 pm. A lively, yet comfortable atmosphere is featured at Canter's Kibbitz Room and their open mic events generally draw fairly large crowds. A very good house band is featured here and you never know which celebrities might show up. A Songwriter open performance night is also held at this Los Angeles, California landmark on Monday nights.

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The Sunset Grill Hollywood. 7439 West Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, CA. (323) 851-5557 This legendary restaurant in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California regularly hosts an open mic on Friday nights at 6:00 pm. Many different types of live music and comedy are regularly performed here. This open mic is very popular and the sign- up list gets filled very quickly. The atmosphere at this Los Angeles, California open mic is relaxed and comfortable.

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Hallenbeck's & Cahuenga General Store 5510 Cahuenga Blvd, Los Angeles, CA . (818) 985-5916 Hallenbeck's & Cahuenga General Store is a funky Los Angeles, California establishment that is known for serving delicious baked goods, salads, sandwiches, coffees, teas and much more. On Tuesday nights, this likeable venue hosts a very good open mic from 7:00 pm until 10:00 pm. A friendly and relaxed atmosphere is offered here, with generally supportive crowds of all ages attending. Many types of live music and other types of performances are regularly offered at this open mic in Los Angeles, California. This top Los Angeles, California open mic location also maintains a professional recording studio with live remote multi- track recording available.

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Highland Grounds. 742 North Highland, Hollywood CA..(323) 466-1507 The Wednesday night open mics at Highland Grounds are well- attended affairs that usually offer a wide spectrum of live musical acts and other types of artists. One of the most popular open mics in Los Angeles, California, this weekly event regularly draws very talented musicians from throughout the local music scene. An excellent outdoor patio, complete with fire pit, great coffees and tasty snacks are available at this Los Angeles, California open mic.

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El Cid. 4212 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. (323) 668-0318 One of the most popular and well- attended open mics in Los Angeles, California is held on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at El Cid. This exceptional Spanish- influenced restaurant consistently offers top- rate cuisine, beverages and live entertainment.The open mic at this Los Angeles, California restaurant starts at 8:00 pm and sign- ups are at 7:30 pm. At the El Cid open mic, a very diverse assortment of acts perform in front of generally supportive and receptive, fairly- large audiences. Live music, spoken word, poetry and many different types of performance art are regularly featured at this Los Angeles, California open mic. The list of performers here is randomized, not in the order of sign- ups.

If you do the 22 actions I have given you, you will absolutely gain experience, become more professional, have some recorded music to show people and have video to show people. You will be offered opportunities to sing, be developing an audience of people who like to hear you and will come to see you. You will start to be recognized in your home town. You will no longer be an amateur, or a "wannabee" who is dreaming of singing in your living room. You will be a real singer who is out there singing. Yahooo! And people will take begin to take that seriously. Good luck and always believe in yourself!

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Wendy Alane Wright Smith
Talent Manager
WAW ENTERTAINMENT
wawentertainment@yahoo.com