Dream and Reality of being a Professional Singer/1 – the Art of Survival in the Music Industry

https://www.reverbnation.com/birgitfischer/song/18400827-answer (thank you, Broon!!)

Becoming a Singer – what a feeling!

Singing and making music – what an amazing gift. One of the greatest inside power plants ... I could not even talk, but was singing all the time and from the moment I could think this was one of my biggest dreams, my greatest longing: "I will be a singer!" Felt like a calling inside that never stopped, not even today where I fulfilled many of my biggest deams, the Rock Band record deal, being a professional musician doing nothing else but singing in studios, performing live, writing music and teaching it.

So each Christmas the same procedure. I was wishing myself another small plastic or wood instrument. Little kids, big dreams. Today all over the planet young people dream about becoming a Pop Star, Rock Star, a musician. Dreams have a lot of power, they are important for people as they put fuel into the life motor. But what, if the kids and teenies are stopping to dream and make a plan out of it? Unreal, well-done or stupid casting shows (yesss, I will not excuse for being honest in my own blog) are creating a bubble that only exists within the TV universe itself, but not outside of it. They might be entertaining sometimes, but they live on the same illusion as Santa Claus and fairies. Yes, some people make it and become unbelievably succesful. So why not try? 

Dreams made real: Watch out!

The decision to transform a dream into a goal is something very individual and personal. My motto will always be: Live your dream, don't dream your life away. One of my students became extremely succesful selling half a million records as a 16-years old as she was discovered by the German Pop titan Dieter Bohlen. Yes, she was happy for a while. And crashed and forgotten a year later. Dropped, "tried out" by an industry that abuses young talents instead of building them up in the long run. I have seen too many people who were extraordinary talented giving up too early, so why not try? But ... like in every business, in every garden, in each relationship, continuity is one of the keys. The question is what happens in the long run if you want to become a professional musician. Becoming and staying a singer in the long run takes a lot more than voice, perhaps looks, good songs and luck … 

The Sky needs countless Stars but some live on earth, too

So what about the people who are living on it? The "pros", the ones that are freelancers, artists and entrepreneurs: How do they get by financially when they dedicate themselves completely and become professionals or semi-professionals? What is it really like to be part of the music industry? I am not talking about the exceptions, our beloved international well-known stars from Abba to Zappa who were able to let their teams of marketing and managing specialists help them to keep away from the "dirt". No, I am speaking about the majority of my colleagues who face business reality being truly great artists and still struggling economically. Making music in the real life often is 1% of the time spent. And having a special musical skill and personality is only 1%, it is the deceisive 1% that you are a great artist. Yes, could be surprising for some readers and I do not want to sound bitter as I am so grateful for everything I am able to do and to have experienced. But 99% is about being able to be seen and market your music. It is possible, yes with the right mindset and determination.

Multitasking is normal: "I'm every Woman, it's all in me …"

Today a musician or artist is usually challenged with having many jobs at the same time. Creating and performing arts and music might be the most beautiful part, but most of the time of professional artists is being spent in pure organization. I know that this part is not at all known to people who are outside the music business and it sounds unbelievable. Being a complete pro for over 20 years, I was watching this part closely. I thought it cannot go on like this. Am I doing something wrong here because only 1 percent of my time is creative!!? If so, what can I improve? Who can I learn from?

So apart from the wonderful essence of performing live or in studios – what do we do as mainly freelance singers and instrumentalists? I will give you a snapshot of self-management tasks that are needed. Hardly any band/solo artist nowadays can afford an experienced partner in all business matters anymore. Here we are: equipment-choice and care, styling and costume care, traveling organisation, traveling being the driver, navigator and sometimes car mechanic, booking, networking (=going on events you perhaps hate, just for the "contacts"), tax and insurance issues, carrying instruments and monitors, soundchecking, replacing the mixer/audio engineer or finding a good one, networking on social media, placing ads, promoting your music on pics, posters, flyer and gigs, creating profiles and homepages, sending out CDs or tickets, minding the layout of inlet/booklets, rehearsing, looking for great band members, staying fit and pretty (try to ;)), acquiring new job opportunities, making contracts for each single one, looking after the rehearsal room if you find one, finding time for all band members to to new demo, contacting GEMA and composing rights organization, creating merchandizing, and trying to sell it. After all that you have not written one song yet. And perhaps you have not earned a cent, but spent money for music business basics.

The Shadows of the Romance

Why do I mention the shadow side so clearly? There is always a way out. I find it important to let new or young talents with all their enthusiasm know, yes it sometimes is as hard as that and often you spend 90% of your energy without music, just preparing, making it happen in the world. You are not wrong in anything if you feel overwhelmed becoming or being a great artist! But make it as simple as possible and take your chances in the new digital world. Get the new skills and become an efficient own label for yourself instead of waiting for a sick industry to see you and hear you.

Be well prepared and lead yourself

I wish I had had the amazing technology, community and the support that I have today a lot earlier. Yes, I am still a beginner in marketing myself in the digital world, but I am so grateful to have found a platform and training scheme that is easy to follow, motivating and cutting edge. Musicians have to be their own record labels, managers, roadies, audio engineers, producers, marketers, stylists, publishers, coaches and bookers. Market yourself means: Keep getting skilled. Digitally. I am so happy to learn how to market now and I learn so much each day in the Digital Experts Academy. The future is now and it is definitely digital. Like it or not. So have a look for yourself and give yourself the chance of success in the personal way YOU love it :)

Please let me know if there are special artist interests you like me to write about.

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Muse kisses from Germany

Biggi :)