Tips for Demo Singing

Alright, if you’ve never recorded for someone else or demo work, here are a few tips.

1) Listen to the music ahead of time. This isn’t always possible and is a bit of extra time on your part, but it’s worth it.  No one wants the session to go longer than it has to.  If you are prepared and know the music ahead of time, the session will go quick.  The producer will be happy and the client will be happy. You will look totally professional.

2) Don’t criticize the music.  This seems like an obvious one.  It is not your place to give a critique on the melody or the words.  If it’s a tough melody and not very musical, you can say, “This is a challenging melody.”  Not, “This is a terribly written melody.”  If you can’t say something positive, don’t say anything at all.

3) Be flexible with your voice.  If they ask you to sing more energetic or soft, try it.  If they ask you to sing nasal or more poppy, even though you are a jazz or classical singer, just try it.  If they hired or asked you to record, you are probably pretty close to what they want…so tweaking your sound is not a lot to ask.  Try not to be offended when they ask you to adjust your voice.

4) Don’t offer advice to the producer.  You may know exactly how to mic yourself and what mic you sound best on, but that’s not your job.  It is the producer’s job to make you sound good and your job to just sound good and be easy to work with.  One thing though, if you do a take and you don’t like it, most of the time, it’s appropriate to ask if you can redo it.

5) Don’t make excuses for your voice.  This one is a big one. Almost every time I’m in a session with another singer there is some excuse to be made.  “My voice is a sore.” “I’m just getting over a cold.” “Normally I can hit that note.”  That all may be true, but you are a pro (or want to be) and you took the session.  If you are really sick and can’t sing, you should not have taken the session.  If your voice is at 90% because you are getting over being sick, don’t say it.  Just do your job and if you have to sing a few notes over again, so be it.  By making excuses, you put into the mind of the producer that you don’t sound as good as you could and maybe they made a mistake by hiring you.   You just don’t sound like a professional.

6) Be easy to work with.  Most people you work with have dealt with divas. No one likes to work with divas. Divas don’t even like themselves…hahah. Having an attitude doesn’t make for an enjoyable day.  Be positive and energetic.  Do as many takes as they ask (even if you thought your last one was perfect).  Smile and enjoy the atmosphere.  If you have to wait for an hour to sing your part, don’t complain.  Make the most of the extra time and working on your music or just observing the session.

7)  Have fun.  This is another big one.  Singing is fun and even if the session is grueling and exhausting…you are getting paid to sing.  How amazing!  If you are having a good time, it will be contagious to everyone else.  That makes for a great session and you’ll probably get called again.

Good luck!  Jocelyn