Any tips on how to find a PRO singer?

TheVoiceless · #1 01-27-2009, 12:44 PM

Hello TB,

Right now my band ironically name The Voiceless is seeking a singer. We are an original hard rock/metal band from central NJ. We have been using the typical ways of trying to find a singer. Craigslist and Myspace and a few other sites. We have even tried approaching singers from other bands that we liked. We also have been asking some of our friends in the music business to look around for us. We have had some responses. But they are usually from people that started to sing yesterday and we are looking for a pro.

Can anyone suggest something that we may have not tried before?

We have a 5song EP almost mixed w/o vocals. So we have been asking potential singers to record themselves over our music. I think that this should be an effective way to find someone who will work with our music.

Is it too much to ask from an applicant?

If anyone is a singer or knows someone please send them our way. I look forward to any type of suggestions.

Thanks

www.thevoiceless.tv

Jehos · #2 01-27-2009, 02:49 PM

The best way to get pro musicians is to pay them.

There are tons of hired guns out there who would be glad to come in and do exactly what you need. You'll just need to pay them to rehearse and pay them for the gigs, guaranteed money.

Lesfunk · #3 01-27-2009, 03:00 PM

It sounds over simplified but the easiest way to meet pro singers is to hang out with pro musicicians and be a working bassist yourself. I don't know your band, but if you guys are inexperienced players it's difficult to find a pro to work with you.
It's very difficult to find good people in classified ads because that's where the wannabe people who don't have gigs hang out.
There's usually a reason why they don't have a gig ! If you manage to find somebody with real talent and skill in a classified ad, chances are they may have some kind of personal defect that keeps them from working well with others.
You also run into people that just suck.

Chickencha · #4 01-27-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVoiceless

We have a 5song EP almost mixed w/o vocals. So we have been asking potential singers to record themselves over our music. I think that this should be an effective way to find someone who will work with our music.

Is it too much to ask from an applicant?

That depends. Do you have lyrics and melody written for this material already or are you expecting the applicant to create these things? If it's the latter, then I think you are asking too much -- especially if you're asking it for all five songs. You're asking them to put a lot of thought and time into creating something they may not even be able to use if they don't make the band. Even if everything's provided, not everyone is set up to record. Probably anyone who is a "pro" should be, but I can guarantee that there are some great singers who aren't.

I'm not all that experienced, so for what it's worth this is all just my gut feeling.

TheVoiceless · #5 01-27-2009, 03:42 PM

We have pro friends. They are on the Rockstar Mayhem tour. But they are usually busy with there own band. They have helped in the past but it never panned out. We are going to hand our EP to the label people we know (RoadRunner/Century Media).

Sounds like we may have to pay someone. I was just wondering if anyone has had luck trying something I never tried.

Shroom · #6 01-27-2009, 03:52 PM

Did you try flyers in all your local venues and music stores? Also in any other place where music-oriented people your age would be?

Personally, I don't spend my days perusing craigslist, and I don't know anyone who does either. Chances are, there person you're looking for also won't be browsing internet classifieds.

Jazzdogg · #7 01-27-2009, 03:58 PM

Hiring a professsional singer requires compensation: do you rally expect a pro to record their vocals, for free, on your demo as a form of audition?

You'll have to pay professional wages and comport yourselves as professionals to convince a prospective singer that you're in their league. Money will definitely be a prime motivator, but even if you're willing to pay handsomely, pros want to work with other pros.

TheVoiceless · #8 01-27-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shroom

Did you try flyers in all your local venues and music stores? Also in any other place where music-oriented people your age would be?

Personally, I don't spend my days perusing craigslist, and I don't know anyone who does either. Chances are, there person you're looking for also won't be browsing internet classifieds.

Yeah I think that its time we do some flyer ads. We have never tried that. Thanks!!!

TheVoiceless · #9 01-27-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazzdogg

Hiring a professsional singer requires compensation: do you rally expect a pro to record their vocals, for free, on your demo as a form of audition?

You'll have to pay professional wages and comport yourselves as professionals to convince a prospective singer that you're in their league. Money will definitely be a prime motivator, but even if you're willing to pay handsomely, pros want to work with other pros.

We have PROS that have already said they would sing on our EP, but that still doesnt find us a fulltime singer. In fact we have a signed artist on our EP already. But again they have their own band. And we are not looking to be someones side project. We are too good. We are willing to pay, so that is not an issue.

I think we may just try and get something lined up with a label and try and get our pro friends to guest appear on our EP to attract better talent.

nightcityburn · #10 01-27-2009, 04:32 PM

I would let someone do the lyrics, vocals, and then release the EP that way someone can step in and at least fill in who isn't already touring.

Then you can also have some other stuff that they can do their own writing to. You cover both bases that way, and then you can actually play.

Paying someone in your line of music is hard to do, unless you are getting guarantees, or actually have some financial backing already. Do you guys have that kind of draw already?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVoiceless

We have PROS that have already said they would sing on our EP, but that still doesnt find us a fulltime singer. In fact we have a signed artist on our EP already. But again they have their own band. And we are not looking to be someones side project. We are too good. We are willing to pay, so that is not an issue.

I think we may just try and get something lined up with a label and try and get our pro friends to guest appear on our EP to attract better talent.

TheVoiceless · #11 01-27-2009, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightcityburn

I would let someone do the lyrics, vocals, and then release the EP that way someone can step in and at least fill in who isn't already touring.

Then you can also have some other stuff that they can do their own writing to. You cover both bases that way, and then you can actually play.

Paying someone in your line of music is hard to do, unless you are getting guarantees, or actually have some financial backing already. Do you guys have that kind of draw already?

Thanks that sounds like a great idea.

No we are not established enough to pay someone full time. But we can pay someone to sing on the EP, which we already have considered but would much rather find an equal member.

ForSix · #12 01-27-2009, 10:45 PM

We've found singers at dinner theaters.

Take the wives, go out for a night and take in a musical stage show.

You'll hear very good singers. Then approach one of them and see if she'd like to join a band.

You must have your own musical **** together first, though, because she'll bring in a lot of very good tunes that you'll have to be able to accompany her on.

This is how I've always found singers.

runmikeyrun · #13 01-28-2009, 03:13 AM

Do what i've always done- become one. Surely someone in your band can sing and play at the same time? Or simply sing and you replace their instrument? At 17 we faced the same dilemma and it was very easy to sing and play bass, well at least once you get used to it i guess

13 years later i've never looked back at hiring/finding a singer.

modulusman · #14 01-28-2009, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

Do what i've always done- become one. Surely someone in your band can sing and play at the same time? Or simply sing and you replace their instrument? At 17 we faced the same dilemma and it was very easy to sing and play bass, well at least once you get used to it i guess

13 years later i've never looked back at hiring/finding a singer.

Exactly, I don't know why more bands don't do this.

guitfiddle0409 · #15 01-28-2009, 07:55 AM

I agree with previous posts. Have your best singer within the existing band take some voice lessons. Trust me, it's the only way to go. Do you really want to audition singers?

pointbass · #16 01-28-2009, 08:20 AM

You can go to any of the many karaoke nights that happen in the NJ area and maybe (maybe) get lucky. Most karaoke singers are kinda weak, but every once in a while you get a decent voice .... of course, stage presence and entertaining is another hurdle altogether.

But this is a slow process and can be tedious as you go to numerous karaoke nights and find nothing of interest ... just a thought, though ...

TheVoiceless · #17 01-28-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by runmikeyrun

Do what i've always done- become one. Surely someone in your band can sing and play at the same time? Or simply sing and you replace their instrument? At 17 we faced the same dilemma and it was very easy to sing and play bass, well at least once you get used to it i guess

13 years later i've never looked back at hiring/finding a singer.

We have tried it. I was willing to take lessons. But when I wasn't a superstar after one lesson I was shot down. And the others are not willing to even take it seriously.

We have sat there and sang together and it has sounded good.

wish they would be willing to at least give this an honest try.

TheVoiceless · #18 01-28-2009, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pointbass

You can go to any of the many karaoke nights that happen in the NJ area and maybe (maybe) get lucky. Most karaoke singers are kinda weak, but every once in a while you get a decent voice .... of course, stage presence and entertaining is another hurdle altogether.

But this is a slow process and can be tedious as you go to numerous karaoke nights and find nothing of interest ... just a thought, though ...

Thanks, I have tried this before and I usually don't find the type of singer we are looking for.

Spinal Tapper · #19 01-28-2009, 10:50 AM

I'm going through the same thing. We've been posting ads around local colleges, and craigslist. We have a 2 instrumental tracks that we're whoring out and we encourage the new "singer" to write a melody to either or both tracks.

It seems to be working since that process weeds out the karaoke wanna-be's. We've had like 5 auditions in the past 2 weeks - no huge scores yet, but we're thinking the right singer might just come along any time now! Good luck with your search!

bigfatbass · #20 01-28-2009, 12:14 PM

whenever an amateur band says how can we find a "pro", they often have very little idea what that actually means. It sounds much more like you guys need someone at your level, and flyering you regional music stores will probably get you more results than craigslist or myspace.

And why on earth would it matter when they started singing? Good is good, and it seems you need someone willing/able to grow with the band. I think square one here would be to realize that writing/singing/fronting are emotional investments, and should not be taken so lightly.

I have to add, the band (expletive deleted) RIPS, why look for a singer in the first place? Cookie monster vocalist BS bands are a dime a dozen, do what your doing and keep killing it.