For most reading this, singing is, or will be, your business. Perhaps, while you love singing, you see the business side of the professional singing world as daunting. It is often difficult to merge what we enjoy and love so deeply with “business.”
I have found there to be seven key principals or “secrets” that most people don’t know or understand which, when practiced, are very likely to lead to a happy and successful singing career. With all of these principles intact, one stands a much greater chance for success. I credit my success in the music business to these universal principles taught to me by Joseph Michael Levry, the founder of Naam Yoga.
While I have spent most of my academic and professional adult life very skeptical of articles and philosophies along these lines, I can tell you definitively that these work. I have not only seen them work in my life but in the lives of many others. I hope you find them practical and useful ways to manifest your heart’s desire for your career and life.
1. Have a universal personal philosophy and never waiver from it.
When it comes to running your business as a singer, you need a personal philosophy. All successful businesses have a clear philosophy around which they build their success. What type of business do you want to run? What is your code of ethics? What is your attitude? Are you a person whose general perspective is positive? How does your business interact with your personal life? Is giving to others—on stage, in rehearsals, and in life in general—part of your philosophy?
Having a Universal Personal Philosophy is vital and will create the foundation for everything you do and all decisions you make. I highly recommend that you include “service” as part of your philosophy. This is part of the philosophy of Mirshak Artists Management. Artists on the roster are not only good singers and musicians but they are good people, too!
2. Align your goals for everyone’s greater good.
What are your goals? Dream big but be practical. Many people talk about setting goals—you hear it all the time. But how do you set them and what do you do with them once goals are determined? It is not only important to map out your one-, three-, and five-year plan, but even more important to determine why you want what you want and how you are going to meet those goals.
Why do you want to sing at the Metropolitan Opera? Is there a reason you have that extends beyond that of ego? What is beyond the voice that says, “Well, because that is the ultimate achievement, the greatest opera house in the world, and that is where I want to be.” Don’t misunderstand. Singing at the Metropolitan Opera is a wonderful goal—but by itself is it?
Perhaps offer yourself a wider perspective and one that recognizes how your talent benefits others. Perhaps you want to affect people through your voice being a healing instrument, touching as many hearts as possible. Perhaps you want to sing in the greatest houses and make as much money as possible so that you can share your wealth with those less fortunate in some capacity. Usually when you associate your own success with other’s well-being in mind, you will find more doors open for you—and in ways you never dreamed possible.
With any goal you set, you must believe that without a shadow of a doubt you can achieve it. Once goals have been set, employ the 4 Ps—Persistence, Patience, Perseverance, and Positivity—to accomplish these goals.
3. Prepare.
I have learned that good luck equals preparation. What does preparation mean to you? Some answers may and should include the following:
• Studying hard
• Listening to various recordings, singers, conductors, etc.
• Producing great materials (photos, website, sound clips, video clips, biography/résumé, repertoire, reviews)
• Networking
• Attending performances
• Knowing the translation of all texts word for word
• Understanding the history of the opera or piece you are performing/presenting
• Knowing something about your colleagues
• Learning about the company you are interested in working for or that has hired you
• Taking classes to improve your skills
• Putting together creative programs
• Refining your audition repertoire
• Knowing yourself in terms of your strengths and weaknesses (this is a very important one)
Have a passion for learning about singing and what goes into it. There is no such thing as being over-prepared. Merge everything that is you with everything else you can learn. Don’t focus on negativity. Keep a good attitude—even in the face of challenges. Do this, and the outcome is sure to be positive. This practice will bring you joy and confidence, and that leads to assured success.
4. Master your three brains.
This is probably a new concept for most. Humans have three brains: the motor brain, the creative brain, and the intellectual brain. One must balance these brains. If you are studying and have spent hours sitting and memorizing, for example, and you feel like you are not progressing as you would like or are simply tired, change brains. Go for a walk or work out at the gym. These activities use your motor brain.
When you are practicing the same thing over and over and over again and you seem to be in a rut, change brains. Go paint something, draw, or get your hands in dough and bake something. Use your creative brain. Change things up. Do something completely different and new, just for a while. Then come back to the task at hand.
The key here is consciousness to change brains and change brains often. Make sure to use all three each day. When you are not being creative, eventually you are unhappy. When you are not moving and getting exercise, eventually you are unhappy. When you are not learning and being fed intellectually, eventually you are unhappy. Strike that balance and be happy.
5. Take care of you.
What I find so often is that singers, and people in general, don’t take care of themselves as they should—not only physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. You take a shower to clean your body. What about taking a shower for your mind? What are you doing to clean any negative thoughts from your mind? What are you putting in your mind on a regular basis in terms of music, television, and all things audio and visual?
It is a psychological law that what you focus upon you become. Or you may know the phrase, “As I think so shall I be.” So be conscious of the things you are listening to, speaking about, and watching. Do these things foster beauty? Do they foster confidence? Do they foster love? Do they foster happiness?
Spend time around positive people who support you and find people whom you can trust. Stick with a teacher that works for you. Please don’t switch teachers for the sake of politics. If you are singing well, then stick with what works. Find a manager that is excited about you, with whom you experience mutual respect, one you trust and who will support your personal philosophy.
Again, be proactive, not reactive. Stay ahead of the game by remembering your personal philosophy and be confident. Try meditation, yoga, or affirmations. Just try it. If it works for the Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks or Olympic champions, perhaps there is something to it. The mind is a very powerful thing! And remember this—everything we manifest in life begins with a thought, and that thought becomes associated with an emotion (good or bad) before actually happening.
6. Have faith.
Whatever faith means to you, have it. Get it. Trust in it. Believe in it. Believe in yourself! Faith requires complete trust or confidence. Do not doubt—ever. There is no purpose in doubting or any type of negative thinking. Should you be presented with what you perceive as a problem, focus only on the solution. Focusing on the problem will only make your problem bigger.
7. Give and serve.
I am not saying this to be overly Pollyanna-ish, by any means. The universal law of cause and effect applies here. When you give, you shall receive. When you serve, the universe, by law, serves you. And, to take it one step further, give without attachment; serve without expectation of receiving something specific in return. Expect only that your needs will be met. The universe is an amazing thing. To humans, the universe may be slow, but it is always on time. Perhaps you have heard the phrase “hindsight is 20/20.”
Just serve, give, and have an attitude of gratitude. Get involved in your local opera companies if you can and volunteer. Do outreach events for free once in a while. Find causes you believe in and serve. In terms of supporting your career, try volunteering to do the television or radio spot at the available 6 a.m. slot. Perhaps offer to cover roles you want to add to your repertoire for free.
This is where looking into the business needs of a company will serve you. This is where you can use your creative skills to both make a difference while benefiting your career at the same time. Give to others and you will be more successful. In our present global economy, if you were running a company, whom would you choose to work with? All talent being equal, I find that companies want to work with good people, positive people, people who are willing to collaborate and lend a supportive hand.
Give of yourself. Be the person that changes the negative energy or vibe of a room for the positive by making sure you are speaking positively, supporting colleagues, etc. Give and keep on giving. There is a point of giving too much, but this only means you have to pay better attention to secret number five. What you put out there comes back to you.
Don’t take my word for anything mentioned above. That’s right—just try these seven secrets out for yourself. I know they work. I have seen them work. Find out for yourself. Perhaps they will take you to a successful happy career—but, more importantly, they will be guides for a happy and successful life!
