hEY jORDAN...i was juss wondering....( from a a successful artist to an aspiring one). How did u get started in this buiness? What do I need? I've been told that I need a portfolio and a demo to start with. I've tried to contact a couple of recording studios in my hometown up here in Pensacola. But to me, I clearly see that there is nothing really here for me to start with. I am goin to have to move. Where do you think would be a great place to start a career in? Do you have any advice?...My dream keeps getting bigger everyday...I have constant reminders from my friends and family that i need that demo and that I need to get out there. I was very skeptical at first and I am shy at times so I usually dont show what kind of talent I have. I have progressed by joining choir and being involved with musical theatre while I was high school. What should I do? Thanks...Anyone else out there have any advice for me too? I would appreciate any words of wisdom from anybody who's gone through this before!!!!!!!!!

joseph

Compiling a "Press Kit" and Demo is a great place to start...that is basicially you packaging what you're all about as an artist and a person!!! As far as moving somewhere where there are a lot of opportunities musically, New York is basically the epicenter for the music industry! If you can't move up there, then I'm sure you can be resourceful and find what you need in FL. I know there are a handful of recording studios in the Orlando area. As far as being shy, if you're trying to sell yourself to other people, you need to be confident in yourself as a person and as a product. I'd reccommend taking voice lessons just to strengthen your voice to the point where you're confident in that, then I'd suggest to get comfotable performing in front of others that you sing for your friends and family to get used to the idea of people watching you. Getting over that shyness will be easier the more your perform!!! All in all I think if you have a passion for something, then you need to follow your dream and pursue it!!!

I hope that helps!!

*Melissa*

Haha wow, way to much for me read lol

My attention span doesnt last that long.

Melissa pretty much summed it up. Like I said in another topic, the main thing is to try to learn as much as you can about the industry (producing, writing, managing, etc) so that you can eventually do a lot of it yourself. People will be a lot more likely to help you if they know you're not relying on them for everything.

Also, don't use where you live as an excuse not to do something. You're gonna have to invest a lot of time (and money) into travelling anyway, so your location really shouldn't affect what you do with your career.

Well said homie!!! We're such smart business people:) Now only if you could tell me something cool/interesting about your "wild & crazy" self, I'd say you are a superstar in the making...LMFAO!!!

Ahhhh....people are funny!!!

Jordan is right learning is the key to succeeding, because once you get to the point where you think "you know it all", you have no where to go but down!!! Take everything in and learn from everyone you surround yourself by, it'll make you a more well-rounded artist!! Also J is right location shouldn't be an issue, I have friends who have recorded demos, in their living rooms..it's all about making it work..no matter what your circumstances are:)

*M*

Home studios rock! My whole album has been recorded in home studios so far.

ok, jordan, about the play for ur friends and family idea, thats a bad one, yes the practice is good, but it doesn't help ur shyness. u see, ur friends and family r ur worst/best audience. there ur best, cuz they clap and shout the loudest, but there your worst for that very same reason....u know that they ill always clap and love u even if u suck. wat u should do, is find like a somewhat local cafe or something that has open mic nights. thats where my friends and i go, its this little well idk wat to call it, but its called the dancing goat, and its really fn, u just have to test ur music out at diferent places to see what real people, not ur friends, think.

I didn't suggest that, Melissa did. =)

Yep that was me who said that!!! Your family and friends are the hardest people to perform in front of...so I think if you start off by getting comfortable performing in front of them, then you can go to a local open mic or something!!!

As far as your friends "cheering and clapping for you even if you suck"...that isn't true..I have a lot of friends involved in the music business...and their friends are the first people that they play their music for, because they know that they're looking at the music from an outsider's perspective not a "fan's" perspective, so they'll get an honest response to the music. I will be the first person to tell any of those friends that they don't sound good or if something doesn't sound right!!

I guess to each his own...but all in all if you put yourself out there in front of ANY audience, you're going to get more comfortable performing and your shyness will slowly diminish:)

*M*