Holton Music Resources

We are contacted every day by new singers who want to be discovered. They sing Karoke once a week. Maybe they sing at Church. Sometimes they sing for family and friends! And everybody says they're great and they should be recording in Nashville. Excellent, there are some really good, undiscovered talent out there. However, you won't be discovered unless you are actually out there working as a professional entertainer. Yes, singing 3 - 4 hours a night, 3 - 5 nights a week! Then you are a professional.

All right, I know you've got to start somewhere. But if you want to be a singer, then sing you must do. As with any other talent, trade or profession - the more you practice, the better you become. Strange idea isn't it? To become a better singer, you gotta sing! You can't pay Major League baseball just because you own a bat. Major leagure players don't start in the majors. They start way down at the bottom and with constant practice and play - some of them work their way to the majors. Guess what! Music works much the same way. You start at the bottom and with practice and by singing - some singers become major recording artists.

You can record! You can get your songs played on the radio! And YOU can be heard by the major record labels in Nashville. It all depends on how well you manage your career. You can become a successful entertainer with hit records and appearances at venues all over the country.

If you haven't guessed by now - the secret to becoming a successful, professional country singer is - YOU! You will need 3 things to succeed in music.

• MONEY: Music is a career just like any other career. You must invest some money in your career. You will need a good demo of your singing. If you are serious you will need to receive radio airplay. You can, by working music like a professional, make your music career pay its own expenses. It may come as a shock to you, but even the major label artists pay for their own recordings. The label may advance the recording money and then deduct it from the singer's royalties before the artist earns a dime. New artists pay all of their own expenses first.

• DESIRE: Many singers think they want a career in music but they don't want to do the work necessary to succeed. You have to work to build your career in music - like any other career. It takes time to develop a career, to become known and to be in demand for concerts. It just does not happen over night. You must have patience and be prepared to work professionally.

• TALENT: This should go without saying but you would be surprised at the number of people who want to be singers that simply can not sing. You do not need to be the world's greatest singer. We can all name some major stars that are not great singers - they are, however, great entertainers. This is where the actual on the road, performing experience pays you dividents.

Guarantees: No one can guarantee your success in country music! I repeat NO ONE! You are the singer! If you decide not to sing, not to perform, or not to follow guide lines - you have made that decision. If you decide not to commit yourself - no one can force you to do what is needed except you. You are the single major factor in your success as a country singer.

We have tried to gather information and offer services here that will be useful to you in developing your career. We hope you find them beneficial.

Let me add . . . there is one more thing you will need if you hope to become a successful entertainer. It is the most important thing (besides you, the artists) for your success. We consider it the BIG SECRET of success! And it is not really a secret! Everyone knows what it is and how important it is . . . Even you!