Background singers provide backup vocals for other artists on recordings and live performances. They must be able to learn songs quickly, harmonize with new groups, and switch between different musical styles in a single day. Pay varies depending on the type and length of work but successful background singers can earn over $100,000 per year. There are many opportunities for background singers, though breaking into work with famous artists is difficult and requires passing auditions with bands and agents. Formal education is not required but some background singers obtain degrees or training to improve their skills and have alternatives if their music career does not work out.

1. Background Singers

2. About being a Background
• Background Singers provide backup other
singers or musicians on recordings, in
commercial jingles, or in live performances.
People employed as Background Singers either
perform work full-time, or they may freelance. If
working as a freelance vocalist, one must go
about their business in a slightly different way.
Meaning, they must build up a strong reputation
as a great worker and a great singer, while
remaining flexible and available when needed.

3. Facts
• The difficult thing for most Background Singers
is to be able to walk into a recording studio, look
over a song, learn it flawlessly and then perform
it perfectly with little rehearsal time. In
addition, the vocalist must be able to harmonize
with a group of singers whom he or she has
never worked with before! The background
vocalist must also be versatile in their talents
because they may have one job performing pop
music in the morning, and then later in the day,
he or she might be singing a jingle for a cat food
commercial.

4. Salary
Factors including the type of work, the duration
of work, geographical location and reputation
of the singer all play into how much the
background vocalist will earn. if Singers work
overtime, or take on more songs, they will be
able to earn more. successful Background
Singers might earn up to $100,000 or more per
year.

5. Employment
there are a lot of opportunities available for an
aspiring Background Singers, employment
prospects are fair. prospects become much
more difficult as individuals begin to look for
work with well-known artists or in recordings
and jingles. Going through the audition process
is necessary for Background Vocalists to land a
gig. audition is either made directly to the band
looking to hire, or to agents who will go out on
your behalf to find work.

6. Education and Training
Background Singers are not required to have a
formal education. some may feel obtaining a
college degree is important to use as a fall back
plan just in case their music career does not
work out as planned. some Singers have
graduated from college, many Singers have
graduated from conservatories. Others utilize
vocal coaches and private teachers, while some
have the natural ability to just sing.

7. Sources
• http://www.careersinmusic.com/
background-singer.aspx

8. This PowerPoint is by Jasmine
Jordan.