Singer

If life were musical theater, everyone from the Butcher and the Baker to the Postal Worker and Policeman would spontaneously break out into song, musing melodiously on the mundane details of everyday living.

Because life isn’t a musical, however, the only people who spend their days singing are professional Singers.

A Singer, or Vocalist, is paid to sing songs, either in public or in private. In public, as a Singer, you sing for live audiences at nightclubs, concert venues, theaters and stadiums. In private, on the other hand, you sing in studios for recordings and soundtracks.

Sometimes you’re a soloist, singing all by yourself or accompanied by a band. Just as often, however, you’re part of an ensemble, such as a choir or chorus. Either way, your process and responsibilities are basically the same. For instance, every job, or gig, starts with song selection and rehearsal, as you’ve got to decide what you’re singing, then learn how to sing it, which means learning the music and practicing it, often trying out different arrangements, notes and pitches to find the most satisfying version of a song.

You may also have to learn and rehearse dance moves (if you’re performing in an opera or musical) or music (if you plan to accompany yourself on guitar or piano).

Ultimately, though — whether you sing classical, rock, blues, country, jazz, folk or pop music — your primary responsibility is performance, which means taking care of your voice with warm-up exercises and healthy lifestyle choices, then using it to serenade the world around you.