A band without a lead singer can feel incomplete. You want to ensure you have a good act together that feels like a solid unit, but at the same time, something can feel like it’s missing without a strong lead singer.
These are the most important things to do when hiring someone to join your band. Although there may be bumps in the road, and someone you hire may not be who your final lead singer is, it’s important to go through this process.
Look Around on Local Gig Sites
Many gig sites, from Craigslist to Special Guest App, offer options so that you can get in touch with local singing talent.
These give you the chance to sort through people who are currently looking for work and listen to them before they even know they’re being considered. This can be a useful tool if you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for yet.
Ask Word of Mouth
Word of mouth is useful in the music scene because almost everyone knows everyone else. So put out a request on Twitter or other social media that you’re looking for a lead singer.
Make it clear what your group would require from this person, and allow them to come to you. This type of post will enable you to find people who are already interested and may know your band before ever auditioning.
Hold Auditions
Auditions are the most important part of this process! If you don’t know how someone sounds with your group, there’s no reason to hire them. Instead, hold a day of auditions, and ask performers to come out and sing with your band.
Be respectful, even if someone’s sound doesn’t suit your group, and take your time going through the full list of candidates. Don’t close auditions early because one of the first singers was great: you may find someone better later on in the day.
Consider If Your Band Needs Change
Sometimes a performer is good enough to shock the whole band, yet not the same genre that the band is. This can be interesting because, on the one hand, you don’t want to let this talent go, but you also aren’t sure if you can let go of what your band has been.
If you hit a crossroads like this, talk to the band members without the candidate, and try to come to terms with what the best decision for the group is. There’s no right answer for everyone, but sometimes change can be a good thing.
Ensure They Fit The Group
Consider looking at singers for hire who are willing to play with your band on a one-off basis to try them out. This will give you the best idea of whether or not they get along with the band or if they’re not a good fit.
If they cause fighting within the group, or they don’t treat the band members well, they have to go. It doesn’t matter how good a performer is. If they cause in-fighting, they’re not worth it.
