It’s American Idol time again.  I don’t know about you, but I always especially enjoy the first episodes where we see the best of the best… and the worst of the worst.  And when it comes to the less than great singers I always find myself a little ticked at the people who love them.  Why would you let someone you love go on national television only to be ridiculed and embarrassed when they don’t sound anywhere near as good as they think they do?  Then I stop to wonder if the people who love me would do the same for me.

None of us wants to be the bad singer who doesn’t really know how bad we are.  And one thing many bad singers have in common is overconfidence without perspective.  But not even the best singers always start out great.  They had to train, gain experience and grow.  So how do we know if we were born to sing or if we should just save ourselves the embarrassment?

To find out if you have the potential to be an American Idol contestant or to go for your dream of a recording contract you really need the opinion of a qualified third party.  By qualified I’m referring to someone who has worked professionally in music who can assess if your skills could qualify for the area of the business you’re interested in.
If you don’t agree with the assessment, get a second.  If you’re seeking qualified opinions there should be common threads between them.  Consider the similarities and don’t be discouraged if you didn’t hear what you wanted to.

The most overlooked reality of the music business is that is it a business.  So you should also ask yourself, ‘Is this business really for me?’  Find out what it takes.  You might discover that all the years of hard work with little to no pay and being away from loved ones for long times is just not your cup of tea. There are many incredibly talented people that would be much happier as session singers, singing in musicals, creating their own music for personal satisfaction, leading worship or inspiring other singers in a choir.

The joy of singing comes not from being nationally known as a singer, but from being a part of something beautiful, something that rocks, or something that just moves people.  If you want to learn to sing well publicly seek the guidance of a good vocal instructor. Good vocal training will not only improve your ability, it will build your confidence and help you define your musical options.

So if you’re serious about singing publicly, be willing to listen to qualified opinions, seek opportunities to gain experience and always be willing to learn.  After all, there can only be one William Hung.  Let’s hope.