Written by a career vocalist, this valuable blueprint provides aspiring singers with professional insight and practical steps for building a top-notch, profitable singing career. Enlightening anecdotes, encouraging pep talks, veterans' words of wisdom, and tricks of the trade that only the pros know guide the contemporary vocalist through the mental, technical, and physical challenges of achieving excellence in today's music business. Topics include defining your goals; finding your unique voice for the stage; performance anxiety; building a complementary repertoire; shining at auditions and booking gigs; creating a signature look; fine-tuning your act; maximizing self-promotion efforts; the anatomy of successful gigs; and the career vocalist's inventory.