The Fame Formula

Most people come to me (Cari Cole) for vocal coaching because: a) I’m great at it; and b) it’s what I’m most known for – making voices shine. But the bigger reason in the past seven years that people come to me is that they know it’s not just about doing the scales. They know that having a great voice is a part of their career, but more important that there’s a formula for what happens when someone breaks through and they know it’s what I want for every single artist I work with, and I can deliver those results.

(Honestly, on a quick side note, I have to say that on the majority of indie records I hear, little effort is put into vocals. Especially when vocals are the selling point of the record and a major influence in the making of an artist, it’s not something to under-prepare for. Bad vocals are a turn off and can be the thing that keeps you from breaking through.)

The truth is, where I get HUGE results with artists, is not only in finding their vocal signature, but by adding in the other critical key aspects to make them a “whole” package.  There are several secret ingredients to making a star shine and sparkle. A lot goes into defining and sculpting the X Factor that ultimately is the key to making them stand out so big and bold. We all know by now that it’s not an overnight thing. It’s a complete recipe and leaving out even one ingredient, or adding them at the wrong time – and the formula won’t work.

Let’s back up for a minute if the word Fame is snagging you. It doesn’t matter if fame means your 1,000 true fans, your 50,000 fans on FB or your 500,000 hits on YouTube - there’s a new way people are doing it now.  

So what are the 3 Fame Factors in my Fame Formula?

Skill — Savvy and —- Soul. 

1- Skill - This is where you are a great singer, you play guitar, you’re writing songs, and you’re getting better at your craft.  And this is the thing that most people think is all they need. They think they can ignore the other 2 Fame Factors cause this used to be the one ingredient it took to get signed. Not anymore. 

2- Savvy - What is savvy? It means you have to be an Entrepreneur.  I know that may sound hard, but this is what it takes.  You have to have business and marketing savvy and you have to know the music business and how it works. As an Entrepreneur, defining what makes you stand out is about working on your Edge, your angle, working your story and making it RAW and revealing.  Savvy is also about how you communicate - to fans and industry alike - and working on cultivating your Connections and growing your Tribe.  It’s all about being Savvy, in-the-know, ahead of the curve, creating social proof etc… 

3- Soul – This the Intangible X Factor. People say you either have it or you don’t, but I say it is already there in you, it just has to be mined, nurtured, cultivated, and brought to harvest. I’ve never met one artist that didn’t have it. But all artists need help with this. They need guidance and mentoring for it to surface - the right kind of Soul that is.  That’s what I do. And that’s why I teach people this because it’s what makes stars. And it’s something that you never actually have just once; you have to keep bringing it all the time.  That’s what continues to make you a star. 

There are many people out there teaching music business and career stuff – but they’re all leaving out this last, most important component, the Soul piece.  You can market and promote until you are blue in the face, and if you don’t have it you are wasting your efforts. As you and I know, because we’re artists, it’s the X Factor that brings you to success’s door.

When your Soul comes into alignment with who you are, there is a harmonic resonance, a congruency, a resonance that is undeniable - and that’s the alchemy behind what makes a star - that’s what it’s about. You can Crack the Code - that’s what the Fame Formula and working the steps is all about.  

I’ll tell you that the two fame factors, Skills & Savvy, with the combination of Soul - is going to make it happen for you - but not one without the other. When all three Factors in the Formula arrive, intact and altogether, you will be unstoppable!

I’ll be unveiling my Fame Formula for the first time ever in my free Making Money Making Music Success Series.  Join me here.  http://fastforwardtofame.com

~~~

About Cari: While building her own career as a singer/songwriter, Cari wisely embraced social networking and emerging technology early on, applying it to develop her brand recognition and reach out to an increasingly wider audience. As an indie artist and Celebrity Voice Coach nurturing the next generation, she has solidified her position as an expert in what the industry now calls “The New Music Business.” www.caricole.com 

Comments

[Vocal Steps]

Hi Cari,

Excellent article first of all. As vocal coaches ourselves, we agree almost 100% with your opinion on the fame formula. You correctly stated that SKILL "is the thing that most people think is all they need".
Sadly I would go further to say that because of sites just like Music Think Tank, a new phenomenon is emerging where people overplay the importance of savvy, at the expense of developing vocal longevity. I'm sure you will agree that most of our students do just enough training to get them "made", then neglect the steps to maintaining their voice. (well maybe not your students :-)).
I hope this article causes aspiring singers to lay a good foundation, to be COMBINED with the other two steps you mentioned.
check us out at http://www. vocalsteps.com.