How to get work as a radio jingle artist?

Question

Here's my situation. I have a great singing and speaking voice. I know this and that's not the problem. My problem is that I've always wanted to do advertising jingles. Singing, writing, all of the above. It's my passion. Yah, I'm a commercial junkie. I live in Nashville TN which you think would be the easiest place in the world to obtain work, however, it's exactly the opposite. In this city you either have to fork out a lot of money to an agent to scare up work for you (and usually pay his prices to create a demo) or "know someone". I don't know anyone in the business and I'm a mother of a 1 year old from a one-income family. I don't have the luxury of time to knock on doors on Music Row or the money to give to an agent. I've been trying for 4 years now to get ANYONE to accept a demo from me. Is there another way to break into this industry? Even voiceover work would be thrilling! I know if my demo was heard I'd get some work.

Answer 1

I am confused about if you actually have a professionally produced demo. You say you dont want to get involved with agents who want to charge you to make one. You also say you have been trying for 4 years to get someone to accept a demo from you.

Anyway, you should not have to pay any reputable agent to listen to yr demo when seeking representation. You just submit yr demo and if they think they can make money off you (they dont make money unless you do) they will take you on and represent you.

If you dont have a demo its going to cost you to make one because its a lot of work. And obviously you need one since its the way you introduce yrself in the business, a talking singing resume, and its going to cost at least $1000.

Sorry to say it but if yr not willing to knock on all those doors you wont get anywhere. Thats just how it is. You can of course knock figuratively in that you pick up the phone and call and talk to all the talent agencies and ask if they are accepting demos and then mail them out. It is definitely hard to break in, but if you have the demo that shows you have the talent you think you do you should be able to find an agent.

If you want to add "voice over" to the resume you must take some acting workshops, preferably ones dedicated to voice over acting and improvisation. This shows potential agents yr a professional and serious about the craft.

Thats the biz. But its not unlike any other biz ... you gotta put in the work. Good luck.

Answer 2

I don't know a lot, but I know about the graphics industry, and it works based on "who you know". I think you're right, you have to "know" someone, or have someone get to know you. You have to let anyone use you and abuse you in order to break in. It's all about positioning and visibility, and in the beginning you will have to sacrifice your time. Offer to do work for free! Who can turn you down? The word spreads around once you start building street cred.
Also remember now that the web is becoming one of the most powerful mediums for broadcast! Your demos can be easily heard if you set up your MySpace page. (Keep some life details private for professionalism).
Also, Nashville may have music, but it's still not a major metropolitan city, so you'll have not as many opportunities and more competition.
Exploit your alternative, grasroots, guerrilla-marketing resources: sing at the church (some have little daycares), volunteer, write letters and send demos to ad agencies, read local trade magazines, keep the names of popular movers and shakers in your town, store them in pbwiki.com or something, so you have an archive of "who is who" locally. Attend meetings, make yourself more visible.