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Jennifer Lawrence and Channing Tatum got their start as teenage models. Jennifer Lopez landed her first gig as a dancer in Europe. Rapper Eminem honed his skills while competing in underground rap battles in Detroit.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep, James Earl Jones, and Viola Davis? All got their start on Broadway.

There’s no secret formula to break into the entertainment industry. James Snyder explains that it takes talent good luck and networking. It can require years or decades of practice and sacrifice, whether the goal is Broadway, TV, film, or music. And it always takes hard work.

Dream, But Have a Goal

Actor Denzel Washington once said that a dream is just a dream without a goal. Millions may dream of acting and singing professionally, but millions fall short. A good place to start is thinking about the reasons why one is interested in acting and singing. Is it a hobby or a career? Is it to become a respected character actor or a star? Is Broadway a better fit than Hollywood?

If “career” is the answer, do some research. Find a great teacher, find a good acting class, or undergo intensive singing training. Finding an agent or booking auditions comes later, but in order to set oneself up for success, breaking into the industry means committing completely to the career goal.

Network

That old saying that it’s that a big part of landing a job is who you know? That’s especially true in the entertainment industry and it’s even more true for singers and actors. Budding performers will likely need to relocate to either Los Angeles or New York City and the networking should begin right away.

It helps to meet and befriend fellow actors, whether it’s in classes or during auditions. Networking should extend to connecting with theater and TV/film directors if possible. These connections are often invaluable throughout a performer’s career — in good times and bad.

Self-Promote

In the pursuit of an acting role, unwavering self-belief becomes the cornerstone, fortifying the path to success amidst the challenges. Beyond networking, breaking into the industry requires a stellar, well-crafted resume and a portfolio (acting reel, modeling work, singing demo) that is always up to date.

This may include professional headshots or an acting demo reel to show range and experience. Many actors and singers aren’t afraid to promote themselves online as well through social media, especially when they are struggling to get a break.

Keep Learning

No gig is too small in the beginning, whether it’s a bank commercial, a blink-and-you-missed-me film extra, or a Broadway understudy. All are priceless learning experiences.

But landing jobs doesn’t mean an entertainer has mastered their craft. Even the most successful actors still take acting classes or engage in workshops. Singers still practice for hours each day and get vocal lessons even if they get a record deal or hit it big on a TV show. Oscar, Tony, and Grammy winners often still need to audition for roles or gigs.
The most important things an entertainer can do when trying to break into the industry is believe in themselves and keep working hard.

Hugh Jackman. Idina Menzel. Ben Vereen. Raul Esparza. Lea Salonga. Billy Porter. Audra McDonald. Barbra Streisand. What do they all have in common? All of these stars of the stage and screen are equally talented at both singing and acting, but they’re at their very best when doing both at once.

Sure, many artists can sing and many can act. It’s a truly unique gift, though, to have the talent for doing both, being capable of overlapping one medium with the other to enhance them both. A fabulous singer/actor can excite and inspire audiences to reach new emotional heights as a storyteller.

James Snyder explores the harmony between singing and acting that makes these stars such uniquely talented theatrical performers.

Techniques and Skills Required to Seamlessly Blend Both Disciplines

The first step to becoming a great singing actor is, of course, to develop both skills. But did you know that becoming a great actor first can naturally make you a better singer? The best singers convey complex, subtle emotions, which is exactly what actors naturally know how to do.

For each song, performers should solidify their technique and memorize lyrics so that they know it by heart. Then, it becomes easier to focus on the character work. They should think about who is singing the song, what they want, what they fear, and who they are singing to.

By breaking down each lyric and finding personal meaning, it becomes easier to connect with what the character should be feeling. Finding the emotional life of the song makes for a better performance than simply hitting every note accurately.

How Actors Use Song to Convey Emotions and Enhance Storytelling on Stage

The SAVI Singing Actor by Charlie Gilbert notes there are four main points for performers to focus on when using their voice as an instrument for playing a character. Actors can use the acronym SAVI to remember them:

• Specificity: Being specific means making strong choices with confidence, both internally (motivation, intention, subtext) and externally (gestures, facial expressions, line readings). Performers should practice making bold choices so it becomes second nature. Choices give an air of realism and excitement to the portrayal.
• Authenticity: The performances that resonate the most with audiences are truthful. Actors should find their personal truth in a song and apply it to the character, then try to maintain authentic/realistic body language so it doesn’t look like they are simply “performing.”
• Variety: Keep the song from being “one-note,” both literally and figuratively! Making several specific choices throughout the song keeps the forward momentum of the plot and characterization going while maintaining the audience’s interest.
• Intensity: Actors need to train like athletes in order to go to the necessary extremes in their performances, especially for long loud notes and songs that require lots of movement.

For a perfect example of these four qualities in one knockout performance, check out Raul Esparza’s brilliant line readings – and singing – in the climactic “Being Alive” from the 2008 production of Company.

Summary

By developing one’s skills, becoming SAVI, and studying the best of the best, one can gradually learn how to combine singing and acting to reach new heights as a magnetic storyteller.