Develop your voice and talent. One of the essential skills a background singer must possess is the ability to harmonize. Singing harmony requires an understanding of music theory, a good ear and vocal control. Study singing and music theory with a professional voice teacher. Sing in church choirs and choral performances. Practice singing harmonies with your favorite gospel recordings, however, don't limit yourself to gospel music. Listen and study background singers in other types of contemporary music.
Study the music of contemporary gospel artists who rely on background singers. This will give you an appreciation and insight into the role of background singers in gospel music. Some of the contemporary gospel singers that use background singers are Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans. Andrea Crouch is another contemporary gospel artist, who has been around for a long time, who uses background singers. Some of the most highly renowned background singers in contemporary gospel music are Jerard and Jovaun Woods, Anthony Evans and Leanne Palmore.
Pray for God's guidance and direction. Pursuing a professional career in music is a difficult path to follow. Professional gospel background singers, such as Anthony Evans and Latrice Pace, speak of the importance of prayer and seeking God's guidance in their careers.
Seek out opportunities to sing with gospel groups and artists. Take advantage of every opportunity to sing that comes your way. This will provide professional experience, allows you to be seen and heard, and gives you the opportunity to meet and network with other gospel artists and musicians.
Record a demo that features your background singing abilities. One way to do this is to record live performances. If you are performing in a live venue with good acoustics, a good PA system and mixing board, a CD can usually be recorded at the mixing board. A demo with a couple of live performances may have more energy and excitement than a studio recording. The second way to make a demo is to record a few songs in the studio. Showcase your voice by singing lead on one or two songs. This will give a potential employer a good idea of the power and tonal quality of your voice. Some background singers actually have the opportunity to sing the lead on a song or two during a live performance.
Maintain a attitude of humility. The role of a background singer is the be part of the musical background that contributes to and enhances the musical whole. The audience doesn't usually focus on the background singer. As Anthony Evans says, a background singer has to be satisfied with singing "oohs" and "ahhs" the majority of the time, because this is what is needed to create the sound. Evans' advice for gospel background singers is to remember that your primary purpose is to help share the gospel.