What does it feel like when you’re singing your heart out, playing your guitar and not a soul is bothering to notice you? That's right. It feels AWFUL!
Performing, my friend, is not a random gift bestowed on a select few. Instead, it is a learned skill. While some may seem to have learned this skill in the cradle, that is not the truth. Do you want to become a good performer? Try the tips given below.
Practice in the Mirror
Before you give your rehearsal a 10/10, stand in front of a mirror and perform like you would on the stage. You are likely to spot so many flaws that you would be baffled. Now, I'll tell you to relax and focus on the weaknesses that you were able to spot. Recognising them is the first step. Once you know that your posture is bad or your hands aren’t moving gracefully, you can fix it. Rehearsing in the mirror would also give you a certain degree of confidence.
Do Lots of Rehearsals
Did you ever sit through an exam confidently without revising?
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to practice before you perform. Even if you know the song or lyrics by heart, I recommend you to start practising at least a couple of weeks before the big day. That being said, if you have to give a singing performance, you should give your throat some rest a couple of days before your performance.
Why not take it up a notch and record your rehearsals? This allows you to figure out your mistakes upon re-watching. It would let you know what changes you need to make to perform better. You can also show these recordings to your music teacher and ask for suggestions.
Prepare Your Body
Singing performances require extra care and precautions during the preparation. You have to take care of your throat if you want to give your very best. Staying hydrated is important: We all know that. Leading up to your performance, aim to drink 10-12 glasses of water every day. Also, avoid dairy to prevent your throat from drying out.
Sleeping is also vital for your health, and therefore your performance. So take care of your sleep cycle and strive for at least eight hours before the performance.
Communicate with Your Audience
Do you notice how celebrities tend to talk to their audience during their performances? It keeps them engaged and shows them that you are confident. There is a lot that you can convey to your audience in between songs: You can tell them about a new addition to your band or the reason you wrote that song you’re performing. You could also ask the audience to like your social media accounts and follow you. My point is, do not sit quietly like a robot: Communicate!
You might even like to write the precise words that you will speak. It is a good way of making sure you do not end up saying something embarrassing or forget an important point.
Get Over Stage Fright
It is possible to experience stage fright even if it isn't your first performance.
To help overcome this you try firstly, acknowledge the fact that it is okay to be scared of performing in front of an audience. Then, figure out different techniques that you can use to fight the fright.
One way of getting over stress caused by stage fear is by doing a quick little workout as physical activity causes the body to release endorphins which makes us feel happy. Some performers try yoga-like breathing techniques, (as below.) If your stage fright is severe you could even try visiting a hypnotherapist.
By following the steps above you should be able to give a confident and quality performance.
Nonetheless, if you do end up making a mistake, do not stop! Even if you have sung the wrong lyrics, give a charming smile to your audience and keep on singing. The audience is aware of the fact that singers are humans and therefore make the odd mistake.
Giving great performances is difficult, but it is not impossible. Just keep these tips in mind, and I am sure you will outperform yourself. Good Luck!
Before you give your rehearsal a 10/10, stand in front of a mirror and perform like you would on the stage. You are likely to spot so many flaws that you would be baffled. Now, I'll tell you to relax and focus on the weaknesses that you were able to spot. Recognising them is the first step. Once you know that your posture is bad or your hands aren’t moving gracefully, you can fix it. Rehearsing in the mirror would also give you a certain degree of confidence.
Do you notice how celebrities tend to talk to their audience during their performances? It keeps them engaged and shows them that you are confident. There is a lot that you can convey to your audience in between songs: You can tell them about a new addition to your band or the reason you wrote that song you’re performing. You could also ask the audience to like your social media accounts and follow you. My point is, do not sit quietly like a robot: Communicate!
You might even like to write the precise words that you will speak. It is a good way of making sure you do not end up saying something embarrassing or forget an important point.
One way of getting over stress caused by stage fear is by doing a quick little workout as physical activity causes the body to release endorphins which makes us feel happy. Some performers try yoga-like breathing techniques, (as below.) If your stage fright is severe you could even try visiting a hypnotherapist.
By following the steps above you should be able to give a confident and quality performance.
Nonetheless, if you do end up making a mistake, do not stop! Even if you have sung the wrong lyrics, give a charming smile to your audience and keep on singing. The audience is aware of the fact that singers are humans and therefore make the odd mistake.
Giving great performances is difficult, but it is not impossible. Just keep these tips in mind, and I am sure you will outperform yourself. Good Luck!
