Music Madness Challenge-A Beginner's Guide to Performing

Hi there eager musicians! Are you new to performing? Is it your first time on a stage? Well, I have some tips and tricks for you which will enhance your performance skills, and make you feel a whole lot more self confident!

So a back story about my performing experience first:

I have done a range of different performances, from acting, dancing, plays, singing, drumming and bands. A couple years back I went to a drama club, and I took part in a range of performances there, I would sing in groups, act, dance etc. I have been a part of many school plays before, and I've usually had the lead role, which is quite scary especially when I had to learn tons of lines and memorize the script! I have sung solo as well, singing Set Fire To The Rain by Adele. And I have performed on the drums in bands and solo. So I have quite a bit of experience, but I'm still learning as well!

If you are specifically struggling with Stage Fright, and are an introverted person, then check out my "Struggling with Stage Fright?" blog post.

So, if you are still reading this then I'm assuming you are a beginner at performing, and maybe don't know how to act, or don't know how to enhance your performance or need to know some tricks to help with anxiety.

Tips:

1. Where do I look?

Whenever you are performing, you are probably going to try and zone in on everybody at once. Your mind is probably spinning with questions like, "Are they looking at me?" "Are they smiling because they like more or are they smiling mockingly?" "Do I look like an idiot?" "Where do I look?" "If I turn my back for one minute will they all start laughing?"

Yeah. We've all been there before, and even if you are thinking to yourself that you have never had these questions, then let me tell you-you're wrong. Sometimes you may feel like everything is going find, when actually you are subconsciously worrying about something, which is responsible for making you uneasy and on edge. But if this is you, then 100% look at the back of the room, and gaze over the top of the audience's heads. But if you are feeling confident, try and glance at people every now and then, so it doesn't look like you are completely blanking everyone, and ensure you address the audience a few times. You can practice this however you want-whether its with family, friends, or even teddy bears!

If you are playing an instrument, then simply look at your music stand, but keep a strong posture. If you don't have a music stand, then glance around at the other musicians, or glance down at your own instrument, if you feel like you can't cope with looking at the audience for the whole performance. The audience won't suspect that you are nervous, they will just assume you are concentrating on playing your instrument. However, if you are singing, then avoid the tip of looking down or looking at your lyrics, as you may risk muffling you voice. Keep your head up, and make sure to project your voice. Look beyond the audience at the back wall, and there you go!

Connection with the audience

If possible, it's good to introduce yourself to the audience, which can make yourself feel more at ease, and can make the audience feel more comfortable. If you are playing an instrument, why not try and get the audience to clap along half way through your song? By doing this, you are getting the audience involved, which can make the performance seem more upbeat and exciting. Doing this can also hide your nerves, and make you seem like a confident person. However, don't do this too often, you need to remember to play as well as getting the audience to clap a beat along for you!

If you are feeling extra confident (for example, you are performing a well known song which the audience know) then you could even turn the microphone to the audience, and let them sing along too! You will see that many singers and musicians do this, and its gets the audience excited and involved!

Have fun!

This is probably a tip you hear everyone say, and I understand it is not as easy as smiling and looking energtic, when in reality you are worried sick and feel panicked. But take advantage of the butterflies in your stomach and the adrenaline. I like to repeat this quote in my head before a performance:

"Chill out! Everybody makes mistakes, and it takes guts that I am even turned up! Some people won't even go to the event if they are that scared!"

Also remember that you only live once, so you need to make the most of everything! Another tip is to laugh at your mistakes. If you are a drummer, and you drop your drumstick (trust me I have done this during practice and seen others do it) then just laugh! This will make the tension and silence fall away and it will make the atmosphere seem less awkward. I mean, if it is a big mistake, then....maybe don't laugh at that......

Improv-

Improvisation is key during a performance, whether its drama, dance, or music. Its always good to have a back up plan in case something goes wrong. And if something does go wrong, try and hold it together and put on a brave face. For example, if you missed a part of the choreography in your dance routine, don't make it obvious and instead carry on, and have a backup plan in mind. If you make it obvious by tearing up or pulling a confused face, then you will be drawing more attention to yourself. And besides, the audience don't know your whole routine! Only you do, so they aren't going to know if you mess up a little bit!

Take care of your health

When you're nervous, you may find that you struggling sleeping, you crave certain foods or lose your appetite, you feel mentally exhausted and drained. Before a performance, you need to make sure you are healthy. Go to bed early to ensure you have a good sleep, and eat varied food. Especially if you are singing, be sure to stay hydrated.

A little story about me: A couple of days or a week or so before I performed Set Fire To The Rain by Adele, I got tonsillitis. Yup-bad timing. This meant I couldn't perform during rehearsals and I missed out on a lot of practice time. This could of been purely because I had caught it off of someone else, or it could of been me to blame for not drinking enough water. Luckily I had healed by the time the actual performance came, but I missed out on a lot of practice!

Thank you for reading this! Good luck in whatever performance you are doing and I hope that these tips and tricks helped!

-Jasmine :)