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Chapter 4

Get Up There!

The purpose of this chapter is to help you "get up there and sing."

"First Time" Singing Groups

An excellent way to "get up there" in front of an audience for the first time is to form a "fun singing group" with two or three friends. Get up there with them the first few times. You can be nervous and have fun at the same time.

While You Sing

First, be in control of how you stand. Stand erect, with head straight, but not stiff. Walking, or at least taking a step or two, will help your singing muscles function better. Most professional singers do this. Do not bend while singing. Try gesturing with your hands. This a way of expressing the meaning of the words using body language.

Some singers plan out their moves and gestures ahead of time, just as an actor does. You may want to do that, but you also need to leave room for spontaneity.

Sing Close to the Microphone

A common mistake is to hold the microphone too far away from your mouth. The mike should be closer than you think. Try it 1/2 inch away. If it sounds distorted or too loud, then move it to an inch away. On loud notes, pull it away a bit more. Do not let the microphone touch your mouth at any time. In general, hold it at a 45 degree angle.

Good microphone use is achieved by listening to your voice in the speakers. You can move the mike closer for more volume, or away for less.

Know Where the Speakers Are

Know where your sound is coming from. First, locate the speakers with your eyes. Then close your eyes for a moment and locate them with your ears. Listen to the speakers while you sing. This will enable you to control your volume by moving the microphone.

Sing "Through" Speakers

The best way to hear your own singing is to listen to the speakers as the audience does. As you sing, keep your mind on the speakers. Close your eyes for a moment to help you concentrate.

On the first few notes of a song, hold the mike 1/2 inch away, then an inch away. Move it back and forth until you like your volume.

How Loud Should You Be?

The loudness (volume) of the singing sound systems will differ from place to place. The loudness will also depend on the person controlling the equipment.

You need to be in control. The mike volume can be too low, or the track music too loud, or both. Don't be afraid to demand the changes that will help you sound better.

If you are new at it, you may want your voice more hidden by the track. In other words, the track will be somewhat louder than your voice. Or, you may want the very opposite if you get more confident and want the audience to hear your voice clearly.

Handling Nervousness

1) Sing with a fun group the first few times.

2) Sing at a place where you often go. Familiar surroundings help. Or sing at a place you never go to.

3) Practice. The better you sing, the more you will want to sing in public. There is a reason professional singers devote their lives to performance. They will tell you that there is no feeling like it.

4) Remember: if you are using this handbook, you may be already singing better than many other singing singers.

5. Visualize your ideal voice, the way you want your voice to sound. Keep your mind focused on it as you get up to sing.

6) Don't fight nervousness. Just allow it to be there. Fear is natural.

7) Close your eyes and determine which parts of your body are involved in fear. Focus your attention on the parts that are not. For example, try keeping your attention on your toes.

8) Relaxation exercise: just before you get up to sing, close your eyes for a moment and imagine that your nervousness is a liquid. Let the "liquid" drain out your toes. Spend a few minutes doing this. You will go through stages of increasing relaxation.

9) Reason with yourself. If you have practiced, you will be okay.

10) Remind yourself that you are there to have fun. It will be fun if you let it.

Support Groups

There are three types. The first two are friends in the audience, and friends who get up there and sing with you. The third type is a more serious singing group that practices together. (See Part II.) Make going out to sing a group activity. Bring family and friends to be in the audience to cheer for you.

Stage Presence Exercise

Close your eyes and imagine your whole appearance on stage. Imagine all the details. Do this every day. A good presence will slowly develop over the weeks and months. See Chapter 8 for more about this.

The Smile Behind Your Eyes

This is a mental attitude, not merely a smile on your face. People want pleasure when they go out. A smile in your eyes can overcome a lot.

Clothing and Make-up

In many singing places there is no spotlight. The audience will not be able to see many details. Still, you should look good. Wear what you feel comfortable in, but also what looks good to the audience. You may want to be creative about what you wear.

Stage Name?

Some people like to make up a stage name. This can be fun.

Play An Instrument?

If you play an instrument, why not play along with the track while you sing? This will definitely add to your performance. Even if you can't play, consider using one as a prop. If you want to learn how to play, take lessons. 

Other Props?

Hats, sunglassses, puppets, costumes, rubber chickens, etc. The possibilities are endless. Singing is a kind of theater.

Comedy Singing?

Comedy opens up many possibilities. You could do a short routine of jokes before you sing. Or, if you are already a comedian, you can just get up there, threatening to sing, but never actually doing it.

Impersonation

You can imitate well known singers and celebrities as you sing. There is room for creativity here. You don't have to be limited to singers. You can impersonate anyone as you sing.

Talk Sing

If you like to act, can't sing, and want to get up there anyway, try this. Talk singing is "in between" singing and speaking. This way it is less important to get the notes right. Bob Dylan is great at it. Rap music is another example.

Be In Control

The way you look and act while you sing affects not only the crowd, but your performance as well. Be in control of "your act." Do not leave it to chance. Even if you wish to portray a casual image, you should create and control all the details.

Big Endings

The audience remembers the last thing you did. You could sing only fairly well during the song, and yet get good applause with an effective ending. Big notes can appear at other places in a song, but they are most effective at the end. Pace yourself to slowly work up to a final big note. Don't forget to pull the mike away a bit.