Preparing yourself for the stage is no different than preparing for Christmas. Performers that project comfort from stage are either well-prepared or have been performing for many years. That’s because show-time is no time to warm up your voice, work on your range, experiment with tone or look for more power. Once you’re on stage, it’s too late to memorize the lyrics or change the key of the songs to something more comfortable. Walking onstage unprepared is like racing into Target a half-hour before closing on Christmas Eve with no idea what to get those on your list.
When preparing for a show, think of yourself as Santa Claus and your band (if you have one) as a bunch of elves. Choosing a set list is like deciding what you will give as presents. Rehearsing is like wrapping and planning how you’ll present the gifts. Bands tend to waste an incredible amount of time due to unproductive rehearsal habits. Most musicians use band practice to work on their individual chops. Which means the practice of playing as a unit doesn’t occur until they’re on stage. Which means the art of engaging an audience doesn’t occur until many, many gigs have been played – if at all. Individual skills need to be addressed at home. Band practice is to develop group synergy. Shows are your gift to the audience.
Hitting the stage unprepared is hard work. Your mind races with commands to your body as you try and navigate through a list of negative emotions. Your distress gets broadcast through awkward body language and stressed vocal tones. Like identifying a large man in a red suit with white fur trim, it’s as easy for listeners to notice you’re overwhelmed. An audience always assumes a performer is up on stage because he or she wants to be. It’s confusing, then, when a performer projects an uncomfortable vibe.
Contrary to what singers believe, listeners unconsciously focus on what you’re thinking more than how you’re singing. Don’t think the show is going well? Then, neither will the audience. Wish you had prepared more? So will they. It’s not their fault. The least you can do for an audience is focus on something positive. It’s easy to sabotage a performance by wishing you were better at that moment. It’s the same as handing someone a gift and then apologizing for not buying something better when it’s opened.
Of course, there is always a risk someone won’t like your gift offering. That's especially true when performing original songs for strangers. This is typically what makes us stress out and procrastinate until time runs out, leaving us scrambling to put something together last minute. If that sounds like a familiar routine it's important to remember how it feels to be on the receiving end, whether it be a gift or a show. It’s a pleasant surprise to be given a gift – especially from a stranger. It’s also a wonderful feeling to be in the audience anticipating what the performer has planned for the show. As performers, we forget the most basic truth about gift giving. It’s the thought that counts.
Since the thought behind a performance is what really moves an audience, it's a good idea to always ask yourself just one question before you step onstage. Why are you about to sing? Hopefully, you reply with one of three answers. You love to sing. You love to perform. You love the songs. Any or all of these statements are all you need to front a band or captivate an audience. Love is what’s inside Santa’s bag. It’s the bottomless reservoir that every performer draws from. Each song represents another gift for the audience. Be generous when handing out your stage presents and the love will come back to you. Be well prepared for that moment and you will be as relaxed on stage as Santa in the summer time.
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