June 2021 Exercises

 

EXERCISES:

1. Seek out a venue. Start an internet search of writer rounds in your area. List 3 places that are on a smaller size and list 3 that are goal venues for the future. Having the goal venues written down can help you prepare over time. The smaller venues are where you learn your comfort zone. This is where you solidify a home base of fans and test out your originals along with covers.

2. Record, then Reflect -  Tired of looking at yourself in the mirror? That’s ok! Set up any type of video/audio recording device, and RECORD yourself from start to finish. If you mess up, keep going. The goal is to not stop. When you are going through your set, make sure you are including your set up to your songs. Anything you are planning to say during your round should be recorded. Afterward, playback your recording and watch with the mindset of your crowd. Take some time to REFLECT and answer some of these questions.

  1. Overall, how did I feel about the performance?
  2. Does my song order flow?
  3. Was the setup for my songs engaging? Do I need to shorten or lengthen any of them?
  4. How was my singing? Was I pitchy or out of breath in certain parts of my songs?
  5. Does it sound natural?
  6. Did I feel connected (in the moment) with each song?

Overall, it’s the song that’s the star, but you are the messenger! You have the power to create real moments in your performance with your songs that bring your crowd in and make them want to hear more and more. By recording yourself, you can find where you can create those moments!

3. Practice with people in the room. The more often you play for an audience, the more you will feel comfortable when you are playing for people in a venue. No matter if it’s your spouse, your roommates, a group of supportive friends or even Facebook/Instagram Live, playing in front of an audience gives you the opportunity to try new material and see how it is received. It also gives you a chance to mess up without the nerves! You can laugh it off a lot easier from your couch in front of friends than in a venue full of people.

4. Breathe. Performance anxiety is a real thing and it's perfectly normal to feel nervous about performing. The more you perform, the more you can learn to overcome those nerves, but in the meantime don't forget to breathe. Keeping your breath support regular will not only help your singing, but also allow to keep your nerves at bay. Work on your breathing techniques in between shows to better your performance and vocal technique.