Be Prepared for Your Next Performance

A guide for pushing past the nerves

Nervous about an upcoming performance? The best advice I was given in college was to embrace the nerves, for as soon as we lose them we’ve lost respect for the space and settled for being comfortable. Being comfortable may sound like a good thing, but it can also be the enemy of growth. Instead of striving for comfort, let’s talk about being prepared.

First, talk to your instructor, trusted mentor or friend about song selections. They will have a wealth of knowledge from songs they have performed or taught. Bring suggestions of songs you have an interest in, so you have more fun preparing the song. Trust your person to guide you, based on your current skill set. If you’re working with a Phoebe Bridgers type voice, you wouldn’t choose a Jennifer Hudson song. Stick to genre’s that you like and are comfortable working within, your authenticity and connection to the music will shine through.

Second, leave yourself time. This goes beyond making it to the performance on time. Start from the beginning. Pick your song a month or more ahead so you have time to learn, scrambling can add stress. Learn the song with enough time to practice performing it. You read that right. Not only do you need to practice the notes of the song, but how you present and interpret it. Leave yourself time to warmup before the show, it’s easier to forget a chord, lyric, or note without time to run through the material. If it is an option, show up early. Look at the room, stand on the stage, sit in the chairs, whatever makes you feel most ready.

Third, practice how you perform. Thanks to the tiny computers (phones) most people have available to them; you can get a peek into what your performance will look like. If you do not have a phone, go old school with a mirror or a trusted friend or family member. Practice in the outfit you are wearing to the recital; to minimize pulling, stretching, moving or any adjusting that would distract from your moment in the spotlight.

Lastly, remember to have fun. As my mama would say “work hard, play hard”. You have made it. The hard part was the extra practice, lessons and learning a new material. The performance is your moment to shine! Few people are as gutsy as you are, so get out there and show em what ya got!

P.S. Don’t forget to have fun.