I decided to do some research to better improve my stage presence, because thinking back to Project 1, one of the big issues I had was stage performance, and confidence, I could really do with becoming more confident. So I decided researching some tips and putting those actions into motion would really help with my Live Performance.
This was researched during week four, and it’s the time when I had picked my three songs that I had to perform for the showcase on May the 28th, so that means I had to learn the songs, uploaded covers of them, and practice my skills, in order to be the best performer I could be. The skills I need are;
– Practice
– Being able to engage with your Audience/Communication
– Creating a good song setlist.
– Creating moments within a performance
– Being prepared to improvise
Practice;
Practice is key, so that’s why for the next 3 weeks I will be rehearsing the 3 songs that I had picked for the showcase, it’s ideal for me since it’ll allow me to upload a song each week, and allow me to practice each song for a whole week, some in which I am already familiar with. Practicing in front of a camera will also be great for me since I plan to add symbolism to my songs, and why I chose them to begin with, and connect with my audience. I will be having props on stage, and be acting out scenes in some songs while I do my performances, to better improve my performances, it won’t be anything drastic, but something for me, and for people that know me to understand. Getting to know all the songs in my own personal way will also help to improve my performance, every song I picked, they were picked with passion behind them, so I could truly express myself on stage.
Engage with the audience;
Engaging with my audience is another key thing that I have to practice, one of the tendencies that really shows in my performances is the fact is that I don’t tend to move, I’m a very shy performer, and it’s hard for me to interact with my audience. Not only that, I cling onto the microphone, and that affects how I perform with the microphone and how the sound is produced with the microphone. I’ve gotten better at containing my emotions if I really have to perform, but I really want to be an interactive performer. To be able to use props and talk to the crowd, and engage them too.
Creating a good song setlist;
Knowing what songs suit my voice is a big factor for any and all of my performances. If I picked songs that didn’t suit my voice it would leave me not only pushing my voice too much but feeling uncomfortable and not as confident during my performances. So I chose three songs that I knew I’d be comfortable with doing. Creep by Radiohead – Not only is it one of my Mum’s favorite songs, but I’ve already had some experience of performing this song live. And Bellyache by Billie Eilish, a song that I had previously performed on one of my covers. And the final one, Good without by Mimi Webb, a new song that I’m going to be practicing over the next 3 weeks.
Creating moments with the audience;
For this every song is going to have a sort of symbolic scene, Like in Good without, where I am going to have a piece of paper, in which I write down the word ‘Amino’ for people that know me it will be symbolic to my past, and I will crumple up the paper and step on it on the last line, “if that’s what your love about, then I’m so good without”. I will display the paper to the audience to see, and address the audience.
For creep, I’m thinking of producing a video, that they can play on a projector behind me, that will have a lot of symbolism behind it. And it will be a video that I had created and edited myself. And I will be reading into the lyrics in order to create the symbolism. The video will include edits, taken videos, and photography.
And for bellyache I will do a collage of my Dad’s work, as a little tribute to him, and how he’s helped me on this project. I think it’ll be nice for not only my family, but a chance for others to see his work, I will be adding words and editing to this video.
Being ready to improvise;
Being able to improvise is important in any performance, in case something goes wrong, it’s important to carry on, this ties into learning how to perform on stage and my confidence. Being able to be ready for anything is important, and I should be able to improvise in case I make any mistakes or mess up. And if I do make any mistakes, it’s important for me not to stop, and to carry on, because often then not, the audience will not notice if you just continue.