Fundamentals (Ingredient #2)

Welcome back to the “kitchen!”

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If you missed any of the previous posts on Breaking Bad Habits, Love and Devotion, or Foundation (which is the 1st ingredient), I highly recommend you go back through those before reading this post.

In game shows, many talented individuals begin the tv series, but as time goes on, one-by-one contestants are eliminated each round. This is due to their under performance that day or simply being out-performed by everyone else. The same can be said for music artists. There are SO MANY talented groups and individuals that can achieve success in music, but oftentimes they can’t make ends meet and are forced to quit doing the thing they love.

I take a lot of artists and church worship teams through the foundation. We build live song arrangements, make a setlist, work on talking points, form a message, create an opportunity for them to share an experience with their audience and start scratching the surface on purposeful movements. And many stop there. They don’t quite make it through the next round and dive into the detailed fundamentals that would take them to the next level.

What are the fundamentals?

Techniques, Transitions, Intention, Repetition

TECHNIQUES

To be learned:

- Using / Not Using Onstage Tools

- Movement Styles and Expressions

- Microphone and Mic Stand Practices

For lead singers, learning when they should play an instrument and when they should NOT is huge to their overall artist development. Proper mic and mic stand techniques should be learned in order to best communicate to the audience both verbally and VISUALLY. Being conscious of physical barriers between you and the audience are often easily overlooked.

TRANSITIONS

The Different Types:

- Verbal Transitions

- Musical Transitions

- Visual Transitions

Transition can present a special experience in and of itself for both you and your audience. Lead singers need to learn how to effectively set a song up, and the band needs to learn how to create seamless segues between any musical intro and outro.

INTENTION

Effective Communication:

- Performing with Purpose

- Feeling the Music / Expressing your Emotions

- Bridging and Listening in the Gaps

You need to be intentional with what you play, what you say and what you do throughout your performance. You need to bridge the gaps between songs and be able to listen to the audience in those gaps.

REPETITION

Building Sustainability:

- Breaking Bad Habits / Building New Ones

- Putting in Practice

- Practice vs. Rehearsal

- Adequate Preparation (Physical, Spiritual, Emotional)

Again, again, again. Just like coach Herb Brooks said in the movie Miracle, we too must “again” repeat our processes. For singers, doing vocal warmups daily, or at least a few times a week (but FOR SURE the week of a performance), is a must! You can’t run a marathon without the proper conditioning, neither can your vocal chords. Practice as individuals and rehearse the show as a group. When it comes time to play your event, it’s a good idea to establish a pre-show routine to get you in the right form.

“Look great, feel great, feel great, perform great.” I recently had a conversation with a Pastor friend who said he wears the same color boxers each Sunday. That might be TMI, but it has weight to it. Performing well comes from preparing well. To some, it could mean choosing their attire for the day, but it all really comes down to doing everything with purpose and excellence.

My wife and I just attended our first writer’s round in Nashville. A client of ours was playing that night and it was really fun for us to watch him perform! The fundamentals that he implemented really set him apart from the rest. His interaction with the audience and getting them involved (YES it works even for an acoustic set) got him recognized by the event host who complimented his performance immediately following his second song.

Before having the freedom to do whatever you want as a performer, be led by love and devotion to your craft, establish a solid foundation and continually work on the fundaments. It will never go unnoticed.

Are you interested in diving deeper into these areas for YOUR show? I’d love to get to know you and learn about your journey in music! Let’s schedule a FREE discovery call today!

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