CeCe Sammy has been a leading vocal and performance coach for some of the biggest names in music. She’s also known for her TV appearances and behind-the-scenes contributions as vocal coach, judge, advisor, talent scout, and troubleshooter on various music and entertainment shows such as American Idol and X Factor UK.
- Remember the audition/performance starts the minute you walk in through the door. Be aware of your posture, expressions and attitude from the beginning to the end.
- Don’t wait until you go on stage to figure out what you’re going to do. Many people come to me and say that they will wait until they are on stage, as the adrenaline will then help to give a better performance. In my experience this is not a good idea. Whilst improvisation is important and does play a role, it is crucial to practice what you’re going to do ahead of time. Figure out how you will interpret a song and how you plan on delivering it to the audience. Improvisation is fine, but the audience will know when you’re unrehearsed and floundering around on stage. Every successful artist out there has put in the time to work on their stage performance.
- Don’t walk around the stage aimlessly. Always have a reason for what you’re doing. A still performance can be just as powerful as a highly energetic display.
- Don’t just perform to the people directly in front of you. Remember to push that performance out to the whole audience!
- When you are singing a song, think of yourself as a storyteller. Singing is just like when you tell a dramatic story. You don’t tell it all in a single tone. There are natural rises in the voice, and the voice falls low also. So think about the lyrics when you sing.
- Do study your favourite artists and performers. This isn’t about copying and mimicking another artist’s routine, but about looking at how they work the stage and engage the audience. Look at every move and mannerism; study not just how they do it, but why they’re doing it.
- If you make a mistake, shake it off immediately and finish the performance. Don’t stay in that moment. The audience will be more forgiving when they see that you carried on.
- Do take every opportunity to perform. The more experience you have performing, the more you will improve your stage performance. If you sing in front of people enough times, you will:
- Face your fears,
- Learn from your mistakes,
- Test the waters for public feedback.
Singing is meant to be fun. Never lose your dream!
CeCe Sammy
Socials: @cecesammy
Email: info@cca-entertainment.com
