Live Performance Technique

Our 70’s piece solely relied on our vocals and so it was important to research vocal and also microphone techniques. “The most common mistake is holding the microphone too close or too far from your mouth. This results in your singing sounding muffled and distorted, too distant or no vocal sound at all. To avoid distortion, ensure the mic is held no closer than 2 to 3 inches from your mouth during normal singing. You will have to experiment a little as the distance is dependant on the individuals natural power and ability to project.” Vocalist.org.uk. (2001). This helped greatly with my breathing and my projection in live performance.

When discussing music technique it was agreed that as performers we must display a high level of skill and understanding of our work. I think I did this well as I managed to master an entirely new instrument and style of play in the weeks leading up to performance, albeit at an amateur level. I think my research of vocal techniques helped developed my vocal skills and my live performance was strong. As Williamson says “For musicians to enhance their performance, it is instructive to understand how performances are perceived and evaluated by others.” (2004:4). 

Our stage tech was kept relatively simple which benefited both our performances. It meant that we had space to move during Rock n Roll Farm and the space for our movement break during Burn. These dance interludes also added to our performance persona’s on stage. Our lighting complemented the performance, especially our spotlit solo sections in Burn. 

One of our greatest strengths within the group was our audience interaction. During Rock n Roll farm the audience joined in by clapping and singing along. I think this was due to our on-stage presence. During the performance we were smiling and enjoying ourselves which passed into the audience. We maintained eye contact and encouraged audience involvement which made the piece more lively and therefore more in fitting with the genre. Kirchner states that “Entering a state of flow, in which there is total absorption in an activity, allows for the possibility of any ensuing anxiety to become facilitative, rather than deliberative” (2011:289). I think this was true of my performance, before the show I was nervous of remembering my lyrics but once we had stepped on-stage everything came to me naturally and our performance flowed.