Day of Show: How a Singer Prepares

There are many things you can do to prepare for a successful vocal performance. Most of the work occurs in the days, weeks, months, or perhaps even years prior to the actual show. But sometimes the actual day of a performance can feel like a mystery to newer singers. If you are in a public place with no green room to warm up in right before you sing, how do you make sure your voice is prepared? And what if you have to work all day before a show? 

You will find a flow that works best for you and allows for real life. The most important things are keeping your voice in good shape, warming up in an effective way, and making sure your body and mind feel as good as possible for the performance. 

A Day of Show Schedule

I recently produced and performed a show of my original music at 54 Below in New York City, and here’s what that day entailed:

Breakfast and Last-Minute Promo

I woke up around 8 am, eating a semi-healthy breakfast (granola with oat milk, which I love) and managing a few last-minute social media posts to engage any stragglers who might have somehow missed my many other posts about the show, or who haven’t yet decided if they’re going to come. You’d be surprised at how many people wait until the very last minute to buy tickets to these things!

Exercise

At 9:30 am, I went to a Pilates reformer class in my neighborhood, which was good and challenging. If I can possibly exercise the day of a show, I make it happen. It really helps me to expend some nervous/excited energy. 

Vocal Warm-Up

After Pilates, I went home and warmed up my voice for about fifteen minutes. I knew I would have over two hours of fairly intense singing (as well as lots of talking) that day, so I made sure my voice felt good and warm but didn’t push it too much. Then I ran through a few of the songs I was less confident with. Some pieces hadn’t been performed in years, and I was hoping to play and sing the show completely from memory.

Practice time flew by. Then I showered, had a smoothie with lots of protein (but also fruit so that it would taste good), and took the subway into Manhattan. 

Programs

Before getting to the club for our tech run-through, I stopped at FedEx to pick up programs I had had printed. This was kind of a last-minute idea and task, and it ended up being worth it. I regretted not bringing on a producer to help with these details on the day of the show, but live and learn.

Tech at the Venue

When I arrived at the venue, most of the band and guest performers were already there, buzzing around. We were all excited for the show! Once the instruments were set up, we did a complete run of the show. There were many logistics to deal with due to how many different people we needed to fit on stage at various points, so we took the full 90 minutes allowed. The tech run went fairly well, but was informative as to a few weak points that needed to be brushed up before that night.

Hair and Outfit

After tech, I took the subway back to Brooklyn, where I had my hair done. Over the years, I’ve learned that if I have a big show, it really helps me feel more confident if my hair is looking as good as possible. Especially if I’m paying for someone to take photos or video for the show. It just makes me feel more performance-ready.

Once my hair was all set, I went home and finalized my outfit. I had ordered some dresses to rent for the show, but the shipment was delayed. Luckily, I have amassed a decent number of dresses that can be worn on the stage. Knowing that my backup singers were both wearing sequins (and that sequins look great on the 54 Below stage), I opted for a short black sequined dress that is surprisingly comfortable. 

Then, I ate a salad and sang through a few of those testy numbers that I was feeling less natural. 

Green Room

Once my makeup was done and my performance bag was packed, I took the train once more into Manhattan. Everyone had gathered in the green room upstairs from the club, and people took turns changing in the tiny dressing room. Some friends came up to say hello and pose for pictures, and before we knew it, the stage manager was asking for the band to take their places. I plunked a bit on the piano in the green room, but was too excited to focus. It was time for the show.

Post-Show 1 am Pizza!

And that was it! We played the show, visited with guests who came, and took a late train back to Brooklyn. The night ended with a huge greasy slice of pizza at 1 am, which I thought I might regret but did not.