Preparing for a Singing Contest

You’re probably thinking, what do I need to do to be totally ready to compete and win?

First, you want to ask yourself: What type of contest is it? Are you going to be judged on your popularity or on the quality of your singing? If it’s a popularity contest, bring lots of friends.

This type of contest really is about the venue making money off of the folks you bring to the contest. Usually there is something for sale at this type of contest whether it be beverages or food.

If it’s truly a singing contest, then there are some things you can do to prepare.

1. Audition Songs Selection.

   1. What type of venue are you singing at?

   2. Is it a younger crowd or an older crowd?

   3. What will the crowd like more?

   4. What genre should you sing?

   5. Should you sing a fast upbeat song or a slow love song?

   6. What do the judges like to hear?

2. Accompaniment Tracks Selection. The quality of your performance track is very important. What is more appealing, a cheap karaoke midi-ish sounding track or a high quality, real instruments, accompaniment track? Cheap karaoke is dull, no matter how good the singer is. A great performance track will improve YOUR chances of sounding better.

3. Stage Presence. How comfortable are you on stage? Do you get nervous? A judge and the audience can tell how nervous you are. Have confidence in your singing and it will show through on your performance. Have fun with what you are doing. Look at the audience and lyrically ‘play’ with them. Make sure what you are wearing or how you look is not a distraction.

4. Lyric Knowledge. How well do you know your lyrics and the inflections that you want to make in the performance. I highly recommend after you have chosen the song you’re going to sing to print out the lyrics and start making notes in pencil on the lyrics. Pay attention to where you want to breathe and put a breath mark in the lyrics. If you want to hold a note and add vibrato on the end of the note, then notate it. Once you have everything notated, practice, practice, and practice.

5. Record yourself. You are probably your worst critic. When you record yourself singing, you get to hear how other people hear you. You will hear what notes you are pitchy on. Pretend like you are in an audition for a college scholarship. Let other people hear your recordings and have them give you their honest feedback.

The only way to improve is to know what you are doing wrong. Be well prepared, then go have fun!

Written by Rich Priddis, Accompaniment Tracks by Pro Sound Music

Tagged as: performing music