Before you go for a singing competition - what do you do to prepare yourself? thanks?
535693
I'm not a singer but been playing in bands for eons. Key thing to remember no matter how important this contest is if you blow out your voice you've lost it for good. Win or lose it means nothing. So make sure you rest your voice. I'd suggest 3-4 days of good practice out of the week and try to allow at least one day between practices. The day before the practice sing only a quick run through. No matter how badly it comes out resist the temptation to work on a song that late. Even if you get it right the next day you might be hoarse. Do sing a little the day before and lightly the day of the comptition. Just a quick run through. Preferably shortly before the compitition. Remember this is a warm up exercise. Don't strain, expect to mess it up. The point is not to see if you are ready it's to limber the vocal chords and see if you have any physical ailments that are hindering your singing. It's not how your going to sound like when you do the real thing. Don't even try to push yourself to hit the hard notes. Just glaze over them. Your warming up not singing the thing for real. \n\nWarm up before all practices and the contest. Most common cause of injury is going from cold to full out. \n\nLemon juice, teas, iced beverages that are not salty are things I often see singers do after practices and to prepare for a gig/after gig care. No alcohol before singing. If you smoke limit your cigs before the event. Many singers I've known will not smoke at all a couple hours before performing. Get a good nights sleep. \n\nOne thing that most singers forget is that unlike a guitar every emotion your feeling pours into your voice. On guitar if you listen closely you can hear nervousness or that the guitar player is tired but only by listening intently and with a good musical ear. With a singer you get nervous your voice constricts. You try singing from the throat not the diaphram. You forget lyrics or just as bad spend all your time worrying about the lyrics. When you sing close your eyes, let go of concious thought. Let it pour out. Forget the rest of the world even exists. Let it roll out, be part of the song. Be the vessel for it. The more you think the more you interfere with your own talent. Worry, insecurity and fear all creep into your voice. If you've practiced enough you need no thought. It'll be natural to you. \n\nSleep, did I mention getting enough sleep? Memory is affected by sleep. Nothing like forgeting a lyric to trash a performance. Concetration is decreased, confidence decreased. Get a good nights sleep before the show. \n\nMake sure your not congested. If you have a trace of a sniffle get rid of it. Wear confortable clothing if at all possible. \n\nLast smile and enjoy the performance. It'll show in your voice if your really having fun. You sound far better enjoying yourself than you do if your not. People can tell. Even untrained ears will notice the difference.\n\nAlso by the last few days you have a routine stick to it. Don't try anything new that late. Your last practice should be as much like the show as possible. What you eat, drink and do should be as close as possible to what you will do for that show. What you have for breakfast is what you want to eat the day of the compitition. What you drink the same.
366974
How young are you?  Will your parents help you by letting you take voice lessons?  A vocal coach can help you with strengthening your current talent and abilities and help you with your weaker areas.  Even those who are famous and great singers have/had a voice coach...There's always room for improvement!  :)\n\nIf they can't or aren't willing to right now, try joining the school chorus or church chorus and auditioning for solo parts.  You can also try talent competitions in your area.\n\nDo you have a Playstation 2?  If so, get Karaoke Revolution I, II & III.  I have them.. not only are they fun.. but you can practice a lot of songs and get graded on your performance... and see where you need improvement or where you're excelling.
829038
My cheer team went to Nationals in March, and the best  thing besides being 100% prepared and completely confident in every move, jump, and stunt is to practice in front of an audience.  \n\nFind out how large the floor you'll be performing on is, and measure the outline with tape on the gym floor or wherever you practice.  Go over how you will enter and exit the floor again and again.\n\nInvite everyone you know to watch your squad perform.  We had more experienced cheerleaders and coaches from other teams critique us, and we performed three times.  The bigger the audience, the more you will be prepared for the competition.\n\n\nMake sure to practice your facials, especially in front of an audience! Sometimes when you're nervous, you think that you are smiling but you aren't.\n\nMake sure to be full of spirit, because that's one of the things that the judges will look for!\n\nHave lots of fun, good luck!
878127
You do have talent.  To develop, get with a local band and practice.  It's way different than karaoke.  With the tech, just takes practice.  The tougher part is working with others.  If you can survive an instrument player or back up vocal who can't stay in pitch, you can go pro.  By survive, I mean make it sound great anyway.  Working with pros means being skilled enough to stay with them through chord and rhythm changes.  It only comes with practice.\nGreat look too, by the way.  CUTE!!
560926
Nervousness results in you breathing shallow. That makes if feel like you're choking and that will make you more nervous. Focus on taking big, slow breaths, both in and out. This will keep you from getting breathless, which may affect your dancing, and it will keep you from getting really, really, nervous.\n\nPreparation and knowing in advance what is expected of you, where the practice will be etc, will also make you less nervous.\n\nPrior to the audition, if you can, check out the place where the audition will be held, so you know how long it takes to get there and you can plan accordingly. Being late/lost will make you even more nervous. You don't have to know the place inside out, but I find if I know where the bathrooms are and the stage is and where people are sitting, I do much better.\nI like to arrive early, so I set up and warm up without being rushed.\n\nAlso, before the audition, practice a couple of routines so you know them inside out. Everyone gets stage fright. Even the pros. But if you really practice your routine or routines, even if your brain freezes in stage fright, your body will know what to do. \n\nBe on time (preferably a little early) for your audition. Be prepared. Be dressed in our outfit, with your hair and make up already done. Be polished.  Be professional.  Yes, you're only 15 or so, but showing that you've practiced and prepared on an adult level will give you an advantage.\n\nThen,do your thang!Knock 'em out! Show them how much you've been practicing and preparing. Show them your energy and your skills! Show 'em what you can bring to the team. When you are done, as you leave, it's not a bad idea to thank the people you've auditioned for. Tell them "Thank you for the audition, I hope we can be teammates." and SMILE!\n\nAnd if you don't get a spot on the team, take some time to go talk to the coach and ask him/her what you can do to improve your routine so you can get on the team next year. I'm sure they'll offer some pointers. An added bonus is that if you show you are serious, they'll remember you.\n\nGood luck!
285699
i am an avid american idol viewer and i would quote what simon would say:\nfirst of all you have to have a singing voice: by that you should be in "tune" meaning your singing is fluid like "not hitting notes off key"\n\nsecondly, i think you have to have the "it" factor, you should make the song your own (sing it your own style)like chris daughtry has done this year. don't copy other singers.  some of the other contestants should take lessons from him, he has been superb, and should have already been crowned.
536100
Appearance, well prepared speech, body language, voice techniques, presentation support material, sintony to the public. \n\nWithin this order. You must convince at the first sight. You must know about what you are saing and what will be the next phrases. Prepare yourspeech and prepare alternative material to suport your sequence (and alternative sequences). \nTry to not be funny.\nMonocordial voice will show nothing than boringspeechzzzzzz.......\nIf you have strong personality you can measure and adapt based on people response - look to them. If you are not soo hard, jut have trust in your trainings and materials.
202063
I have to agree w/the answers everyone has given so far - lessons/school.  I've taken vocal lessons in the past and they really are helpful.  If you have a good teacher they'll tell you how to breath properly and not kill your vocal cords. Hope this helps.
706517
Ok... this might help.\nVoice: Standing up straight should make you sound alot better.  My coach taught me a method: breath in, and as you are breathing out yell in a peppy and enthusiastic voice.  Don't speak too fast, or too serious, you want to brighten up the faces of your judges.  \nJumps: Jumps are best practiced on a spring floor or trampoline.  If there is a specific jump you need work on, research tips online or in books.  Don't forget to smile when you jump, I know it's hard, but it is great when the judges look at it.\nMotions: Move your body swiftly to the motion you are performing, and then lock it!  Keep it stiff and hold tight.\nTumbling: This sounds silly, but you can practice your tumbling skills and have fun at the same time.  I sometimes practice while watching TV... listening to music... yeah.  Get a friend to spot you in this kind of stuff.\nFitness:  Work on sit ups, push ups, and other exercises for about 1-2 mins at a time.  Lift 2-3 pound weights a few times a day, eat healthy.\nHow to deal w/ mean cheerleaders: Just ignore them, get some REAL help.\n\nGood luck at tryouts! You'll do great!
829563
Move a lot. Jump around and act like the crowd loves you. Be confident in yourself and just relax your muscles. When you are doing your forms, just act like your in class or by yourself...remember that the judges like to see confidence and good technique...Good Luck!!!
516539
Take a deep breath......you KNOW you're totally prepared. Relax........you're going to do fine!! I have confidence in you!! Good Luck!!
307350
Get a voice coach. Use your diaphragm. Sing louder (high notes are easier to hit with great force and volume).
864754
practice, practice, practice...\n\n\n\n\nand before you have to sing... drink lemon juice (like the extract, not any sugary kind) just like 1/2 an inch in a glass, it helps.\n\ncheers,\n\n-Kwan
346991
Take lessons, and practice, practice, practice. Get familiar with the classic techniques and adapt them to your own body (locking your abs, posture, breathing). Only practicing you'll discover what works better for you and get better. Also, put yourself out there: sing at parties, talent shows, and answer as many casting calls as you're able (maybe you'd like to try joining a talent agency)
474922
Prepare well for the test so you know your stuff. Don't think you're competing against your peers - you're competing against yourself. Settle in before you start - sort out on your desk or table all your stuff. Then get on with it - like you are in your own world. Ignore the other people in the room - ignore the room. Do your best. If that doesn't work. Stop for a minute and think of me.
654320
use the bottom of your stomache to breath. it sounds weird but it really makes your voice stronger. good luck with american idol! ill vote for u.
648742
I am here to help! Dont listen to people saying its not that hard...u only have to do cheers! well this is the true story:\nYou will probaly have to work with this material: You should learn a cheer,a chant, a dance, two jumps & additional tumbling.\n\nThere are judges from out of town that will be there choosing who makes it. but dont worry. just keep eye contact & SMILE! gurlie...if you dont smile...then you mite as well not be there! Make sure to keep your motions straight & tight. dont yell...people dont want little girls on their team. cheer from the diagrahm,in your stomach,not from your throat. make sure your words are loud short & choppy,dont sing them. SMILE SMILE SMILE.... the worst mistake you can possibly make is to not smile! keep eye contact with the judges. while your doing your dance act like your having fun...put some attitude into it! make sure after your jumps,chants,cheers,& tumbling to show spirit!that means just throw your hands up & yell go team..get spirit,pump it up,things like that. make sure when it is your turn to tryout when you are walking in jump & show spirit as much as possible.what ever you do, do NOT do jumps when it is time to do tumbling skills,so that means no round off toe touches or toe touch handsprings or tucks.wear your hair up in a high pony tail with shorts that are black and not too short & show your butt!wear a short sleeved white tee shirt that is not too tight or not too loose...make sure that when you do jumps,tumbling,etc. that your tummy doesnt show...judges hate to see skin!SMILE,SMILE,SMILE,& SHOW TONS OF SPIRIT,& SMILE!this is my advice that if you follow,you have no reason to worry.make sure that you eat a good meal that day & for the week of tryouts drink lots of water,caffine messes up your voice!SMILE!!!you should do great!good luck!hope this helps!try to remind yourself that your trying out for fun & if you make it GREAT but if you dont,well there's always next year & i've learned from it!good luck!email me if you want any tips..i am a school sideline cheerleader for football & basket ball & am also a competitive all star cheerleader!email cheer1_06@yahoo.com* please if you need any more help!