‘A Day In The Life of A Principal Singer’
It’s show day. I always wake up and eat a good full
breakfast, so I am energised and ready for the day ahead. Well actually I do
that everyday! I get crabby otherwise… Anyway, next thing I do is go to our
dreaded tech rehearsal. Nothing ever goes smoothly, there’s always a sound,
lighting or automation problem, if not during the tech rehearsal, then
definitely during our show!
So as always, the performer
has to be ever ready and prepared to know how to handle the stage when things don’t
go to plan. The audience must never know anything went wrong! I suppose that’s
the fun for us as performers, because when things go smoothly, we class that as
a good day at the office, we acknowledge that, but we’ll leave it there.
However, something goes wrong and we remember that for a hell of a lot longer.
Strange I know, but true. We look at those times and oddly remember them as
“good times”. As these are the times when the team had to pull together and
make sure “the show must go on”!
When the feeling of
camaraderie and togetherness is hot on stage, it feeds the cast. You can almost
feel the energy brushing against your skin. This feeling is exhilarating. Imagine
if you will, a group of 14 people and asking them to do one thing, you have 14
different views and ideas of getting to that end result. It’s a hard task. Now
imagine, that instead of having to choose which way would work the best that
you could use them all. Each different
idea and view is a strength so actually if we use them all, we can bring
stronger ideas to the stage. Have you
ever worked in any other job where 13 other people are in the same position as
you, giving it they’re all and all after the same goal?
After our tech rehearsal, we
have a few hours to kill before the shows begin. Each individual has his or her
own routine before a show, mine is quite basic really. Relax. There’s nothing
worse for me, to be running round like a headless chicken before a show. This
does not always happen. I am such a laid back person, that sometimes my time
keeping isn’t perfect…it’s something I am working on though! Lunch will be had,
and then I’ll steam my voice, to help warm up the vocal chords, this is a new
addition to the routine. As this contract has been my first as a Principal
Singer, before this I was a singer/dancer, and then a dancer. So this contract
and position has been a learning curve for me regarding using my voice this
much. So I asked my fellow singers in my cast what they did to help their voice
and their performance. I thought it couldn’t hurt to try and see if it worked
for me, and it did. I also try to drink a lot more water on show days, to keep
hydrated and keep the vocal chords lubricated. My girlfriend lives with me in
the cabin and completely takes over the cabin with her routine. Her’s is a lot
more time consuming than mine. I will then start to gently warm up my voice
before the call time. Whilst warming up I’ll usually put on my make-up that is
need for that particular show. Now it’s time to do my pre-set. It’s my time to
zone in and focus on what I’m about to do. Whilst I’m setting my costumes and
props, I will usually run through lines and harmonies in my own little world.
We will try to pep ourselves up and wish each other a ‘good show’. I like that.
We all just want the best, despite the fact that we’ve performed that
particular show countless times. It’s the nature of the business. Be the best
you can be.
“Ladies and Gentleman, sit
back, relax, because it’sssssssss shhhooooowwwwtimmmmeeeeee!!!
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