The Art of Barbershop - Step by Step

Many showmanship people will talk about standing up straight, shoulders back; chin up with your weight evenly distributed on each foot when they are talking about how you should stand in your space on the risers.    I guess in some way, all of these things make sense and describe the process in a very technical way, but I prefer to discuss the issue as “having presence”.

Presence (as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
1) a: the bearing, carriage, or air of a person; especially:stately or distinguished bearing
b : a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness

Now doesn’t that say so much more?   I love the part about “a noteworthy quality of poise and EFFECTIVENESS.” 
When we enter the stage and take our place on the risers, what better way to carry ourselves than with distinguished poise and the idea of being ready to be effective in our performance.   Each member of EVERY chorus should enter the stage in a way that lights up the stage and tells the audience and/or judges that they are about to see and hear something very special.  In many regional contests and certainly international contest there are no curtains to “hide” the chorus as they enter the stage.  No matter how “cutesy or clever” front rows try to be up front to “hide” what is going on behind them, the audience and judges can see every member as they come on stage.  You should never walk on stage with the idea that the performance hasn’t started yet, or that no one is noticing you.  It is simply not true. 

Now, the judges do not begin scoring until you start singing, but you can bet that they notice how a chorus approaches their performance.  Whether they want it to or not, it will have an impact on how they perceive the performance.  You NEVER have a second chance to make a first impression.

My challenge to you and your chorus is to practice that your performance starts the minute the first foot of the first member steps on the stage, and ends when the last foot of the last member leaves the stage.  When your foot hits that stage, take deep breath, put your chin up, smile and walk with pride and presence.  Even if you have trouble walking and need to go a little slower, just remember that no one has a problem with that.  Show them that even though you may struggle to get there, you are proud to be a part of what is about to take place. Never, no matter the size of your chorus or  how nervous you feel, enter the stage in an apologetic way.  Or worse yet, like you’re trying to be quiet about it.  Make a statement.

Once you have your place on the risers, visualize that you are filling up your personal space with your presence.   Every atom in the space around you is buzzing with the energy that you have bottled in your body at that moment.  You own that spot on the risers for that 6 or 15 minutes and no one can take it away from you.  It doesn’t matter who stood in the spot before because you are the owner now.

As the pitch blows, think “PRESENCE”, breathe deep, smile and prepare yourself to be the most effective member of the chorus that you can possibly be.  It will make a difference how your chorus and your performance are perceived as well as how you perceive yourself as a performer.

Say it with me….. “PRESENCE!”