Singing in front of people: nerves, microphones and first gigs

Why nerves happen and what helps

Before a performance your body releases adrenaline. Your heart beats faster, your mouth goes dry, your hands may shake and your breath can feel high and short. These are normal reactions, and they usually ease once you start singing.

• Breathe out slowly, for longer than you breathe in, for a minute or two before you go on.
• Do your warm-up within an hour of singing.
• Keep water nearby and sip it before you start.
• Think about what the song is saying, not about how you sound.
• Look at a friendly face, or just over the heads of the audience.

If performance anxiety is severe, or it stops you from doing things you want to do, talk to a doctor or a mental health professional. They can suggest options that suit you.

Build up step by step

1. Record yourself singing and listen back.
2. Sing for one person you trust.
3. Sing for a few friends or family.
4. Try karaoke or a friendly open mic.
5. Join a community choir or singing group.
6. Sing a short set at a small event.

Stay at each step until it feels manageable before moving on. Nerves rarely vanish, but they get easier to sing through.

Prepare the song

• Know the lyrics by heart and run the whole song many times, not only the hard parts.
• Practice standing up, the way you will perform.
• Know how you will find your starting note, from the backing track, an instrument or a note on your phone.
• Decide in advance what to do if you forget a word: keep the rhythm going, hum or sing "la", and come back in at the next line.

Microphone basics

• Hold a handheld microphone a few inches from your mouth and point it straight at you.
• Hold it by the handle. Cupping your hand around the top changes the sound and can cause feedback.
• Pull it back a little on loud or high notes, and bring it closer on quiet ones.
• Keep it away from the speakers, since pointing a microphone at them causes squealing feedback.
• At a soundcheck, sing a loud part and a quiet part and ask whether you can hear yourself in the monitor.

Karaoke, open mics and choirs

Karaoke is a low-pressure way to sing with a microphone and a band track, and many apps let you change the key. Open mics are usually run by a host who keeps a sign-up list. Arrive early, ask how it works, and keep to the time you are given. Community choirs welcome many beginners, and singing in a section with others is a good way to build pitch and confidence. Ask whether the choir holds auditions before you go.

After you sing

Rest your voice for a while, drink some water, and note one thing that went well and one thing to practice. If your voice feels sore or hoarse the next day, take it easy and read vocal health.

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