It's that time of year again - musicians of all ages, abilities and disciplines performing on the same stage; all the certificates, trophies, and unforgettable moments are nearly here - but before it all kicks off, I thought I'd share with you some information that I've gathered, from personal experiences of myself and various other 'seasoned regulars' of the eisteddfod that I think may help us all make this years festival run smoothly, and be as enjoyable as possible by performers and audience members alike.
- Be prepared: Make sure you know your music and that you've found and practiced with your accompanist (if you need one). Make sure you've practiced as much as you are able, because if you are under-prepared you won't perform as well as you can (and you will kick yourself for it). Make sure you've got everything for your class ready in advance: your music, your outfit, how you're getting to and from the theatre, and anything else that will take away unnecessary stress on the day.
- Stay hydrated: Beau Sejour is VERY dry space to perform in (both in acoustics and general airspace) and the surge of adrenaline will add to the dry-mouth, so make sure you have plenty of water with you, and any throat sweets you may require (I'm a big fan of Vocalzone) - I also recommend a good lip-balm.
- Be calm, relax and enjoy it: Yes, it's a competition, but it's a friendly competition - people will win, people will lose, that's life really. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it - If you don't do as well as you'd hoped, try to take on board what the adjudicator says in order to do better next time. And always remember that it is just one person's opinion, and there will always be someone in the audience who thinks you're fabulous
- If you suffer with nerves, there are two approaches you can take to disperse the adrenaline throughout your body and get yourself ready to go on stage:
1) Zoning: Very deep, slow controlled breathing (you can combine some tai chi style arms as well to control your energy)
2) Get excited: This is great if you have a particularly energetic number to do - jump up and down, star jumps, chanting over and over again "LET'S DO THIS!" - essentially, this will do the same thing as the breathing, but you'll also feel charged and ready to attack the number.
- DON'T turn up at the last minute - you should turn up 30mins before your class starts so you have time to prepare (or if you're an audience member, time to find you seat and order that interval drink!)
- DON'T be rude to the ushers and 'movers and shifters': These ladies and gents are doing their jobs for free, and they have a LOT to deal with - be nice to them and they will be lovely to you right back and help you when then can
- "Dress to Impress": It's not black tie by any stretch of the imagination, but image does make a difference. You want to be comfortable, sure, but at the same time you should present yourself in a way that is true to you, but also says 'I am here to perform' - sometimes it can be the difference between doing alright and doing really well. I was discussing this with the drummer of my band the other day - we play 40's/50's Jazz and Rock-n-Roll, and we agreed when we dress to reflect the music we play we give more into the performance. It's something to consider.
- Consider carpooling: Beau Sejour car park can be an absolute nightmare, especially for some of the evening sessions where there is another event or sports match going on - I HIGHLY recommend everyone consider carpooling. Nearly everyone knows everyone in Guernsey, and especially at such a big community festival like the Eisteddfod. Ask around the people you know who live near you as to whether you can sort a bunch of you all going in one car. That goes for parents with kids too! If your child is in a class and you notice that several of their friends or classmates are in that class too, offer to take them to and from school to save the other parents the hassle of getting to and from school before the class.
- Be supportive: Whether you're performing or just watching, be supportive of everyone involved. Some people are seasoned participants, others are first-timers, but they all deserve the same support and respect for getting up there and having a good old go! Best ways to support:
1) Turn you mobile on silent (or better yet, OFF!)
2) Don't be rustling sweet wrappers and crisp packets or opening fizzy drinks in the theatre when someone is performing onstage - seriously, you don't need to be grazing when someone is on stage bearing their soul! You would want the same respect were it you!
3) Keep the backstage noise to the barest minimum. You may need to practice/warmup which is fine, but shut the dressing room doors and keep the chat as quiet as possible.
4) Know when to clap: This sounds a bit silly, but sometimes an over-eager audience member can just dissipate a really beautiful moment! Sometimes a piece/song has a definite 'Ta-dah!' finishing moment - sometimes it's a much more subtle fade into the background or a hanging chord - DO NOT CLAP YET! - I can assure you, performer/choirs/conductors put more effort than you realise into creating that end of a piece atmosphere, so let them have it! You will know when the performer is finished as their body language will relax and they will 'come out of the moment' so to speak. It's much better to be late on the applause with this kind of moment than pre-emptive (and you will enjoy the rush of 'waiting for it to finish' as well!)
- And lastly: If you win, by all means enjoy the moment, but be humble and thankful - If you don't win, be a gracious loser. Take on board what the adjudicator has said (to everyone, not just you), and applaud your fellow performers for everyone's 'job well done'
Have a great Eisteddfod everyone, see you there soon!
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