Rehearse for a PA
Introduction
Rehearsing is vital if you want to do a good performance. It's a chance to iron out any difficulties that you might encounter on stage.
Read on for:
General tips
Using your home
Finding free places
Using proper rehearsal rooms
"A garage is actually not a bad rehearsal space as it's often got a power point and rudimentary soundproofing can be installed."
Andy Basire
Music Editor
Making Music
General Tips
Try working your way slowly through the track(s) you intend to perform and think about your movement on stage, looking closely at any dance moves or routines you may have planned.
Now do it again, this time treating it like the real thing, with no pause for errors or mistakes.
Practising in these two different ways will allow you to strike a balance between the attention to detail and the flowing energy needed to dazzle your audience.
You can get more info on practising from the Radio 1 OneMusic site.
Rehearsing At Home
Rehearsing at home is the best bet if you can't afford to rent a dance studio or professional space.
Make sure you have roughly the same amount of room that you'll have on stage.
Ask an honest friend to view your performance and take notes.
Rehearsing at home is good because it's free but it does mean you might get interrupted and unless you have a good sound system it won't sound as professional as a proper rehearsal space with a decent PA set.
"One of the disadvantages of working at home is the lack of time pressure. If you're in a rehearsal studio and the meter is running, it can focus you to get on and work."
Jim Soares
Owner/Manager
Ritch Bitch Studios
Birmingham
Free Places
If you're still at school or college it might be possible for you to use rooms to rehearse there.
Your college may already own some PA equipment so see if you're allowed to use that.
A good PA system can make the rehearsal feel and sound that bit more real, so ask at your school or college and see what's available to you.
Proper Rehearsal Space
The main advantage of renting or (even better) getting free access to a professional rehearsal space, is that you'll probably have some kind of stage, a polished wood floor, a decent PA sound system and some mirrors which will allow you to see yourself as you perform.
You'll also have no interruptions and because it's a pro set-up it should make your performance feel that much more realistic.
If you are working out complex dance routines, the mirrors will really help your dancers to choreograph their moves and get everyone in step.
Mirrors can also allow you to see what your moves look like when you're delivering your lyrics and the PA system will let you hear first hand if your moves are too ambitious for the amount of lyrics you have to spit.
More... from How to...
MC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/mcp01.shtml
Getting PAs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/getpap01.shtml
Making the best of a PA
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/bestp01.shtml
Promote live PAs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/promotion/gigsp01.shtml
(c) 大象传媒 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006