Episode 13: My Pre-Show Ritual: How I Calm Nerves and Prepare to Sing

What should you do on the day of a performance?

How long should you warmup for? Drink gallons of water? Hide under a blanket until it's time to go on stage?

In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, Erin shares her personal performance day ritual—a routine she developed over more than 30 years of performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, regional theatre, concerts, auditions, and countless performances.

From her very first professional theatre job at age 20 (earning a whopping $100 a week!) to performing as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Erin has learned that the key to a successful performance day isn't perfection.

It's about support, care and rest.

In this episode, you'll learn how to create a performance day routine that helps calm your nerves, conserve your energy, prepare your voice, and get you into the right mindset so you can walk on stage feeling grounded, focused, and ready to share your gift.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why Erin believes the entire day of a performance should revolve around one theme: support, care, and rest
• The truth about hydration (and why chugging water right before you sing isn't the answer)
• How to use gentle SOVT exercises to wake up your voice without overworking it
• Why mindfulness and meditation are essential parts of Erin's performance routine
• The role caffeine, food, sleep, and vocal rest play on performance days
• How to warm up effectively before a show without singing your best notes in the practice room
• A powerful visualization exercise Erin has used throughout her performing career to help manage performance anxiety
• Why what you do after the performance may be just as important as what you do before it

Key Takeaway

A performance day isn't the day to push harder.

It's the day to support yourself.

The goal isn't to spend all your energy preparing for the performance—the goal is to save your energy for the performance itself.

When you approach the day with intention, care, and trust, you give yourself the best possible chance to walk on stage feeling prepared, present, and connected.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Episode 5: Vocal Warm-Ups That Actually Work

Learn more about SOVT (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract) exercises and why they're one of Erin's favorite tools for warming up the voice.

Episode 7: 12 Tips for Dealing with Performance Anxiety

A collection of Erin's favorite tools and strategies for managing nerves before auditions and performances.

The Joyful Singing Workshop: 3 Steps to Confident, Joyful Singing

In this free workshop you'll learn how to:

✔ Warm up your voice in a way that actually works

✔ Quiet your inner critic

✔ Create a more joyful and sustainable singing practice

✔ Build confidence and trust in your voice

Register here:

https://erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop

Connect with Erin

Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin 

Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers 

Website: erinstewart.net 

Email: [email protected] 

Have a question you'd like Erin to answer on the podcast?

Send her a DM on Instagram or reach out through her website. She'd love to hear from you!

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