Our shows are on a Monday and Tuesday evening, one week apart.
Because parking is so difficult during the festival, I decide to leave my car near the office and walk to the city venue. This determines what I will wear. I really can't walk through the city in a floor length dress, nor can I carry it. It will have to be the cocktail-length one. I walk in flat shoes, carrying my heels, make up and other things in a bag.
Arriving at the venue, we do a sound check, I change my shoes and check my make-up, and finally the audience files into the room.
The place is full.
It's time for the show to start. I stand at the front of the room, waiting for my cue to begin. I introduce the show with some explanation of the concept. A musician brings a berimbau on stage and performs a chant. The songwriter Gabriel comes onto the stage, to thunderous applause. I read out a poem, then I sit down and wait for my turn to sing.
I decide to wait near the entrance to the stage. From here I can watch the show. Besides, the backstage area is up a steep flight of unlit stairs. I'm wearing high heels and don't want to risk falling down the staircase.
This means I can't exercise my voice before going on stage. And an hour is a long time to sit and think. Bad thoughts can easily creep in. I'm convinced I'll forget my lyrics. Sternly I remind myself that I've rehearsed these words so many times that my mouth will move all by itself. But what if my voice doesn't work? When you are planning your own show, it's a good idea to give yourself at least one warm-up song - one that's fairly easy to sing and doesn't require too much delicate technique. But in this show I have to come on and perform my one song. The "title song" of the show. The first-ever performance of this music. The grand finale. In Portuguese.
Why did I sign up for this?
I go behind the curtain, and during the applause make some quiet sounds to get my voice going again.
And the song turns out fine. Not the best I've ever sung, but fine for a first performance. I'm sure it will go even better next week.
During the week, I take advice from my teacher and from another teacher who gives a group lesson as part of the Fringe. They give me some tips for preparing to sing after a long wait.
Someone writes on Facebook that he liked our "duet". Yes that's what it is - a duet. We sing the song together.
This comment unlocks for me the song's inner-most layer of meaning.
The song speaks of the parallels between life in southern Brazil and South Australia. Our performance adds further symbolism to what is in the lyrics. He is from Brazil; I am from Australia. He introduces the song in English; we both sing in Portuguese. Through our music we bring the two countries together.
The fact of doing it has a meaning of its own.
On the evening of the second show I pay greater attention to the sound check, making sure I have enough "fold-back", so I can hear my own voice through the speakers facing onto the stage. This helps to prevent "over-singing", which can ruin your performance.
We have another full house.
This time I action the special tips I've received. These are both mental and physical. By the time I finish the verse and begin my improvisation, I'm aware that my breathing isn't settled. I go carefully for the first few bars, willing myself to breath more deeply and support the sound; try to make it "float".
It's definitely better than last week. There's always room for improvement, but the season for this show is at an end. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take part in this international production. I'm proud of having memorised and performed a brand new song in a foreign language
I've met some lovely people and enjoyed the immersion in Brazilian language and culture.
Because parking is so difficult during the festival, I decide to leave my car near the office and walk to the city venue. This determines what I will wear. I really can't walk through the city in a floor length dress, nor can I carry it. It will have to be the cocktail-length one. I walk in flat shoes, carrying my heels, make up and other things in a bag.
Arriving at the venue, we do a sound check, I change my shoes and check my make-up, and finally the audience files into the room.
The place is full.
It's time for the show to start. I stand at the front of the room, waiting for my cue to begin. I introduce the show with some explanation of the concept. A musician brings a berimbau on stage and performs a chant. The songwriter Gabriel comes onto the stage, to thunderous applause. I read out a poem, then I sit down and wait for my turn to sing.
I decide to wait near the entrance to the stage. From here I can watch the show. Besides, the backstage area is up a steep flight of unlit stairs. I'm wearing high heels and don't want to risk falling down the staircase.
This means I can't exercise my voice before going on stage. And an hour is a long time to sit and think. Bad thoughts can easily creep in. I'm convinced I'll forget my lyrics. Sternly I remind myself that I've rehearsed these words so many times that my mouth will move all by itself. But what if my voice doesn't work? When you are planning your own show, it's a good idea to give yourself at least one warm-up song - one that's fairly easy to sing and doesn't require too much delicate technique. But in this show I have to come on and perform my one song. The "title song" of the show. The first-ever performance of this music. The grand finale. In Portuguese.
Why did I sign up for this?
I go behind the curtain, and during the applause make some quiet sounds to get my voice going again.
And the song turns out fine. Not the best I've ever sung, but fine for a first performance. I'm sure it will go even better next week.
During the week, I take advice from my teacher and from another teacher who gives a group lesson as part of the Fringe. They give me some tips for preparing to sing after a long wait.
This comment unlocks for me the song's inner-most layer of meaning.
The song speaks of the parallels between life in southern Brazil and South Australia. Our performance adds further symbolism to what is in the lyrics. He is from Brazil; I am from Australia. He introduces the song in English; we both sing in Portuguese. Through our music we bring the two countries together.
The fact of doing it has a meaning of its own.
On the evening of the second show I pay greater attention to the sound check, making sure I have enough "fold-back", so I can hear my own voice through the speakers facing onto the stage. This helps to prevent "over-singing", which can ruin your performance.
We have another full house.
This time I action the special tips I've received. These are both mental and physical. By the time I finish the verse and begin my improvisation, I'm aware that my breathing isn't settled. I go carefully for the first few bars, willing myself to breath more deeply and support the sound; try to make it "float".
It's definitely better than last week. There's always room for improvement, but the season for this show is at an end. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to take part in this international production. I'm proud of having memorised and performed a brand new song in a foreign language
I've met some lovely people and enjoyed the immersion in Brazilian language and culture.
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