If you want to be center stage and lead act of the show, you cannot sing backup. The meaning of singing backup is to sing behind someone, not compete with them. You must be able to play a supporting position to the lead act and not feel left out if you want to sing backup.

Backup singing is more difficult than you might imagine. The ability to listen and be responsive  is paramount is this style of singing. You have to begin and end the phrase exactly as the main singer does, you must breathe as they do. It may well be good to think of yourself as the singers shadow, never noticed but always present.

Hopefully you have some input or control over where you sit or stand on stage. See to it that you can see the singer at all times. The job of backup singing is much harder if you can’t see the singers face. Learn to watch the singer at all times. If you are watching the singer you can see when they make a mistake or intentionally take another repeat etc. Your eyes must be glued to the singer. Often a singer may use a gesture such as a nod of the head to indicate where they are going. Learn their motions and watch out.

 

Learn to blend your phrasing to the will of the singer. You can start your line just behind the singers line if you want to blend properly. Sometimes you are not sure of how loud the singer will be so start quietly and gradually come up to the proper level after the phrase develops. Do not pronounce consonants too hard at the start of a line. It may be advisable not to pronounce a hard consonant at all as it may produce a disagreeable conflict with the main line.

The end of phrases are just as critical as the beginning. As the singer approaches the end of a line, gradually decrease your volume so you can avoid the embarrassment of ending after they do. So learn to blend phrases, listen and watch the main singer and you can be a backup singer every band wants to hire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marbellous

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