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Liner Notes
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Bringing the Background Vocals
to the Foreground:
A roundtable with vocalists Gabrielle Goodman, Kudison Kai,
and Darcie-Nicole Wicknick
Chaired By Darcie-Nicole Wicknick
Special to MusicBizAdvice.com
Choreography for Backup Singers, Plus a Wardrobe Tip
MBADC:
How much choreography is expected from a background singer?
KK: In most
cases, all of it. Sometimes there is a choreographer hired to tighten up
the look of a show. I would say that 50% of the tours that I did eventually
got choreographed by experts.
DW: Get
comfortable moving, get used to moving and singing. Be relaxed but
controlled in your movement. Breathing correctly and [breath] support will
really help in live shows where you may be moving quite a bit. I used to
practice singing during dance and exercise just to be ready. I still do. Be
sure to incorporate a little of your own sass into the moves too – without
going overboard. The choreographer will tell you if it’s not working, of
course. But part of why you got hired is because you have some personality.
OH! Regarding
dress shoes! Be sure to have shoes you can stand to be and move in for at
least five hours!! I had a pair of four-inch stilettos back in the day. My
boss would say “How can you walk around in those ridiculous killer heels?”
Truth was I couldn’t. I just wore them when I could be sitting down! Avoid
that scenario on stage.
GG: Producers
are hiring singers that can sing and move for live shows in addition to
professional dancers for really aggressively
choreographed movement. If you look at Janet Jackson for instance, you'll
see that there are background singers and an entire troupe of dancers.
More...
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