10 Points on what to do when singing as a background vocalist (BGVs)


1. DO NOT SOUND HEAVIER/HARDER THAN THE REST
- Try as much as you can to try and work with the rest of your BGVs. I have seen singers who would always try to "stand out" when doing BGV. Guys, standing out is cool but when doing BGV you're working as a team. When you join the US MARINES, the first thing they take away from you is individualism cos you doing that may cost the life of your mate.
- So as a BGV make sure that when everyone is louder try to go as loud as them so it could blend, when they are soft, go soft.

2. DO NOT BE THE SPOILER
- Don't be the one that will tell your other BGVs "You're not singing Tenor, you are entering my part"
-That's not professional. If a fellow BGV is singing tenor instead of alto, as a professional your job is to try and fill in the missing part.

3. DO NOT LET THE AUDIENCE KNOW YOUR FLAWS
- If your mic is not working, there is no need for your audience to know through your facial expression.
-If your feedback is not working, there is no need for them to know.
- Try to communicate it discreetly to the sound engineers.

4. DO NOT SOUND FLAT
- It's really disheartening to see a good performance go to waste due to flats.
- If at any point in your part singing you don't know the appropriate part or note to hit... Sing the melody.

5. DO NOT TRY TO OVER-DO
- Unless a pattern arrangement to the song to make part complicated IF THERE IS NOT, then keep it simple.
- I've seen a lot of BGVs try to over do when singing with other parts and end up ruining it.
- The keyword to always REMEMBER in singing is KEEP IT SIMPLE.

6. DO NOT MURMUR ANY LINE YOU FORGET
- Sometimes when BGVs forget a line they'd "chop mouth" murmur the line to compensate for it. DON'T!
- Instead, hmmmm that line you forgot.

7. DO NOT BE A LEAD SINGER WHEN DOING BGV
- There is already a lead singer... That is why you are doing BGV.
- Many times some BGVs would try to take over the job of the lead singing. Please stick only to what you've been asked to do.

8. DON'T BE STIFF.
- Because you are doing BGV doesn't mean that you don't portray the emotions of the song. Let your voice carry the effect needed when a line of song says "I cry to you Lord".... let your voice have the needed effect.
- Don't be stiff. Don't be programmed.

9. DO NOT BE UNCONCERNED
- Sometimes when BGVs are singing, they don't put in so much effort because they feel the pressure is not on them but the lead singer.
- You're as important as the lead singer in equal measure.

10. DO NOT FORGET TO ENJOY YOURSELF
- Brethren, as BGVs enjoy yourselves!!! Music is to be enjoyed. Enjoy it as much as you can.

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