Performing in front of an audience can be thrilling, but it also comes with challenges. How do you make sure you stand out without overdoing it? Here are 14 tips to help you ace your performance, keep the audience engaged, and maybe even take home the prize!

Go for something well-known but not overplayed. You want the audience to connect, but not feel like they’ve heard it a hundred times in every competition.

If you’re still relying on the screen or sheet music, you’re not ready. You need to own the song—be so comfortable with it that you can focus on delivering the emotion, not just the words.

Standing like a statue? Big no! Move around and express emotion, but don’t get carried away. You’re not signing the entire song, just adding a little flair.

Absolutely. Don’t push your voice too hard trying to impress. Less can sometimes be more when it comes to vocal dynamics.

Test it out before the big event. Try it in front of friends or a small audience to see how it feels and gauge their reaction. No surprises on competition day!

Oh yes! Pick something that suits your voice. If your style leans towards classical, an R&B song might not showcase your strengths. Know your range and play to it.

Go out and have your friends watch and support you! It is nice when, during minus moments, you have people in the audience on your side, so to speak.

No way! That is, do not pay much attention to mimicry unless this is necessary to meet certain guidelines. It is you and how you interpret things that the judges want to see and hear.

If that’s the competition type, then yes, you will need to mimic the original artist’s pitch and her or his mannerisms including the way that her or his hands moved. If that is so, one should continue practicing the mimicry to a fine art.

100%. Dress appropriately for the occasion and sing the song. If it’s character performance, what you’re wearing can complement the feel of the performance. Dress appropriately to gain the look you need to own the stage.

As is the case with the lyrics, if at all possible, one can include the audience. You have to ask yourself—a moment in which they find themselves drawn into the performance. Even if it is just a little bit of feedback children can be encouraged a lot.

Nope! Stay professional. Best known for the actions and/or speeches, so let your performance speak.” Forcing the judges to be flattered will not work either.

Definitely. In each show always make sure that your mind is straight. Instead, you want to decide when and how you speak and how you move—alcohol can disrupt that.

Therefore, if you are singing a funny song, do not hesitate to act; wigs and canes or just simple mimicry makes an excellent impression on both the audience and, of course, on the jury. Just have fun with it!