I Am Screwed {click for explanation}

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At school, I am in a class called Lit/Comp: Latin American Literature.
For a project, everyone is doing a performance piece, meaning that they have to get up in front of 65 students and two teachers to sing a song in Spanish.
I have a song but because of my fears, how can I overcome them along with my horrible as hell singing voice?

This performance will be on October 11th and the project is called Latin American Idol.

Can you play an instrument? I always feel more comfortable singing when I have an instrument to hide behind.

Just some ideas from the top of my head... really!... they were there when I took off my hat!

Play a Spanish song which tells a story. While the song is playing, translate it into English, just do it speaking, not singing.

Have a large poster of a picture of something Latin/Spanish and stand behind it to sing.

Wear a zorro mask and sing incognito!

Michael Stipe used a loud hailer to hide behind when Orange Crush was released on the UK charts 1989. Back then it was all mimed, he was very shy and had no idea how to mime in synch. Or you could do a Miles Davis and turn your back on the audience.

I've been there. I completely bombed on one talk, where I had a panic attack. When the class was over I was still standing there rigid and the lecturer was waiting to lock up. On the other hand, I was ok singing/acting as the Motel on Fiddler on the Roof. I have no idea why I could do that. I guess it is because there was a lot of moving around looking to the side and gesturing with my arms at other actors, so I didn't actually have to look at the audience. Back then I didn't make direct eye contact at all. Maybe you could do something like that where you are moving around the stage/floor then have props/people on stage that you can sing at. I think it would be good if you just pace back and forth singing really angrily in Spanish

You are a writer and I used to be much better at writing. My short play was chosen once for performance. I didn’t act in it but directed. Maybe you can try to do it from the POV of a writer/director with all the stage direction/scene action scripted. If you need to take the focus off you create another focal point. I created a sketch once. I can barely remember it but I know it was me and some others kneeling down around a table. No one was actually looking at the audience it was just talking across the table. Think of any movie scene where the main characters are not the focal point.

Last edited by 0_equals_true on 30 Sep 2007, 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

Ughhh...no help here. I just want to say I think that's evil, and you have my sympathy. I used to hate stuff like that.

Well, my song does tell a story and I have translated it into English.
But the Zorro mask...HELL NO!

I cannot play any instrument other than percussion.

When I was in school, I used to fake being sick in order to avoid things like that.

Excellent! Adding some rhythm to it might help you to feel more comfortable, have something to do with your hands, and give a better performance. Maybe you'll score extra points if nobody else comes up with the same idea. Anyhow, that should help to distract you from the anxiety of the singing part of it, and you won't be just standing up in front of everyone like a petrified bump on a log.

Also, I have to create a costume that fits the song and the time period it was written. So, does anyone have a picture of what Brazil looked like in 1934?

No can do.
It's against the rules of the project.

http://www.tramz.com/br/ss/ss.html

Though in brazil they speak Portuguese not Spanish

ACK! I'd die if I were in a class that required a project like that. I noticeably shake during speeches, and I'd probably go mute if I tried to sing.

Cool. Thanks.