Pre-Show Rituals of Popular Musicians
We’ve looked at pre-show rituals of popular musicians you may have seen in concert or heard on the radio recently. Check out their typical (and some unusual) formulas for stage success!
We all have our own routine prior to walking on stage for a big performance. Some of our pre-show rituals include certain exercises, meditation and maybe even a ‘lucky’ song you listen to in order to shake stage jitters and get into the ‘zone.’
We’ve looked at pre-show rituals of popular musicians you may have seen in concert or heard on the radio recently. Check out their typical (and some unusual) formulas for stage success!
“Bey” told Vogue magazine that she takes a few hours to prepare the day of a performance. “I say a prayer with everyone in the band, then we do a stretch,” she shared. “I sit in my massage chair while they do hair and makeup and I have an hour of peace and I have a playlist that I listen to every day.”
The Dark Horse singer revealed to Ryan Seacrest that her gear-up is pretty consistent while on tour. “You know, I wake up. I sometimes throw myself on a massage table, get massaged from the previous night where I had to do a two hour show and then I go and work out and I stretch and I kick. And then I do a warm up and then I go to rehearsal and then I basically get ready for the show. I mean when it’s show day, it is all dedicated to the show. There is nothing else that’s more important. So, I’m very focused.”
The band also spoke with Seacrest detailing their fairly tame gear-up process. “Before we play live we have a little moment where we’re just quiet, and supportive group hug.” Front man Chris Martin, however, has said he has a pre-pre-show ritual of his own. “For me, there are about 18 things I have to do before I can go out to perform—most of them are too ridiculous to repeat! One is I have to brush my teeth before I go on stage, otherwise I just don’t feel smart.”
Filed under the more unusual pre-show rituals, Mumford And Sons’ Marcus Mumford reportedly keeps a bit of of palo santo wood (from a South American tree related to Frankincense) burning backstage prior to performing. He claims its smoke is the only cure he’s found for pre-show headaches.
The 21 songstress has a well-documented proclivity for stage fright, although she’s said it actually motivates her and has become sort of a pre-show ritual. “The bigger the freak-out, the more I enjoy the show,” she’s said.
The members of indie pop group Passion Pit gather for a ‘team’ cheer prior to going on stage, keyboardist/guitarist Ian Hultquist told Vulture. Although, their chant is nothing you’ve likely heard before. They cheer “Roote to scoot, mate!” (a gibberish phrase) in their best Scottish accents just prior to performing.
Berries or seaweed serve as Lorde’s dinner of choice on show nights. She shared her ritual with The Guardian, which includes noshing on one of those foods after taking a dressing room nap with her go-to blanket. Also on Lorde’s must-do list? Wearing her favorite performance outfit. “Once I’ve got my suit on, I can do anything,” she says.
In addition to vocal exercises and warm-ups prior to hitting the stage, John Legend shard his specific pre-show dinner choice with the Today show audience. The ‘All of Me‘ singer said roasted chicken fuels him for playing in front of thousands of fans night after night.
Do you have any go-to routines or rituals prior to taking the stage? Anything you’ve found helps you focus on your performance or combat pre-show jitters? Share your pre-show rituals with us and your fellow musicians in the comments section below.