If you want to participate in a chorale, you need to have a good plan. There is a lot to think about when planning a choir performance set list. If your choir is doing a single work, the running order of things might take care of itself. However, if you are performing individual songs, you will need to think about the order in which your audience will hear them. Read on to learn some useful tips for helping you plan your running order for your choir performance.
Balance
It can be difficult to plan a show but you should get the balance for your singers, your audience and yourself. First, you should list the songs you have and know which ones are slower, softer upbeat and which are real show-stoppers. You should then divide your performance into two acts and ensure that the beginning of your performance and the end are strong numbers. This means that you will grab the attention of the audience and leave them wanting to listen to more at the interval and end of the performance. Think about how you blend different styles. A great ballad will have a bigger impact if either side of the song is of a different style while five ballads in a row won’t have the same effect.
Choir entrance and exists
In addition to balancing music in your choral concerts, you should consider how many times your choir has to go on and off the stage. It might be that you will remain on stage for the entire event but if you are mixing smaller group performances and solo, this will create more variety and give your choir members a break.
If the full choir is performing, it can take a few minutes to get everything into position, especially if you are a large choir in a compact space. When it comes to planning your running order, you should think about getting your choir onstage and getting them to sing at least 2 or 3 songs before they leave. This will help them warm up properly and relax into the choir performance and saves the distraction of moving them around. If you have your members sing a song then come off and on again, the audience will be distracted.
Variety
You should add a range of musical styles and performers in your show to create a welcome variety for your audience. It is a great way for you to give small groups and solo sings the chance to perform. When you put on concerts in your choirs, you run a small series of workshops for up to 20 singers from the choirs, who then perform additional two or three songs. This is fun and provides them with an alternative experience.
Time
When planning a chorale, less is more. You may have 3 hours of great material but you should ensure the audience will be comfortable sitting there that long. It is better to leave your audience members wanting more than keep them looking at their watches waiting for the show to end.