[SecondBestBet]

Ok, we open this weekend and I had hoped I would have the problem solved by now. But it isn't.

I'm not a singer, but I have to sing as Bet. I'm Ok when I'm singing with Nancy, because I can match her voice while singing. I don't really care about the "what matters" solo because it is so short and I can almost say it instead of sing.

It's the "No flounces, no feathers, no frills and furbiloes. All winds and all weathers ain't good for fancy clothes" I just can't get it right on stage! If I work really hard and slow, I can hit the notes at home or in the car, but on stage having to dance and trying to project it comes out off key. It seems having the music in the background actually leads to me singing worse. The music isn't straight notes, it's kind of a strange waterfall-sounding set of notes. Plus it's so fast.

Any tips for a non-singer to stay on key onstage? And yes I have been praticing, it's not the practice that sounds too bad, it's the onstage that does.

[Salome]

i find it odd they didnt give you charlotte,an acting role with no singing..instead of bet who has no dialouge ans only some musical material.


try talking the solo bits on pitch your musical director can help you with that technique.

[SecondBestBet]

This is a weirdly casted show. The girl who was Charlotte could sing really well (I thought she would get Bet) but she had to quit (church theater - her mom is Widow Corney - she can get away with this). The new Charlotte is also an amazing singer and she's also the milk maid.

I believe the reason I was cast as Bet is a)I'm a double threat (can act and dance) and she felt those were more important to the role and b) my singing audition actually went really well because I sang a song that sounded good with my voice and hit those keys easy. Usually it just takes a little practice and I've got it, but something about the range or whatever is making those lines really hard. Maybe it's just too low for me. Mostly "weather" and "clothes" is off. I'm fine in "I'd Do Anything".

Dodger can't sing either, but she's a kid so she can get away with it.

I just personally want to feel better about this. I'll try your technique.

[SecondBestBet]

I solved the problem. I got tired of worrying about sounding bad so I decided that I would sound "bad" on purpose, as in use a character voice, not my voice, and camp it out just a tad so it was obviously a character bit and not a serious attempt at singing well. Just for my solo lines, since I'm fine during the duet.

It worked! Lots of compliments and praise! I was able to focus on the other parts of my role rather than stressing over the singing and really take it up a few levels.

Saturday night we got a standing ovation!

[music is my life!!!]

I'm glad you enjoyed the show! Congrats!