Concert Hall Simulators
It can be terrifying having to perform on stage or in a concert hall. The thought of booing audience members, a distracting cough, or a baby wailing in the background can be unnerving for any musician. As with many things that we find unpleasant we can overcome them by exposure and experience, however, you may not want to get that experience when you’re performing.
There are rehearsal studios that you can rent and practice in to get a feel for performing. This can be a great help when it comes to helping you get used to performing on stage. Practicing on stage is invaluable because so many aspects will be different than from normal practice — the bright lights, the heat, even how things sound. However, an empty rehearsal area cannot prepare you for a live audience.
Performance simulators consist of a very realistic backstage and on the stage area, authentic lighting, and a virtual audience. These simulators were a collaboration between a Swiss conservatoire and the Royal College of Music in London. People have said that these simulators have been helpful to them. Concert hall simulators can go a long way in helping you prepare for and get used to performing in front of an audience. Naturally, it’s a virtual crowd, but even just exposure can go long ways in helping you to overcome any nervousness you may have about performing in fount of a live audience.
In many cases, you can have the performance recorded so that you can view it later. This is very useful for going back and catching any mistakes you might have made during your performance. A virtual audience can even be tremendously helpful if you are going up for auditions. Simply having the extra practice and exposure can make a difference.