Picture the scene: setting the camera up, getting a decent angle with lighting that gives you cheekbones, half-decent audio from either a bouji phone or an even boujier Røde mic, you run the song through 4 or 5 times (having rehearsed the song for a week), thinking it’s looking and sounding good, then you listen back. Your ears vomit and you reconsider your career as your eyes scrunch closed to the perceived horror you are currently witnessing.
We have all been there, but your perception of that video isn’t accurate. Due to that which shall not be named, I have had quite a few students experiencing and sharing their frustration regarding this. Though it is a very common, red light syndrome feels even worse in isolation. You aren’t interacting with anyone other than the fella in the corner shop, and he thinks you’re beautiful when you’re hungover, so his judgement cannot be relied upon. The grasp on our collective new reality is oh-so-very slippery.
So how the hell do you get over yourself? There are a few things you can consider to help ease the extensional hatred of self.
Normalise recordings
The original bastions of reality TV, before the sodding Kardashians, were The Osbournes. If you look back on the first few episodes, there was a charming interaction with the cameras that verged on authentic. They became relaxed around the cameras: That’s what you need to do. Set your camera up in the kitchen whilst you are making your tea and just sing. I guarantee the quality of the vocal will improve the moment you forget you’re recording.
Live streaming
I KNOW. Everyone and their mate is live streaming. I go on instagram at 8pm, and everyone is at it. This has settled down a little as we progress into our fourth week of lockdown so it absolutely should be up for consideration. It is the most accurate representation from a performance dynamic perspective, in that it takes away some of the control from the performer and gives it to the audience.
Why are you doing a video though? Do you need to post a video or do a live stream? Are you feeling a pressure to involve yourself musically during the lockdown? That you will disappear if you don’t contribute? The FOMO we experience in the normal times of old are no longer relevant: you’re not missing out on anything. I do not ask these questions as a veiled way of judging, but simply so that you can understand the motivations for doing such videos. That in turn will help you to a much better and authentic performance.
Wash your hands you detty pig .
