Festival Ps & Qs

Appearance and demeanour on the stage and in the audience make an impactful statement about your ensemble during festival appearances

Performing at a festival is so much more than “performing the music.” Here are several etiquette recommendations for your next festival or more formal performance.

Stage Etiquette

The adjudication begins the moment the first student steps onto the stage. Plan how to “take the stage” and rehearse it repeatedly. Once students are on stage, they should not speak to one another unless absolutely necessary. Smiling at the audience reflects a very pleasant demeanor, but laughing on stage is never appropriate.

Practice taking and leaving the stage quietly. The clunking of shoes is not the best way to start the performance. Ensure that musicians know exactly where their chairs are and have them stand in front of them until given the cue to sit.

Choral ensembles should have row one enter first, and the person in the center of that row should stop in the center of the riser. His or her position will help set the remainder of the ensemble.

The quick tuning check of the ensemble is absolutely appropriate before the playing of the first selection as well as in between selections as necessary. Just be sure that the tuning is timed out appropriately.

Finally, ensure that students understand the formality of the introduction of the conductor. How will this happen? Will the director take the stage, then get introduced, or does the conductor get introduced, then walk onto the stage? What happens next? Either way, the ensemble must know the procedures, so that they may respond properly.

Performance Etiquette

Students should understand that when the conductor turns around to bow and acknowledge the applause of the audience that he or she is accepting the applause on behalf of the ensemble. Thus, students should be taught to look at the director or audience and smile during the applause.

Do not allow students to turn to the next selection during this time. Students should bring up the next selection only after the director has turned back to face the ensemble.

In jazz band, soloists should definitely acknowledge applause with a smile or nod when the audience applauds for the solo.

Audience Etiquette

Be sure to address audience etiquette well ahead of time and often. If students know what the expectation is, they will behave appropriately in concert settings themselves, plus you can ask them to share this information with those who are attending the performance in support.

This information can be reinforced by having audience guidelines printed in the festival program. Music education means educating everyone—administrators, parents and even the audience—so addressing etiquette in the program by sharing it from the student perspective is a great way to reinforce the expectations.

Here are sample program notes you can use or adapt:

The abilities demonstrated at festival include audience etiquette. The following guidelines are thus expected to be observed while students are listening to other performances at all formal concert settings.